Amsterdam marathon was the top running goal for 2025. If you want to be honest, the process starts long before the race. It is mostly mental, only after this you need to think about it in a physical way. “A marathon is a bit too far for a human being to run”, concluded Matt Fitzgerald in his “80/20” famous book. Read it in the process, and I can’t agree more with this guy. I don’t need to run a single marathon in my life, but yet again, I have dozens already, since 2017. At the beginning I have dealt with them as a kind of outside playing, a combination of distance accumulation and sorts of validation that “I can do it, and I never will run a marathon after this”. Let’s face it, anybody who runs, or exercises in particular does it for validation. There is no other true explanation, considering human beings are made to think, not to work out. We are not animals, or at least we shouldn’t act like ones. Physical activity is useful up to one point, after it can fall in different categories. I ran 30.000 kilometers. I know what I am saying.

A marathon is not whole without a muscle cramp after kilometer 40

In 2017 I’ve ran the marathon in slight more than 4 hours (40 seconds extra), and the unknown by me threshold at that time – four hour mark – was not achieved because o a severe muscle cramp at my right calf, encountered at kilometer 41. Ironic, as it was the only one serious cramp I can remember in a road race. And they are not few! Eight years later, the pattern is different, but the essence remains quite unchanged. I see the 39.9 kilometer mark – don’t ask! – and immediately feel like my muscles are about to block. I feel nervous, I am chasing a decent result, I’ve trained considerable for this, it can’t happen. It would be too sad. Fortunately, the pain goes away, while pushing thru it, and my muscle reacts well. I feel like the training finally paid off in this moment, when my legs recognized the end was just hundreds of meters away, not right about in Vondelpark. I can push to the finish, the exhaustion sensation is exchanged with a last adrenaline burst, like it always happens in a marathon.

Amsterdam Marathon in between Valencia and Oslo, so the result

Final chip time: 3:17:03. I am pleased, it is in my range of expectation, even though I was hoping for a personal best (beating 3:13:37 not easy, tho…). I am right in the middle comparing to 2023 and 2024, when I’ve tackled differently the Valencia and Oslo marathons. First, with a huge load of hard training, the second one just relief of all pressure, and enjoying only the process. For Amsterdam I’ve decided to allocate some in-between approach. Some specific training, but not at the level tackled for Valencia. The fast agonizing runs are not for me, not in the current state. Fast forward, the approach worked exactly like a mean, in the sense that 3:17:03 is slightly between 3:13:37 and 3:21:08. Could I’ve done it better? It is always possible, especially after the fight is done, of course. No, seriously, the only reproach I have for the Amsterdam’s 50th marathon is the packed start which forbade me, in essence, to speed a bit (like 10 seconds down / kilometer for the first 10-12, maybe 13). I doesn’t look much, but it could have cut two more minutes. At least.

A marathon is not composed by two even halves!

These are hypothesis, of course, the reality is always different. In Valencia it was the shining sun from the second half, and the lack of my cap – big mistake – but also the need to avoid two waves, meandered my path so the final distance was about 43 kilometers. In Amsterdam, indeed, I would like to start at an average pace around 4:25 / kilometer, but it was more like 4:35 / kilometer, because of narrow space. I am not upset, as a pedal push at the beginning could have meant a slower second half. Not that likely, but still possible. Speaking about this, the Amsterdam Marathon became the most relevant such event in the terms of half splits. The thing I trained, the most. Not because this is a typical marathon training, but because I find it the most important, from my previous experience. I remember very clear how I have approached, in 2022, the Prague Marathon: two halves, that’s all. Easy to say, harder to achieve.

Thinking of Prague and training my brain with Kafka’s Diaries

After a clocked 1:37:00 for the first half, the strong feel faded abruptly as soon as the heat kicked in, and my petite for liquids, to stop and drank a lot defeated my pace and my desire to run altogether. I did manage back then a PB of 3:23:04, but analyzing now, three years and a half apart, the idea that a marathon its not as simple as two halves becomes even more relevant, and it matches the second “semi” done in 1:46:00, still nine minutes gap. This is why for Amsterdam, the way in which I manage the second half seemed crucial for my mental health. Actually, I’ve joked – but not by much – that I’ve prepared my brain for this challenge with special lectures from Kafka’s Diaries. It looks a bit non-sense, but if you are honest with yourself, preparing a marathon means, mainly, preparing your brain for the challenge. Especially if you are not that good at running, or not specifically gifted for this sport. I think it helped, perhaps mainly because it distracted the real impact of my future action.

