Race history. Proposition.

Proposal/ Ausschreibung

PB21The prelude to the race was October 23, 1892. At the start of the race marked by the "MANINY" circle, only members of AC Prague gathered. They did not learn in time that the race was cancelled. That's why they decided to do the race as a club race. Otakar Krajíček won the race with a time of 1 hour 41 minutes. After this general test, the famous premiere was held in the first publicly advertised race in the Czech Republic. It happened on April 23, 1893.
A few interesting rules from propositions:

1) Every member of amateur clubs and falconry units can register to compete.
2) He must start only in the costume of the club or association to which he belongs
3) At the starter's signal, the competitors run from the start, which is located at the tram stop in Karlín, and run along the road towards Brandýs nad Labem, skipping the serpentine for Vysočany. That is, it runs along the path over the hill to the left, from the road.
4) The starter rides a horse, when the competitors have started and preview them, they will be expected in Brandýs nad Labem on the square where the finish line is.
5) Each competitor can present a complaint to the jury during the race. He paid attention to the complaint about the lack of support presented after the race.
6) In case of an accident during the race, the doctor goes with him in the carriage.                                            
The race went smoothly and the first winner was František Hron from AC PRAGUE, who made the club famous abroad.

In 1894, there was a race both in pure racing walking and in running. Otakar Krajíček won the walk in 2 hours and 9 minutes.
František Hron won the race. The problem during the race turned out to be that the horse of the starter Havlíček was no longer up to the pace of the race. There was a period of disagreement between the clubs and also the municipality of Sokol. There was a split in the AC Praha club, and racing activities between Prague and Brandýs were terminated for several years. However, in 1901, as if by a miracle, the plant came to life again. Otakar Krajíček won the walk, but there was no competition in the run. Perhaps also because Běchovice, founded in 1897, was gaining prominence. The race was then held regularly until 1914.

In order not to violate the tradition of Czech discord, a fierce battle broke out between the Czech Athletic Amateur Union (ČAAU), whose founders also include AC Prague, and the Czech Athletic Association (ČAS). It was headed by a healthy dissatisfied František Malý, who left the AC with several members and founded Královské Vinohrady. Dissatisfied with the name change to AC SPARTA, he returns to AC Prague, but his return does not last long. Again in 1903, he founds the ČAK Královské Vinohrady club and later the Czech Athletic Association. But let's get back to the race. The year 1907, no one wised up, and that's why AC Prague is organizing a race under the flag of the Union on June 2. On June 7, the ČAS race is organized. In 1914 Vojtěch Cíza wins the race and the race is again interrupted. The majority of AC Prague members and competitors leave for the war. In 1915, Czech sport suffered a great loss. František Malý died.
 

PB14This stormtrooper had considerable merit in the development of sports and in AC Prague. Let's move on to June 8, 1919. The post-war Brandýs is held, in which Jan Šlehofer wins, and not for the last time. Since then there have been no further interruptions. The race is gaining popularity and for many years hundreds of sports enthusiasts line up at the start of the race between Prague and Brandýs nad Labem. The fateful year 1938 came for Czechoslovakia. The Czechoslovakia was dissolved. a tourist village, and many important competitors have found a sports refuge in AC Prague. They were led by Doležal, Kočí, Janoušek, Osvald, Hájek, Procházka, Fojtík and many others. This year, the first woman starts on the 19-kilometer, 400-meter course. Helena Marková completed the course in 2:17,25 hours. In 1939, the time was improved by Miroslava Vrtišková to 2:05,55 hours. The activity did not stop during the World War. Sport was one of the few occasions where people could come together. In 1944, the track was officially shortened to 16 km. After the war, the department's activities gradually decreased. AC Prague had over 400 members and was full of activity. Other races have been added to Brandýs. Prague–Beroun, Prague–Líbeznice–Prague and especially Prague–Poděbrady. This race reached international level in 1947.

Josef Doležal becomes the undisputed sovereign of this time. In the mid-1948s, another famous competitor, Ladislav Moc, followed. After the end of his rich career, a prominent official and athletics historian. February XNUMX came, a special period for sports. We can compare it to such a socialist sports washing machine. In the drum, performance sport meets the top. The washing powder is politics and the fabric softener is added slowly. Everything is overseen by the main laundry party and her helpers. The only good thing that comes out of this is the youth playing sports. All this and much more has an effect on the Prague - Brandýs race. Our race did not bask in the political limelight, which is why it continued in such semi-oblivion and modesty. Still, we can envy our predecessors. They didn't have to deal with the eternal fundraising and the endless number of requests. They only focused on the race itself.

