Interview with Tiffany England about Letecká stovka 2024

Interview with Tiffany England, participant of Letecká stovka 2024, has been prepared by Jiří Horníček.

Hi Tiffany, congratulations on successfully completing the race! Can you introduce yourself and your ultratrail running „history“ a bit?

Thank you! It was a great day for a 100k and I enjoyed myself. I have been a lifelong runner, competing in cross country and track through my early 20s, then running road marathons for several years. In 2015, I completed my first ultra race and fell in love with the unique challenges of going very far over varied terrain. I’ve completed the Leadville 100 twice, but I would say I prefer 50 miles to 100k in distance. 

I am a certified running coach and tend to specialize in trail and ultra training since that is what I like to do as well. :-) I am dedicated to helping my athletes achieve their fitness goals and believe communication is the foundation of a good athlete – coach relationship. Nothing brings me as much joy as motivating others to reach their wildest dreams!

How are you feeling one week after the event?

I took the week off from running to fully recover. I was able to get in a couple short easy runs with my dog this weekend and I feel great! Ready to get back to training for the next one. :-)

Could you tell me how you found out about Letecká stovka? And why did you choose Letecká stovka?

Well, one of my dreams is to run the Western States 100 (like so many other people!). To increase chances of being drawn in the lottery each year, you must run a qualifying race. Letecká stovka is one of those such races. I hadn’t yet signed up for a qualifier this year and I was instantly intrigued. I liked the idea of running a winter ultra, it was a chance to visit a new country and the course looked manageable for where I am currently living and training in the South of England.

Have you ever been to Slovakia before?

No, this was my first visit to the country! Admittedly, I didn’t know much about Slovakia before I started to plan for the trip. My husband and I had a great time during the weekend,visiting Bratislava and Trenčín. There are castles everywhere!

What did you expect from Slovakia and the Slovak ultratrail community?

I didn’t really have any set expectations, I love to visit new places and am open to learning and experiencing new things. I guess the only thing is that I thought it would be much harder to find good food options that cater to a plant-based diet, but I was pleasantly surprised! We had several amazing meals. As for the ultatrail community, everyone was pretty friendly. I think we are all bonded in our desire to run hard through the mountains, so it is easy to make new friends!

Did Letecká stovka meet your expectations?

I would say Letecká stovka exceeded expectations! I was prepared for a small, local race type experience with little support. Everything was well-organized and I felt supported the entire time. I expected to be in the woods more often, but there were some nice views and fun ridgeline trails. I really liked the course!

What surprised you the most about Letecká stovka? Was it the food on stations? The starting area facilities, the atmosphere, the people?

The most surprising thing about Letecká stovka were the professional race photographers on the course as well as drones for video footage! Typically, you only see that in very large races. I could feel the love and enthusiasm for this event and the sport from the organizers. But the aid station food was amazing and filling as well! The options saved my race. All the volunteers were friendly, the course was well-marked and it was great to have the map on my watch just in case.

Is there anything we could improve for future editions?

You all really put on a fantastic event and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique destination race! If I had to make one suggestion, it would be to have crew driving instructions. My husband struggled a bit to find the aid stations, but this could have been due to a language barrier.

Would you recommend Letecká stovka to someone back home in the USA?

Absolutely, yes!

Could you tell us how ultra races differ in the USA and here? 

This is a tough question since ultra races and how they are organized can vary widely! The biggest difference is speaking another language. Beyond that, I think US races tend to rely more heavily on course markings like flags and ribbons. Pacers are also more common at least for the final sections of the race and you don’t see as much treking pole use overall. I think it’s easier to say how they are the same! Passionate directors, outdoor-loving runners, food availlable along the way and a fun atmosphere.

Do you have any advice for other runners who want to participate in Letecká stovka, or who are hesitant?

Run lots of hills in training, especially downhills! Beyond the necessary training, running a race in a different country can be a bit overwheming. Not only are you in a new place, but trying to communicate in a different language is challenging. As long as you have patience and give yourself extra time to prepare, it can be very rewarding. Set expectations ahead of time that not everything will be perfect, just go with the flow and do your best. Everything will work out! 

It was quite easy to get to the race location, we hired a rental car and found a place to stay within walking distance of the start/finish. The race director was also awesome in responding to my emails and answering my questions ahead of time. I did connect with a few runners on the course and even if you don’t speak the same language, a smile and words of encouragement can be interpreted well anywhere. :-) If you do find yourself feeling lonely, listening to your favorite music is a good way to pass the miles. Finally, I am happy to offer advice or explain more about my experience to anyone who would like to connect!

What are your plans for the future? Do you plan to participate in other ultra races as well? What about Letecká stovka 2025? Will you be coming back?

Other than running Western States 100 one day, I don’t currently have any other races scheduled. I’m sure I will find something later in the year! My husband is running the Hardrock 100 in Colorado USA in July, so I am excited to crew and support him in his effort. Now that I know what to expect in the race, it would be fun to come back and see if I can improve. :-) I definitely want to visit Slovakia again and explore more of the beautiful mountains! 

Thank you for the interview!