Interview

Hello Vilko, it is always a pleasure to connect with you. We understand that you perceive the true essence of sports to extend beyond mere physical exertion; it serves as a profound catalyst for mental rejuvenation and social connection. Amidst the demanding pursuit of academia, you have found solace in the rhythmic cadence of your footsteps, with each stride bearing witness to your indomitable spirit and unwavering resolve. Together, we have shared countless workouts and races, fostering bonds that transcend mere competition. Our hours spent engaged in intriguing discussions about everything and nothing have enriched our lives. Now, we are eager to hear your insights today. Let's begin with the first question.

Sport and Vilko – what does sport mean to you?

Sports activities, especially running, are an integral part of my life; it is not merely a saying - sports form a significant component of my daily routine, primarily as a means of relaxation. My involvement in sports began in early childhood, during my school years. I spent my school years, up to eighth grade, in Turiec, a small village near the springs of the Turiec River, in Dolný Turček.

We children spent our free time outdoors, in the forests or meadows around the village. Naturally, we got around by running. Whenever us boys gathered for various games, we would exclaim, "let's go run." Thus, good fitness was ingrained in me from a young age. Moreover, it had practical significance as well because we had chores at home and in the garden, such as preparing firewood for heating, where "running" was not only enjoyable but also useful.

What are your thoughts on the intersection of sports and work?

I spent my entire active life at the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) and very recently, I was elected for my professional achievements as ordinary member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts. Many people think that it mainly involves sitting at a desk or experimenting in the laboratory. In many cases, it is true, but I worked at the Institute of Hydrology SAV, and the problems I contributed to solving were related to the movement of water in nature, quantifying it depending on the properties of the environment. The movement of water in nature is studied in a scientific discipline called hydrology. Consequently, a significant portion of our research activities take place in nature. That meant field trips, digging holes, taking soil samples, and conducting field measurements of ongoing processes.

I remember running from our workplace around the Welding Research Institute in Bratislava to the forest on Kamzík and back with branches of beech and hornbeam trees necessary for measuring the critical moisture and critical water potential of leaves. Interestingly, when a branch with leaves is broken off a tree, that broken part of the tree doesn't immediately realize it's been detached. It only realizes later when the leaf moisture decreases and its water potential increases; they respond by closing the leaf stomata to reduce transpiration and increase their chances of survival. Our goal in this matter was to measure leaf moisture when the stomata begin to close, or in other words, to measure the critical moisture of the leaves. The relevant measurements were made in the laboratory in a wind tunnel. My better-fed colleagues could not understand why I ran up and down, an activity "undignified" for a scientific worker... However, they could not advise me on a better method to get tree branches into the laboratory.

That is just one part of the positive effects of good fitness on my work. The most important impact is the mental regeneration of the body. Anyone who has worked "mentally" knows that even if they have not exerted themselves physically, after a day's work, they feel mentally drained, lacking the desire for anything (except food) and needing more time to mentally recover and be able to focus on work again. That is when it's time for sports regeneration. Whenever possible, I ran into the Small Carpathians and ran a few kilometres; after an hour of running, I felt like a different person. Though tired and sweaty, mentally refreshed, charged with energy. That is how I regenerated and "recharged" throughout my life. So, I owe sports not only for fitness, health, but also for good results at work.

How significant is sport in your life?

It could be answered very simply: sport is significant for my life. Why? When I ask myself why sport is so important to me, I realize that there are several reasons. Perhaps the most important one is that I enjoy running, I find joy in running. When I go out into nature and run a bit, I feel good about how my body functions, I feel joy in how everything works.

The second reason is good running company. The method of natural selection among runners works in such a way that over time, groups of runners (and of course, female runners too) are formed who are close not only in running abilities but especially in their views on life. Thus, groups are formed that run together for decades, and they are always glad to meet and talk; of course, during the run... In our running group, some have been running together for four decades, and we still enjoy it. During the run, we share our views on the world, but also on current events. It is pleasant and enriching at the same time. Moreover, within running groups, trips to races at home, to European countries, and even overseas are organized. A proven group ensures pleasant moments during sports stays. The social dimension of running is perhaps dominant. Runners are, in most cases, people accustomed to exertion, tolerant, so groups formed on this basis are cohesive and last for decades.

