Amsterdam Marathon 2014: Route, Course Map, Times, Event Details
The 2014 edition of the Amsterdam Marathon will be run on Sunday, October 19, and with the presence of both Mr. Amsterdam Wilson Chebet and two-time world champion Abel Kirui, this year's race has the potential to be one of the best editions yet.
One of the flattest marathons in the world, Amsterdam is known for its fast course and beautiful historic setting. The weather has a tendency to have a big impact on the final result due to the marathon's position on the racing calendar, adding an extra element of surprise to what is already one of Europe's most prestigious races.
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The course record was broken in 2012 and 2013, and defending champion Chebet will have his eyes on another triumph on Sunday.
Route
The race will start and finish in Amsterdam's Olympic Stadium, before the runners make their way east into the historical city centre. Via the Rijksmuseum, the race leads south through the Martin Luther Kingpark and the Amstelpark.
The runners will follow the same route back before turning further east toward the Flevopark, turning back west toward the Toronto Bridge over the Amstel River. Through the Vondelpark, the runners will turn south for the final straight and the finish in front of the grandstand in the Olympic Stadium.
Course Map
For a full course map, visit the event's official website.
Times, Event Details
Here are full starting times for all of Sunday's events:
| TCS Amsterdam Marathon | 9.30 a.m. | 5 p.m. | Olympic Stadium |
| Mizuno Half Marathon | 1.20 p.m. | 5 p.m. | Stadionweg |
| TCS 8 km | 10.10 a.m. | 11.20 a.m. | Stadionplein |
| Skylanders Kids Run | 10 a.m. | - | Olympic Stadium |
| Echo Mini Marathon | 9.45 a.m. | - | Stadsdeel Zuid, Europaboulevard |
| Echo Mini Marathon | 10.30 a.m. | - | Stadsdeel Oost, Galileiplantsoen |
| Echo Mini Marathon | 10.50 a.m. | - | Stadsdeel Zuid, Rijksmuseum |
| Echo Mini Marathon | 1 p.m. | - | Stadsdeel Zuid, Olympiaplein |
Registration for the marathon and Mizuno half-marathon has closed, but it is still possible to register for the Skylanders Kids Run through the event's official website.
Preview
After consecutive record-setting performances, it's no wonder event organisers have started calling Chebet "Mr. Amsterdam." The Kenyan isn't the biggest name in the sport due to the fact he only runs a handful of marathons every year, but he has found much success in the Netherlands, winning his first ever in Rotterdam in 2011.
The 29-year-old recently sat down with event organisers to discuss his preparation for this year's event:
Chebet will face stiff competition from two-time world champion Kirui, who won the silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Both men will be gunning for the course record of 2:05:36, and Kirui sounds ready for battle, via Daily Nation's Ayumba Ayodi:
"I am planning to attack the course record hence let Chebet the Mr Amsterdam know that iko kazi kubwa sana (there is a big battle)," he said. "I pray to God that we finish well and in good times.
Meseret Hailu, Betelhem Mogen and Flomena Cheyech are the strong favourites for the Women's title. Hailu holds the current course record of 2:21.09, but Cheyech has a tendency to win most marathons she enters, a point she illustrated with Commonwealth Games gold earlier this year.
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