Worldwide interest for 36th Amsterdam Marathon

Entry for the 36th Amsterdam Marathon on Sunday 16 October 2011 was recently opened. Athletes from 37 countries have already entered. Among them are a remarkable number of British athletes, but also many French, Italian, Danes and Germans.

What is even more striking is that a big Brazilian contingent (90) has already entered for Amsterdam. Undoubtedly that is partly due to a detailed and positive article about the Amsterdam Marathon 2010, that appeared in a prominent Brazilian sports magazine.

The Amsterdam Marathon is also popular in other parts of the world. That is clear from entries from countries such as Chile, Venezuela, South Africa, New Zeeland, Japan and Kazakhstan.

Of course the 1928 Olympic Stadium will once again take centre on Sunday 16 October. In Amsterdam, which has an international participants field with athletes from more than 70 countries, you can choose from the Marathon, Mizuno Half Marathon, 8km and several youth runs. In addition the programme offers you a Marathon Market in Sporthallen-Zuid that lasts for three days, a Pasta Party and on Saturday a 6 km long Good Morning City Run from the Museumplein.

As last year's survey shows, many people choose to stay for a long weekend and enjoy the many tourist attractions that Amsterdam has to offer. Come and be surprised by the Olympic Experience in the Olympic Stadium. Enjoy a tour of the canals by boat or canal bike, take a walking tour of the city along the ring of canals, take a peek in the red-light area or visit the majestic Dam. For contemporary shopping go to the Kalverstraat, visit the Rijks Museum and the Van Gogh Museum for their wealth of art or visit the Anne Frank House. Have a drink and a snack in one Leidseplein's alfresco cafes or experience the typical Amsterdam atmosphere in the one and only Jordaan. For more information on Amsterdam see www.amsterdamtourist.nl

Both experienced and novice runners can enjoy the atmospheric Amsterdam course with highs such as the route through the Vondel Park and along the Rijks Museum and the finish in the Olympic Stadium. For more information see www.amsterdammarathon.nl.

It was interesting to note how many personal bests non-elite athletes ran last year. Many athletes who had already run a series of marathons ran a personal best last year.

Here are some of the reactions we received after the race last year:

• This was my 5th consecutive Amsterdam marathon!!! Every year I come back here to convert a year's hard training into a nice little personal best. Up to now I've succeeded every year! The organisation and the course are brilliant every year. Thank you to the volunteers and organisers.

• I had a very positive personal best experience, which I ran with many thanks to the super pacers.

The start and finish take place in the 80 year-old Olympic Stadium. And every year this leaves an unforgettable impression, not least because of the presence of the supporters in the tribunes and the marathon grandstand.

The route is packed with things worth seeing in Amsterdam. As such, you pass the world famous Rijks Museum on the Museumplein twice and you also run past the Museum of the Tropics and the Amstel Hotel. And along the way the enthusiastic residents of Amsterdam cheer you on. The Vondel Park is also part of the course. In the full marathon Amsterdam's largest public park is first approached from the Amstelveenseweg. The second time you come from the opposite direction and enter the park from the Leidseplein side. The 48-hectare park, full of flowers, ponds, footpaths and playgrounds is a favourite among Amsterdammers.

The Marathon course follows a part of the Olympic route along the Amstel River, past stately homes and a few windmills. This route offers beautiful rural scenery (which includes the Arena) and gives an impression of the huge amount of daily business that takes place on the Amstel.

This year the marathon will start at 09.30. Pens at the starting posts will be allocated according to expected finishing times. The last marathon runner must finish by 15.30.

The start is on the Stadionweg just outside the legendary Olympic Stadium. The Mizuno Half Marathon finishes in front of the grandstand in the Olympic Stadium. Finishing at this wonderfully renovated eighty-year-old stadium will leave participants with an unforgettable impression. Supporters and spectators will have free entry to the stadium.

The route passes a host of Amsterdam landmarks. Thus you pass the world famous Rijks Museum on the Museumplein, the Museum of the Tropics, and the Amstelhotel and on the way you will be cheered on by thousands of people. The Vondel Park is also included. The largest public park in Amsterdam is accessed from the Leidseplein side.

The Half Marathon will start between 13.30 and 14.00. At the start of the Half Marathon you will find separate pens, which have been classified according to expected finishing times. The last runner must finish by 17.00.

Like last year, the route follows the first small loop of the official marathon course. On the way you pass among others the Vondel Park, the Rijks Museum and twice the historical Haarlemmermeer Station! And just as last year, the finish takes place in front of the grandstand in the Olympic Stadium.

The start will be between 10.10 and 10.20 in several time-groups on the Amstelveenseweg right in front of the entrance to the Olympic Stadium. There is a generous time limit of 1.10 hours so that every runner can extensively enjoy the finish in the Olympic Stadium.

This 8 km Run is for the somewhat less experienced runner and is very suitable for experiencing with the whole family. Due to the limit on the number of participants, it is advisable to enter as soon as possible.

Some feedback from participants in 2010:

• "Promote your marathon to the rest of the running world as one of the top ten marathons in the country."
• "Thank you for an amazing race. It was the perfect course and I got a PB, so left Amsterdam very, very happy."
• "I've run 8 Marathons in total (including London) and this was the best by far … WELL DONE!!!"
• "Had a great time and loved the city. Huge thanks to the organisers, an excellent event.
• "For me the best organised marathon in Europe; it's my favourite (already 5 participations)."
• "The whole experience!!!! I really loved it, running along Amstel was perfect, and the start and end in the Olympic Stadium was a great experience!!!"
• "It was a great race in an amazing city. I can't wait to come back!"
• "Thank you Amsterdam. It was a fantastic event for me!"

Enter online now at www.amsterdammarathon.nl. Beware! Entry on the day is not possible!