Also, an important consequence of sports is good fitness and, above all, increasing the body's resistance to diseases because of "training" all internal organs, which are extremely stressed during runs (especially marathons), thus making them resistant to external influences. And as a bonus, there is a slim figure and a good appearance of a runner. I do not think that runners run to lose weight; people who run to lose weight are "non-runners," and in such cases, it is a phenomenon that usually ends after a few weeks because running "hurts," and losing weight is not as fast as some "runners" imagined.

What about your "entry" into the world of sports?

I truly immersed myself in sports during high school in Kremnica, where we moved from Dolný Turček, a small village near the springs of the Turiec River. At Kremnica High School, besides excellent teachers in various disciplines, we also had a great physical education teacher, Vojto "Pico" Rahl, who graded us based on how we met the limits set for each sports discipline. Basically, whatever you could run, jump, or throw, you got a grade for it. Only a few of us had the PPOV badge (prepared for work and defence of the country), and it was never missing on the lapel of our coats; we even wore it on dates. In winter, we exercised with equipment. And it was tough, indeed. The teachers' uncompromising approach to grading meant that we went to the gym in the evenings to practice equipment routines and in summer to the athletic field. I have the impression that Kremnica was perhaps the only town in Slovakia with a specialized athletic stadium. No combination with a soccer field: just athletics. The track was, of course, cinder; half of the field was on a slope, so it slightly bent, but that was not a problem. Because I did not belong to the robust students, I focused on running; it was acknowledged that I would not excel in shot put. I remember in the tenth grade, I ran a kilometer in 3:35, which was an A (the limit was 3:40), there were about three of us who achieved this. That is why the teacher nominated me for local youth competitions, possibly a two-kilometer run, where I did well (how exactly, I do not remember), and that motivated me for future running activities. A young person needs some impulse to get hooked; they must feel they can be successful; it's hard to talk about a love for sports in the beginning, it comes later, after one has "run," "won," and so on.

Moreover, Kremnica was the center of cross-country skiing in the fifties and sixties; names like Čillík, Fusko, Párička, Slosiariková, still ring a bell for at least the older generation. I want to say that sports were an integral part of young (but also older) residents of Kremnica. Basically, everyone skied; I did too. However, I was a newcomer from Turček, and at thirteen, I was already "too old" to be a promising skier. I envied my peers proudly parading in tracksuits with the letters ŠŠD, which stands for sports school for youth. These were my sporting beginnings, which laid the foundation for later endurance running.

After graduation, I applied and was accepted at the Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering of SVŠT in Bratislava; it didn't suit me (not that I was a weak student, no, but there was less math and physics, and I missed that), so the four of us transferred to the Faculty of Civil Engineering, specializing in Water Management, aka "water," which I really enjoyed and still do.

On this faculty, in the same "circle," there was also Vojto "Čičo" Kovačič from Pezinok, who ran orienteering races. When he told us about the races, I remarked, "I used to run in high school too"; it was more than two years ago. Really? Vojto was surprised. Come to Pezinok with us; we have an orienteering section. Why not? I bought some sneakers and went to Pezinok with Vojto. The team there was excellent; orienteering is incredibly interesting; I found plenty of good friends there and experienced my first failures, but also victories. Orienteering has the property that you run for hours and hours and do not even notice the time; you train heaps, and it does not hurt. Great preparation for marathons, which I did not even dream of back then. And another advantage: the Pezinok section was called Lokomotíva Pezinok, which meant we got free tickets for races across Czechoslovakia, arranged by the excellent organizer Pišta Chovanec. It was a big advantage for students. Pezinok was a top-notch team; we had the national champion Gusto Barták among us. Simply put, Pezinok was great. But all good things come to an end; I got married, children came, and there simply was not time for training and racing. Plus, work. I went through the admission process for a study stay at the former Institute of Hydrology SAV and had to (if I wanted to be successful, there was no other way) work systematically; what I did not finish at work, I had to finish at home. Saturdays were not free yet, and leaving the kids on the only free day, Sunday, was not an option. So, whether I liked it or not, I had to give up racing. Not sports, though. I ran as much as I could, cycled, did hiking.

