Denver’s Runnin’ of the Green 7k is always one of the area’s biggest spring races. Eva Krchova’s name popped up at the top of the results, first in 25:19 and over a minute ahead of second place. It wasn’t a mistake, Krchova’s a new elite-level runner to the area. She followed ROTG 7k up with a 9:49 3000m steeplechase at Stanford, finishing second and with a 4-second PR. Krchova, now training in Boulder and with Brad Hudson’s Hudson Elite group, told us all about her running history, goals, and the Czech Republic in this interview.
Eva, dobry den, jak se mas? Vitame vas Colorado. How does a Czech steepler end up in Boulder?
Ahoj! I am super good, thank you for asking. Indeed, I feel very welcome in Boulder and very happy to call this town underneath the rugged Flatirons my home.
My journey from the Czech Republic to Boulder is one of my personal life stories. Let me tell you:
Once upon a time, I was a student-athlete at the University of San Francisco, running for the university’s Division I track and cross country teams. During my junior year winter break in 2012, I went to Boulder for altitude training, to regain the strength and mileage I lost after my knee surgery in fall 2011. I stayed with my Czech friend, Eliska Hajkova, the CU NCAA nordic ski champion, and had the best time.
Since then, Boulder, the classic American outdoor town, has had a special place in my mind. After graduating at USF, the endorphins I usually released during my runs stopped showing up and I knew it is time for a change. Having no more running responsibilities, I set for my dream trip to the Yosemite Valley to pursue my other life affection, rock climbing. Throughout this trip I felt in love with the vertical dance even more, and recalled Boulder. Boulder sounded like the perfect place to move to. I was positive I would find the right climbing community there, and perhaps start running again.
Living in Boulder, it is hard to get lazy. I joined the CU Alpine Club and went for many climbing trips within and beyond Colorado. Before we headed to local crags I made sure to get my 8 miles in. However, I was still a more of a jogger than a runner. This changed one day in a climbing gym where I met a girl in a running shirt. It was Nicole Mericle, a local runner and my future teammate with Hudson Elite.
Throughout my running carrier I was always told by my coaches that climbing is not the best complimentary sport for track. Seeing a runner climbing hard in the gym brought my attention and I asked Nicole for more information about her team. Shortly after, I joined Hudson Elite for a Sunday long run and since then I became a runner again.
I am very thankful and happy for Brad Hudson’s group. Brad is rad! He is a very experienced coach and a cool person to talk to, making our training sessions fun and enjoyable and diverse regardless the hard work. Moreover, Brad is okay with my weekend climbing trips so I don’t have to feel guilty when tying on a rope. I ‘blame’ the climbing-running balance I found in Boulder as the reason I have improved in the steeple. I have strong teammates who push me throughout the running workout, but also I have very strong climbing partners who inspire me with their climbing adventures.
Congrats on the 9:49.88 steeple at Stanford earlier this month. I know Emma Coburn ran 9:11 last year, but I don’t know women’s times as well as men’s. How good is 9:49 then? I mean, where does that rank nationally among Czech women, and is it good enough to get you to the Olympics?
Emma is definitely another category. I raced her couple times at the NCAA level and always admired her running smoothness and the ease she goes over hurdles with.
Yeah, Stanford was a great opener. I knew I was in a good shape and was curious how fast I could run again. Brad told me to not be attached to any time, just go out and race. I was very relaxed before the meet and mainly wanted to enjoy the competition.
It is such a cliche to say just go ‘race.’ As an athlete you are always conscious about your time and performance, which puts a pressure on your shoulders. But before my warm up, I remind myself how happy I am in Boulder and tried to keep that attitude throughout those 7.5 laps. Moreover, I had my old teammates from USF cheering for me, which definitely helped a lot. When crossing the finish line and hearing 9:49, which is a 3 second PR, I was very satisfied.
The season hasn’t start yet in the Czech Republic, but I am positive it will rank me very high, perhaps highest. This time already qualified me for the European Team Championship in Greece and the World Academic Games in South Korea both this summer.
