2026 Race Calendar: From Marathons to a Swim-Run Backyard Ultra

Posted on December 27, 2025•By John Kraijenbrink•Column

2026 Race Calendar: From Marathons to a Swim-Run Backyard Ultra

It’s the time of wrapped. Of recaps. I’m sorry. I’m not joining in. I’m not very good at looking back. I’m more a person who looks forward. To 2026. To my race calendar. It’s shaping up nicely. Although it’s full of marathons, triathlons and a weird swim-run backyard ultra, somehow it makes sense. I think. I hope.

I know, I know — it’s important to look back. To learn what went wrong and what went right. Been there, done that. Lessons learned. Time to move on.

A year of discovery

2026 will be a year of discovery. Trying out new things. Fewer trails, hardly any ultras, more experiments.

The start will be traditional: a spring marathon. But after that, it’s time to play. Well, before that as well, because tomorrow Sara and I will be running the End of the Year Trail in Giersbergen, The Netherlands. We’re among the lucky ones, as the trail was sold out within 33 minutes. As soon as I finish that trail, my focus shifts to the marathon.

Van Moer and Enschede Marathon

My goal: a new personal best at the Enschede Marathon (The Netherlands) on April 12. No Rotterdam for me in 2026. Too busy. Not enough space to run. The Rotterdam Marathon is known as a fast marathon, but I think that mainly applies to fast runners. If you’re a mid-pack runner like me — 3:46 — you’re trapped in a crowd that shuffles forward. So I’m choosing Enschede. Smaller. And I haven’t run that marathon before. I like new things.

It won’t be my first marathon of the year. I’m running the Van Moer Marathon in Kruibeke on the last day of February. A winter marathon. No time goal there — just a test for my legs. A long interval session, with sections at my desired marathon pace for Enschede and easier sections in between.

Sara will be running the 10k that day. For her, it’s also a try-out for Enschede. She’ll be running the same distance there.

Belgian Front Memorial Trail

After Enschede, on May 2, I’ll be running the Belgian Front Memorial Trail in Diksmuide. Either the ultra (100k) or the half marathon. It all depends on how I recover from Enschede.

To prepare for Enschede, I’ll be doing a lot of cross-training. Cycling, to be more specific. Well, cycling and swimming. My next event, from May 22–24, is the Long Course Weekend in Maastricht — a triathlon spread over three days. I’ll be doing the half version: swimming 2 kilometres, cycling 100 kilometres, and running a half marathon. The cycling is what worries me most, so I’m already building towards that now.

I really like this concept. It feels like a smooth entry into the triathlon world. A full triathlon still feels like something for heroes. Maybe one day I’ll be one of them. Perhaps the Long Course Weekend could be the final step. That’s more a 2027 thought. For now, half a triathlon already sounds like a serious challenge.

Rivierenland Triathlon

It won’t be my only triathlon of the year. I have one — hopefully two — more planned. On July 5, I’ll be doing the Rivierenland Triathlon in Zoelen (The Netherlands). A small one, where it’s all about taking part. Not so much about winning. That suits me. I compete with myself. Nobody else.

My last triathlon, at the beginning of September, will hopefully be the High Tech Triathlon in Eindhoven — the big city next door. Hopefully, because there’s no date on their website yet, so I don’t know if it’s happening.

Swim-Run Backyard Ultra Amsterdam

Before I fully turn into a triathlete, there’s another new thing on the calendar: the Backyard Ultra Amsterdam on June 20. Not a normal one. A swim-run backyard ultra. How cool is that?

I know regular swim-runs. You dive into a pool or lake, swim a kilometre, get out, and run 10 kilometres. Nice, but nothing special. Earlier this year, though, I discovered the trail swim-run version. You run, dive into a lake, swim across, get out, run to the next lake or river, swim again, climb out, run, and so on.

This backyard ultra will be like that. Every loop we have to run five times — a total of 4,400 metres — and swim five times — a total of 600 metres. All within an hour, just like a regular backyard ultra. Every hour, we start again.

The big difference is the time limit: 10 hours max. If I make it that far, I’ll end up with 44 kilometres of running and 6 kilometres of swimming. The running will be fine. Swimming that much is something I’ll have to train for.

Bosland Trail

The week before the triathlon in Eindhoven, I’m running the Bosland Trail. That trail is in National Park Bosland, just across the border in Lommel, Belgium. I got invited and couldn’t say no — it’s my favourite area to run. I just haven’t decided yet whether I’ll run the 25, 32, or 50 kilometres. That will depend on how much fatigue I’m carrying by then.

Because there’s one more big goal in 2026: the Eindhoven Marathon on October 11. I’ve been running everywhere — except in Eindhoven. I think the time has come. And maybe, just maybe, I can run another personal best.

Valencia Marathon

So, is that it? That depends on luck. I hope to finish 2026 in style, with one more marathon: the Valencia Marathon on December 6, 2026. I’ve subscribed, but like so many big races, there’s a lottery. So luck will decide whether my year ends in Eindhoven or Valencia.

Keep on Running,
John

John Kraijenbrink

Running Coach - Massage Therapist - Yoga Teacher - Journalist - Gear Tester. I run for the joy of running. Yet, I like to challenge myself to be the best version I can be. For me that means dedicating myself to a structured training plan. You can find me on the road, trails, on my gravel bike or in the swimming pool.