It was not until just before turning forty that I basically ran the Devín – Bratislava race without preparation; I simply could not resist running it... And there I met a group of runners from the informal Železná studnička Bratislava club; it was a group of runners who, already in 1986, regularly trained three times a week, and many of them were marathoners... I joined them, and that is how it started. I realized that I was not any worse than them, and if they could run the marathon, why could not I?

How would you characterize your running experience and achievements?

Right from the start, I must say that sports have been (and still are) a hobby for me; I never had ambitions to achieve top performances in running, and it must be said that I did not have the predisposition for elite sports. During the critical years between my twenties and thirties, there were plenty of runners around me who were better and faster than I was. It is true that with age, I "relatively" improved, and I often found myself on the podium in veteran age groups. I started dedicating myself more intensively to sports (or more precisely, running) after my thirties when the kids grew up, and I had more time for sports. Despite work and "family" commitments, I continued to be active in sports, running, cycling, and cross-country skiing, but I did not participate in races, except for the White Trail of the SNP, where I completed more than 15 editions of these ski races.

What do I value most from the achieved results? It is definitely my first marathon with a time under three hours (2:57:20), completed at the Small Carpathian Marathon in Trnava in 1987 at the age of 45, and (for interest's sake) the same time I achieved a year later at the IBUSZ Marathon in Budapest. In my veteran age, I won marathons in Ljubljana, Regensburg, Copenhagen, Lublin, and Budapest. I highly value the victory at the Moscow International Peace Marathon in Moscow in 2012, in the M70 age category with a time of 3:36; another success (for me) is the 3rd place in the M75 age category at the 127th edition of the oldest marathon in the world in Boston in 2018. The time was not remarkable (4:17), but reportedly it was the toughest conditions in the history of this marathon. It was cold (4 ℃), pouring rain, and a strong headwind. Perhaps my favourite marathon is the MMM in Košice; after all, it is the oldest continuously held marathon in Europe. Unfortunately, I could not run it under 3 hours (best time 3:00:40). Overall, I completed 119 marathons, the last one in 2019 in Copenhagen. I value the fact that I finished all the marathons I started.

To the most cherished results, I would perhaps add four starts and four victories at the oldest road race on the continent, Běchovice - Prague. It is as "old" as the Boston Marathon, and in 2023, the 127th edition was held. Of course, we are talking about victories in the respective age category.

However, what I value the most is that despite being born in 1942, I am still on my feet and can enjoy running in the company of good friends.

What is your understanding of "Inclusion through Sport"?

Most collectives are formed and optimized for the purpose of achieving a predetermined goal; this is how work teams are formed; in such cases, the opinion of a collective member is not important, but rather their ability to be a valid part of it.

"Non-working" collectives usually come together spontaneously because their members share common interests. One of the possibilities that bring people together is sport, in this case, running. "Running" collectives are most often formed by chance contacts during running races, during nature runs, where kindred spirits agree on common training sessions. Such groups of runners last for decades. One of them is also a group of runners forming an informal running section called Železná studnička.

We have been running together for over 40 years, the members of the group change, but the core group is still here. What is interesting about groups of male and female runners is that they informally bring together a wide range of runners, regardless of age, gender, or occupation. This is another "added" value of informal groups of runners; we meet runners of different ages, occupations, and backgrounds. This has created a rare opportunity for me to meet fellow runners whom I would not have met under other circumstances. For me as an athlete, this is enriching; I could see the world through the eyes of a bricklayer, or a bus driver, or a civil servant. Running allows you to explore the world through people with different life experiences, yet we understand each other. Running is truly a miraculous elixir that brings together diverse people into one whole.

What three values have you learned from participating in sports?