In 1971, the course was extended to the Olympic 20 km. In 1975, the target was also relocated. The new destination was located in front of the Brandýské strojirné, where we acquired facilities for a number of years. In the 80s, prominent competitors Vilém Švejda, František Bíro, Juraj Benčík and Pavol Blažek dominated the podium. Competitors from Poland, Hungary, Germany and the USSR (Russia) also take part. Olympic participant Daniel Garcia from Mexico is also testing his form on the track. (Barcelona 1992). Even AC Praha does not stay away from sports. Mr. Josef Průcha works as an official and trainer in the department. Under his guidance, many promising runners, female runners, but above all male and female walkers, grow up. The competitors Pokora, Růžička, Lapka, Šota, Weiss, Simon, Zedník, Šperl, Smola, Majetič, Vonášek, Štroner and Reis passed through the hands of Mr. Průcha. Under his leadership, the excellent Jana Zárubová, formerly Smolová. Thanks to him, AC Prague is forever associated as a walking hotbed.

The end of the 80s is approaching and our society is being reshaped again. Autumn 1989. The so-called velvet revolution took place and the 90s and a new understanding of sport begin. Perhaps due to the new era and the reduction of subsidies to divisions, there is a large decrease in races. Fortunately, several enthusiasts, headed by Mr. Ive Domanský, united several sections and organizers. The Association of Running Race Organizers is established. AC Praha does not stand aside again and supports new races such as the BOBAC (Branně Orientation Run AC) for children, but especially the Máchalka Run. AC Praha did not achieve great success on the track between Prague and Brandýs, with the exception of František Hron. František Zouhar broke this bad balance in 1993. After a hundred years, AC Prague had its winner. For economic reasons, the track had to be changed in 1996. The more subsidies were cut, the more fees increased. The start was moved to Pražský Prosek to the Litoměřická gymnasium. This managed to reduce the cost of the plant. A long-standing fight for money for the race begins. AC is trying different variations with the length of the course in an effort to attract people interested in running. It preserves one of the last tracks that runs between the two cities. Not even the famous Poděbrady could match this huge handicap.

IMG 2415It's the 21st century. AC Praha and even the Prague–Brandýs race do not bask in imaginary glory. On the contrary. Both the club and the race are kept afloat by several "stubborn crazy" volunteers. Their ranks were thinned by the unexpected death of Mr. Josef Průcha. His incredible insight and commentary are still missing from the race today. Sportingly, AC Prague is doing well in this race. The name of the winner, František Zouhar Jr., the grandson of Josef Průcha, often appears in the run. In 2008, the start moved again, to the outskirts of Prague to Kbel. This time it's not just cost cutting. But also the sports level of many competitors. There are few new, young ones and the older ones do not reach such qualities anymore. The race is stretched out of proportion. Therefore, the walk is shortened to 10 km. And a 15 km run. There is a partial recovery.

After the end of the 112th year, in 2015, the organizers decided to radically change the format of the Prague–Brandýs race. The most important one is the circular route between Prague-Horní Počernice and Brandýs with the start and finish in Zelenč, where it was possible to obtain adequate facilities in the area of ​​the football field thanks to the friendliness of the mayor of the village. Another (compared to the past, not complete) novelty is the extension of the course to the increasingly popular half-marathon length. The course of the race will offer the participants the most beautiful parts of the territory between Prague and Brandýs, and the runners will deviate from the busy road between Prague and Brandýs to the paved surfaces of cycle paths and less frequented roads of the 3rd class. The race will also include an additional 10 km run.

Another innovation, already standard for running events of this type today, is the use of a chip timer and the start of cooperation with the general partner, the company Eleven, which will help with promotion and organization. We must not forget the pedestrian race, which will also be a circuit race, on a small circuit in the territory of the village of Zelenče, with a total length of 10 km.

F. Zouhar senior director, trainer, administrator of AC PRAGUE 1890, long-time director of the plant