This year, Damián Vích has already broken national records in both the 10K road race and the steeplechase. He has represented Czechia at the European Road Running Championships and the European Team Championships on the track. Meanwhile, he triumphed at the Mattoni Half Marathon in Karlovy Vary, becoming the first Czech winner in the history of the EuroHeroes series.
Now, Damián Vích is preparing for Saturday’s 10K race as part of the prestigious Birell Grand Prix Prague.
“Transitioning to the 10K after such a season is challenging, mainly because of training volume and fatigue, but in terms of speed, I’m in better shape now than, for example, in January in Valencia,” says the RunCzech Racing Team member.
Many experts consider you the top favorite for Saturday’s Birell 10K. Do you accept this role?
Yes, I accept it and see it as a strong motivation. I want to prove that I deserve this role and aim to run the fastest time possible. Of course, it brings some nerves, but I’ve shown multiple times that I can perform under pressure. I believe it will push me further.
The Czech record currently stands at 28:21 minutes. What conditions would make breaking it possible?
The most important thing is to feel good on race day. Weather also plays a big role – for me, the ideal is no wind and no rain. But whatever the conditions, I’ll give my best.
Other elite long-distance runners and RunCzech Racing Team members Martin Zajíc and Patrik Vebr will also compete. Do you discuss the race together or focus on your own strategy?
We’ve talked about it and even trained together. We all know how the race will go because we have an agreed pacer, so no big surprises are expected. It will mostly come down to who is in the best form.
Do you prefer evening races as the 10K race in Prague starts at 7:30 PM?
Yes, evening races suit me better than morning ones. I’m used to it because most track competitions take place in the evening, so preparation is not difficult for me.
You focused primarily on the steeplechase during the summer leading up to the World Championships. How challenging is the transition to a road 10K?
Qualifying for the World Championships was a major goal. Even though I ran a Czech record, the competition was tough and it wasn’t enough. Transitioning to the 10K after such a season is challenging due to training volume and fatigue. On the other hand, in terms of speed, I’m in better shape now than in January in Valencia (when I set the Czech 10K record), so I’ll rely more on speed reserves.
You’re known for your signature look, wearing a stylish headband at every start. Which one will you choose for the Birell 10K?
This time, it will be a completely new version, so fans can expect a slightly different style. The headband is not a talisman – the main thing is that I feel comfortable wearing it.
