Day 4 Mad Friday – The day of Cuijk and the Via Gladiola!

Today's route:

Nijmegen – Overasselt – Heumen – Linden – Cuijk – Malden – Nijmegen.

This is it - we made it to Day 4 - and our final day of the march!

Other than a few US military groups, we only saw one other American walking the event. Talking with one man, I asked if he had seen many Americans. "Very few … and I am not one," he said, though his accent made it apparent. He proceeded to explain his heart-warming motivation for the March: His mother was never able to thank the liberators. She did the walk in their honor while she could then he took over for the last 30 years.

This walker dedicates the annual march to World War II liberators

How about walking 100 miles in clogs?! (The first day he didn't have socks on.)

As a team of 19 who have to complete the event together - following the stress of yesterday's mob scene - today our group took the liberty to walk a little more spread apart through the narrow areas.

Walking peacefully along Maasdyjk (dike)

The town of Linden chooses a decor theme each year - this year's was "Wild West", making us feel at home!

Beers: This is our kind of town!

In Cuijk they build a temporary pontoon bridge just for the walk

There's no way to predict what the weather will be like during the Vierdaagse. As the rainiest month, July promises rain - like we experienced on Day 2. Today we got the heat! Some years it can be so hot that the organizers will start cancellations (miles or days) to avoid deadly circumstances. Today thankfully wasn't canceled!

The unofficial song of this year's 4Daagse "Baila de Gasolina" is played repeatedly through each town and gets the same reaction from the Dutch as a Pavlov experiment: in complete unison they turn into party mode with their hands in the air, singing and dancing - and age does not matter! I can't imagine a single song getting such a unified, rapturous reaction from any crowd in the US!

What amazes me about the participants of the 4Daagse is their perseverance. Jeannette told herself: mind over matter. At this point, every walker has been in - or is still in - some level of discomfort or excruciating pain. The best way to envision it is to go to the military's Kamp Heumensoord Facebook page, if your stomach can handle it. They post the blister of the day - and they are pretty gnarly pictures!

You see the pain people are in and then you think about the tradition here: to repeat the event year after year. The current record for repeat performances is held by a 77 year old who has done it 60 times!

What is this madness??? You do all this not just for personal glory but to earn the Vierdaagsekruis – the Cross of the 4 Days March. Royally approved, the medal is allowed to be worn on most countries' military uniform, including the United States.  It is a real badge of honor, a sign of perseverance. A different medal (or pin) is awarded each year depending on how many times you have completed the Vierdaagse.

As a group, we unofficially finish (get our final scan in) and receive our medals at sports park De Kluis ~5km before the official finish. Then we continue along 'Via Gladiola', the last part of the official route.

Just as we were about to step off the route to pick up our medals, a lady popped out to give away 6 cold beers. The timing was impeccable and we each managed to get one.

What you get for completing the 4-Daagse: Vierdaagsekruis

Via Gladiola is the final legendary stretch to the finish. It is named after the gladiolus flower signifying victory, strength, and pride. The Dutch have a saying "death or gladioli" - a proverb from the Roman era meaning it's All or Nothing, Do or Die, Never Give Up. It pretty much sums up the spirit of completing this four-day challenge. Thousands of people are lined along the street showering the finishers with gladiolus. The waves of flowers and cheering along with the great sense of accomplishment is a shock to the senses and an incredibly emotional moment.

Walking down Via Gladiola is the big payoff for all that effort

Our BDWF team of 19 members, who started the week as strangers, shared the struggle, pushed our limits together, stood by each other's side for 100 miles, and made sure we all finished. It creates a bond!

Afterwards, back at the Shamrock for a celebratory pint - where our week and friendships began - the waitress asked Scott, "Are you standing because you know you wouldn't be able to get up again?"  Yes! And with the excruciating blisters on his feet, he could be a contender for Blister of the Day.

We had been warned about catching the so-called 4 Daagse virus. You experience this event where people connect and support each other - people from all over, different backgrounds - and you mix that camaraderie with the incredible party atmosphere of the Vierdaagsefeesten. It creates this powerful experience: a feeling of belonging and accomplishment. It is what drives you to want to return back each year to do it again and again.

Relaxing with BDWF back at the sports hall bar, we were told we need to come back next year to complete our first year medal with a crown from the second year medal. "If you are daft enough to come again - and bring some friends you don't like," Gwyndaf joked. Will we be back? I don't know … but Greg really likes the 6-year medal!

The Vierdaagse is so much more than just a long walk. It is 107 years of history, a massive international gathering, a serious physical test, and this unbelievably huge party – all happening in this ancient yet very modern city. There's a unique magic to it - and we have BDWF, our teammates, and Ash to thank for the incredible experience.

We are so grateful!