Ahead of the 38th Comtrade Belgrade Marathon, the Heroes of the Belgrade Marathon Foundation hosted teacher Vesela Mačkić and her first-grade pupils from “Mihailo Pupin” Primary School. The children had the opportunity to learn more about the Belgrade Marathon, its organization, and the importance it holds for the community.
You are working on an interesting project in which your students are participating in the preparation of an event—the Belgrade Marathon. How did the idea come about?
The Belgrade Marathon is one of the largest sporting events in our country. Besides bringing together a large number of athletes from all over the world, for that one day Belgrade turns into a true sports oasis.
My wish, both as a teacher and a marathon runner, is to use the event itself to teach my students more about the manifestation, its organization, and the preparation of a marathon. I believe that the best answers to all their questions can be given by the organizers themselves.
What do you think your pupils can learn, and later apply in life, through the experience they will take away from the 38th Belgrade Marathon?
They can learn how the marathon originated, how many kilometers each runner needs to cover, how the marathon route is determined, what can be found along the course, who takes care of the participants’ safety, and other similar aspects.
In addition to gaining some basic knowledge, the goal is for the children, through active participation, to understand that a marathon is made up not only of runners, but also of supporters. They can also learn that there is a culture of behavior both on the course and outside of it.
Finally, I hope that among them there may be a future marathon runner or athlete, and that their حضور and volunteer experience will inspire in them a lasting interest in sport.
How did you present the marathon to your students?
My students know that I regularly participate in races, and I often bring them my medals or small items from the race starter packs. For them, it is simply a very long and difficult race. I believe that now they will experience it from a completely different perspective.
You are involved in triathlon, running… What does that bring to you?
Sport is a part of my life. I train every day. It is time for myself—a filter from everyday stress.
Sport has connected me with people from different fields, it empowers me to be persistent, and it teaches me that it is not motivation that makes us successful, but perseverance and discipline.
What do you teach the children, and what do the children teach you?
I teach them that happiness lies in giving back to the community we live in, and that knowledge is essential for that. Happiness is living in harmony with nature, doing sports, and achieving the goals we set for ourselves. I like to tell them, “You can do anything,” because that is something I truly believe in myself.
At the same time, children teach me to look at the world through their eyes and to preserve the child within me. They understand life in a pure way and enjoy the present moment and the making of memories. They are far more relaxed and sincere than adults. In them, I see the strength for a better tomorrow.
The children have also prepared to support the runners—they designed and created banners and are eagerly awaiting April 6, when they will be at the finish line to welcome and cheer on the runners of the 38th Comtrade Belgrade Marathon.