Nothing in life (or in sports) comes for free. If you want to be successful, you must work hard (train). A good (sports) team is motivating and enriching (not only in sports) life. You can achieve much more than you think; mentality is important, and it is shaped in races and training.

How has sports influenced me the most?

Sports (especially marathons) have taught me not to give up. I have realized that success can only be achieved through hard work; this applies even outside of sporting activities. Even strenuous training can be enjoyable in a good team. Sports (and running in particular) may be an individual sport, but it is the running collective that makes it what it should be; a social event, so a good team is essential for running to become a source of enjoyable experiences. I enjoy going to training mainly for that collective spirit; otherwise, I could run alone at a time that suits me.

Do I have any sports challenges?

I realize that I will not improve anymore, and my personal record times are gone. I would still like to run for another year, and I would be glad if the condition of my body (and soul) allows it. Above all, I would like to run half marathons in Bratislava, Rajec, and Kosice. How long will I continue to run? I do not know, but I will try to stay "above water" for as long as possible.

What did sports give me besides just playing sports?

I am convinced that thanks to sports, I have been successful in my career, and sports have contributed to (until now) good health. Sports also allowed me to see the world because I completed more than half of the marathons (64) abroad, including 12 in the USA. Mental relaxation through sports is a great thing, and I recommend it to everyone. Moreover, I found my best friends among runners. In work, there is still rivalry; there is not that natural (voluntary) selection of team members as there is in voluntary activities like sports. Of course, there is also great rivalry in sports, but it is friendly rivalry. Even if I lose (to someone), I am happy to sincerely congratulate them, and we remain friends. So, running is not just a tough battle for the best results, but it is a social activity that brings me (us) joy from sports and from a good team, and ultimately from life.

What are your thoughts on sports and the EU?

I am glad that the EU supports sports activities. Just the positive attitude of the EU towards sports means that society also looks at sports positively. Sports is no longer just a waste of time and energy but an activity that improves society, strengthens the health of athletes, and directs youth away from unwanted activities towards sports. Especially important are programs to support sports in schools because young people need someone to encourage them and allow them to join a team where sports are practiced. Finally, sports are also a significant component of the economy and a source of entertainment for a large part of the population on Earth.

What additional thoughts or topics would you like to share that we have not touched upon yet?

I thought about why I run, even though I will not improve anymore, quite the opposite, the farther I go, the slower it will be. Eventually, I will have to stop running because as time goes by, the body degrades, injuries or illness come. However, thankfully, this is not yet relevant for me. So why? I need running; it has become a part of my life, like eating, sleeping, reading books, listening to music. If I do not run for several days, I am nervous, something is missing. After appropriate training, I am happier and can comfortably engage in other activities.

Running is (in my case) probably an addiction. Just as "workaholics," smokers, gamblers, or alcohol users cannot do without their "hobbies," it seems that we runners are also addicted to running. This addiction, unlike others, has a positive impact on life, starting with better fitness, good health. And I am not talking about "a fuller wallet" because running is still an "inexpensive" sport. And lest I forget, our "Železná studnička" running collective is also motivating for me, where pleasure is combined with usefulness...

How do you view the role and significance of sports as individuals mature and enter higher age brackets?

Sports in mature and higher age have their specifics, which stem from the permanent degradation of the body. Consequently, the body of an older athlete is not able to absorb training loads as well as a younger one. This means that the intensity and volume of training for older runners must be lower than for younger athletes.

How much lower? That depends on the specific athlete. I know cases of once excellent athletes who try to maintain (or even increase) their training loads because they have more time and high ambitions. They try to compensate for the decreased quality of their bodies with increased training loads.

However, the body is not able to absorb high training loads, leading to permanent fatigue, poorer race results, and injuries. In summary, it is necessary to adjust (reduce) training loads proportionally to age.

For example, running every other day helps, and one day should be reserved for rest. In older (running) age, rest is at least as important as training. The idea that the more you train, the better you will be does not apply here. Therefore, I try to find a suitable balance between qualitative and quantitative training parameters and rest; so far, I am succeeding.