Borne, June 2010

Dear Sir, Madam,

On the 24th of September I hope my dream will come true by finishing as high as possible during the Spartathlon (see www.spartathlon.gr and www.ultralopers.borne.nl), a race over 246 kilometres from Athens to Sparta.

In 2009, I finished in fifth place. When there’s a will, there’s a way!

In 1983 it was tried to run the distance between Athens and Sparta within 36 hours, just as Pheidippides did according to the writings of Herodotus. Pheidippides was a Greek courier who ran a long distance after the battle at Marathon. This is why the classic sport event is named the ‘marathon’.

One version of the story is that he ran to Athens to report that the Athens defeated the Persian people. According to some people he ran all the way back to Marathon afterwards. Herodotus claimed that the same runner was sent from Athens to Sparta (246 km) and back to call for help. It would have taken him two days to get to Sparta, whereas the 1000m high Sangas pass had to be conquered after 160 kilometres as well.

In 1983 the first Spartathlon was held. A group of English athletes ran the reconstructed route. This was the beginning of a classic race for long distance running athletes. In 1984, the International Spartathlon Association (ISA) was founded, which organizes this event each year in September.

Nowadays the Spartathlon is a famous international ultra running race. The route is reconstructed as accurately as possible, according to the original route that Pheidippides ran in 490 BC. He died on the way back.

In order to be allowed to enter this event, each athlete must have run 100 kilometres within 10:30 hours in the last three years. However, the Spartathlon is something completely different. High temperatures, many hills and a mountain pass have to be conquered during the 246 kilometres. On average, only one third of all participating athletes are able to finish the race.

My personal preparations have started recently to enable a maximum performance during the event to come. Last year we learned a great deal which enables us to prepare for this year’s start even better.

The staff consists of Gerrit van Rotterdam (former Dutch national coach ultra running), Frank Heldoorn (multiple Dutch champion Triathlon) and Floris Wardenaar (sports dietician specialist from the TVM skating team). Furthermore there will be Marcel Nijhof and my daughter Emilia (14 years old) who also accompanied me day and night during the Spartathlon 2009. There are only three Dutchmen who have ever reached the Spartathlon victory stand: Ron Teunisse (two times runner-up!), Jeffrey Oonk and Cees Verhagen.

Ultralopersborne.nl (Gerry Visser and Jan-Albert Lantink) supports the Vajra Foundation, whose aim is, among other things, building schools in Nepal. We are looking for companies that are willing to support the Vajra Foundation as well. A country can merely develop when children get the opportunity to receive proper education. I would like to invite everyone to become a contributor of this foundation if I am able to get a high ranking (=victory stand). This will give extra motivation to go to the absolute limit!

We would like to ask your attention for the following project of the Vajra Foundation:
The successful Vajra Academy, founded by the Vajra foundation, has an urgent need for a new boarding school. One part of the present school is now being used as bedroom, which therefore cannot be used as classrooms anymore. The Vajra Foundation is growing every year by one classroom. Within four years, we would like to accommodate all the 13 classes in one school. According to the plans, the children would gain a lot more space than they have now, the sanitary facilities will be larger and there is more room for the children to create their own space. After all, they live at the Vajra Foundation throughout most part of the year. Therefore, the school has to feel like family for them.

The calculated costs of the new boarding school will be around €164,650.00, which is a huge amount. However, it is really needed as the limits of the present school are almost reached. In case you are interested in the building plans of the future boarding school, I can send them to you by ordinary mail or per e-mail.

Perhaps there are opportunities for you in this project and are you willing to support our foundation as a contributor. For more information I like to invite you to contact me.

In 2009 I finished 5th after 26 hours. In 2010, the Spartathlon will take place on 24 and 25 September and will start at 07:00 am at the base of the Acropolis. Afterwards I can report about the development of the race, the extensive preparations (physically but even more mentally), the nutrition, fluids and acclimatization (temperature during the day will be 30-34 degrees). In short: what is needed to run for 24 to 26 hours? I would like to inform you as well about the developments within the foundation, the developments of the new school, education and the influence of neighbouring countries.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your time.

Kind regards,

Jan-Albert Lantink MSC
Pinksterbloem 10
7623CM BORNE
The Netherlands

Tel.: +003174 2666 912 / +00316 538 61 688
E-mail: J.A.Lantink@home.nl
www.ultralopersborne.nl