Looking for a little excitement in winter swimmers’ quiet summer season, we decided to try reviving regular swims from the Vrané nad Vltavou dam, river kilometre 71.4, to I. PKO’s clubhouse in Braník at kilometre 59.4: about twelve kilometres in water around 17°C. Those figures clearly make it a long-distance swim and a respectable cold-water achievement too, with more than three hours in the water! Five swimmers ultimately signed up: initiator Ivan Landa, Jakub Valníček, Zuzana Procházková, Zdeněk Tlamicha and, at the last moment, Lucie Leišová. Jack Bright and Vladimír Kolář handled logistics and refreshments. The photographs capture the outing and its atmosphere.
A good idea brought to life!
We held the swim during our regular Wednesday training time on 24 August 2016. At 16:50 we entered the water below the Vrané dam. The weather was excellent, with air around 27°C and water initially an estimated 15°C. There was a slight current at the start, followed by mostly flat water, still fairly cold at around 17–18°C. The swim itself was relaxed: we were in no hurry and could sometimes admire the surrounding countryside. Vláďa Kolář documented our progress at various points along the river. We swam on and on… then suddenly there was Zbraslav Bridge, followed by Radotín Bridge, marking roughly halfway. Next came the confluence with the Berounka, so warm that for a moment we felt as though we were in thermal baths. The illusion lasted only briefly before the water became uncompromisingly cold again. Fortunately, we were approaching Modřany lock, a sign that the end was near. A pleasant surprise awaited us there: Jack rowing and Lucka swimming had come upstream from the clubhouse towards Vrané. We had agreed to meet and return “home” together. Jack saved us with much-needed energy — warm tea, biscuits, a banana and drinks. Thank you again, Jack! We then walked around the left side of the lock, carried the rather heavy boat across and returned to the water. Below the lock we were practically home, in waters familiar from club training. Swimming beneath Braník Bridge was routine, as was climbing out beside the clubhouse, though dusk was steadily falling. After a group photograph and refreshments at the kiosk, we headed home feeling we had done something worthwhile for body and spirit.
We all agreed that the outing had been a real success and good preparation for the Gaston Memorial, which we planned to swim the following Saturday. Later, we began considering reviving the historical tradition: according to Radek Táborský, the Vrané–Prague marathon ran from 1951 to 1982. For now, we could make it an annual club activity. I hope that, alongside this year’s swimmers, more of our members and perhaps visitors will join next year, eventually making it an event for the wider community as well as the club. The future will show whether these are merely empty words.
P.S. See you next year for the second Vrané–Prague marathon of the twenty-first century.
Jack Bright’s photo gallery