Two arranged 10Ks with negative splits as training for Amsterdam marathon

But running, in the process, is mandatory. For example, for Oslo Marathon, I didn’t follow a specific plan, but in 2024 I did run 4,000 kilometers, my second “millage” in a single year, after my 5,062 km in 2020. So I did have a lot of volume, just not that speed training. I did lots of high intensity intervals for Valencia, which made the marathon look easier, but I am conscious that the way in which I’ve prepared for that hit pretty much on my body, didn’t want to repeat the mistake. Also reading  Matt Fitzgerald, mentioned in the beginning, determined me to try the “running slow to run fast” principle. It didn’t make too much sense, but it sounds good. However, among lots of easy training sessions, based on just adding volume, I did some specific training, all focused on negative splits. Two of them were 10K’s in official events: 42 minutes at Brasov Running Festival, and 41:43 at Bucharest Marathon, just one week before the Amsterdam big day. Both of them, with decent times, far from my 39:51 PB, done in the process for Valencia Marathon, exactly two years prior, at the same Bucharest Marathon event, but the catch with both of these two runs is that the second 5K was always faster than the first. On purpose.

Three hours of preparation in dark, flood, rain and a need to pee

The main training, I consider key in the process, was not linked to these, because their length was not that relevant for what was about to come. On 8th of October, in the evening, on a fairly thick rain, I’ve put my shoes on, with one objective: three hours run, with three sets of 10K, each faster than the previous. On top of the rain, the parks and streets tackled were, in good portions, flooded, this topped the challenge with some additional… challenges. More to say, after the first set, a “need to go to toilet” sensation hits me pretty bad, and even there was no real stake, at a glance, to not pause and go, I’ve literally thought of a similar scenario, during the race, when I wouldn’t like to stop. So I fought the sensation, and won! Also, another mistake I was about to do in the race was to squeeze real fruits in my flask, which I did for this training. But, at a certain point, the liquid could not be released towards my mouth, so I’ve learned I shouldn’t do it.

33 kilometers, as a confidence stamp for Amsterdam marathon

The three sets were completed successfully, and at the end, to fill the gap to three hours, three more, even faster, kilometers completed a splendid morale-boosting 33 kilometer run. Between the two 10 kilometer road races, this training fed my mind with the idea that I can complete a strong race in Amsterdam. The strong race begun with many ticked plans: a hotel as close as possible to the start; a strategy to meet Anca at the 28.5 kilometer mark to drop my empty flask and take on a full one with water mixed with salt and some electrolytes; a cap! Always cap, after the experience in Valencia. Everything went well, the accommodation checked, then the plan for the big morning. My main concern was the toilets, but in the end, everything worked fine so I could do my warm up properly. When the start happened, I’ve tried to make room as close as possible to the leading pack, but I’ve quickly noticed that people are in such large numbers that I need to fight a bit to run as I wish.

The streets too narrow for my desired start pace at Amsterdam marathon

The initial plan was, as saying, something around 4:25 / kilometer, but I couldn’t keep this because of the narrow space for maneuver. In the end, I decided it is best like this, maybe it will serve me for later. I was hopping, after kilometer 14, when we enter the shore of Amstel river for… 11 kilometers. In theory, here I could have recovered some, but at this moment I felt it is clearly better to stay between 4:30 and 4:40 than to try and speed up. I felt that my energy reserves are not necessary depleting per say, but kind of a warning signal was switched on. I keep it steady. Maybe until the end? It would be a very good achievement, that’s for sure. Given the 11 kilometers in front of me, now I am thinking of the 28.5 kilometer mark, where I’ll receive a full 500 milliliter, just to set an objective in my mind, and to be able and run without any “panic”. Usually, shit hits the fan, indeed, after kilometer 30, but I always slow down significantly after 22 / 23, so now I am trying to change the pattern.

Only one liter of drinking during the marathon; don’t copy me!

