Three days, one challenge: the EMMA Marathon Challenge Parkstad

Staying active matters. Everyone knows that. But actually getting people moving is often more difficult. That is why EMMA Safety Footwear has linked its name to the EMMA Marathon Challenge Parkstad. A sporting event with a unique concept: participants complete the marathon distance, spread across three days.

For Jochen Kirschner, Commercial Director at EMMA, this fits perfectly with an important theme within the organisation: vitality in the workplace. “We want to encourage employees to stay active”, he explains. “We’ve noticed that simply offering a gym membership is not always enough. What really helps is motivating people and getting them excited to move.”

The connection with the event originated through the Parelloop, which EMMA has been involved with in the past. To celebrate the 35th anniversary, a special Marathon Challenge was organised. The response was so enthusiastic that the event has now grown into a recurring initiative.

A challenge for every level
The EMMA Marathon Challenge Parkstad takes place during the Pentecost weekend, from 23 to 25 May 2026. Over three days, participants complete the full marathon distance: 10 English miles (16.1 km), 5 km and a half marathon (21.1 km).

This format makes the event different from a traditional marathon, but not necessarily easier. The course in South Limburg includes plenty of elevation, and the weather can also play a role. What makes it extra challenging is running three days in a row. At the same time, this spread across multiple days is exactly what keeps the event accessible for different fitness levels.
You can also see that among the participants from EMMA. While Jochen is taking on the challenge by running, Hans van de Weijer, Safety Footwear Advisor at EMMA, is consciously choosing to walk this year. Together with his wife.
 
Moving together
For Hans, staying active has been an important part of life for many years. In 2019, he ran the Rotterdam Marathon, trained several times a week for years and participated in fundraising events for ALS and KiKa. For these initiatives, he even covered thousands of kilometres to raise money. The Parelloop is also familiar territory for him. Through the Parellopers, a group that regularly trains together and joins running events, he remained actively involved in running within the region.
 
Nowadays, for Hans, it is less about performance or fast times. “The most important thing is simply finishing”, he says. “And if that’s within a certain time, that’s a nice bonus. But participating and staying active matter more to me.” Because his wife can no longer run due to an injury, they have chosen to walk the challenge together this year. That personal aspect is exactly what makes the event special for him. “It’s not just about sports”, Hans explains. “The connection with each other also plays a big role.”
 
More than just a sporting event
Jochen is also taking part in the challenge himself. For him, it is mainly about the challenge. “The goal is simple: finish. All three days.” He does have some target times in mind. On the first day, he aims for around an hour and a half. On day two, the goal is to finish comfortably within 30 minutes. And on the final day, he hopes to cross the finish line within two hours and fifteen minutes.

There is also an extra challenge for Jochen: he is considering running the second day, the 5 kilometres, on the E-BOUNCE. “I tested it once before and it was easier than expected”, he adds with a laugh. “But it’s still a work shoe, not a running shoe, so for the longer distances I’ll stick to proper running footwear.”

It is exactly these different ways of participating that make the EMMA Marathon Challenge Parkstad special. Some people aim for a sporting achievement; others participate to stay active together or simply to complete the challenge. According to Jochen, that is where the strength of the event lies. “The most important thing is that people take that step”, he says. “At their own level.”