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Hello, on May 18th 2013, you’ll be organizing the M.E.T.R. 60km. Can you tell us where it is located?
Hi to all runners around the World. Our race is situated in the middle of big Europe, in the small country of the Czech Republic, next to the beautiful lake called “Máchovo jezero” (jezero means lake in the czech) surrounded by wast pine open forests with steep gullies and sandy rocks, 80km North of our capital Prague.
How old is the race and why was it created in the first place?
Mácháč Extreme Trail Run (M.E.T.R.) is a new fresh born baby delivered for all runners and athletes to meet each other, to make new friends, to be active, to race and most of all have fun. We have been running on local trails for twenty years and we have decided that it is time to share this beautiful place with other athletes. This is why we are organizing this running weekend.
What kind of route have you set up for the runners? How would you describe it?
It is going to be mostly on the trails, tourist routes, forest roads with short runs on paved surface. We don´t have huge mountains but you don´t have to worry, because you will run up and down and up and down until you feel like a yo-yo. The route will take you through places that normal tourist would never see, it is worth it.
How many runners do you expect on Saturday morning? What type of runners do you plan to attract?
We have no idea how many runners will show up, our guess is around hundred and more. We are not making any difference between runners, a runner is a runner, some of them are super fast and some of them are super slow and it doesn´t matter, they all are running or jogging or walking and that is most important to us. We will be happy to welcome elite runners, amateur runners, local runners and runners from abroad, because in here we gonna be one runner with no difference.
Do you organize other races during the Weekend? If so, on what distances?
Yes we do, this is going to be a running weekend called Mácháč Running Festival. The first start will be M.E.T.R. 60km on Saturday, than 10km trail run will follow also on Saturday and on Sunday runners will throw away their shoes and we have got for them a barefoot running race. For barefoot beginners we have got a 1.5km and for more experienced a 7km race.
At that time of the year, what kind of weather can we expect?
The best weather for running. At that time, summer will be coming to the Czech so we can expect temperatures between 15-20 degrees Celsius during the day, more chance of sun than rain. Nights can be still chilly and cold. Weather exceptions are possible, but we believe that runners are tough breed.
Have you planned festivities around the marathon?
Of course, it is going to be weekend full of sport and fun, during the day we have planned some small fun racing for bystanders and kids. Friday night will be warm up party and Saturday night, there will be a big party with a live band and lots of things to do like dancing or beer drinking.
The race finished, what advice would you give a runner who has never been to Máchovo jezero before? A good restaurant, a fancy sightseeing?
There are many things to do. You can enjoy your meal or drink from the terrace above the beach with great views over the lake from cozy Aloha bar, right at the race place or a bit further at the Borny restaurant also on the beach. Or you can take a row boat and go for a paddle. You can climb hill Borny and have incredible views over the lake and the country. You can take a sightseeing cruise ship on the lake. You can go windsurfing, climbing and so on…
In a single sentence, what would you tell the readers of ahotu Marathons to make them register for the M.E.T.R. 60km?
If you want to have fun and run than come:)
Interview with Jan Venca Francke. Jan is an elite triathlete who fell in love with ultrarunning and survival racing. He is also really into music, playing six instruments and performing in a band. His hobby is to collect experiences. He is a globe trotter and loves traveling all around the world whenever possible.