The legendary Croatian athlete returned to competitive sport in a completely new form, and in an interview with Večernji list she revealed what her return to the starting line was like and announced a new challenge in Split.
One of Croatia's greatest track and field athletes of all time, the legendary Blanka Vlašić, once again felt the thrill of competition. However, this time she didn't soar to new heights but instead ran a 10-kilometer race in Tomislavgrad, at the Duvanska Desetka. Although she was exclusively an explosive-type athlete during her career, she admitted that running has become an interesting challenge for her today.
When asked how she felt a few minutes before the start, Vlašić told Večernji list that she was surprisingly calm. "I was quite calm; I surprised myself. The excitement stayed with me more during the day, but at the start everything settled down, and I just focused on not getting pulled along by other runners and on starting at my own sustainable pace. The atmosphere at the start is great-the countdown of the last 10 seconds and the cheering," she said.
However, she admitted there was some nervousness, but not the kind she was used to from major competitions. "There was, but not the real 'world championship' kind of nerves. More like the 'something new, first time, hope everything goes well' type of nerves," she added.
During the race, she didn't reminisce about her athletic days at big stadiums, world championships, or Olympic Games. "Honestly, no. Probably because the effort isn't similar at all. But I definitely used my experience from elite sport, which helped me stay mentally strong when I wanted to stop on several occasions. It was very hot, which drained me even more," she explained.
A particularly emotional moment was the return of the bib number. "It was symbolic. The bib number always meant to me that I was part of something bigger than myself-a competition, a community... It was nice to feel that again, even though it was in a completely different context and without any of the expectations I used to carry," Vlašić said.
She crossed the finish line with a time of 51:56, but more important than the number was the decision to even stand at the start. "Definitely the decision. The time is just a number, and that step-just showing up at the start-was already a success for me," she emphasized. The feeling at the finish was a mix of exhaustion and pride. "First of all, I was very tired. The conditions weren't favorable because of the heat, and several times I thought I wouldn't be able to finish the race. So I felt relief first, then I took a few minutes to recover and told myself-'never again.' Then that familiar good feeling after a job well done washed over me, and I quickly changed my mind. All in all, I was proud that I achieved my goal," she said.
That this wasn't her last appearance was confirmed by her announcement of a new challenge. "The adrenaline at the Duvanska Desetka wasn't similar to what I felt at the jumping pit. And I certainly hope it won't be my last appearance. God willing, on August 8, I'll run the Night Half marathon at Žnjan in Split," she revealed.
Vlašić admitted that at the peak of her career, she couldn't have imagined running 10 kilometers just for fun. "Not at all. I was exclusively an explosive-type athlete and never ran longer than 150-meter sprints. Running is a complete change of direction for me-something I was never good at, and that's exactly why it's such an interesting challenge for me today," she said.
Today, her focus is on enjoyment rather than results. "When I was a professional athlete, results were obviously the most important thing, but I would never have achieved them if I hadn't loved what I was doing and enjoyed every training session. Now the focus is just on enjoyment. I've found a form of recreation I enjoy, which is fun because it's measurable in a competitive sense, and I can set concrete goals for myself. That helps me stay motivated. But I'm pretty laid-back about the result, although, of course, I care about running well, but within reasonable limits," Blanka concluded for Večernji list.
She also reflected on her attitude toward recreational runners, which hasn't changed but has only deepened. "I've always respected recreational runners; nothing has changed there. Being consistent at something is already a big personal victory in itself. Now I understand that even better. For me, running isn't about races; it's about finding time and motivation to train four times a week. Races are just a bonus," she said.
