13th Edition of Vltava Run: A weekend full of emotions, sun, and incredible performances 💙
Dear runners,
The 13th edition is behind us, and we must say—it was an incredible ride! The weather was truly on our side this year, and except for the die-hard rain lovers, there was something for everyone. Together, we enjoyed the blooming Šumava landscape, morning mists, a warm sunset, and the almost freezing night that just belongs to Vltava Run. We want to thank you all from the bottom of our hearts—not just for running, but especially for the amazing atmosphere you created. The vast majority of you showed a huge wave of camaraderie and consideration towards each other and the surrounding nature. It is because of you that our shared race is so special!
This year’s edition also brought a few organizational changes. We set up the race logistics a bit differently, allowing even the fastest runners to enjoy more of the Saturday stages in daylight. As a result, the fastest team of the classic Vltava crossed the finish line as the absolute first out of all 323 teams. However, even before them, several teams and solo runners from Vltava Run Čtyřka (The Four) reached the finish line, having conquered the final four stages of the route again this year. And who won this year's edition? Check out the complete overview of the fastest teams by category.
You often ask us what the winners actually get, besides a great feeling. This year, they took home valuable vouchers (Top4Running, Géčko, Astratex) and gifts from our partners (Puma, 4camping, Henkel, Budějovický Budvar, Tomas Arsov, Kine-MAX, Phillips, Pillar, and others), whom we would like to thank very much. We believe the gift bags brought joy and that you will find things in them that you will 100% use in your training. By the way, this year your votes decided which exchange points were the absolute best. The results were incredibly close, and this year, all exchange points received points from you! For us, it is a clear sign that you enjoyed it everywhere, which makes us extremely happy.
TOP 3 EXCHANGE POINTS:
Věžovatá Pláně
Purkarec
Květov
The power of human will on the track
One of the most powerful moments of the entire weekend was once again the performance of the Thunder Team (Hromový tým), made up of children from children's homes. They conquered over 370 kilometers in two days and showed us all once again what true fighting spirit and overcoming one's own limits look like. These children do not need saving—they need to be given an opportunity, to experience trust, and to realize they can do great things. Huge credit also goes to their educators, who stand by them every single day. This year’s edition was even more special because these amazing kids, together with Tomáš Slavata, handed over a check for 25,000 CZK to the Leontinka Foundation, whose blind and visually impaired runners took to the Vltava Run track for the eleventh time! Tomáš received a gift for his care from NH Hotels and MOL Česko, but in his own words, he will turn it back into helping others… Tom, you are a true Vltava HERO!
Incredible performances were also delivered by individuals. SOLO RUNNERS took to the start of the classic route, and four of them wrote their names into the history of the race. Soňa, Vojta, Tomáš, and Luděk conquered the entire 375 km long route—each in their own, sometimes very unique way, but all with a huge amount of determination. They have expanded the elite club of successful solo runners from previous years. This year, for the first time, the solo category also appeared on VR 4. This created a demanding 48 km long solo trail, which was successfully tackled by nine runners, proving that even at this distance, unbelievable things can be achieved.
All successful runners received a medal at the finish line, which carries a big story. These MEDALS are not mass-produced by a single machine; they are born through a symbolic relay full of human effort. From woodworking to printing, gluing, and sewing to the final assembly—everything takes place locally and with the greatest care. Our big thanks go to the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences at ČZU, the Lesní svět project, and the Special and Practical School in Velká Bíteš for the energy they put into them. For the chance to experience the grand finale on the meadow in Braník, we thank Povodí Vltavy and the Prague 4 Municipal District.
What went well, what didn't, and what lies ahead
To be honest, we faced a few complications this year as well. Before Prague, a group of pranksters repeatedly and persistently re-marked the route, causing a few of you to get lost. Fortunately, you all found your way back successfully. Another complication arose at the entrance and exit of the parking lot. We had been promised assistance from the traffic police, but they had to urgently respond to another incident and did not arrive. For many of you, this meant a long wait, which we are deeply sorry about and apologize for. In the questionnaires, you also frequently mentioned the unfortunate placement of the timing gate right at the finish arch for photos—we promise we will figure this out differently and better next year.
Our official PHOTO GALLERY also saw a change this year. Because bib numbers were not visible in a huge number of photos, automatic tagging wouldn't be 100% accurate, and you would have to go through the photos individually anyway. This year, we captured the moments from the track for you on Google Pixel—this awesome phone with an incredibly functional camera caught every emotion and drop of sweat, even if you just flew past it. We placed the photos on Google Drive and sorted them clearly by specific stages, so we believe you'll easily find yourselves.
We are absolutely thrilled with your responses to the questionnaire we sent out right after the race, and thank you so much for them! The vast majority of you wrote that you want to run Vltava Run again. We immensely value this trust and will do everything we can not to disappoint you! You can start filling your calendars right now: we will see each other in 2027 on May 8th and 9th, which is traditionally the second weekend in May. We are now heading off to Spain for a bit to our partner race, Camino de Dragones, where many of you are joining us, and right after a short rest, we will start working hard on the 14th edition.
Thank you once again for your loyalty, energy, and positive feedback, which gives our work meaning. Take care, enjoy a beautiful summer, and as soon as it fades away, we will run back to you with new registrations!
On behalf of the whole Vltava Run team,
Květa, Láďa & Jája