Top jogger Jo Schoonbroodt on Mont Blanc 2003
SABIC employee finishes as first foreigner in Mont Blanc Marathon
‘Jogger Jo’ keeps on running / ‘Jogger Jo’ loopt van stapel
He has already covered tens of thousands of kilometres and still shows no signs
of slowing down. A hobby
that started 20 years ago with a jog around the block has since stretched to the
marathon in Rotterdam, the
Mergelland Marathon in Limburg and twelve appearances in the Cross du Mont
Blanc, the annual mountain halfmarathon
in the French Alps. On 29 June 2003 Jo Schoonbroodt, employee of SABIC Hydrocarbons,
alias ‘Jogger Jo’,
took his place at the starting line for the first ‘Mont Blanc Marathon’.
“This was the high point of my year, literally and metaphorically,” Jo recalls with pleasure. “Those 42.2
kilometres, with an ascent of more than 1600 metres,
along the slopes of Europe’s highest mountain were unforgettable. The ‘Cross du Mont Blanc’ is 23
kilometres,
so this was the first full marathon to be organized on Mont
Blanc. Five hundred competitors started the race. We first
ran through Chamonix at the foot of the mountain but
quickly found ourselves on unpaved roads and then on
mountain paths, stumbling over the roots of trees and
slipping in the year-round snow. After three hours and with
seven kilometres still to go I was still well on schedule but
disaster struck at the last refreshment station when I got cramp. My legs seized up, they just wouldn’t move.”
450km in training
After a brief involuntary rest Jo dragged himself on, finally
finishing as the first foreign competitor in a time of four
hours and ten minutes. A creditable 21st place out of 455
runners who reached the top, and a place on the podium
as third in the 50-plus category. Jo is satisfied: ”I had
hoped to do that well, but didn’t really expect to,” he
admits. “I had already gone to France with my wife at the
beginning of June to prepare for the race. After running
450 kilometres with differences in altitude of 1100 metres
during training in the Gorges du Verdon I was completely
ready for my first mountain marathon. But it’s still a tough
race.”
In just one month the human running machine covered
around 492 kilometres. “I am happy with my performance,
but I couldn’t have done it alone,” says Jo. “You can’t
reach those heights without the help and support of your
family and colleagues. And by the way, anyone who wants
is welcome to train with me every Saturday morning.”
Jo Schoonbroodt and Anne Lansu uphold the honour of SABIC in the year-round
snow on Mont Blanc. Anne is herself a fanatical member of
the running team but an injury prevented her from taking part
in the exhausting event. But she played her part in Jo’s
success with her support and coaching.
Jo (right) is presented with his medal for finishing third in the
50-plus category.
Klick herer:
1)Mont Blanc Marathon verslag Jogger Jo
2)Top jogger Jo Schoonbroodt on Mont Blanc (Dutch)
3)SABIC EPC passie voor Franse puisten
4)DSM Unlimited bestaat echt
5)Vakantie Ventoux verslag van 2000
6)E-mail Jogger Jo