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Lagoa, Lisbon, London and now the Big Apple 27/10/2000
Updated: 27-Oct-2000
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Robert and Truus Zandstra with their medals after the Lisbon half-marathon
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Her husband Robert arrives at their house five minutes later, in appearance as athletic as his wife. Kitted out in trainers, running shorts and T-shirt, he says: "I like all sports and yes, Truus' running has inspired me to run as well. It's company, too. Training is easier if you can run together."
On Friday, November 3, Robert and Truus will fly from Faro to Lisbon where they will catch a connecting flight to New York. Two days later they will join 30,000 runners from all over the world for the 2000 New York Marathon.
"We've run in the Lisbon half-marathon since 1997 and run two Lagos half-marathons, too." Truus told me: "Last year we ran in the London marathon where I recorded a time of four hours and 42 minutes. Robert's time was four hours and 27 minutes. It's tremendous to be running in New York this year and we both hope to improve on our London times there."
The Dutch couple's chosen charity when they run in New York will be Refúgio Aboim Ascensão in Faro which cares for disadvantaged and abandoned children. As part of a special sponsorship incentive, anyone donating £100 will get a dinner for four prepared by Robert and cooked by Truus. A £50 donation earns a chocolate cake. Robert says marathons and charity causes provide tremendous goals for their training.
For New York, the husband and wife team are preparing with the Bruce Tulloh training schedule. Those with longer memories will recall Tulloh was the Scots long distance athlete with a penchant for running bare-footed. One part of the schedule involves running one minute fast and then one minute slow. It also involves running five days a week. Truus believes it helps an athlete to take a break during the week and not run every day."
Now 48, Truus began running with a Dutch athletic club in her mid-twenties. She and Robert moved to the Algarve 13 years ago. "I took up aerobics which, like any form of athletics, gives me a red face," said Truus. "About five years ago, immediately after aerobics a man in Carvoeiro noticed my colour and commented that his girlfriend wanted someone to run with, so I took it up again." Since when, Truus and Robert Zandstra have not looked back.
The director of Refúgio Aboim Ascensão, Dr. Luís Villas Boas, told the Algarve Resident: "I'm both pleased and honoured that Truus and Robert are running for the home. It means a lot to the children here as they come up to their first Christmas of the new millennium."
• For further details on sponsorship call Truus or Robert on 282 358400.
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