The Like2Run philosophy is paying off: the future of our lifestyle and top sporting events is prosperous

With the ABN AMRO Marathon Rotterdam, the ABN AMRO CPC Run The Hague, Ladies Run Rotterdam and Zilveren Kruis Bridges Run Rotterdam we have a great year behind us. And the future of these Like2Run events looks even more prosperous.

With the new-style Bridges Run, which premiered last month with six thousand participants, we succeeded in our efforts to create a special event in the magical Christmas atmosphere. The more than enthusiastic responses we received from everyone, underscores our belief that there is enormous potential, with De Kuip as the attractive and inspiring hub.

That great potential also applies to the Ladies Run, which, with six thousand ladies, was successfully moved to Ahoy last June. Our two lifestyle events have been radically renewed in 2011 and have the opportunity to grow in the coming years and be even more emphatically trendsetting. Of course while maintaining the characteristic Like2Run quality: We like to run the extra mile to create winners, not for nothing our motto.

"In fact, with the Zilveren Kruis Bridges Run and the Ladies Run Rotterdam we have put two new events on the map"

The fact that the metamorphosis of the Bridges Run and the Ladies Run has been so successful, is largely due to the efforts of our volunteers and the cooperation of the municipal services. They therefore deserve our thanks and appreciation. In fact we have all been involved in putting two 'new' events on the map, with new locations and new courses.

We are also innovative and ambitious about the ABN AMRO Marathon Rotterdam and the ABN AMRO CPC Run The Hague.  At these more 'achievement' oriented events we expect record attendances of 25,000 and 32,000 respectively, this year.

We will continue to organise the ABN AMRO Kids Runs on the Saturday before the Marathon. The Provinces Marathon Challenge, where the prestigious title of the Netherlands' fastest marathon province is up for grabs, and the Super Marathon Masters, where loyal participants are put in the spotlight, are new initiatives that add something extra to our Marathon.

The ABN AMRO Marathon Rotterdam and the ABN AMRO CPC Run The Hague have international reputations as major events where fast times and many personal bests are run. We intend to keep it that way and will therefore will be investing our efforts in these events again in 2012.

In the next CPC Run, on Sunday, March 11, we want to bring the half-marathon world record, which Samuel Wanjiru achieved in 1997, back to The Hague.  In favourable weather conditions Leonard Komon should be able to run a great time.

"We want a world record at the ABN AMRO CPC Run The Hague and at the ABN AMRO Marathon Rotterdam"

A few weeks later, on Sunday, April 15, we will be looking for a world record again at our Marathon. That has been run three times on the Coolsingel, twice in the men's category (Carlos Lopes and Belayneh Densamo), once in the women's category (Tegla Loroupe).

A year ago I predicted here that the world record would soon be broken. That indeed happened: Patrick Makau ran 02.03.38 in Berlin. Now I say: a even sharper world record will be achieved in the short term.

It can be even sooner and we want show that in three months in Rotterdam. We expect a lot of Moses Mosop, who will lead an unprecedented field of runners. The start is half an hour early, at 10:30. This increases the likelihood of (slightly) more favourable weather conditions with a better temperature and less wind. Every detail counts.

In this interesting sports year, with among others the Olympic Games in London, which many marathoners are hoping to qualify for, in Rotterdam, we the organisers will do everything to get the best out of ourselves. Thus, entirely in line with our Like2Run philosophy, to give our participants, at every level, the chance to surpass themselves and have fun while running - in every possible manner.

MARIO KADIKS