Sanne Broeksma: "The new course is nicer and more appealing. I have seen a lot en route'

Sanne Broeksma (24) ran the AD Haagsche Courant 10 km Run on Sunday 14 March 2010 during the CPC Run The Hague. The Planner from Rotterdam was relaxed when ran to the second place in the women's category and was happy with her time: 34.55.  She didn't expect the result, which she achieved a week after the NK (Netherlands Championship) Cross in Hellendoorn, where she came sixth.

What was the course like?

"Excellent. I was here last year as well, but I thought this course was nicer, more appealing. It was noticeable that there were less bends. I saw some lovely things along the way and there were many spectators who lined the route. The final straight bit to the finish was also great. Same that there was some wind and it was cold, but there's nothing you can do about that."

Happy with your time?

"Of course. After the NK Cross I had trained the whole week. I just wanted to run a good race and see how that would go after one week's training. I was thinking of a time somewhere near 35 minutes. That time of 34.55 was very good if you think that I ran the same time earlier this year, in a race where I wanted to peak. I knew I wouldn't be breaking my last spring's personal best of 34.10. I had given it my all during the NK Cross and you can't expect another top achievement seven days later. A good run was the most important thing for me and that time of 34.55 is a nice bonus.

You could have rested after the NK Cross.

"Yes but the CPC Run The Hague means something special for me. Besides my job as a planner with the municipality of Delft, I also man the Run2Day shop in The Hague one day every two weeks. I've been doing that job since I was a student. I have got to know a lot of people in The Hague through the shop and that's why I like to run in the city. I do it with great pleasure."

You used to play korfball, how did you come to run?

I originate from Alphen aan den Rijn and always watched the "Twingtig van Alphen" (Alphen's twenty). I wanted to take part. Three years ago I ran it with a friend and then I ran the ten kilometres in the Rotterdam Marathon. Running suited me and kept improving myself. Last year I stopped playing korfball with Tempo."

You also suffered a foot injury last year.

"I over did it. It started in May and I finally recovered at the end of October. I've been able to train really well this winter. I have heard many people complaining about the snow and the frost, but I thought there was something nice about it. Perhaps I am the only athlete, but I quite like running on soft snow. I also don't see myself running 30 kilometres on a running machine."

A year ago you surprised everyone with a third place in the NK Cross, but were disqualified a little later.

"I had never before taken part in a Dutch Championship. Everything was new for me. I didn't even have a club kit. I borrowed a PAC shirt from a training buddy and put on my own black shorts.  It then transpired that I should have run the NK in official green PAC shorts. That lead to my disqualification. It's a shame; I really didn't know that was a rule. I thought a shirt with the name of PAC on it was enough."

What are the plans for the future?

This year I want to run well at the NK five and ten kilometres. A personal best at the 10 kilometres would also be nice. I've been running for a relatively short time and don't know what I can achieve. For the time being I'm keeping to the shorter distances, but maybe I'll run the New York marathon some day for my pleasure."