2017 is a full jubilee for the legend of Nikšić and Montenegrin athletics - marathoner Mileta Božović, who, as he says, ran around the globe five times.
He says that it has been 65 years since he started doing athletics as a fourteen-year-old.
"Performing for the newly founded athletics club 'Metalac' from Kraljevo, I participated in cross country together with adults. I stayed there until 1955 when I came to Nikšić".
He says that he trained independently for the first two years, and in the spring of 1957, the "Steel" athletics club was founded at "Željezara", and Božović became a member of it.
"A jubilee worth mentioning and respecting - six decades since the founding of AK 'Čelik'", said Božović, who worked in "Željezara" as a manager in the Construction Workshop.
There he earned a pension, but also the Order of Labor with a Golden Wreath.
And then comes 1967, full of jubilees that Božović fondly remembers.
Until 1964, he ran mainly on medium tracks.
Then the doctors state that he is an athlete with the largest heart in the world (volume 1.850 cm3) and that long distances and marathons suit him only.
And then begins Božović's association with the long paths that characterized his life.
"In August, five decades have passed since I ran 1967 kilometers and took second place at the individual championship of Yugoslavia in Osijek in 42. It is also 50 years since the first official race was organized in Crno
Gori from Danilovgrad to Nikšić, which I finished with a result of 2:50:12. In December, it will be 50 years since I won first place in the race for the Liberation of Titograd".
He points out that he is the first marathon runner from Montenegro who participated in official competitions at the Yugoslav level.
"I tried to be an example to young people to play sports, and I succeeded in doing so. Lovćen and Cetinje were my Olympus, and I regularly marked the days of the liberation of cities in Montenegro, as well as important national holidays, with races from 50 to 250 kilometers", said the marathon runner who ended his sports career in 1977.
Božović didn't just run - he donated blood 80 times, was a member of the Mountain Rescue Service, participated in labor actions three times from where he returned with striking marks, and he gave his entire property in Miločani to refugees from Bosnia and Kosovo without compensation, and later poor families.
He received the AS Yugoslavia silver plaque, the Montenegrin Athletic Association gold plaque, the RSD "Celek" gold plaque, numerous cups, diplomas and certificates of appreciation, a gold-plated watch, and was among the 10 best athletes of Montenegro.
"What I am especially grateful for is the trophy that bears my name. I guess it is the first cup that any of the Montenegrin athletes received in their lifetime".
He says that he has been looking for sponsors for years to run the Nikšić - Belgrade section, but that he did not succeed.
To work in shorts and T-shirt, ran 250 km from Tjentište to Virpazar
Božović not only had the biggest heart, but, as he points out, he was also the heaviest marathon runner - with 88 to 95 kilograms.
He was also unique in that he ran to work and covered those 11 kilometers in shorts and a trick T-shirt, regardless of the season.
"I ran mostly alone, both at night and in stormy weather, often on the road. I financed all the races myself, and due to family reasons I could not be more active in sports," said Božović, who still keeps the sneakers in which he ran his longest and most demanding marathon on July 13, 1969.
He ran the 250-kilometer track from Tjentište, via Gack, Nikšić, Podgorica, to Virpazar, including unforeseen events on the path through the Sutjeska canyon, in 19 hours.
Bonus video:
