https://www.trainingsparkle.com/

Trainingsparkle, Wachtebeke (2026)

16/09/2026

📕 Meet Eef 👋

Eef is 60 years old and lives in the Netherlands. 🇳🇱

His running journey began in 2013, when he started joining his wife Anita on her runs. She was recovering from a serious illness and two major surgeries, and Eef came along to support and motivate her. Until then, running had never really appealed to him he much preferred tennis.

But it didn’t take long for Eef to get hooked. His runs became longer, his gear more professional, and in 2015 he completed his first half marathon. A year later, shortly after turning 50, he ran his first full marathon in his hometown of Utrecht.

That first marathon was a struggle, and injuries kept him from trying again for several years. But in 2019, he gave it another shot in Rotterdam and this time, he loved it. Berlin, Valencia, Hamburg, Zürich, Ghent and more followed.

Today, Eef has completed dozens of half marathons and 10 full marathons. After number seven, he actually planned to stop… and then a friend convinced him to do another. Now the counter stands at 10. Will there be an 11th? Eef says no, although his friends have learned not to believe him.

For Eef, running is about much more than races and medals. It keeps him fit, relaxed and happy. His goals now are to recover from a knee injury, keep his 10-year Berenloop streak alive, and complete his half marathon challenge across the Dutch provinces.

And all those running memories? Eef captures them in his Trainingsparkle yearbooks. After years of tracking his runs, photos and memories on Strava, he wanted to turn them into a yearly running book only to discover Trainingsparkle had already had the same “brilliant” idea.

He has now created three yearbooks filled with memories he loves looking back on.

Curious to follow Eef’s journey? Stay tuned! Eef

30/08/2026

Your Sydney Story, more than 26 miles. 🇦🇺🏅

You didn’t just run Sydney.

You trained for it.
You showed up.
You kept going.

Early mornings. Long runs. Countless miles.
The miles you ran alone and the ones you shared with friends.

You earned every mile.

Your Strava remembers the data.
Trainingsparkle turns it into a story worth keeping.

Your routes, stats, activities and photos beautifully brought together in your own personalized hardcover book.

Simply connect your Strava, create and personalize your book, and we’ll take care of the rest.

You ran Sydney.
Now cherish everything it took to get there.

Turn your Strava into your story.
Swipe to see how it works → 📕

28/08/2026

🇦🇺🦘Sydney Marathon Story

Meet Ashley, 30, from Newcastle, Australia.

In August 2025, Ashley stood at the start of the Sydney Marathon for her very first marathon in the same year Sydney became a World Marathon Major.

What made that moment even more special?

Just 10 months earlier, she couldn’t even run 1 kilometer.

Standing at the start, Ashley looked back on more than 500 kilometers of training that had brought her to this moment. The feeling of pride was incredible.

And then the adventure began.

Running across the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge at the start of the race became one of her most memorable moments. The buzz throughout the city, the cheering crowds and the incredible atmosphere helped carry her towards the finish.

But Sydney wasn’t going to make it easy.

With plenty of hills along the course including some challenging climbs in the final 5 kilometers Ashley knew she had to be smart. As this was her first marathon, she didn’t set herself a time goal. She simply wanted to enjoy the experience, run within her limits and discover what her body was capable of.

Halfway through, however, she realized something exciting.

If she could maintain her pace, a sub-4-hour marathon was within reach.

Ashley eventually crossed the finish line in an incredible 3:55.

Her first-ever marathon.
A challenging, hilly course.
And five minutes under four hours.

But the time wasn’t what made Sydney unforgettable.

It was running through a city filled with iconic landmarks. Crossing the Harbour Bridge. Hearing the crowds. And finally reaching one of the most spectacular finish lines in the world: the Sydney Opera House.

Ashley finished feeling happy, strong and completely elated.

From not being able to run 1 kilometer to completing her first marathon just 10 months later Sydney became a memory she will carry with her forever.

And for everyone taking on Sydney this weekend, Ashley has some advice:

“Soak in the atmosphere, the landmarks and the crowd. Have fun! It is electric!”

And one more important thing…

Don’t forget to carb-load. Lots of bread and pasta! 🍝

Ashley Burgess - Travel Agent

26/08/2026

🗺️ Meet Deveny 🏅

A few years ago, if you had told Deveny that she would one day run marathons around the world, she probably would have laughed at you.

Life back then was very different. She worked hard, loved going out and having fun, and sports certainly weren’t at the center of her life.

Then came the pandemic.

After running her first half marathon, Deveny jokingly said: “Now I’m going for the Majors.”

What started as a joke slowly turned into a dream.

In 2021, she lined up for her first marathon in Amsterdam. Somewhere along those 42.195 kilometers, she was absolutely certain about one thing:

“I’m never doing this again!”

But then she crossed the finish line and saw her father waiting for her.

Suddenly, “never again” became:

“I want to run Berlin!”

And that was only the beginning.

One marathon became another. Amsterdam led to Berlin, and eventually Deveny found herself running some of the most iconic streets in the world.

New York. Chicago. London. Berlin. Tokyo. Boston.

Six World Marathon Majors. 🏅

Of all those unforgettable moments, one stands above the rest: receiving her Six Star Medal in Boston.

It was something she had dreamed about for years, but never truly believed she would achieve.

Yet Deveny’s journey became about much more than collecting medals.

During an internship at Emma Children’s Hospital in Amsterdam, she regularly spent time around the oncology department. Seeing the children there and hearing their stories stayed with her.

So when she discovered she could combine her dream of running the Majors with raising money for KiKa, the choice was easy.

Four of her marathons became about something much bigger than reaching a finish line.

Whenever a marathon got tough, she reminded herself:

“Come on. You’re doing this for the kids.”

She thought about the children she had met in the hospital and the stories she had heard along the way.

And she kept going.

Through those four marathons, countless fundraising efforts and the incredible support of friends, family and businesses, Deveny has raised approximately €26,500 for KiKa.

Now, another starting line is waiting, Sydney!

23/08/2026

🚴🏊‍♂️🏃🏼‍♂️MY FIRST IRONMAN 🏃🏼‍♂️🏊‍♂️🚴

Three years ago today, at 21:52 local time, I became an IRONMAN in Vichy, France.

Only 468 of the 575 athletes finished that day. I was one of them.

We were in the middle of a heatwave, with temperatures reaching 39°C. The race could have been cancelled or shortened, but somehow we got lucky.

🏊‍♂️ Swim 3.8 km
I jumped into the water without a wetsuit. Water temperature: 27°C.

🚴‍♂️ Bike 180 km / 2,500m elevation
Right from the start, I felt something was wrong. Both tyres had bumps, probably caused by the heat the day before. I was genuinely afraid one might explode.

Then came 180 km in 39°C heat. One climb lasted more than 30 minutes, baking in the sun. But the views were incredible and made it worth it. After more than 7 hours, I returned to Vichy. Putting my bike back felt like taking a pizza out of a hot oven. Along the course, I saw athletes crying and medics helping people who had to stop. I knew I had to adapt.

🏃‍♂️ Run 42.2 km
Keep moving. Don’t give up. Run/walk. The sun was still burning and I had a headache from the sun. Luck by my side after more than 5 hours, I finally crossed the finish line. And then I heard the most beautiful words of the day:

“DANIEL, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN.”

It was one of the hardest days I’ve ever experienced. But it taught me something I’ll never forget:

When you believe in yourself, you can do great things.

Three years later, I’m still incredibly proud of that day. ❤️

20/08/2026

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻.
𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆.

The early mornings.
The long runs.
The days it felt easy and the days it didn’t.

Every training session becomes another activity on Strava. Until one day, all those miles lead to one unforgettable finish line.

The training plan gets you there.

But the journey?

That’s a story worth keeping.

With Trainingsparkle, you can turn your Strava or Garmin activities, routes, photos and memories into your own hardcover book.

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀. 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆.

trainingsparkle

02/08/2026

🔥Race season starts now!🔥

A new month. New goals. New challenges.

The second half of the season starts now!
With races and marathons ahead, it’s time to stay focused, trust the process and keep moving forward.

Every training counts. Every step matters.

What’s your next race?

26/07/2026

📕 Meet Samuel 👋

Samuel is 43 years old and lives in the United States. 🇺🇸

His running journey began at the age of 40, when he completed his very first long-distance race. Crossing the finish line and earning his first finisher’s medal made him feel like a winner and from that moment on, he was hooked.

What started with one race quickly turned into an incredible journey. In his first year alone, Samuel completed 30 races, found a supportive run club, and discovered a passion that would take him far beyond his hometown.

Today, he’s chasing a new goal: completing all six races in the SuperHalfs series. So far, he’s finished four, with Lisbon standing out as his favorite. Running across the iconic 25 de Abril Bridge, setting a new personal best, and experiencing the incredible atmosphere made it a race he’ll never forget.

For Samuel, running is about much more than finish times. It’s about personal growth, mental strength, and the amazing community that comes with the sport. Even after setbacks and injuries, he keeps showing up, reminding himself that he’s doing this not just for races but for himself.

That’s why he chose to capture his journey in the Trainingsparkle yearbooks. A place to preserve every milestone, every memory, and every page of a story that’s still being written.

Curious to follow Samuel’s journey? Stay tuned!
Samuel Woo

17/07/2026

🏃🏼‍♀️📖 Meet Tamara 📖🏃🏼‍♀️

Tamara is 26 years old, lives in Uithoorn (Netherlands) with her cat Milou, and works at an after-school sports program.

Her running journey began at a young age with her local athletics club. She first joined the jumping group, but it didn’t take long for her to discover that her true passion was long-distance running. With the support of her coach, her confidence grew, and so did the distances she was able to run.

In 2020, she completed her first half marathon, followed soon after by her first full marathon in Amsterdam. Today, running is much more than just a sport to Tamara. It’s the moment she clears her mind, switches off from the world around her, and simply enjoys the freedom of running.

Like every runner, she’s faced challenges along the way. After her first marathon, she lost her motivation, but that experience taught her just how important having goals is. Since then, she’s always made sure there’s another adventure waiting on the calendar.

This year, that adventure is the Berlin Marathon. And is there already another goal after that? Absolutely… but she’ll keep that one a secret a little while longer!

To preserve all of these special memories, Tamara documents her running journey in the annual journals by Trainingsparkle. Because looking back at how far you’ve come can be just as rewarding as crossing the finish line itself.

🏃🏼‍♀️ Tamara Van Lingen

Trainingsparkle

16/09/2026

30/08/2026

28/08/2026

26/08/2026

23/08/2026

20/08/2026

02/08/2026

26/07/2026

17/07/2026

Adres

Website

Meldingen

Snelkoppelingen

Delen

Type

Verzoek om vermelding te verwijderen