She knows what it takes to make a good race
As a child, she competed in track and field; then she practiced taekwondo for twenty years, and because she always loved a challenge, she also competed in kickboxing and Muay Thai tournaments as a fourth-degree black belt. Few people know this about the former Hungarian race director of the Spartan Race series, Zsófia Sisak from Veszprém, who is now—in a similar capacity— is working tirelessly under the Fighters' Run banner to ensure that the so that participants return home with unforgettable memories.
"I was always full of energy even as a kid, and as I grew older, a 'sense of mission' took shape within me: I want to get involved in martial arts. First, I became a member of the VEDAC athletics team, and I competed primarily in middle-distance events. Although my running wasn’t bad, I ended up leaving the club and the sport a few years later,"
— Zsófi sets the tone for our conversation as she recounts: as a high school student, one of her classmates’ siblings lured her to a practice session of the taekwondo group operating in our county seat. As an enthusiastic, energetic young woman, she didn’t need to be urged to attend practice; she gained valuable experience and eventually earned her degree from a prestigious university specializing in Far Eastern martial arts.
"Not quite, though, because even though I’ve achieved a lot in taekwondo—I’ve consistently competed in World and European Championships—I’ve come away from them without a medal, so I “only” have championship titles, though admittedly quite a few of them,”
— she reveals, and since Pál Sebestyén’s students were the winning type of Amazons, back then they possessed fighting spirit, willpower, discipline, and a desire to help others. With her heroic deeds achieved under modest circumstances, she enhanced the reputation of Hungarian and local taekwondo.
"I wanted to get better every day, and I worked hard to achieve that. The sport gave me discipline and self-confidence, which I later put to use in kickboxing and Muay Thai competitions,"
– she concludes.
Although combat sport, with its unique style of behavior, had become her way of life, over time they drifted apart— Zsófi also “set sail for new horizons,” yet she was unable to break away from the sport. Later, a newspaper article brought a turning point in her life, reporting that Spartan Race, which was being organized at the time, would be coming to Eplény with one of its races. The event immediately piqued her interest. At first, she worked for them as a freelancer, and then in 2014, they asked her to “take over” the entire marketing for the obstacle course series. Spartan Race is, in a sense, a sport, a community, and a philosophy of life, while at the same time encouraging people to step out of their comfort zones. Their races, which require serious physical fitness, reportedly gave participants a lifetime’s worth of adrenaline. The woman, who was still inexperienced in organizing at the time— with their small team—had overseen two such events over the past decade, and since their results weren’t exactly bad, the Czech regional director at the time asked her to become the director of the Hungarian competitions. Zsófi didn’t hesitate for long; together with her colleagues, she built up a cross-country running community, and each year they mobilized tens of thousands of people, who were greeted by a huge jamboree at their competitions. Over time, of course, they worked with an ever-growing staff to ensure that everything ran smoothly. There was enormous interest in their events; sometimes they even had to set attendance limits because so many people wanted to come. But they didn’t mind; rather, they took it as an honor. In Veszprém there were seven thousand, and in Nagykanizsa eight thousand participants—in the city of queens, twelve thousand wanted to take the starting line. They produced better and better results, but five years ago, due to an international decision, Spartan Race was canceled after all.
"More specifically, we wanted to breathe new life into and give a fresh twist to our first Hungarian obstacle course running event, Fighters' Run, which was launched in 2012. Together with my team, which had been building Spartan Race for years, we finally took on this complex task. From that perspective, we had the advantage of knowing what is required for such events,"
"And that's how things are still done here today. In our campaign, in addition to physical activity, we also emphasize the scenic experience and the challenges, and we always keep this in mind when designing the course. For some, simply overcoming the obstacles is a serious test; for others, the more experienced ones, this is no great challenge—they battle against their opponents and the clock. We are not driven by the desire to set insurmountable barriers for some of the people on the track; we want our festivals to be a success for as many people as possible."
That’s what Zsófi said, and she’s happy in this role because she gets to do what she loves and has gained a lot of experience in it. However, she emphasizes that it’s harder to get people to sign up for a trail running race than for a “regular” run, so the organizers have a tougher job: they have to work harder to attract participants.
Zsófi always tries to give her all in every match, but she agrees that in Veszprém—which is, in a way, her home court—the pressure is always greater. When it was announced last year that Veszprém and the Lake Balaton region would be European Region of Sport this year, she immediately contacted the local government, and since the city council was open to hosting the competition here, she was able to begin preparations. Our county seat will soon host a competition that’s part city, part forest, but they want to meet expectations in every respect. This weekend, we’re expecting participants for seven different races. The first stop of this year’s Fighters' Run combines the historic atmosphere of the city center, combined with trails winding through forest paths, to create an adventurous atmosphere. The motto of this carefully designed and hopefully popular challenge is for everyone to overcome their own limits. To overcome the obstacles, participants will need determination, perseverance, and both physical and mental strength. Along the way, participants will climb up a hill and then descend, only to face new obstacles that are sure to put them to the test. No one can lose here, because the experience is what matters. Even if not everyone crosses the finish line with a smile, they say everyone should try this at least once.
The Fighters' Run movement gained popularity back in the day because jogging, or gym workouts, and they were looking for a more serious challenge. Zsófi no longer needs to push her limits; she has surpassed her own shadow quite a few times in the past, but sports are still a part of her life today.
"I simply can't change this, but I don't have as much time as we'd like to devote to it. This is partly because I’ve committed myself to organizing competitions, which is very intense work, but also very rewarding. For me, sports are a way to unwind and recharge, so I try to make time for them three or four times a week. I often “lead” our group of friends at a comfortable pace, though our 11–12kilometer cross-country runs, during which we also visit scenic spots, and along the way we always marvel at nature— the beauty of the flora and fauna. In addition to this, I also attend group exercise and strength training classes; some of them focus on recovery, while others are really high-energy. It would be nice to exercise even more, but I accept it—in fact, I’m happy that I have this much time at all. I can feel that the joints in my legs have worn out a bit, but I still enjoy being active, while also paying attention to my diet. A few years ago, I realized that I wasn’t eating enough protein, but since then I’ve been trying to change that: I eat more vegetables, and I feel like it’s good for me; it generally puts me in better shape. My partner and I often make bone broth, which is beneficial because of its collagen content. That’s why I sometimes “indulge” in pastry or a glass of coke, but I don’t have any health issues that would require me to deprive myself of these “little things.” Of course, I try to stay within limits,"
"I recently read that as people age, they need to build muscle to avoid the decline that comes with old age—or at least to delay it as long as possible. Fortunately, there are many people around me who think the same way and work out just like I do. They inspire me to never forget the importance of exercise."