The Leuven Marathon

After the European championships running organized in Leuven for the first time, the city council announced that they'd organize a yearly marathon due to the success.  Hmm I heard that decision with mixed feelings since we live in the middle of the event zone.  While it is actually fun at the moment (even more so with the crazy UCI world championship cycling a full week in 2021!!) , it also brings a lot of logistic preperation and challenges.  Usually it means that we can't drive and park home for multiple days and we need to search parking space elsewhere in Heverlee and walk the last kilometers home.  So no grocery shopping in that period: you need to have all you need already at home. And now quick leaving as there's a walk involved.

It also means that the neighbourhood becomes an event construction zone for a full week...a complete transformation with a tent village built up, and banners and signage etc.
The fun part is however a few days no traffic in front of our house except for the event trucks , which is a big and pleasant contrast to our usual situation. 

Always walking a bit on the midst of the ring road to profit from the traffic free days

the boys and a friend chilling on the empty ring road

On the days we wake up with sporty people all around ...stretching, eating power bars, line up for the mobile toilets, ... And then it's time for the start of the 10k and the marathon race.  I managed to position me well in view of the start and the first corner into the city center.  At the same time I kept an eye on the marathon app in which I had searched all the names of friends whom I was aware that were running to spot them coming by at their start. 

After watching half an hour the many starting waves launching themselves, I crossed the city to go to Mobile School and help a bit there at the pop-up bar there.  A lot of Mobile School runners participated so of course I also tried to spot them and give them a cheer. 

The Mobile School offered a running hub for runners that registrated them for their team and used the races as a fund-raising opportunity.  Kuddos on all of them because raising money for a good cause on top of paying a important entrance fee into the races isn't so evident.

Getting a lot of people at the pop-up bar wasn't easy either since it was a shady spot just a bit off the race itinerary.  I enjoyed hanging around though with a nice cocktail and snack.  
There was a bit more people in the afternoon and in the end they did raise a very nice amount of 15000 euro throughout the day.  Well done! 

Back at home we had to face the crowds again around our house but not as much as the European championships the year before. 

We rested a bit at home and got out now and then when we saw some friends would pass the finish line to give them a last cheer and kuddos. Pretty cool to have those tracking apps available! 

It was a lovely day again that we tried to enjoy as much as possible since we can't truly escape it, so we might as well embrace it.