Podium at Piana D. Albanesi race
Oh yes, it's back - T shirts at races here in Sicily. After quite a few years of small towels and one strap bags (I guess to hold your computer) and it doesn't take many to have enough of those, we've gone full circle back to T shirts.
I'll tell you how the races are done here at this time in space. Most runners register through the President of their running club. Races here cost between 8 to 12 Euro. At the race site you pickup your number by showing your Green Card (COVID vaccination proof ) and picture ID. Mask worn (usually light blue ones) and stay on until about 150 metres into race. Some races also check your temperature when picking up number. Everybody gets a small goodie bag and maybe a T shirt or medallion at end of race. The first three in every five-year age category get either a larger goodie bag or a trophy of some kind.
Oh yea, did I mention about the accolades, that's really the good part. All the races I've done are in Sicily (Sicilia). My first race was in Valverde, (est. latter half of the 13th century) Sept. 5 and the race was hot, 1/3 up, 1/3 flat and 1/3 ----. I came 4th, got a T-shirt and small goodie bag.
At one event, every racer got a cannoli
Next was Floridia on Sept. 19, which on Aug. 11th had the highest temp. in Europe at 48.8 C. This was a reasonably flat race - only 6.6 km. I came 4th again and when I got back to my car it registered 28C. I don't do well in the heat, it really sucks the energy from me.
Next was Oct. 3 in Trapani (est. 300 BC). I've done this race maybe five times, 10km race and came 6th and it was around 23C. it's a popular race and at the awards only the first three in each age category were allowed into a confined seating area. They are being very careful with COVID restrictions as we know how special it's to be back competitively running. Given a T-shirt at this race.
The next, Oct. 17th was at Monterrosso, in the province of Ragusa, a hill town and was supposed to be 12km but was a 14km off road race. No no, I wasn't racing just trying to get to the finish alive. At the finish got to drink from a fountain that said, est. 1894. It's absolutely beautiful countryside with breath-taking views from the high spots in the run. Came first in my age group. Only one - the smart ones stayed away - but got a T-shirt and goodie bag.
View point from Piana D. Albanesi
Next race Oct.31st in Piana D. Albanesi, which was est. in the late 1400s, another mountain town with a very interesting history. It was, what do we say in English "undulating," which is just a polite term for saying, you’re going to be sore after this one. Came third in my age group. I do better as it gets cooler. Got a huge goodie bag. But the great thing about this race was that before we started, we had the pleasure of watching about 100 girls and boys run, ages 5 to late teens, which was separated by sex and age, and different distances. It was so wonderful to see the racing club and community sponsor this. Plus the look of determination in their faces. They were well applauded and all received medallions. To see this goes deep to my heart.
I've done two races since writing this and hopefully a few more to come before I return to Canada near the end of Feb. 22. This is already becoming a epic novel so will save the rest for my next race report. It sure feels good for me to get back to competitive running and also the comradely.
I've got a T-shirt which I plan on passing to my son, which has printed on it " Virtual Race" from the Esquimalt Navy Run. I hope that many years from now he will put it on and say “remember when we went through that COVID thing.”
If you get a chance or time to look-up some of these cities and towns. They sure have some interesting history, but always use Sicily (Sicilia) after the name as there's many places with the same name throughout Italy. Also, some of the races are recorded by a group called DTS Sicilia and will have photos and times of the race. OK until the next report, Stay hungry, Stay foolish, Ken
