I have a crisis before every start, says the winner of this year’s Kopecky ultramarathon
The 43-year-old marathoner managed the total portion of 301 kilometers in 23:16:00, beating David Kellner’s second place by more than an hour and twenty-six minutes! “This year, the preparation and the time before the ultramarathon in general was challenging. During the race itself, however, everything that was possible came out, we perfectly timed our form, head and health. Even the weather, which traditionally troubles us with its heat, has shown a more pleasant face for running,” said Kopecký.
For Kopecky, the feeling of winning the Moravian Ultramarathon is not something completely new, he already won the most demanding Czech running race two years ago. “But then I won thanks to the last rainy stage. This year it was the opposite, I led from the start and tried to find my way to the end. So this victory is definitely one of the more valuable ones,” he explained.
One competition lower from eighth place. Béčko Boskovic will play the district championship
Ultramarathon legend Daniel Orálek also took part in the race, who won all twelve editions between 2008 and 2019. Thanks to the overall third place, he stood on the podium again this year. “Dan Orálek is always among the biggest rivals, he is truly a fighter and a legend. But I have to highlight David Kellner, who ran for the first time this year and immediately finished second. It can be even better next time,” outlined Kopecký.
An interesting feature of this year was the participation of the Tarahumara Indians, who, however, did not finish the ultramarathon. “It is a great pity that the precious guests from Mexico, Antonio and Talina Ramirez, were in trouble. Nevertheless, Antonio managed to show that his running is light, fast and beautiful,” praised the two-time winner of the Moravian Ultramarathon.
The starting list also included competitors from Germany and Sweden, in each of the seven stages they had to climb an average of nine hundred meters. Any trouble then could mean an early end. “I have a crisis before every start. Those are the doubts as to whether I did my best to achieve the goal. I had minor problems on the track in the first stage, when I sometimes got a cramp in my calf after a bad footing. In the fifth stage, it was a slight problem after the potatoes we had for lunch,” smiled Kopecký.
Blansko searches and tries again. Maybe an investor will give us a thousand, Vašíček laughs
For ultramarathoners, preparation is even more important than for other athletes, nothing should be underestimated at all. “The basis is the run-up of volume kilometers. From autumn to spring in the last season, it settled at around eight kilometers per month. My advantage is definitely that I can run in the hills that are all around where they live,” he stated.
Previously, Kopecký used headphones while running, now only very rarely. He prefers to count his steps to himself or hum a catchy tune. And you don’t need music in your ears. “I mainly perceive the world around me. Whether it’s the singing of birds, the wind in the branches, the crunch of fresh snow or thunder in the distance. Otherwise I think about everything and nothing. Thoughts come and go. And time passes,” he dreamed.
Moravian Ultramarathon 2022
Men
1. Martin Kopecký 23:16:00
2. David Kellner 24:42:15
3. Daniel Orálek 24:57:04
Women
1. Lenka Horáková 27:19:43
2. Vendula Kelbichová 28:18:09
3. Zdeňka Komárková 31:03:15