INTERVIEW: Lt. Col. Petr Matouš and the INSIDER podcast - the goal of hard February is to do something

Dry February is a topic that comes up very often in this month. Giving up something for your health and consciously setting habits that will benefit you in the long run is commendable. But the gentlemen from the Insider podcast decided to go much further and launched a successful challenge called Hard February. At the same time, this challenge is intensively popular (among others) at the 43rd Parachute Regiment in Chrudim, where it is promoted in particular by the regimental commander, Lt. Col. Petr Matouš. And it was him who infected us with his enthusiasm. Join the challenge and do something for yourself today. When summer asks you what you did in winter, you'll be able to thank yourself.

What was the idea behind the idea of organizing the hard February?

INSIDER: We wanted to break the stereotype of podcasters who just sit in the studio and talk about things. For us, sport and exercise is a normal part of life, it's just that you can't see it in the podcast. At the same time, we wanted to use social networks for something positive, because otherwise often only negative things are dealt with there. The fact that there is quite a large group of people sharing #tvrdejunor is absolutely great, join us.

Dry February is jumping out at us from everywhere these days. Why was mere abstinence not enough and why is it necessary to work so hard in February?

INSIDER: Not drinking alcohol for one month is not enough in our opinion, it just means not doing something. On the contrary, the goal of hard February is to do something – to maximize your physical activity, push your limits and set new habits. Run, swim, lift weights, get stronger, eat healthy, and maybe sleep better.

"In our opinion, not drinking alcohol for one month is not enough, it just means not doing something. The goal of hard February, on the contrary, is to do something." Source: archive of the 43rd Parachute Regiment

What kind of disciplines does hard February have? What does it all relate to?

INSIDER: Each participant chooses his own disciplines, because each participant is in a different starting position. There are participants who take it very broadly and, in addition to physical activity, add goals such as reducing time on social media/phone, cooking more and going out to restaurants less, etc.

Hard February will be, among other things, a lot about the development of the physique. Are there any specific limits that need to be reached, or are they determined by each individual?

INSIDER: Everyone sets their own goals so that they are achievable and challenging at the same time. Logically, a couch potato and an athlete will have different goals. We want to be here with the challenge of a hard February for everyone. Regularity is also important. In addition to the classics – lose x kg, run x km, among this year's participants we have, for example, the goal of lifting a Boeing 737 plane, i.e. lifting the weight of this plane in every possible way during the whole month.

What should one take away from the hard February?

INSIDER: For novice athletes, that movement is good, that sport should be a normal part of life, that it has positive effects on physical and mental health. For athletes, it can be a challenge to try something new, to push the boundaries of their possibilities, to have fun.

"Among this year's participants, we have the goal of lifting a Boeing 737 plane, i.e. lifting the weight of this plane in all possible ways during the whole month." Source: archive of the 43rd Parachute Regiment

It's a challenge to start, but it's even harder not to give up. Do you have any tips on how to motivate yourself and stick to the end?

INSIDER: So one aspect is the pressure of social networks. Insider reshares all those who share it on X or Instagram with the hashtag #tvrdejunor, so you always see a lot of those who don't give up around you.

How to take care of yourself in such a situation, so that it does not affect your health (e.g. dietary supplements, sleep, etc.)?

INSIDER: These are all topics that we will open during the month in Insider and we will invite competent guests to them. We rely on the fact that we are all reasonable, so we also count on rest days. One of the participants wrote to us plainly: "I can't imagine adding more, I run hundreds of kilometers a month. What I'm slacking on is stretching, so the hard February will find me the extra 10-15 minutes to stretch." Everyone should choose what will help them and move them forward, not the other way around.

Lt. Col. Matouš: There is no general cure for this, because everyone is different and everyone has to know themselves and what suits them. Hard February can help you find out.

"I don't think motivation is important. Motivation is a short term thing – sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't. Discipline is more important." Source: archive of the 43rd Parachute Regiment

Is the hard February a competition, preparation for something specific, or is everyone doing it for themselves?

INSIDER: Yes, you do it for yourself, for your good feeling, for your health. That's enough.

Lt. Col. Matouš: The best thing is to take it as if you are doing it for yourself. It's worth it to be a little better every day than yesterday at anything.

In the editorial office of Rigad, we came across the challenge of a hard February in connection with the 43rd Parachute Regiment in Chrudim. What is participation in the department? Is this challenge for others?

Lt. Col. Matouš: Hard February is not a departmental matter. It is a voluntary activity by individuals who want to get involved. A lot of soldiers got involved, one of the most famous is certainly col. Ivo Zelinka, who is a former deputy commander of the airborne regiment. We certainly both want to show that it can be done and that it can be combined with other things.

When a person has gotten off to a decent start like this, how is one supposed to continue? What to do in March?

INSIDER: We hope that the participants will get used to the movement during February and that they would miss it in March. For example, signing up for a race can serve as longer-term motivation.

Lt. Col. Matouš: It is up to each individual. In my opinion, motivation is not important. Motivation is a short term thing – sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't. Discipline is more important. Discipline is long-term and it allows you to do things you don't want to do or don't enjoy doing. I want to be disciplined and have fun at the same time - it's a good idea, so I already know that I'm going to have an "even harder March".

Nowadays, we have a lot of things made extremely easy. Why is physical and mental resilience important? Why is it important to work hard on yourself and take care of yourself?

INSIDER: Everyone who joins will feel it.

Lt. Col. Matouš: There is a very simple answer to the question of why physical and mental endurance is important - absolutely everything :-)

INSIDER PODCAST

In the most influential podcast on the Czech scene, you will find extensive interviews on current social topics with guests who have something to say. This podcast is hosted by Tomáš Jirsa and Michal Půr.

Lt. Col. Petr MATOUŠ

The commander of the 43rd Airborne Regiment in Chrudim previously worked with the 601st Special Forces Group in Prostějov, where he completed several foreign deployments, and also as an advisor to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense. Of course, he observes and promotes the hard February.