Amstel river is really interesting, as I can cast some glances from time to time. I keep speeding a bit, but keeping a momentum of 4:35 or very similar. Now, regarding my hydration, I am looking forward to meet Anca, because the plan is not to stop in any hydration point, as I can’t drink while going, and in some cases, like explained already about Prague, I drink enormous amounts, comparing to what I should, and that cuts my will to resume at the same level. I want to miss this. Having a flask, helps. Even if I needed to stop, I spend much less time, and the way in which I drink it is in my advantage. But I prefer my drink prepared, which I know it helps. People will raise some eyebrows when they see my plan to drink only one liter for such a race. They are probably right, but this is how I function. Especially in race where the weather is like it was in Amsterdam, on 19th of October 2025. It perfectly work for me, but for sure I don’t recommend this! It is not an advice I am giving, because I concluded I can function like this after 30,000 kilometers ran.

The rendezvous works as planned for the Amsterdam marathon

I don’t consume gels too often as well. Trying to ingest from time to time, mainly in trail long runs, but for a 3+ hours, I don’t feel a need to use such aliments. This time, I took one, and sipped it at kilometer 35, when I’ve realized some energy will be welcomed. I am not sure if it worked, but I know that kind of gel does have some decent properties. Going back to Amstel river, I am enjoying on my moments here the lack of wind, so feared here. The weather is, practically, perfect: no rain, no wind, cloudy, but not very cold. Ideal for a good run. I literally enjoy everything. Now, when I enter under a bridge and know I’m leaving the shore, a right turn confirms I am heading for my flask. I make it, the transition is smooth, and two thirds of the race are done. I am a bit behind my desired pace, and I know the probability to slip even further increases. I’m relying on my headsets to distract my brain from the suffering. I know, though, the finish is getting closer and closer.

I see Vondelpark, I know the finish of Amsterdam marathon is just minutes away

After I ingest the gel, I’m counting each kilometer. When I see Vondelpark, I’m almost feeling a winner. I see I am above 4:40 more often, but I don’t really care anymore. After the muscle cramp scare faded quickly, I know I have only the mission to finish as strong as possible. Of course I do it, and one of the objectives are touched: I just wanted to beat my second personal time, which was 3:18:38 at Maraton 1 Decembrie, if I can’t beat my PB all time. And with 3:17:03, I almost beat that time with two minutes – only if I could go below 3:17! 🙂 Eternal regrets, which fade away once you cross the finish line. I am happy. I know some pain will come, but it is manageable. Now I want just to enjoy the after sensation. Of course I am always thinking at a sub 3 hours marathon, which I think in some strict conditions, it is manageable. But I am not ready to put more into this. Not now, because I don’t see the point.

Going under a time mark is just a fast fading satisfaction

Once I’ve managed to go below 40 minutes for 10 kilometers, I’ve realized that the importance of the moment is very ephemeral and not even I don’t care too much about this. Will it be different to achieve a sub 3 hours marathon? I don’t think so, but the effort would be much more. And now I am not prepared. A sub 3:10 is more realistic, at least for now. The dream of faster races is fueled usually by other life failures, because running can become a refugee very often. It helped me in many situations during a ten years process, but I wouldn’t exchange any other life purposes for running. Just because it doesn’t make sense. If you don’t have a special gift for running and sports – which I don’t – it is just waste of time. I am pleased to be able to run marathons, and to run in general, even if not as fast as I am dreaming of, from time to time. I enjoy the process, but the priority is to remain healthy and have a strong body.

What does count most?

Also a strong mind. And having a strong mind is much more important for human beings, this is why you need to have purpose, to achieve important things which use neurons, not necessary muscle. The world can be changed and improved by brains, not by sports. It is a fact. A healthy body always helps, yes, but having a healthy mind very often matches a healthy body as well. If somebody tells you different, they are talking rubbish. Of course, I’ve seen many sports and nutrition “specialists” in Romania, even thy have no link with these, hence the results our country has, in general, in sports. To not have have a job and try to look a purposeful influencer, is easy, but is also useless. At least if you can see the reality clearly.

