Vlastimil Zwiefelhofer - Czech record time holder

November 20, 1952

Vlastimil Zwiefelhofer is a true legend and iconic figure of the Běchovice race — and of Czech distance running in general. This humble athlete from the Klatovy region, a nature lover and, after his running career, a physical education teacher, remains an inspiration for future generations — not only as a runner, but also as a human being.

Affectionately known as Vlastík among running enthusiasts, he still holds the fastest Czech performance in the history of the Běchovice–Prague race. In a legendary and record-breaking run in 1975, he defeated his rival Stanislav Hoffman in a breathtaking final sprint — by just 0.8 seconds. His time of 28:35.2 minutes stood as the course record for 21 years until it was broken by just two seconds by Kenyan runner Laban Chege during the 100th anniversary edition in 1996.

In the 128-year history of the race, Vlastík’s performance remains the second-fastest overall and still the Czech national record — a time that remains out of reach for today’s runners. With characteristic humility, he once said he had simply been lucky with a favorable tailwind that day. A humorous memory from the event recalls how he and his brother drove to Běchovice in an old Škoda, unfamiliar with the course, and nearly missed the start because he had promised a friend he would deliver some warming cream.

Zwiefelhofer won the Běchovice race four times, and also added two silver medals and one bronze to his impressive record.

He proved his versatility as a runner by also setting the course record at the Velká Kunratická cross-country race in 1979 — a record that still stands today.

Vlastík was also an outstanding long-distance runner. In 1979, he set the Czechoslovak national marathon record with a time of 2:14:19, and the following year represented his country at the Olympic Games in Moscow. Unfortunately, due to health issues, he was unable to finish the marathon.

Above all, he loved running in nature. It was there that he achieved his greatest international success — finishing in 6th place at the 1979 World Cross Country Championships, a result that remains underappreciated to this day.