The European Championships Running in Leuven: the elite races

Mid april we were in the front seat for the first European Championships running hosted in Brussel/Leuven with finish at 100m from our doorstep. 


Even though we had some appointments, I managed to be at the finish line for the elite finish of the semi-marathon on Saturday, the 10k on Sunday morning and the marathon.


The semi-marathon.

Saturday started in warm sunny weather...probably too warm for some of the amateurs that would follow later on.  The start was invisible from our window, but the first turn into the city was visible. 

We are very much running ignorant so we were discussing the potential error in the brochure that the finish was expected within the hour, but soon we realized at the live images on the tv that indeed the speed was above 20k/h. 

We quickly rushed outside and got a spot very close to the finish line easily. I loved the banging on the boards that reminded me of the UCI world championships in 2021. 

The media ready for the first winners...with back to our street

The french fans were ready to cheer for their compatriot racing very impressively to the gold medal. 

Gressier Jimmy racing to his gold medal

Kibrab for silver.

A good 15 minutes later the women elite were approaching with 2 Belgians in the lead for gold and silver medals. 

Herbet Cloé for victory

Thomas Juliette for silver

While walking around in the experience village we saw the team medals but we missed the female elite where Belgian team had the gold medal. 

10 kilometers

Sunday started with much cooler temperatures and some rain...probably a better condition to run.

I picked up the start of the elite women and some of the other starting waves but this time I knew I had to really quickly relocate to the 100m behind me (but with a 600m detour to cross the passenger bridge across the ring road) to stand at the finish line before the first elite men would cross.  Haha, they finish in less than 30 minutes...hardly worthwile to start running ;). 

Schrub Yann running for gold.

Daguinos Etienne for silver

We left for grocery shopping on the Heverlee market and picked up the elite men arriving in Leuven for the marathon. 

Boulvin will finish as first Belgian on 9th place

While walking home with our groceries, the women elite caught up with us. 

Kabouter and I quickly searched a spot again at the finish to go and welcome these amazing athletes. 

Aouani Iliass racing to gold 

Ayale Gashau racing to silver

The elite women coming in with 2 Spanish in the lead

Ouhaddou Nafie racing for gold

Maayouf racing to silver

 

It was fun but I was a bit amazed how easily we could last minute find spots at the finish line to watch, although with every race there were more people.  

The big impressive crowds would only come to support for the ten thousands of amateurs running, we'd notice later on the afternoon. Then there was no way to approach anymore in the crowd. 

Running is nice because you get a better opporunity to spot and observe the athletes versus cycling who pass by in just a breath.  But running is less spectacular and more boring to follow in its entirity.