III. race Ultimate league 11.6.2016

This weekend the Sokol stadium in České Budějovice was transformed into a crossfit arena. The third Ultimate League competitions were held here for the first time, under the open sky.

There were competitors from Pilsen, Hradec Králové, Ceska Trebova, Prague, Brno, Tabor, Prachatice and České Budějovice. In total there were 43 competitors who fought in three categories. Open+ men, women and for the first time also men in the category masters 35+ measured their strength.

Four WODs (workouts for time or number of repetitions) awaited all competitors, from which only the best ones made it to the final WOD. We tried to test the athlete from all sides with the composition of each wod. We tested his fitness, strength, muscular endurance and last but not least his mental endurance see final WOD.

WOD 1, 8 min Amrap
2 ROUND / max reps
1 min KTB GTOH 28/16kg (from the ground overhead)
1 min pistols (squat on one leg)
1 min TTB (toes to trap)
1 min Shuffle run 10m

WOD 2, Thruster + FS "ladder" emom 50/10s
1+4 1+4 1+3 1+3 1+2 1+2 1+1 1+ max/ reps
32,5 35 37,5 40 42,5 45 47,5 50 kg / women
50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 kg / men

WOD 3, 15min time cap
- 400m run
3 Round
20m OH duck walk 10/5 (duck walk)
15x pull-up
10x OHS 40/25 (overhead squat with barbell)
5x burpee over bar
- 100xDU

WOD 4, "GRACE" time cap 6 min
30x C&J 60/35 kg

There was a really great service for the competitors, they had a warm up zone where they could warm up and try anything. They were also accompanied and motivated by the best music all day by our DJ Ramel. Cramps and sore muscles were massaged by a prepared masseur. And when fatigue set in, the relaxation zone with deck chairs was ready, the competitors could rest and recharge their batteries.

Grilled chicken steaks with vegetables were served for the meal. At the CoolCafé stand, homemade lemonades with iced coffee were served and when the racers were completely exhausted, our Zdeni mixed them food supplements of their choice.

And now back to the race...

The competitors performed really well and reached the very bottom of their strength. The competition was really intense and the fight for the first place was decided only in the finals. There were also a lot of fans who were really loud and cheered the athletes until the last second.

Voluntary entrance fee was collected at the race, which was donated to the Children's Home in Boršov nad Vltavou. The total amount collected was 1200,-CZK. The children were at the race to watch and every competitor motivated them a lot.

I am one of the founders of the UCL, which together with D. Kodras. I've been involved in this sport for over a year and a half, I've been around a lot of races all over the Czech Republic. So I know what is important for the competitors. On behalf of the organizing team we rate the whole race as very successful and we will try to improve it and move the level further.

Congratulations to the winners of Open+ men / women / masters
1. Juraj Hasík 1. Lenka Jandová 1. Zdeněk Koza
2. Tomáš Šleis 2. Ivana Bauerová 2. Adam Cizek
3. Martin Květoň 3. Elena Mannová 3. Milan Pivovarcik

Official video prepared by Martin Nejedlý.

Thanks to all who helped us during the competition, to all the judges for their work and especially to our partners:

Patron Radka Maxová ANO 2011
Karel Válek Partners
www.kulturistika.com
www.botyobleceni.cz
www.stonggear.eu
www.increaseyourlevel.cz
www.goharder.eu
www.bcross.cz
www.ppcentercb.cz
www.masazebogdan.cz
www.coolcafe.cz
www.bar-paradox.cz

From the organizer's point of view, it is not very objective to evaluate the races and so here are a few words from the winners themselves.

Lenka Jandova

At the end of January we did the 2nd Ultimate League race in České Budějice, and because we really liked the race, we didn't hesitate a minute when the 3rd race was announced, and decided to go south again with the guys from MCross Faktory.

The 3rd race, called Ultimate Battle, was held in an athletic stadium in the middle of a beautiful park, so we were already enchanted by the surroundings when we arrived. Compared to the spectacular Fit Monster races we did two weeks ago in Brno, here in Budejice it was more of an intimate, family friendly environment.

The guys had everything organized, from the registration (where we got a shaker with samples and a nice pink t-shirt J ), to the relaxation area with mattresses, refreshments, to the masseur who was available for the whole race for free.

We knew the first 4 WODs a few days in advance, so after registration, a short briefing and it was off to the races. After the first WOD (pistols to the beat of Eminem, who the DJ had just played) my legs were very sore. WOD 2: 24 front squats at the end also very good for the legs, and then the hotly debated WOD 3 with 400m run and duck walk didn't let the legs rest either. The goal for WOD 4, at least for me, was to not get too tired or out of breath, so "Grace" (30x CLEAN & JERK) was done in 1:41 and off to recharge for the finals.

