Foreword
General
Dear participant,
In this digital participants booklet you will find all necessary information about the 51st Batavierenrace. You can navigate between all information by using the different headings on the left side.
Please read 'Important Information' carefully before starting the race!
If you have any questions you can contact the information desk as of Friday, May 24th, 12:00 am.
They can be reached by phone at (053-489) 3787 or you can ask them a question via Whatsapp at +316-58015344.
Chairman 52nd Organizing Committee: Zoëlle van Bommel
The Batavierenrace: an experience that is unforgettable!
Dear participants, crew, and partygoers,
With absolute energy and excitement, we announce the start of the 52nd edition of the Batavierenrace! It is a special moment that we have all been waiting for. Since September, the Organizing Committee, along with our dedicated crew, has worked hard to bring forth another amazing edition of the Batavierenrace.
The enthusiasm we have witnessed, from runners to staff and partygoers, is truly heartwarming. It is inspiring to see so many people throughout the year going around a Bata sweater. It serves as a reminder of the community coming together to be part of something special.
On May 24th, the runners will gather in the heart of Nijmegen to embark on the challenging 175 km route through Nijmegen, Germany, the Achterhoek, ultimately finishing in Enschede. The diversity among the runners is what makes the Batavierenrace so unique. From the seasoned athlete who has trained for months to the enthusiast putting on their running shoes for the first time in years – everything converges here. Fun, solidarity, and sportsmanship take center stage.
While the runners push themselves to the limit and the celebration kicks off at the campsite, more than 750 dedicated staff and committee members will be actively ensuring that the race unfolds safely, smoothly, and joyfully. Shining in the blue sweaters of the 52nd edition, they contribute to the unforgettable experience of the Batavieren weekend.
After days of hard work, little sleep, solidarity, and the cheers of thousands of spectators at the finish line, one thing remains: concluding the 52nd Batavierenrace with a spectacular party that will be talked about for a long time!
Our sincere thanks go to everyone who contributed to the realization of the 52nd edition. Special appreciation for our regular staff, sponsors, the involved municipalities, Radboud University, University of Twente, the Board of the Foundation, all volunteers, and of course, all participants.
On behalf of the entire Organizing Committee, I wish all runners, staff, and partygoers an unforgettable edition of the Batavierenrace!
Zoëlle van Bommel Chair 52nd Organizing Committee of the Batavierenrace
Mariska van Sprundel
A lifetime of running: From student years to daily fulfillment
The student years are often considered the most beautiful time of one's life. It's a period of personal growth, and sometimes, due to all the beers and parties, even physical growth. In 2004, I began studying biology in Utrecht. Once I moved into my own place, I started to get the hang of student life. Beers and plates of pasta pesto came flying in at a rapid pace, and physical activity wasn't a top priority back then. My time was mostly dedicated to studying.
Amidst all the partying, there was also the need to earn study credits, and I took that seriously. Achieving passing grades meant studying hard. I never skipped a lecture. Once settled in my new place and on track with my studies, I felt it was time to get back into sports, to boost my fitness. I chose running, partly because a fellow student living nearby was keen on training together. We printed out a random schedule and hit the pavement three times a week. The first training went as expected – after ten minutes, we had to stop to catch our breath and let the side stitches subside. But with each session, we made progress. We named our two-person running club 'Boeien' – after one kilometer, we turned as red as a buoy, and we didn't care.
During my student years, I participated twice in the Batavierenrace with a team from my student association, U.S. Histos. What I remember is running the night leg, followed by a morning leg, with a few hours of 'sleep' in between. Team name? I don't remember. What has stuck with me is the grandeur of the event, the massive number of participants, the lively atmosphere, with the entire team in the van crisscrossing to be on time for the relays. And the fatigue. I must confess that after a night of staying up and two exhausting legs, I didn't make it to the party.
Sometimes, you just know that you've started something that won't end anytime soon. I've been running for seventeen years now, and it's no longer just for physical maintenance. It brings me much more than a healthy body. Running provides a satisfaction I can't compare to anything else. It has become a central element in my life, something I do almost daily without questioning it. I train for marathons, go trail running in the Alps during summers, participate in winter cross-country races, and in between, there's always a road race where I try to improve my time.
For the mind, running is an immediate reward, making it a goal in itself. After a day of work, a head full of to-dos, and then, bam, outside to let everything slide off. After about fifteen minutes, I find my rhythm. Every four steps, an inhalation, followed by four steps in exhalation. My tense office shoulders sway loosely along. In my head, the daily chaos is gradually replaced by flowing thoughts about various things. Once home, it's as if a new day has begun.
Problems are put into perspective, turning out to be no real problems in the end. One sport, with so many facets. I can't imagine ever quitting.
Chairman Batavierenrace Foundation: Chantal Hilgeholt
We can't wait
May 24th is the day. The 52nd Batavierenrace will once again kick off. One of the largest relay races in Europe, if not the largest. An annual spectacular event where students from all over the country come together to run, party, camp, engage in inter-university competition, and where many volunteers gather in one day and night. In the middle of the night, the adventure begins with the long relay run from Radboud University Nijmegen to Enschede. The runners are often accompanied by a cyclist, and along the way, team members take turns. Eventually, they end up in Enschede via Germany and the Achterhoek. I can already hear the roaring engines as they drive onto the track of the University of Twente. Always a goosebump moment, and soon the first runners follow. The competitive runners first, but certainly also the well-dressed ones make this race a spectacle. And after the race - after some rest - of course, the biggest student party in the Netherlands.
Above all, don't forget to enjoy this beautiful adventure. Whether you win or not, you experience this BATA together. A deep bow to all the runners, guides, volunteers, and committees who make this Batavierenrace possible once again.
Here's to a fantastic race, and enjoy it!