Five autumn days together. ŠK Jablonica girls train at Mikulčin vrch

Fog, cold mornings, autumn hills and training away from home. Ten young ŠK Jablonica athletes spent five days together at Mikulčin vrch from 21 to 25 October. But the camp was about more than just kilometres. It combined training and movement through hilly terrain with something equally important – time spent together away from the athletics track.

Viktória Nemčeková, Alžbeta Zónová, Sára Dosoudilová, Ester Manďáková, Laura Ochotnická, Veronika Mosná, Hanka Pavlíková, Nataška Masárová, Nelka Ďurišová and Nelka Mikúšková took part in the camp, accompanied by coaches Palko, Rasťo and Tomáš.

When the hills replace the track

The autumn camp offered completely different conditions from regular training at home. Hills, forest roads, cold weather, wind and fog provided an environment where the girls could work on their fitness while also stepping away from their usual training routine.

And the weather certainly played its part.

Even when the surrounding hills disappeared into the fog and the temperatures made it very clear that autumn had arrived, the training continued outdoors. Running sessions were complemented by time in the terrain and hiking around the area.

The landscape became an important part of the experience. Colourful forests, hills and autumn views provided something that an athletics stadium simply cannot offer.

Five days about more than training

Training camps have one major advantage that regular sessions can never fully replace.

When a group spends five days together, training does not end with the final repetition. Breakfasts, travelling, hiking, recovery and all the time between sessions are shared as well.

And it is often during those moments that something important for the season ahead is built – a team that knows each other, supports each other and can work together.

The photographs from Mikulčin vrch perhaps tell that story best. One moment there is fog and full concentration during training; the next there are smiles, team photos and the colours of the autumn countryside.

That is part of athletics too.

The work towards the next season has already begun

October may bring a quieter competition schedule, but the training does not stop. The autumn months provide the foundations that athletes will build on throughout the winter and into the new season.

Five days at Mikulčin vrch were therefore about much more than another training camp in the calendar.

The girls returned home with kilometres in their legs, shared experiences and another important piece of work completed for the months ahead.

Because a new season doesn't begin with the first race. It begins on days like these.