When Vasek Mráz announced that the final WOD would be up on Facebook in a few seconds, everyone eagerly turned on their cell phones, and then you could just watch the uncomprehending expressions and dropped smiles. After a full day to have another 30 min final- well why not - it was the same in the second UCL race, so no big surprise there. The "grandpas" ( Masters) had grown up to it and agreed amongst themselves that they weren't going to do it anymore and we "youngsters" had no choice but to put on a smile and go for it with gusto. I was the only one from our team in the finals, so the boys could finally cheer properly. I didn't really take the advice like, take it easy, don't rush, one at a time, etc. to heart and tried to do as many reps as possible despite my bloody palm. A big thanks also goes to a great judge - Peta Pavlíková, who supported me all day long.

So I said goodbye to the OPEN category with the first place, for which I received a beautiful original medal and a lot of amazing prizes, so the guys did not disappoint again!! So for me the Ultimate League races get a big A again, great organization, well thought out and interesting WODs and great prizes.

I hope that the participation in the next races will only increase, as well as the quality and level of the races.

Zdenek Koza

I liked the races. It was my second one this season. After the first ones I approached the organizers if they could help with the promotion of this sport also for older competitors.

Fortunately, I found an excellent response and after a few months of hiatus, the Masters category, i.e. racers over 35 years old, appeared in this race. What's more, the guys took it from the floor. I could have done with just a mention and they ended up deciding to create a completely separate category, complete with prizes and medals, and for that they deserve a lot of credit and thanks.

As for the races themselves, I can say that they were again a bit better organized and prepared. It's nice in itself to race outdoors. The only pity so far is that it is taking time for our still new sport to reach the public. On the other hand, I believe that it won't take long and it won't be a problem to get more male and female competitors on the field.

And my first place? Well, that was more of a coincidence. Since the second WOD I was in third place, because both Milan Pivovarcik and Adam Cizek have much more racing experience and I believe they are also better in many ways. My only chance was the WODs with more power. Which actually only showed up in the fourth, which was Grace, which was 30 x clean and jerk with 60 kg. It's my awesome discipline and it was confirmed in the race when I managed to finish in the third fastest time among men.

This helped me so much in points that I passed the guys. After some discussion among my colleagues, we finally decided to keep the standings after this fourth WOD. Of course I'm happy that I managed to win, but it's very clear to me that the guys will want to get it back as soon as possible :).

I'm already looking forward to the next races. I like the way the young guys from Budejice are doing and I'm rooting for them, and the fact that I'll get to race and compete with guys twenty years younger than me is a nice extra bonus."

Juraj Hasík

Awesome races, great organization, great facilities and music, loud fans, well thought out WOD - so many 3. UCL

I've been looking forward to an outdoor race for a long time. It was only my third CrossFit race. After the second UCL race, I put my best into my preparation, so I dared to say that they wouldn't be that hard for me.

The morning after arriving at the stadium, I was pleasantly surprised by what the organizers had managed to do. There was no shortage of facilities for the athletes in the form of a bar with supplements, a rest area with deck chairs, a massage room and a warm up zone. For spectators and athletes there was a bar with mixed alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails, coffee and last but not least a grill with meat.

1 WOD was more about cardio. Lasting 8 minutes in the heat. Cardio WODs suit me so I was almost certain I would do a nice result here. In the end, I was pleasantly surprised that it was 2nd place.

The 2 WOD was a weightlifting complex where you started on light weights, and added 5kg each round. This was probably the one I was looking forward to the most. Unfortunately, it wasn't as glorious as I thought it would be. There were some really strong opponents.

The 3 WOD was again more about cardio, which suits me, so I attacked it right from the start. I managed to ride at a nice pace until even and took a nice place again. This time 3.

4 WOD I was not looking forward to this at all :-D. It was GRACE and I knew it was going to hurt. Plus my thighs were starting to cramp up before this WOD started. Overall, my body was already tired. Anyway, when they started our Heat, I was determined to give it my best out there because I really wanted to be standing on the box at the end of the race.

5 WOD FINALS I got here from a nice third place with a small loss to the leading riders and with a pretty big gap to the competitors behind me. When I heard what was going to happen at the Briefing I was looking like a dick off the couch. My body was tired and without strength, with no desire to keep racing. I don't think I was the only one. I figured I'd just knock it off somehow, and most importantly, I had to keep an eye on the athlete behind me to hold onto 3rd place.

I didn't even think about the first places, because Martin Květoň and Tomáš Šleis are really good. The final started and I was driven by so many people in front that I couldn't let them down. The final was all about my will not to give up at any cost. I was convulsing all over. And when the fans were yelling at me for being first, I tried to keep it up. I don't think I could have done it without them. I want to thank everybody for the great atmosphere. After this WOD, total exhaustion, relief and a great feeling of first place and most importantly, that it's over.

After a successful final I knew I would be on the podium, but to win the whole race in such a competitive field was something I never dreamed of.