Juneathon Day 9: Barefoot!
After a windy night we woke up into a stormy morning. Hmm – I wonder if the wind calms down at all and if the sand dunes will shield us at all as we run against it. Those were my morning thoughts before we headed to a new running adventure in the dunes between Katwijk and Wassenaar. The area is beautiful, we knew that already – but the wind, the wind was killing. We decided to run through the dunes SW, to Wassenaarse slag, to have a coffee there, check our legs and plan where to go from there. It was cold. 
Running against wind this strong, it felt like inside some kind of outdoor treadmill: my legs were clearly pushing but I was not moving forward at all. The initial 5 km took us about 35 minutes and we ended up rather exhausted. Coffee and hot chocolate at the beach saved us. Again, the feeling of Christmas holiday and skiing trip was setting in: apart from us, there were only dog walkers around and German hardcore holiday guests.
The wind was so strong we could hardly open the door of the beach pub as we were leaving and it was blowing sand and dirt into our eyes, ears and… well, just about everywhere. At that point, as we wanted to run back on the beach, I decided to take off my shoes. My first barefoot run was just about to begin. 
Feeling the cold wet sand under my feet (in combination with running) was an entirely new sensation. I was so scared everything would start hurting immediately and I would have to stop quickly but nothing bad happened. Luckily I did not step on one of those:
V was running next to me checking all the time if I was okay and according to her, I looked very happy. And that is exactly how I felt.
We ran about 4.5 km back to Katwijk and it was with great regret that I had to put on my shoes again. I have no idea how my calves, shins and hamstring will feel tomorrow but I cannot wait to return to the beach for more.
P.S. Written with my gratitude to the Royal Netherlands Meteorology Institute: If they didn’t predict a sunny day we would have missed this incredible 11.1 km adventure!
P.P.S. Off to Oranje soccer game (now that Czech rep has lost so badly I might like to switch teams…).
April Runs 
That looks like fun!
I would do it again, for sure – except the wind.
We have spent two holidays at wassenaar and I can vouch for the wind! Lovely area. Hope. You did not switch teams too quickly don’t think the Dutch team did so well either
Wind sucks. As for soccer, our last bet is Denmark as V’s name is Danish but then I am out of ideas.
Hey the sand must have given you a great pedicure!
We’ll see tomorrow. My legs feel rather heavy now and I haven’t inspected my feet too much. They are under my blanket now, asleep.
Looks lovely.
How did you find your calves felt afterwards? Mine killed when I tried that!
Don’t know yet, will report after this morning run. My whole body feels a bit stiff though. Could be the beer/ wine last night…