As a result of COVID-19 pandemic, the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Amsterdam Marathon will have a virtual start on Sunday October 18th. With the help of the Official Virtual Run App, powered by TCS, competitors can run their distance between the 18th and 25th of October on a route of their own choosing. What will be missing in the digital marathon will be the encouragement from Amsterdam fans along the way, which is important for many runners to achieve their goal. That is why TCS, the title sponsor for the 10th year , together with producer Max Krul, aka MACKS, have developed a mix tape with 3D sound bites of genuine Amsterdam support. With this fantastic audio track, socially-distanced runners will experience inspiration through music, sounds of the cityscape, and cheers of encouragement as they run their virtual marathon. TCS webpage featuring the audiotrack also highlights a call for donations to the Cancer Center Amsterdam Foundation of Amsterdam UMC.

From Amsterdam to Amsterdam
Dozens of Amsterdam natives recorded their encouragement  as audio clips at the start of the mix tape to help runners through difficult moments. MACKS developed an hour-long audio track for marathon runners with the sound bites. The audio track sounds lifelike because all of the wishes, cheers and encouraging words are recorded in 3D, resulting in an experience which makes it seem that you are being encouraged from all sides by spectators along the route.

The track “This Run Amsterdam Sound Experience” by MACKS is available as of this week on Spotify via www.tcsamsterdamarathon.nl/virtual-run/sound-experience/ where you can also make a donation for the Cancer Center Amsterdam Foundation.  

Donations under pressure
The TCS Amsterdam Marathon raises funds every year for cancer research. In recent years, these funds exceeded more than 1.5 million euros. Due to the cancellation of the regular marathon, there will be less exposure for the Cancer Center Amsterdam which will unfortunately have an impact on the donations.

 “We are grateful for the tremendous support we have received since 2012 through the TCS Amsterdam Marathon,” says Geert Kazemier, surgeon and Director of Cancer Center Amsterdam Foundation at Amsterdam UMC. “This financial contribution is used for cancer research that examines whether and how physical exertion and lifestyle changes before and during treatment have a positive impact on survival and quality of life with cancer. We find it inspiring that TCS, together with organizer Le Champion and everyone else involved, has found an alternative to activate participants.”