Record-holder Damián Vích closed out his season with a strong third-place finish at the Mattoni Half Marathon Ústí nad Labem. True to his style, he finished the 2025 season by leaving everything on the course.
This year, Vích consistently proved himself as the best Czech runner in every RunCzech race he entered. He claimed outright victories at the Mattoni Half Maraton Karlovy Vary and the Birell 10K Night Race Prague, and completed his winning strike with a bronze medal at the Ústí nad Labem Half Marathon. A member of the RunCzech Racing Team, also broke two national records in 2025—on the 10K road and the 3000m steeplechase track—and represented the Czech Republic both at the European Road Running Championships and the European Team Championships on the track. After one last appearance at the Mattoni Liberec Trail Run in early October, Vích will take a well-earned rest.
Despite the challenging heat in Ústí, Vích gave everything on the course:
“It was extremely demanding. I don’t remember ever being this exhausted after a race. The conditions and the course were tough, but since it was the last race of the season, I left everything out there. By the finish, I had absolutely no energy left.”
He also highlighted the importance of the cheering crowds:
“The fans were fantastic as always, and their support pushed me forward. That’s why RunCzech races are my favorites—the atmosphere is simply incredible. Thank you to everyone who came out to cheer.”
Although an early breakaway formed among the international favorites, Vích opted for a more measured start:
“I wasn’t feeling completely healthy going into the race, and with the weather in mind, I decided on a slower beginning to save energy for the second half. Looking back, it wasn’t ideal since I ran most of the race alone, which was tough mentally. Still, it worked out in the end as I was able to move up from behind.”
On battling through the field:
“I wasn’t surprised that many runners dropped out under those weather conditions. What frustrated me more was that some didn’t cooperate later on and just followed my pace, which probably cost us the chance to fight for even higher positions.”
Vích also entered Ústí as one of the contenders for the overall EuroHeroes series title, but conditions prevented a record-breaking attempt:
“Honestly, I didn’t focus too much on that. I knew if I performed well, it could reflect in the overall standings. But with the weather and the course, records were never realistic that day. The form for it was there, but the race just didn’t go my way.”
Looking back at his RunCzech 2025 season, Vích is satisfied:
“I’m happy I managed to balance both track and road racing while keeping good form almost the whole year, despite competing heavily through the summer. Of course, by the last races, I was running low on energy, but overall, I’m pleased. Looking ahead, I’d love to build on these results and maybe even go for the overall EuroHeroes victory.”
As for what’s next:
“Ústí marked the end of my season. Now I’ll take some vacation time before beginning autumn training focused on base mileage and recovery from minor injuries. I’ll still run the Liberec Trail Run, but that will be more about enjoying the experience with fans and fellow runners. Then it’s back to preparation for next year, where I’d like to target new personal bests at 10K and the half marathon early in the season.”
