Day Night Day Evening
The second day is slowly coming to an end and it is finally a bit quiet to sit down and look back. Because up until now it had been quite a rush and there was no time to stop and the first day passed at a pace. Both from our side and especially from the side of those who read our mother earth with their own feet. Some are so fast that we almost didn't make it across in time for the next check point. And this year, it was due to the rather merciful weather. It's been miserable with the snow for the second year and that makes it all the more varied. At least it gets all the muscle and nerve groups involved.
So, as I wrote above, no one messed with it much this year and it had the parameters of an Olympic sport right from the start. But of course, there was no lack of comfort. The morning was accompanied by welcome snow showers, so all the pebbles along the way were nicely covered to give the skiers good grooves on their skis. Conditions for walkers were also good and fast. The starting field slowly stretched out.
The JIBE JAHA snake stretched from the Jizera Mountains to the Giant Mountains. And the ruler of these mountains was gracious for the first time in history and presented beautiful ridge conditions. Partly cloudy skies, moderate wind, sometimes even in the back and temperature around -5 C. It was a treat. Although the long descent to Spindleruv tested the blood circulation of many. We were worried that the unofficial CP in Špindlerův Mlýn would be terribly crowded, but perhaps the good conditions drove quite a few participants further into the night and back to the ridges.
There many of them bivouacked and enjoyed the real adventure. Even today, the second day, the weather was beautiful and at times it looked like sun. Everyone said goodbye to the snow before Trutnov and from there it was a walking affair for all. It was true that the descent from the ridges to Maršov was only for the lovers of ice fields.
The winner and also the record holder of the 150 km cross-country skiing route was Honza Gotwald, who went nonstop with minimal breaks. It took him 27 hours and 39 minutes. It didn't even take two hours for the second skier, Michal Francke, to arrive, who had built up a huge lead during the day, but wanted to try a bivouac, so he slept for 4 hours at Stachelberg. The third one to reach the checkpoint in Maršov was Iva Bohoňková, a very cool woman who also went nonstop at machine pace and showed the deer how it's done. Great respect.
And now sit down, Ivana doesn't stop here, the end awaits in Havířov! Tomáš Kadlas was the fastest 150 km runner to the finish line and surprised everyone. He was running incredibly fast from the start and was in the lead for a long time. Krakonoš slowed him down a bit, but he didn't let up. It took him 29 hours and 51 minutes. Then it got very busy. Tomáš Kadlec visited us here briefly as the 300 km winner, but he didn't stay long and continued to defy the Metuji River, which tore down bridges during the floods.
Behind Tomas came another guy with TK initials (there are 3) which is Takao Kitada from Japan, who practices what is in his genes, just don't worry and go. We don't know exactly how he feels and how he is as our Japanese vocabulary ends at two words, but he is laughing, so I guess he is good. He's got a long way to go. Team Polička is a golden ship has made it to the shortened finish line. In Trutnov, Martin Mazal succumbed to germs and an injured shoulder and had to take the train home, the boys Vitek and Milan proudly made it to the finish for him and were happy. So were we.
Right behind them sprinted Toman Stávek, with a smile on his face and calmly accepted the hospitality of the beautiful cozy cabin and now he is about to go to sleep, because his destination is still in sight. The current status was concluded by Martin Gabla, who is solving a big dilemma whether to stay or to go towards the 300 km goal, which is his route. He looks fresh. Daniela Havránková is struggling with a crisis not far from Maršov, but she will surely recover soon and be here. Daniela is riding beautifully and uncompromisingly. Still on the move, with the vision of a bivouac under the night sky, is Martin Šilhán, Lukáš Rabas.
Denisa Mečířová has a clear goal today, because her husband Honza Mečíř is waiting for her in Trutnov in the proven guesthouse Poříčí and together they will continue tomorrow. Tomas Brabec is also on the move and he loves the night bivouac, so we assume he will do so when his body gives him the sign that it is time. Batýr and Luboš Kocourek are based at Rýchorský bouda and the Three on the Road team will sleep in Maršov. Our German participant Gustav has already checked in at 3 p.m., because he has booked a guesthouse in Markoušovice long in advance. A beautiful performance was given by Petr Synacek and Radka Henrietta Prošková, both of them are gradually gaining experience and gave a great performance, when both of them had to touch the bottom to get up and go on. They got where they needed to go and that was enough for this year.
Congratulations to everyone
