The Rotterdam marathon route from kilometer to kilometer

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After running the Rotterdam Marathon ourselves several times, we dare to say that we have now acquired quite a bit of knowledge about the NN Marathon Rotterdam. For everyone who is at the start of another edition of the Rotterdam Marathon in April, or if the NN Marathon Rotterdam is simply on your bucket list, we have described the route of the marathon in 10 steps. What can you expect when you run the Rotterdam Marathon? Use it to your advantage!

The start

There you are. On the Coolsingel. After months of training, this is the moment. You'll Never Walk Alone sounds from the speakers. If you look closely, you will see Lee Towers. But above all you see people. All runners, just like you. One stares straight ahead in concentration. The other wanders away in his music, while another ties his shoelaces again just to be sure. Then there is a bang. The crowd slowly starts moving. You have to be patient, but then you too can leave. The first meters are spent walking. Until you get to the start. You put the trot underneath. It has begun!

0-5 kilometers

Goosebumps will appear on your arms when the exciting music blasts out of the speakers. The people around you wave to the audience. They laugh and talk to each other. Most are cheerful, while some know that things are now very serious. Don't lose energy now. You have to find your place in the crowds. Catching up, sometimes it is possible. Sometimes not. You don't worry too much about it. Before you know it you will be walking on the Erasmus Bridge. Beautiful to walk here. You look around. Wow! You end up in Zuid via the Laan van Zuid and the Varkenoordse viaduct. The aid station is just before the 5 kilometer point. You can choose from water and sports drink (AA Drink Iso-Lemon) every five kilometers. On your right you will see De Kuip. This gives a better feeling to some than to others...

5-10 kilometers

You start to get into your rhythm. The crowd spreads out over the course. You are given space and have ended up in a pleasant group. Walking comes easy to you. You'll be able to keep this up for a while. You reach the Olympiaweg via Stadionweg and Adriaan Volkerlaan. Here you make a loop. Going is annoying. On the other side you see runners who are faster than you. Back is better. Now you encounter the 'stragglers'. Via Kreekhuizenlaan and Spinozaweg you pass Lombardijen station where a music band is playing. The 10 kilometer point is at the intersection with the Molenvliet. Just look at your watch to see how you are doing and grab something to drink at the aid station.

10-15 kilometers

Now it's getting serious. Of course, it's still easy. But slowly you feel your legs getting a bit heavier. That slight injury from the preparation is slowly starting to show up. Don't think about it, just keep going. You walk on the Slinge, which seems to have no end. You take a sponge and squeeze it over your head. At the metro station, turn right and then right again onto Oldegaarde. The environment around you becomes greener and that is pleasant. Just like the many audiences. Where do they all come from? Before you know it you'll be at the 15 kilometer mark.

15-20 kilometers

Just after the 15 kilometer mark you will find the next aid station on the Vaanweg. The rhythm is pleasant, the breathing calm. Actually, nothing is happening yet. And that injury? Haven't felt it in a while. It will still be okay. On your right you will see the Ikazia Hospital. You turn left around the bend with lots of encouragement on Zuidplein. The music excites you. You can still handle it for a while. You return to the Oldegaarde via the Zuiderparkweg. To go via the Kerkwervesingel (don't forget to grab your sponge), past the music to the Groene Kruisweg. 20 kilometers on the road. Still lots of energy and with your target time on your watch. Going well!

20-25 kilometers

Time to break the rhythm. You mainly threw the previous sports drink over your shirt. Take your time with this one. You take the cup, walk on and down it in three gulps. That's better. The loss of time is negligible. You continue, pick up the rhythm again and before you know it, that nice group is back together. Via the Dorpsweg you enter Brielselaan. On the left you see the Maashaven, beautiful! And there is the Erasmus Bridge again. Knowing that you will soon be able to cross this again, you automatically speed up. No, not at all. To be patient. To the sounds of the nice music, you can grab another sponge on Putselaan. And then turn left again onto Laan op Zuid. Just before the 25 kilometer point there is another aid station. Now you know how to do it...

25-30 kilometers

Ouch, there's that pain again. You notice it the moment you walk up the Erasmus Bridge again (it seems a lot steeper than on the first passage...). You try not to think about it, but now you can't ignore it. Yourealizes that you have to complete the marathon together with that 'pain'. Luckily you are still in that group. You have a lot of support for each other. Although no one has said anything to each other for several kilometers. You arrive back in the center of the city and that is nice. Lots of music and encouragement. Conditionally things are still going well. That's a reassuring thought. At the Beurs turn right onto Blaak. Oops, don't look to the left, don't look to the left... Did it anyway. You saw a glimpse of the Coolsingel. How would you like to go there? But it's not there yet... You pass the station under the cube houses. Unbelievable, on the other side you can already see the first heroes rushing towards the finish line. But don't pay too much attention. You approach the Kralingse Bos via the Goudse Rijweg and the Crooswijkseweg. You've heard a lot about this. This is where the marathon would really begin. What would that mean? You can't even hear the many music bands here. You are now fully focused, at least if that stupid pain doesn't continue to disrupt your concentration.

30-35 kilometers

It's suddenly so quiet. After you have leisurely finished another cup of sports drink, you look around you. There is clearly less crowd here. The group you have been walking in for miles is slowly falling apart. You yourself are also starting to find it increasingly difficult. You don't look at your watch anymore. Your target time is suddenly no longer important. You have always dutifully eliminated your gels, but the energy in your body is still starting to decrease. At kilometer 32.5 you take a gel from the organization. That can't hurt. Via the Bosdreef you arrive at the Boszoom. There seems to be no end to it. For a moment you think you are leaving the forest, but a loop under the highway to Prinsenlaan brings you back to Boszoom. A disappointment.

35-40 kilometers

The aid station just after kilometer 35 is a point you have been looking forward to. You can walk again, drink and leave for a while. But that 'away' is no longer that easy. Your legs are heavy, you have lost your energy and that 'ache' has become severe stitches. Every now and then you hear someone calling your name. It's on your starting number. At first you smiled politely at these people, but you stopped. No point in it anymore. In fact, nothing anymore. And certainly not in walking. Why did you ever start this? Until you suddenly see your name appear on a large screen on Kralingse Plaslaan. On 'Marathon Supporter' your entire family wishes you the best of luck with the last kilometers. And you're a star, that too. It gives you new strength. Everything hurts, but you push again. You leave the Kralingse Plas behind you and arrive at kilometer 40 via the Boezemstraat.

40-42 kilometers

On the other side of the road you see 'stragglers' again. You remember the moment you walked there. Ha, they still have so far to go and you're almost there. There are those cube houses again and the station. If you look to the left, you will see the Erasmus Bridge again. You do it, but immediately regret it. Every abnormal movement you make hurts. There is clapping and cheering everywhere. You turn right onto the Coolsingel. Now it is allowed! You hear the music and your name sounds everywhere. From acquaintances, but certainly also from strangers. You want to cheer, but it's nothing more than a cowardly hand raised in the air. You cross the line exhausted. You see the mayor standing there. As a final effort, you give him a limp and especially sticky hand. Exhausted, you collapse on the ground. You realize that you shouldn't sit for too long and start walking carefully. You will be given a medal and slowly walk back to your things. And then there's your family. You fall into their arms. It was so hard, but oh so beautiful!