NSK Trappenloop 2023 | Asterix stories

Last Friday, a big group of Gauls went to Nijmegen to participate in the NSK Trappnloop! Organized by our friend from ‘t Haasje, we knew it was going to be a great event! They had even scared us a bit in advance by letting us know it was the biggest ever NSK Trappenloop…

The first event of the evening was the 10 stages for the men. In the non-student category, Gijs won in a time of 0:57! Gijs got the silver medal in the NSK on the 10 stages already in 2018, so he had lots of experience to guide him to this first place!

In the NSK 10 stages, we had Tristan and Jim in a time of 56 seconds (which was a shared 4^th place together with 4 others), Maron just behind on 58 seconds in 12^th place, then Tom and Jens in 1:00 in shared 17^th place, followed by Bjorn in 1:01 (23^rd) and Harm in 1:02 (24^th). Rafał finished in 1:06 and 26^th place. The time of Stijn is until now not yet known due to some technical difficulties.

Harm (left) climbing the stairs. It’s actually quite high (right).

After these men showed how it’s done, Audrey and Vera were next in the NSK 10 stages. Audrey finished 11^th in a time of 1:30. Just like with Stijn, Vera’s time is not yet known either.

Before the start of the 20 stages, Matthijs managed to bras the mascot of Currimus, Curry the mus.

The second event of the day was the best visited event at the NSK: the 20 stages for the men. Of course, Asterix was well represented there! Winning the event with overwhelming might was Lorens in a time of 2:04. Last time he finished 3^rd in the 10 stages (back then in a time of 56s), after which he vowed to win the 20 stages this time. So he did, and in the process he beat Kai, who finished in 2:10 and 3^rd place, and the winner of last time, Matthijs, who finished in 2:12 and 4^th place. With this, we had 3 Gauls in the top 4, out of a total field consisting of 48 athletes! Kjell also ran the 20 stages, and he finished in a very respectable time of 2:43 in 31st!

Kjell and Kai still look fresh: this picture was probably taken somewhere in the beginning of the 20 stages.

Lorens and Kai celebrating on the podium.

What do you think Lorens likes more? Receiving medals or eating kiwis “the right way”?

In the NSK 20 stages for the women, Clara did really well: she finished in 4:19 and 11^th place!

At this point, Clara was still enjoying the race!

After the individual events, it was time for the relays!

In the 4×5 stages relay NSK, Team Toutatis Tijgers consisting of Maron, Stijn, Lorens and Jim won in a ridiculous time of 1:41, beating the competition by 6 full seconds.

Bolt (the mascot of Toutatis) was content with his team’s performance! Toutatis really was the fastest fraternity on Friday!

Also participating in the regular relay (but then not NSK) were the 55^th board with Tom, Bjorn, Gijs and Kjell, and another team consisting of Rowan, Matthijs, trainer Wichard and his son Tonnie. The board team won in a time of 1:57, and Rowan’s team claimed silver in 2:24!

Maybe no medals in the non-NSK category, but there were Milka Chocolate bars!

With a lot of medals won, and a lot of fun had, the NSK was a massive success!

We are looking forward to the next NSK, the NSK Cross in Maastricht!

Written by Lorens