Slovakia’s Peter Fraňo is racing the 2025 Transvulcania Ultramarathon, having placed second in the marathon last year, and raced the ultra back in 2018 at the start of his career. In this interview, he talks about what he loves about this race and the island, his second-place finish at last year’s CCC, and how his ski-mountaineering season at home in Slovakia works alongside running.
For more on who’s racing, check out our in-depth women’s and men’s previews and follow our coverage here on the website and on Twitter/X over the weekend.
[Editor’s Note: If you are unable to see the video above, click here to access it.]
Peter Fraňo Pre-2025 Transvulcania Ultramarathon Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Sarah Brady of iRunFar. I’m here before the 2025 Transvulcania with Peter Fraňo. Peter, how are you?
Peter Fraňo: Good. Thank you.
iRunFar: Good. I know you just got here a couple of hours ago, so thanks for going straight into this interview. How were your travels?
Fraňo: Yeah, really good. Easy. Smooth.
iRunFar: Great. And this is not your first time here, either. You were here for the marathon last year, and you placed second in quite a close race. How was that for you?
Fraňo: Yeah, it was really good. And I did the ultramarathon, but many, many years ago, maybe eight or seven, nine years ago. It’s been one of my first international trail running races. So we are here where it all began.
iRunFar: Oh, very good. And does it have a special place in your heart, if it was one of your earlier races?
Fraňo: Yeah, I really like this place. And yeah, it was one of my first experiences. So yeah, I will always remember.
iRunFar: And is it the community or the terrain in particular? What do you love about it?
Fraňo: The terrain is very specific. You run at the sea level, then you are high in the mountains. The volcano is really good, nice. And yeah, of course, the spectator, the volunteer, and everyone, the whole islands live with this event, so it’s really nice.
iRunFar: Yeah, it does seem really special. Apart from that marathon last year, you had a pretty big year. But one really stand-out result is you placed second at CCC. Congratulations on that.
Fraňo: Thank you.
iRunFar: And I know you went from seventh a few years ago, wasn’t it?
Fraňo: Yeah, I was seventh. And year before, fifth.
iRunFar: Okay. Still improving the whole time. What do you think changed last year, that it went so well for you?
Fraňo: I don’t know what changed. I just had to do it more times to be successful. Not the first one, but second is also good. So I don’t know. It was a good day for me.
iRunFar: So no major lows through the day.
Fraňo: Not very big. Some problems, but it’s part of the game.
iRunFar: And how was your recovery after it then?
Fraňo: The recovery was really long. I didn’t expect I would be destroyed so much. After the CCC, I was hoping I will do some races, but I had no energy. Also mentally, I didn’t want to train really hard. So I take some times. Yeah. This is first longer races since CCC.
iRunFar: I saw you had a big year before that anyway. And you were at the European Championships as well. I think you were seventh there.
Fraňo: Mm hmm.
iRunFar: That was a really competitive race. So how was that?
Fraňo: Yeah, it was also good. It was little bit shorter than I prefer. But yeah, the level was really high, and I tried to prepare the best I can. And it was also one of my better days.
iRunFar: And you had a really good day with Team Slovakia then another time with the ‘23 World Championships where you made the podium. Do you think you’ll be back representing your country at the World Champs again this year?
Fraňo: That’s the plan.
iRunFar: So you’ll have to skip CCC maybe this time, will you?
Fraňo: Yes, I will skip CCC, and maybe next year I want to go back to Chamonix. CCC or UTMB, we will see.
iRunFar: Have you had your 100-mile debut yet, or would that be it?
Fraňo: Not yet, but I will do Western States this year. So it will be my first hundred miler. So I will see if I survive, and if I like it.
iRunFar: Yeah, big one to start with. And then I know you have a background in ski mountaineering before you became a runner. Is that still something you do in the winters?
Fraňo: Yeah, of course. I like skimo. And in Slovakia, usually we have good conditions. And yeah, I like that movement and to be in the mountains, so it’s perfect combination for me.
iRunFar: And do you keep running a little bit through skimo season as well, or do you usually transition?
Fraňo: Last few years, I will run one or two times per week, but in winter, most trainings are on skis.
iRunFar: How do you find it then, in the spring, trying to get your running legs back? Is it a struggle for a while?
Fraňo: Yeah. When the snow melts, I want to run again, so it’s good because I again have motivation to run and have a little bit different movement, because it’s like, you are faster in the uphill. So it’s normal for me.
iRunFar: And then, just in terms of the training running culture, do you have a lot of runners around where you live to train with?
Fraňo: Yeah, I think we have a lot of runners. Usually I train alone, but I like to be alone. [laughs] But yeah, the community is quite big also in Slovakia.
iRunFar: And then just to get back to the course. I know you’ve been here before, a few years ago. Was there any particular part of it that you look forward to getting back to?
Fraňo: I don’t know. I don’t remember the whole course. [laughs]
iRunFar: Okay.
Fraňo: It will be a surprise for me on Saturday.
iRunFar: Yeah. Just looking forward to the finish.
Fraňo: Yeah, definitely. But I hate the long finish line. It’s never-ending asphalt road, so it will be the worst part of the race for sure.
iRunFar: Oh, really? The last climb up to the finish?
Fraňo: Not the last climb, but maybe last one or two kilometers. The straight line, and a lot of people, and hot weather. So.
iRunFar: Yeah. A bit intense. And how do you enjoy the big descent then from the high point?
Fraňo: We will see, but really, I like downhills. It’s something special, because it’s really long downhill, so you have to keep your legs fresh. But normally I like it. So we will see.
iRunFar: Yeah. It’s different.
Fraňo: Yeah.
iRunFar: Well, I hope you have a great race, and we look forward to seeing you out there.
Fraňo: Thank you very much.
iRunFar: Thank you so much.
