Our student Filip Janas won the Rector’s Cup Run of Wrocław University of Science and Technology for the second year in a row. Congratulations! He has been involved in sports since elementary school, and running is not his favourite discipline at all. Our winner spoke about his passion for sports as part of our series #JestemzWIT #JestemzPWr.

Filip is in his third year of Applied Computer Science. He is interested in software development, specifically in creating software for mobile applications. Computer science is one thing; the other is sport, which, as he says, has accompanied him throughout his life. “In elementary school, I trained basketball. Then I switched to alpine skiing, and since 2018 I’ve been training athletics. From eighth grade until now, I’ve been running all the time,” says Filip Janas.

Medal-winning runner

His greatest achievement is winning the Polish Championship in the U-20 category over 5000 metres. Last year, he competed in the Polish Academic Championships, where he finished third over the 3000-metre distance in the technical universities category. For the second year in a row, he won the Rector’s Cup Run of Wrocław University of Science and Technology, which is one of the traditions of our University. He achieved a time of 19 minutes and 15 seconds.

– That’s a great achievement. I have the opportunity to show myself and represent the University. This year I had to be at a higher level than last year. I ran faster, even though the route was a kilometre longer. The level of competition was higher – notes the winner.

This year’s run took place on 14 November and accompanied the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of Wrocław University of Science and Technology, forming part of the concluding ceremonies. A record number of 315 participants took part. In the women’s category, the best result was achieved by Gabriela Kopeć from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, with a time of 23 minutes and 45 seconds.

In addition to celebrating the University’s Holiday, the aim of the run was to integrate our academic community. The route traditionally started on the boulevard near building H-14 and led across the Zwierzyniecki Bridge, along the Odra embankment past the Zoo, to the Scout Water Centre “Stanica” and back. It measured approximately six kilometres, which is close to Filip Janas’s favourite distance.

– My favourite distance is five kilometres. Paradoxically, it’s not necessarily an easier run than longer ones. During it, we run at higher speeds, experience greater acidification and reach such a high heart rate that it becomes very exhausting. During a longer run, the first kilometres are not that intense, because otherwise we wouldn’t be able to make it to the finish – he explains.

The driving passion

Our student’s favourite sports are skiing and kitesurfing, for which he holds an instructor’s licence. He likes running, among other things, because of its positive impact on fitness and health. Another reason is the success he achieves in running; the awareness of his talent and real potential strongly motivates him to continue developing.

– I also enjoy the emotions of competition: the adrenaline of the starts, the atmosphere of the events, and the satisfaction that comes from competing both with others and with myself. As someone with a scientific mind, I particularly appreciate the ability to precisely monitor progress — improving my records year after year gives me great satisfaction. In the future, my level may no longer allow me to compete in events such as the Polish Championships, but I would like to combine working as an IT specialist with running and practising sports – he emphasises.

As Filip points out, thanks to running he learns more easily, feels less stressed and has a better sense of well-being. He simply feels like a happier person.

Our student trains on a daily basis at the MKS Parasol Wrocław club under the guidance of coach Dominik Golec. Filip’s goal is to finish in the top ten of the Wrocław Night Half Marathon and to run 10 kilometres in under 30 minutes. He also aspires to success in the Polish Championships and the Polish Academic Championships. We wish him good luck!