Green Cross - Race

Yesterday, changing my mind, I made the decision to run another cross. Why?

Because I thought: after all, it's only 7.2 km. (4.5 mg) long and there are no other interesting races in neighboring towns. I will do it as a faster workout without pushing too much.

What a mistake!!!! The route, on a very hard ground that had just been plowed, was made up of 4 laps and each lap was made up of 10 parallel lanes. A real nightmare maze! All these lanes have facilitated some rascals who jumped over the red and white tape that bounded such lanes to cut the path. I have personally seen 2 of them do it.

The field was located in the middle of the countryside, far from the city of Montalto di Castro and near a photovoltaic park that sponsored the event.

However the organization was perfect: there was no registration fee, very kind volunteers, swag and a.g. awards for everyone up to the last arrival, refreshments and secure parking.

The heat and the difficulty of the route, mainly due to a psychological factor (that up and down 10 times to complete each single lap), did not stimulate me to give my best, for this reason I decided to run the last lap at a very slow pace.

However I don’t complain, another race is on my log book, the 5th this year.

Stats:

7,2 km (4,5 mg) in 42:43 (5:56/km - 9:33/mg)

79 of 88 overall

7 of 8 a.g. (my age group, 65/69 y.o., represented 9,1% of all the participants!!!!)

Pictures are coming soon.

Have a good week ahead

Civitavecchia Run - The rescue

Civitavecchia Run - Another glorious failure! Last Sunday I entered another race: officially it should have been 10 km long but my Garmin measured 9.24 km.

The route was 4 flat laps which included the main avenue and the water front. Due to the concurrence of other important races in neighboring cities, there were only 39 participants.

At the start I immediately found myself last and, after two laps, I was able to overtake only 2 runners. Throughout the race 2 friends, with no bibs, kept me company: in the past they were good athletes but now they don’t race anymore. I am grateful to them because they stimulated me to maintain a faster pace.

Stats:

9.24 km. in 52:29 (5:41/km – 9:09/mg);

37 of 39 overall;

3 of 3 in my age group

The swag and the age group awards consisted exclusively of material for the teeth (electric toothbrushes, toothpastes, mouthwashes, etc.).

The rescue: Yesterday I was running with 3 friends when I saw a blackbird in a daze on the road in the middle of the traffic. I stopped my workout and the cars, I rescued him and started to walk with the bird on my hand for taking him home for a full recover before releasing him. But, after a couple of km, he left my hand and flew over a wall. I approached and he came back on my arm, almost as if to thank me, before flying away definitively. I love animals!!!!

Corchiano Running Meeting - Race

     Sunday I entered a race in Corchiano. Corchiano is a beautiful ancient town, in the middle of green woods, in the so-called Tuscia (Lazio Region). The perfect place for a relaxing day and a run!

    The route, along the town and through the surrounding country, is very demanding and develops mainly on uphills  and downhills with few short flat parts. 

   100 meters after the start I found myself alone in the last place but I didn't worry because I expected it: this is a too demanding route to attract many participants despite the rich swag,

     Without forcing too much, I set a pace that allowed me to pass other few runners and reach the finish line in good condition without being too tired.

      Only a little negative note: there was not a professional photo shoot but some kind volunteers.

Stats:

11 km in 1:04:48 (5:53/km – 9:29/ml);

98th of 107 overall;

7th of 7 in my age group (I was lucky because there were 7 awards for every a.g.

    In addition to the competitive race there was a walk through the gorges for 400 elementary school students: a truly enchanted landscape!

 

 Have a good week ahead

10 months later

After 10 months I am here again. 

Why the long silence? I was disappointed because I didn’t succeed in posting my comments on other blogs so, after many attempts, I gave up and with regret I left the blogsphere.

But… what happened in this long period?

 

Running

As usual I try to run every other day for a monthly mileage of 150 km (93,2 miles) but, getting older, I am always slower.

I entered 5 races. I prefer to race in the so-called Tuscia (Lazio Region): the paths are tough and the runners competitive but the ancient towns are really beautiful and spending a day there is relaxing. Moreover the swags are very rich and full of local products.

 

Oct. 30, 2022 - Latera – km. 9,3.

2 laps  with 2 long heartbreak uphills.

Stats:

9,3 km in 57:35;

89 of 97 overall;

5 of 5 in my a.g. (65/69 y.o.):

Nov. 13, 2022 - Montalto – km. 11

1 ondulate lap.

Stats:

11 km in 1:05:51;

198 of 209 overall;

7 of 7 in my a.g. (65/69 y.o.):

Dec. 4, 2022 – Canino – km. 10

One lap with a final heartbreak hill under a rain storm.

Stats:

10 km in 58:35;

464 of 574 overall;

13 of 19 in my a.g.  (65/69 y.o.):

Feb. 5, 2023 – Roma - Remembrance Race – km. 10

1  lap with a short uphill at the end.

Stats:

10 km in 56:58;

366 of 492 overall;

17 of 25 in my a.g. (65/69 y.o.):

Apr. 30, 2023 – Montefiascone – Francigena Trail – km. 11,3

After 27 years I have run a real trail again. What a big mistake! 1 lap with long steep uphills and downhills on an impossible dirt track completely ruined. For the first time in my running life I walked many times. But not all was so bad: the scenery was wonderful and the swag very rich.

Stats:

11,3 km in 1:19:36;

150 of 178 overall;

4 of 6 in my a.g. (65/69 y.o.):

Normal life

I keep myself busy enjoying the company of our 4 grandsons and spending some days on the Bolsena Lake with my wife. Often the families of our childrens join us there.

Moreover, in march, I spent 4 days in Scotland with my son and his son.

Edinburgh - Greyfriars Bobby:

Loch Ness (of course we didn't see Nessie):

Dunfermline - Robert the Bruce's grave: 

How many trails have you run? Do you like this kind of running race?