Going Deep at Zátopek

Named after Emil Zátopek - the Czech Locomotive known for his relentless spirit and historic Olympic triple gold in the 1952 Games - the Zátopek:10 is a cornerstone of Australian athletics. Held at Melbourne’s Lakeside Stadium, it’s a night that celebrates our endurance kings and queens and showcases what has become a rebirth of running in Australia.

To qualify for Zátopek:10 means you are, in essence, one of Australia’s fastest 10,000m runners. Every athlete in the men’s field had run 29:45 or faster within the last 12 months. Rewind a few years ago, and you would have struggled to find ten runners meeting this standard! This year, Black Sheep had four athletes - Adam Goddard, Jacob Cocks, Kieren Perkins in the Men’s 10,000m, and Zoe Toland in the Women’s 3000m. For all four, this was not necessarily a night to seek podiums but to race against Australia’s best and, hopefully, achieve personal bests.

Zoe & Jacob in last years Zátopek:10 2023

The Build-Up

When we watch elite track and field, most of the time, all we see is the race - and if we’re lucky, a few minutes of preamble as the athletes are introduced. But for those who have raced at an elite level, race day involves so much more.

"What do you do for the 12 hours between waking up and warming up? When do you eat? Do you leave your hotel room?"

Typically, finals of track events are held late in the evening. For a sport built on early morning starts, this is a massive contradiction to their usual routines. What do you do for the 12 hours between waking up and warming up? When do you eat? Do you leave your hotel room? Even the simplest, most asinine conundrums become points of procrastination.

For Jacob, he tries to keep things relaxed. “I try not to be too routine-focused because you often don’t have a choice,” Jacob explained. “I’m working a full day for many races in summer because they’re mid-week events.” Jacob is a school teacher by trade. Adam Goddard, on the other hand, takes a more deliberate approach: “I like to take my mind off the race. Coffee and breakfast at a cafe are ideal. Sometimes a small shakeout. For the majority of the day, I like to keep the legs up and have a nap or two.”

One takeaway is that, for a sport now steeped in sports science, tapering and pre-race preparation remain much more of an art-form.

No-Man’s Land

As an athlete, you often start bargaining with yourself on race day. You convince yourself you have hours before even thinking about heading to the track - so there’s no need to stress. Then, suddenly, you’re in the car heading to the venue. Your mind switches to a new bargain: I have at least two hours until my race - time to lie down, chat, or eat something. No need to think about the race yet.

But then comes the moment to pin on the race numbers. Suddenly, there’s a rush because you want to get it done before warming up, usually 30 minutes before entering the call room, and 45 minutes before the race itself. At this point, there’s no going back. No more mind games to delay the nerves. It’s go time - and all you want now is to get out there.

Under the Lights

To experience Zátopek:10 in person is something every avid runner in Australia should do. What Athletics Victoria and On have created is a beautiful showcase of everything great about our sport. This year was no different. As the evening descended, Lakeside Stadium glowed under a burnt summer sky. Multiple spectator sections were built around the track, bringing fans so close to the action they were practically on the blue tartan. No other sport offers fans this kind of intimacy.

If you want to relive the action, jump onto YouTube and watch the whole evening. For us, it was unapologetically about supporting our crew who had done so well to qualify. Here’s the rundown:

Zoe Toland: Competing in the Women’s 3000m, Zoe delivered a spirited performance, finishing in 9:23.98. While it wasn’t a PB, racing alongside elite names like Linden Hall and Abbey Caldwell was an invaluable experience. “To toe the line with athletes of this calibre is something I’ll carry forward,” Zoe reflected.

Adam Goddard: His 10,000m debut at Zatopek was a learning curve for Adam. With a final time of 30:23.76, he acknowledged the challenges of the slow early pace and its impact on his rhythm. “Qualifying alone was an achievement, and this race was about soaking it all in,” he said post-race.

Jacob Cocks: Jacob’s persistence paid off as he hung onto the main pack for as long as possible. Crossing the line in 29:17.14, he notched a new PB and secured 12th place overall.

Kieren Perkins: Finishing in 30:24.98, Kieren acknowledged the unpredictable nature of track racing. “It wasn’t my fastest, but it’s a privilege to be here. I was ultimately just happy to cross the line. Every race brings its own lessons,” he shared.

Not Just a Race

The Zátopek:10 isn’t just about individual results; it’s a celebration of athletics. From the Jungle Giants’ DJ set energising the crowd to children eagerly engaging with athletes post-race, the event underscored the importance of fostering a vibrant running culture in Australia.

“Zátopek:10 is more than a race. It’s about the timeless history of the sport, the legends who built it, and the athletes and communities taking it forward.”

Even moments off the track, like two young kids unpinning the race numbers from Jack Rayner moments after victory or Riley Wolf cracking out some dance moves while waiting for the pack to come around, symbolised what the event was all about. Quite simply, Zátopek:10 is more than a race - it’s a reflection of what makes athletics extraordinary. It’s about the timeless history of the sport, the legends who built it, and the athletes and communities taking it forward.