This was a race I was really excited about. I was supposed to run in last year but since it was only a week after Prague Marathon I decided against it. At that time it would be just too much. It was different this year. Instead of a spring marathon I decided to attend Vltava Run and here is my Vltava run recap.
About Vltava Run
Vltava Run is a relay race from Zadov – Šumava to Prague. It’s 377 kilometers long and has 36 sections. The course is through woods, along hiking paths and on country roads. It leads over hills, along rivers, through woods, valleys, historic towns and picturesque villages of Bohemia to the finish line in Prague.
Pre race
It’s not a race you want to run not knowing it. Sure, there are teams who run it the first time but make sure to get all possible information beforehand. I was part of the One+Eleven team and a lot of my teammates already ran the race in previous years, so I got all the information I needed before traveling to Prague and from Prague to the start line in Zadov.
On the organizers web page you can find all relevant information about the sections you are going to run, like to ground you’ll be running on and the elevation chart. There is even a gpx file for each section that you can download and then upload into your running watch. I did so but found out, that the course itself was very well marked and that it’s much safer to look at the course markers while running on trails than looking down at your watch.
Vltava run recap – the race
Our team had 12 members and we where divided into 2 cars. I was in the first one and we started the race at 4.50 in the morning. As soon as the first runner of our car started the rest of us jumped into the car and drove to the next handoff point, where the next runner started. Basically you drive from handoff point to handoff point until you get to the finish line. Except for the time, when members of the second car are running and you have a few hours to get some rest, maybe sleep for an hour or two and eat something.
The trick is to get ready one or two handoff points before you start to run your section, maybe even do some light jogging to warm up one handoff point before you start and some dynamic drills when reaching the start of the section. Just to get the legs moving and prepared.
The first section I ran was a 15 kilometer stretch on roads through a forrest. It was quiet and peaceful. The section details suggested that it’s slightly downhill and mostly flat. It was slightly downhill but mostly rolling so constant up’s and down’s. Not steep but still. The good thing was, that I was the last runner from our car and had enough time to change after finishing the run and even do some walking as a cool down routine.
The second section, late in the afternoon was very different. I managed to get an hour of sleep while members of our second car where running and that was good. It’s a race, where you need to rest whenever you have the chance. But back to the second section I ran. It took me over hills, quite a few of them, mostly on trails. It was much steeper that the course profile suggested with very technical trails on the downhills. Not the easiest for me, since I run mostly flat half marathons and marathons. My legs where hurting and it was far from easy. But after 14 kilometers I made it to the handoff point and I was glad it was over.
I knew there was still one more section to run and to be honest, after finishing my second section, I was a bit afraid of it. My body was tired, legs where heavy and I knew that I would be able to get 2, maybe 3 hours of sleep, before we will get back into the car and start running. At 2.30 in the morning, after 3 hours of sleep in a sleeping bag, it was time to hit the road and drive to the next handoff point to start running again. Gladly I was not the first one of our car and I had some time to get my legs moving at each handoff. It was a struggle. My quads where heavy and my legs hurt while walking or jogging.
At 5.50 in the morning it was time to attack my last section. We arrived to the handoff point quite early so I had about 15 minutes to warm up, do some light jogging, some dynamic drills and some very controlled and not too fast strides. A few minutes before I started the sun just got up and that gave me the energy I needed.
This last leg was supposed to be mostly on roads but it turned out that quite a lot of the roads where more trails over 4 hills with the last 3 kilometers on flat roads. I walked most of the uphill parts to conserve the little energy I had left in my body to try and run the downhills a bit faster. But even on the downhill parts I was struggling. I was in survival mode and after a few kilometers into my last section I knew, that all I had to do is to get to the finish line with the energy I had left in my body.
When I came to the last flat part I somehow managed to run a bit faster again. It felt hard, my body was in pain but I held on. I even caught and passed a few runners that left me behind on the hilly part of this section. On the last kilometer I gave it all I had left in my body and after the handoff I felt down on my knees. Happy and proud that despite everything I was still able to run and finish strong.
After all members of our car finished, we drove to the finish area of the race in Prague, where we waited for the last team member, running the last 200 meters of the race together to the finish line, with our well deserved medals around our necks.
Post race thoughts
It’s a though race. Actually I think it took more out of my body than a marathon. On the 3 sections I covered over 40 kilometers with little to no sleep and not much time to recover between the 3 runs. But, it was probably the most beautiful running race I ever ran and I would run it again.
It’s a different race. You don’t just run it for yourself. In this race you are part of a team and every team member has to do his or her share. You depend on each other. It’s not the kind of race, where you would take risks. You still need to perform at your best but you need to make it to the next handoff point each and every time, where the next team member is waiting for you.
As for race tactics: you don’t want to push too much on the first section you run. Don’t even go to your limit on the second one. I ran my first section somewhere around marathon race pace and looking back it maybe would be smarter to run a few seconds per kilometer slower. Just to conserve some energy for the next sections. The last section you are running is the one that counts. That’s the one you can empty yourself.
Good running shoes are important. Probably the best option are 2 pairs, one trail shoe and one road shoe. The road shoe doesn’t need to be a hight stack carbon plated shoe. There’s a good chance that some parts of the course where you’ll be running in the road shoe will be over light trails so a more stable option is better.
Make sure to adjust your training. I would suggest that hill running and trail running needs to be done before Vltava Run. I did little to none of such training, because I trained for a half marathon. I had the aerobic fitness to get thought the race but I struggled on the uphills and the technical downhills. That’s an area I need to address, if running Vltava Run again.
The section details on the Vltava Run webpage are great. But know, that the uphill and downhill parts can be much steeper as they look like in the profile. Even the ground you are running on is on some parts more a suggestions as it is. My last section had in the description 90% on asphalt roads but as I can remember, the first 2k and the last 3k where on roads, so about 50%.
While training I would suggest to do double run days. Just make sure to do them soon enough in the training block, so your body has time to rest and recover before race day.
Vltava Run is special. It’s unique and beautiful. It takes a lot of mental strength. It’s a constant battle you fight with your body. Everyone is pushing to the limit. Everybody is in pain. But after crossing the finish line: everybody is super proud and happy.
If you want to know more about the race or you want to register for the next edition, you will find everything you need to know on the Vltava Run webpage.