My marathon times

Getting back to this Amsterdam Marathon, just completed, this was my 11th in a European city, and the 10th city where I ran. I will make a summary, before adding some relevant information, about my marathon experience:

1. Bucharest Marathon 2017 – 4:00:44 (328 / 974)
2. Cluj-Napoca Marathon 2018 – 04:07:36 (186 / 414)
3. Bucharest Marathon 2018 – 3:39:41 (213 / 884)
4. Sibiu Marathon 2019 – 3:49:04 (41 / 123)
5. Berlin Marathon 2019 – 3:39:03 ( 10097 / 30742)
6. Budapest Marathon 2020 – 3:40:45 (335 / 1437)
7. Prague Marathon 2022 – 3:23:04 (483 / 3641)
8. Athens Marathon 2022 – 3:23:33 (673 / 10062)
9. Valencia Marathon 2023 – 3:13:37 (7332 / 20562)
10. Oslo Marathon 2024 – 3:21:08 (573 / 3304)
11. Amsterdam Marathon 2025: 3:17:03 (3948 / 17113)

As it can be seen, only Bucharest was ran twice, and in the past I hadn’t too many problems to run more than one per year. Actually I ran some of them weeks apart which, again, I don’t recommend. I can do it, of course without maximum performance, but it is not that healthy. I have run some more such distances and above, and actually shortly after Athens, the Authentic, I’ve ran the 1 Decembrie Marathon in IOR Park Bucharest, a race where I finished 9th overall and 2nd in my age group. Very proud of it, especially since it is the second most popular marathon in Bucharest. Exactly after it, I’ve decided to prepare properly for Valencia, which I did. Have I then, run more marathons? Answer is clearly: yes. How many…?

And there is more!

Well… if I would quantify all long distances ran, by my own, like many “sports enthusiasts” do, and maybe even add and merge my half marathons, would be more than 100. Likely 200. But no, I will keep it as simple and candid as possible, because this is the right way. When in Hungary, I’ve participate to two ultramarathons, one of 95 kilometers in two days, and one 50 kilometers long in a such a great September heat. The idea with the first one is that I’ve ran in the first day 43 kilometers, and in the second 51 kilometers, because those were the splits. Then, I can account for two more marathons, in two consecutive days. This is a story and mostly a pain by itself. Last, but not least, in 2021, I didn’t complete, at a first glance, any marathon, but I did took part in the ultrarunning national championship, 6 hours, around National Arena. 65 (official) and 67 kilometers on my clock. A 6th overall out of 11, so definitely this count for another marathon.

1. Balaton Fel Szupermarathon Day 1 2020 – 43.55 km; 3:41:15
2. Balaton Fel Szupermarathon Day 2 2020 – 51.37 km; 5:02:08 –> 8:43:23 (14 / 70)
3. Szoloskor Ultramarathon 2020 – 5:30:25 (50 km +769 m)
4. Ultrarunning National Championship 2021 67.32 km in 6 hours –> 6 / 11
5. Maraton 1 Decembrie 2022 – 3:18:38 (9/80)

If I am putting all the above mentions together I can say that I’ve run 16 road marathons and beyond. I am less of a intentional ultramarathon runner, even in the past I have dreamt more to complete such competitions, so marathon can be a better match for my objective, and my consent suffering. Of course, the fire to run around Mont Blanc at some point in life was relit when I’ve been to Chamonix, and maybe it replaced the older contemplation of running the Badwater Ultra in my 40s. Getting back to Amsterdam, this was for me the flavor of the year. “Run your masterpiece” is the slogan of the race, which fitted tremendously to my mind. Of course, in the country of Rembrandt and Van Gogh, how could it be a better quote? While walking to the marathon expo, to pick up my kit, I’ve decided to also buy the commemorative photo album, for this 50 anniversary. On may way out, I saw a young lady on a poster and the words: “If someone else can, why can’t I?“

A stewardess from KLM is fighting to run at the Olympics: 2:31 at Amsterdam Marathon!

Later I found out that this lady’s name is Mikky Keetels and she was a 2:33 marathon runner for The Netherlands. I am using the past, because at the Amsterdam Marathon she clocked 2:31! She is fighting to qualify for the Olympics. Nothing special, you might say, but the catch is that she is a… stewardess at KLM! Then, she has a full time job. It is strange in general, but stranger when you leave, in a country like mine, where all kind of people without having a job at all, or a job near the complicated mission to be a flight attendant, always complain they don’t get proper finance and support. At the Bucharest Marathon, held one week before this one, the best female results were 2:44. And the two ladies who accomplish this are from Kenya. Imagine… Getting back to my walk thru the marathon expo, these words written, and then the reading of the commemorative album (yes, it has lots of written pages also) boosted significantly my morale.

