Another stop

Running update. I made my last workout on sunday and since that day I am off. I felt tired but I had to finish the scheduled 10 km. The day before I made a long walk and the day before again a challenging 11 km (from home to the beach). As usual I didn’t listen to my body and on monday evening my mouth began to burn. The day after I had 7 ulcers on my tongue; the doctor said that it is “aphthous stomatitis/canker sore” due to stress and prescribed 3 different moutwashes, but the things went wrong. I couldn’t talk, I couldn’t eat, drinking was a terrible sufference and I felt every day weaker.

So I decided to went to a specialistic medic center where they confirmed the diagnosis but now I have to take antibiotics, cortisone and zinc tablets until next saturday.

Of course total rest and at the end of the cure a period of recover with only moderate walks.

Getting older doesn’t mean getting wiser!

Now I’m thinking to come back to my bicycle for a cross training.

July 2011: A jump in the past. As July 2019 was a failure with no races, now I post some memories relates to the month of July. Here is the Orbetello Night Run 2011. In the first pic from left: our humble esquire Massimo, Sir Giorgio and Sir Black Knight. I wear the outfit of the local running team sponsored by a shop for babies. Anna (Baby) was a classmate of mine in junior high school.

Loving the animals – The Spiders. Here are 3 spiders that I found at home. Pasquale lives in the cellar, the second was a Pasquale's guest for some days and the 3rd, Ugo, lived one year in our kitchen.

Ugo was very friendly and discreet, he built a very little web on the corner of the kitchen cupboard and every night went out to greet us; he was not scared of us. When he passed away we lost a “friend”.

the Black Knight Tribute

The Black Knight Army Tribute - Yesterday night Mark Knopfler was so kind to come to Rome, in the picturesque and historical location of the Caracalla Baths, to pay homage to the Black Knight by a concert. Waiting for the Black Knight arrival there were thousands of people, the auditorium was sold out. But this is a normal situation when the Black Knight deigns to participate an event.

  Since I am a modest person, I preferred not to go on stage otherwise the spectators would have acclaimed me only, while I wanted to leave some applause also for Marc.

   However it was a very beautiful concert 2 hours long and Marc Knopfler performed in a perfect way. Great artist with a great band.

Running: the show must go on – It’s not easy to run in this season but I make my usual workouts reminding myself to slow down. 

Now my favorite routes are 2; the first is in my city where I run from house to the beach: 11 km ondulated, half on a busy national road and half through the country. The problem is that the Municipality removed the fountain at half way so I can drink only at the end. The second is by the lake where I usually spend the week end.

In both the situations I go out at 06.30 a.m. when the sun is not high in the sky. At the moment I don’t think at upcoming races, I wait for better times (weather). Maybe the next will be on Sept. 8th, 10 km inside the natural oasis of Castel di Guido, where many breeds of birds live in their natural habitat.

Loving the nature – My cats. These are the 2 lovely cats who own the house and the garden where I live with my wife.

I introduce you Allegra while testing my mattress, while making a difficult puzzle and while trying to wear my shoes: 

Below there is the “king of the garden” while checking my dress before going to the ceremony of the 134° anniversary of the Italian Coast Guard.

Have a good week

Running in summer / Loving the nature: birds

Running in summer. When I was younger I didn't have any problem to do my workouts in summer but now I suffer the heat: the runs are harder, I feel weaker and the pace is slower.

For these reasons I planned a strategy to survive this hot season and to resist until fall when I will be able (I hope) to enter some race again:

1. Run in early morning. I go out at 06:30 a.m. and I finish before 08:00 a.m.;

2. The route always includes a couple of fountains to refresh me, just in case. This is a fountain, well appreciated also by the pigeons. Some years ago it was stolen and short time later recovered:

3. The route must be shady and, if possible, under the trees or in the country;

4. After the workouts a drink with potassium and magnesium. Every day a diet rich of fruit and vegetables;

6. Don't be in hurry to come back to the competitions.

    And now a couple of explicative photos:

1990 La Maddalena Naval Base - No problem at all to race under the sun.

2019 Bolsena Lake - Better not to run under the sun:

Loving the nature: As you know I am an animal lover and proud member of many associations for the protection of the animals. Here are some photos of birds.

My wife feeds some "old friends":

A nice family:

A robin that I rescued by a cat:

3 robins in Rome:

My grandson and I while feeding the ducks just killed by scum people (see my last post):

Canadian geese:

A seagull that daily comes to eat in my garden:

Are you an animal lover? Do you have any pets at home?

One sad story

     Usually I make my workouts in my hometown by the sea. Below is the beach where I have been going since 1975: 

    On the week end, instead, I run by the lake. As you can see in the photo below, this lake is the place where many birds have their habitat. Among them there were 3 nice ducks, they were the mascots of the town, socialized with the persons and agreed to be photographed.

 

    I used to feed them and enjoy their company. See the short movie: 

     Lately, since early may, I didn't meet them anymore. I began to make my workouts all around the lake, through new places, with the hope to see them again but, unfortunately, it didn't happen.

     So I asked a local woman who live in a house near the corner where the ducks used to stay and she said that "someone" killed all of them.

     I am very sad and angry, because I don't succeed in understanding how one (or more) person can kill such lovely animals only for fun!!!!!

Images from the battlefield

Medical check and training update. Worried for the weakness that appeared during 2 workouts at the end of June I went to the doctor and I did a series of laboratory tests. The tests are ok, so now I have only to follow my doctor's advice, waiting for better times: running without minding pace and distance.

Let's see what will happen in the near future.

Images from the battlefield. As I wrote on my last post the Black Knight Army is a group of goliardic friends who pretend to be warriors, every race a battle etc.

Here are some epic images of the legendary Black Knight Army on the battlefield:

Do you have epic images like these? If you have please share.