As far as the biggest competitions, the World’s this year or Olympics next year in Rio de Janeiro, I need to shave a couple more seconds off. The A standard is 9:43 and Brad believes I can hit that. And I believe in Brad.
Will you go back to Stanford for the Payton Jordan Invitational, or any other meets? What other races do you have planned for this year?
Indeed, the game plan is Payton Jordan. It has always been a great meet with a super solid field. It will be a great steeple opportunity to shave those seconds off.
Before that, my teammates and I are heading to Mt. Sac for 5K. We all have had great workouts so the goal is to crush our current PRs.
I might do a local mile race at the St. Vrain Invite in Longmont and then head back to Czech Republic for the European track season. As I mentioned previously, the big goal is the European Team Championships, the World Academic Games, World’s, and Czech Nationals. If the body is happy and healthy I would be more than stoked to do some international track meets. However, the steeple is very hard on the body and I need to save it for the 2016 Olympic year.
I’m amazed at the level of races in the Czech Republic. There’s a Diamond League meet in Ostrava. The Prague Marathon and Half Marathon are always won by world-class Kenyans. There are very fast half marathons in Usti nad Labem and a few other cities, and I think the Prague 10k is always very fast too. What’s running in the Czech Republic like then? Is it growing and becoming more popular, is it just at the elite level and hasn’t turned into a mass participation sport yet? And what’s the athletic system like in the Czech Republic? Are their clubs similar to Hudson Elite that you could train with?
It’s so nice to hear such praise for Czech races. I shall mention this to all the organizers!
Yes, you mentioned the elite races. The IAAF World Challenge Ostrava meet hasn’t become part of the Diamond League yet, but every year the organizers brings the world track stars. The Ostrava meet has always a great atmosphere and deserves to be within the Diamond League group.
The Prague Marathon might not be the fastest 42K race but regarding the aesthetics it ranks in the top. Prague offers beautiful historical scenery which brings thousands of tourists to support the runners. I was one of them when I was a small girl. Together with my sister we provided a service team to my dad when he committed for this race.
In general, sports and outdoors play a big role back home. The Czech system provides many opportunities for recreation. People enjoy spending their free time outside, taking advantage of our countryside and woods and their trails. During weekends you can see many outdoor enthusiasts running, biking or cross country skiing around. I would say we are a pretty fit nation. However, the cheap beer might challenge our fitness sometimes.
As far as the athletic system, the Czech Republic lacks awesome collegiate athletics, which is a pity because the NCAA is such a great organization. On the other side, I feel the track division gets pretty good attention back home. The elite runners can take advantage of state funding and be financially supported.
That is the big picture, but on the smaller scale there are also smaller groups and clubs that each provide coaching and certain support to their athletes. I am lucky I have maintained good relationships back home and was always supported by the Czech Federation.
However, what I miss back home is the wide range of strong runners. The Czech top runners are strong and fast, but there isn’t such a big base as in the U.S. I guess that is because of the NCAA. I feel the mid/ long distance runners basically train on their own in the Czech Republic. I am very lucky to have the Hudson girls pushing me throughout workouts.
Living in the US, what’s the most common misperception Americans have about the Czech Republic?
Unfortunately I need to keep reminding people that we are not Czechoslovakia anymore.
And the most common misperception that Czechs have about Americans?
I have been lucky living in San Francisco and Boulder. Both cities are super active, liberal, welcoming and open minded.
When I come back home and I am asked about Americans I answer with the widest smile and enthusiasm about you guys. “Americans are awesome. They are fit, smart, funny, friendly and stoked for adventures.” I do love you guys. I challenge the general American stereotype that you are not those people who only eat at McDonald’s and are an ignorant nation. Europe sometimes misunderstands. But as I said, I have been super lucky living in SF and Boulder, which aren’t the typical American cities.
Last question, Czech or American beer?
HA!
If you asked me my freshman year, when my age did not allow me to enter local breweries and my only experience was from typical college beer pong house parties, I would say Czech beer. Who would prefer Bud Light over Pilsner Urquell, right?
However, now living in Boulder I cannot complain. This town has so many good breweries that there is basically no reason to move back home – sorry mom!