The UniCredit Prague Relay Running Festival once again entertained the Czech capital. Over 5,300 runners from 50 countries enjoyed one of the most euphoric races ever in Prague’s Stromovka Park over two days, Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 June. “The interest in the UniCredit Prague Relay was again enormous. I am very happy that people want to move, that they got up from their chairs and did something for their health. The atmosphere was fantastic both days,” said Carlo Capalbo, President of the RunCzech organizing team. “The team spirit here is unbelievable, and that’s what I really like about it. A lot of people get motivated by a race like this and some start running regularly, which is great. In addition, you are running for a good cause,” said six-time Paralympic champion Jiří Ježek, who ran for the charity team Světlo pro svět – Light for the World.
The UniCredit Prague Relay once again lived up to its reputation as one of the most popular runs in the Czech Republic. The race of four-person teams, in which colleagues or friends have to cover four five-kilometre sections, was accompanied not only by a great atmosphere, but also by healthy competition and the joy of movement, sharing and common experience. On the first day, Vlčáci Team won with a time of 1:03:26, while on the second day the Kalokagathia Alliance was the fastest team to tackle the 20km course (0:59:16).
There were also special categories for representatives of banks and members of the Czech Banking Association (Bank Cup), employees, members of chambers of commerce (Chambers Cup) or members and staff of foreign diplomatic missions, consular offices and cultural centres of foreign countries (Diplomatic Cup) and medical professionals, doctors and nurses (Medical Cup). “I really enjoyed it, I was struggling a bit with an infection for the last few weeks, but I finished,” said Jan Janoušek, head of the Children’s Cardiac Centre at the Motol Hospital. “When you improve your fitness with aerobic training, running in healthy air, it does good for all kinds of things. Metabolism, prevention of diabetes, prevention of cardiovascular disease, you don’t have that overreaction to small loads, and on top of that you get endorphins flushed out, so it’s like a drug,” Janoušek described.
There was also a dm bambini run for the little ones, which was attended by about 250 children. This run was completely free and each participant received a T-shirt, a bib and a medal at the finish line. According to the age categories, the courses were adjusted from 100 to 200 meters.
Runners in the main race received a picnic blanket, a unique RunCzech backpack and a race T-shirt. Teams were also able to enjoy a picnic basket with refreshments provided by event partners and an evening of entertainment at the Music Festival.
The UniCredit Prague Relay also had a significant charitable overlap. Among other things, it was associated with Light for the World, an organization that focuses on treating blindness, improving quality of life and advocacy work on behalf of people with visual impairments in the least developed parts of the world. “Light for the World helps in countries where access to medical care is difficult for the population. They provide medical care to those who need it most. Each relay that signed up and connected with Light for the World through a charity partner contributed at least 800 crowns, which is the cost of just one eye operation in Africa,” said Jiří Ježek.
But the runners also supported the Beauty of Help Foundation, which helps lonely seniors and tries to ensure that they age fully. “The aim of our activities is to provide the elderly with the opportunity to spend the final phase of their lives in dignity, at home, in their own environment. Above all, we devote time and care to them and provide everything they need to stay where they know it intimately and where they feel best,” explained the Foundation’s project manager Veronika Vraštilová, who was herself one of the active participants in the Prague Relay.
