Blow off steam

What do you do at 31 Celsius on weekends? Come on that Steam Trail, let's not shoot!

The briefing by email left nothing to doubt: it would be very hot on 24 August during the Viking Steam Trail. Almost half the text was about the heat and possible consequences such as heat injury. Runners on longer distances had to carry water and there would be two extra supply stations, which made the 25 km run seem like a road race. Longer distance runners were also warned that much of the route would be through fields.

If it had been a road race, that 31 degrees Celsius would probably be enough to cancel. That didn't happen here. Trail runners are one with nature and know they have to be partially self-sufficient. Even without the obligation, I don't expect even one runner would start without water. Since I switched to liquid food, I even bring a lot of water with me: half a litre of Heed, two times 400 ml of Ucan and another 2 litres of water. Besides, speed is usually not the most important thing; slowing down due to the weather is therefore not a shame. I never thought about not starting at this temperature.

Steam train

The main attraction for this run is the Veluwsche Stoomtrein Maatschappij steam train. This takes runners to Eerbeek Station (10 and 15 km) or Beekbergen (25 and 42 km), from where participants must walk back to Dieren. The train proved so popular that various RMD members travelled to Dieren for it. Thanks to Sjaak de Graas, I was able to save a few hours of electric train journey home.

It's great to see such a big machine running on steam, even the generator for the electric lighting. It smells of oil and coal. Steam comes out of the locomotive in all sorts of places. An employee climbs over the big wheels to clean everything before departure, but man seems insignificant as a louse next to the grandeur of the mighty mechanics. It is just a living thing.

At walking pace

Beforehand we joked that if you were late, you had to catch the train. In reality, this railway majesty actually leaves at walking pace. Due to the lack of electronic signalling systems, someone actually has to get off the train at each crossing in order to catch up later. Judging by the crowds, however, almost all 400 participants (maximum because of the train) showed up.

Our third class coach was quite comfortable despite the wooden benches. In other coaches there was sometimes even a restauration. Or tables. A bit like the layout you still find in fast international trains like the ICE or Thalys. In that respect a lot has changed.

Quick start

After an hour we arrived at Beekbergen station, also the depot of the steam train. Again we were warned to slow down because of the weather. The group walk towards the real starting point was not very quiet. I am a slow runner, but I got carried away too much. In good weather I would run this course around 6.30-7.00 min/km. In this weather, you can feel free to add half a minute to that. But we left around 6 min/km.

The first few kilometers felt pretty hectic. The fact that there was a long stretch of single track, without good overtaking opportunities, made it pretty stressful for a trail. I didn't want to go too fast (too late) and the people in front of me braked at the strangest moments. Especially when a branch crossed the road and that broke my rhythm quite a bit. Too bad we couldn't walk a bit more loose right away.

Much needed

With my large water supply, you wouldn't expect me to be very happy with the first aid station. But I was already quite hot and bothered by the fields. Glad that I did not go for the longer distance. And that the most beautiful Posbank fields were only on that route… too bad. The high heart rate of the heat made me walk every now and then.

My body was also clearly suffering from stress. Normally I fight to keep the blood sugars high. Now it has been around 12 mmol/l all three measuring points. Reason for extra thirst. At all water stations I took extra (fresh) water and if possible oranges.

Cathedrals

This time I found the last part of the route actually the most beautiful part. It was not the moors. Or the plains. No, those were the hills with their giant trees. The shade made up for the little climbs and tree roots (some clumsy almost tripping over). And although the machine at the beginning of this story, made by men, already humbled us, nature with those giant trees and burning sun did so much more.

Just before the finish I met a fellow RMD runner with whom I finished the race. A not very brilliant 3 hours 33 minutes over 26,5 km was the result. But looking at the runner in the locker room who dropped out of the 42 km race and was close to having a heat stroke, I think I did well by holding back every now and then.

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