Peter Fraňo of Slovakia completed third within the 2023 Path World Championships 80k in Innsbruck-Stubai, Austria. On this interview, performed in writing the week after the race, he talks about how the day went, a little bit in regards to the path operating scene in Slovakia, and what it meant to race as a part of a crew.
For extra on what occurred within the race, learn our 2023 Path World Championships 80k outcomes article.
Peter Fraňo ending the 2023 Path World Championships 80k in third place. Photograph: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
iRunFar: Congratulations in your nice run. What’s your historical past with sports activities? How did you get into operating?
Peter Fraňo: I performed soccer till I used to be 18 after which I had loads of time, nothing to do, and because of residing near the mountains I began to do ski mountaineering. In the summertime when the snow melted operating was a pure motion, so I began operating.
iRunFar: What’s the path operating and ultrarunning scene like in Slovakia? Inform us in regards to the neighborhood, the paths, the races.
Fraňo: The path operating neighborhood is rising actually quick and now we have a whole lot of native races each week in all distances. I feel the path operating neighborhood is like in every single place, all know one another, and the ambiance may be very pleasant. We now have very lovely trails, just like Innsbruck. We’re a small nation however with the proper circumstances for coaching for trails. We now have steep uphills, technical ridges… so I feel it’s the good place for operating.
iRunFar: Of the boys who ended up on the rostrum at this race, you went out probably the most aggressively on the primary 18-kilometer loop. Was it your plan to run close to the entrance early within the race?
Fraňo: I had no plan for the start. I simply wished to remain in my consolation zone, ideally near the entrance of the race, however I used to be additionally ready for the state of affairs that I may very well be someplace in the midst of the beginning subject. I used to be shocked that I used to be near the entrance from the start so typically I needed to settle down a little bit bit and decelerate to remain within the group as a result of I used to be near the largest favorites which have far more expertise in extremely than me.
iRunFar: You fell again just a few positions after the primary loop. Have been you apprehensive that you just had been falling again within the race subject, or had been you merely stress-free into your individual race?
Fraňo: I wished to do my very own race and after the 18k loop, I noticed that the race began and runners began to push a little bit bit extra. I attempted to remain in my consolation zone for the primary half of the race, so I didn’t care about my place.
iRunFar: By 50k, you had moved into third place. Did you make a powerful transfer someplace on the course?
Fraňo: The plan was to maintain calm till assist station quantity three and from there begin competing. I ran rather well uphill round kilometer 45. I used to be in a position to run nearly the entire uphill with out strolling, and there I handed Thibaut [Garrivier], Zach [Miller], and Aritz [Egea]. At the moment, I felt actually good.
iRunFar: What was it like operating in third place for thus lengthy? Have been you nervous? Excited?
Fraňo: It was good, however I didn’t really feel something particular. Typically I noticed a cameraman run with me, however the feeling was the identical as regular.
iRunFar: What’s your finest reminiscence from these world championships?
Fraňo: Most likely after I noticed the Slovak crew on the end line — they had been actually joyful, perhaps greater than me. Normally I run alone, perhaps with one one who offers help however right here it was very nice that we had been a crew and we supported one another. And for a small second I felt that it isn’t a person sport, however I had a crew there.
iRunFar: What different race or races shall be your focus for the remainder of this yr?
Fraňo: I need to qualify for the CCC so I’ll do Val d’Aran [by UTMB] and if I succeed, I’ll do CCC. In addition to that, shorter races from the Skyrunner World Collection.
iRunFar: Congratulations in your third-place end!
