The first experience in the team race - "The Courtyards of Antwerp"

Life is an unpredictable thing: it constantly throws us random opportunities, which we can accept or not accept, and even do not notice. This happened just recently and with me.

After my 10 miles in Antwerp, I gave myself a rest for a whole week. My first training session was in the Spoor Nord park. It was not boring, because I had friends with me - we overran two circles around the park. On the way back I accidentally ran into the banner that advertised a race, and I stopped to photograph it. I was thinking about it all the way home, so when I arrived, I immediately began to search what it was like. And it was an urban run throughout the streets of Borgerhout, the part of Antwerp. Different distances were presented there: 12 km of individual run, 12 km of team run, 8 km, 4 km and children's run. Composition of the route - a circle, the length of which is 4 km. Nothing unusual, but one it had one feature: its way was paved through 4 buildings (2 cafes, church and concert hall).

I was not interested in individual running, since I already had it in my practice - I wanted to try something new. Therefore, as you have already guessed, my I chose a team run. To take part in it, we needed a team of 3 people. I suggested to my friends, who trained with in the evenings, they agreed without a doubt. Here it all began: daily training, registration and, in fact, the run itself.

That day came. The payment was only 5 euros. The participants of both 12-kilometer individual and team races started at the same time. Weather did not give joy: weather forecasters promised rain. You know that running in the rain is not the most pleasant one. However, our team was determined decisively. Without any doubt, we went to the starting point. There we examined everything that was possible: people were training, patrols were settling taking up their places, and organizers were laying out tents. We found a place of registration, exchanged our 5 euros for the starting number of the participant (707) and took with us a map of the race. We had more time than expected; we had to wait for two long hours. We did not know where to go, so we went to get acquainted with what was waiting for us: the track of the race. Still, it's quite interesting to see all the obstacles that were waiting for us during the run.

Then it was time to run. The start was at 15:15. As I said before, the individual and team races took place simultaneously. Alex had a great opportunity to open the race. And we were waiting for our turn. Here is the participant of the first team, few minutes, and the second member of the team appears. We were already getting nervous, but as it turned out, it was in vain - our Alex was the third one. I took the number and quickly joined the race. Everyone was running very fast, for me it was very unusual. Oh, here are the attractions, here is the main thing not to get lost among the wagons :).
Next part was more interesting. By the side sight, I saw that someone from the other team was trying to overdrive me and I tried to accelerate. So I got to the most interesting part of the route - the musical center. Running through the parking lot:

It was so beautiful! Everything was decorated with colorful flashlights; the walls were covered with white canvases. An interesting impression, what do you think? The musical part finished and the streets of the city started again, followed by two cafes. But that was not all: I had to run throughout the church before the finish.
So interestingly: you are running, listening to the local musicians. A few more meters and I passed the start number to the next member of our team. Sergey caught the most interesting, he ran the last 4 kilometers. Again waiting, again worrying. The first team finishes, the second one. And finally, finally! Sergey arrived third. We took pictures and watched as they were rewarding the first team, and went home, talking about the race and our impressions.
Team race is a very interesting experience, something extraordinary and exciting, especially if you add a couple of interesting locations here.
Here are the photos of the main participants of the race:

Source: androshchuk.com/blog

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