There is always a “never again!” But then there is also the “where to next?”

At the end, I can say that I did write my 2025 masterpiece. I always think of a marathon to be the last. It is a lot to run for a human being, but then again, I am watching my medal, recall the experience, the emotions, all the mixed feelings and the determination, and I am telling myself that, most likely, I’ll give it another go soon. In a different European – or who knows! – city. From many perspectives, a marathon is more useful as a life metaphor, comparing to a time trial. Even if for me it would have been easier to run a sub 3 hour marathon, I don’t think the lessons would be greater. In life, in many situations, you need to deal with things like you deal with the second half of a marathon. Maybe this is why I felt the need to obsessively dedicate my time for this type of training.

Marathons, mostly for validation

In my past years, I’ve ran marathons for millage, now I try to funnel clearer purposes. In the end, we run and do this kind of things to brag, to match different type of validations. But this can be replicated to our day to day life, and that can be, indeed, the true victory. Running fast can be nice, but transposing that into where it really counts, can be a far better victory. Everybody knows this, but many prefer to limit at being happy and content with running a fast marathon or a marathon at all. Especially that all kind of statistics circulate. For example that it is much seldom to run a marathon in one’s lifetime, than to become a millionaire. It might be so, of course, but let’s face facts: would one prefer to run a marathon, or to become a millionaire? I ran 16 accounted for asphalt marathons, and I have dozens on mountain trails, so I can agree that millions, in the worst case, can ensure more possibilities to run… more marathons.

The moment lasts, the details are always the same at the end of a marathon

We need to be clear and honest, if we want to enjoy any “masterpiece” of our lives, including finishing a marathon, like the one in Amsterdam. The finish is always, in principle, flat: a beautiful medal, but which you never watch more than once or twice afterwards, even if you hang it quite visible. You get a banana and a water – I asked for two each, and got them – and maybe some social media posts, which could get couple of tens / hundreds or thousands of reactions. Of course, if you are lucky, like I am, a beautiful wife greets you at the stadium exit. 🙂 But apart this last feeling, which is, indeed, wonderful and forever lasting, all others are standard and met hundreds of times in your life. They don’t count as much. Being healthy and successful is much more important, than to have better and better results in running, especially if you are not directly impacted by sports, apart from your well being.

Rembrandtpark, the place for “wound” healing after effort at Amsterdam marathon

The after pain is challenged by a recovery run the next day. Limping, of course, with my muscles and heel sore, I do clock 6.3 kilometers, in Rembrandtpark, exactly near our hotel. A late check out option we had, it is perfect for the day. Amsterdam helps me forget the marathon’s marks. I feel really happy and grateful for everything, and I am decoupling from the pressure of training for a major event. Of course, there will be some – or at least they should! – by the end of the year, including a challenging trail 36 kilometers, about I promise to write at least as much, but nothing compares this year with Amsterdam Marathon. Trail, indeed, for my perception is easier than an asphalt marathon. Not because it really is, but because my pressure for speed and results doesn’t exist. Then I am tackling it easier, as my reach for trail running is even more modest comparing to flat surfaces. For now I am savoring the wrap up, and I am not that upset about the one hour delay of our flight to Bucharest.

Amsterdam weather, and Valencia course

After taking part of four major marathons, I would say, because Oslo, Prague and Budapest don’t have the status of Valencia, Athens and, especially, Berlin, that Amsterdam is necessary the best fit for a personal best. Not by accident, I consider the best fit to be Valencia, where I, as said, clocked my best finish. The roads look wider there, and even flatter. Amsterdam is not hilly, of course, but it has a few false flats which can impact your momentum. In Valencia I didn’t have this, but I had some shining sun. The surface in Valencia and the weather in Amsterdam can make a perfect fit for a super fast marathon. Berlin is too far away for me, in 2019, I didn’t have objectives, but I did manage a personal best regardless back then. Amsterdam will remain, for an indefinite time my second best, and that is a topping on the whole experience.