Running news from Sicily. I've had 5 competitive races since arriving & usually train every 3rd day.
My first race was in Carlentini, Sept.1st coming first in my age group, it's an area famous for orange groves & an archaeological park, also where I received my first box of goodies for my place in the race. Second race, Sept 15th in Rosolini, famous for its olive oil & wine, area there called Buono vini,coming in 2nd. My third race was at Priolo Gargallo, coming 2nd in my age group. It's a coastal town with a huge oil refinery owned by a Russian conglomerate called LukOil. Gas prices here are 1.75 Euro per litre ( $ 2.60 Can.), which is expensive considering we’re right across from the oil fields in Asia. Oh, am I going on about prices? Maybe it's because I'm a pensioner.
My fourth race was in Augusta, a two part race, the first half ( 5 km ) I came 2nd & the next 5km was 1st, I seem to do better on the longer runs ( 1.15 for the 10km ). I received my second box of goodies ( pic included ) bottle of wine, 2 types of tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, jar of tomato sauce & also a trophy. Augusta was a Greek colony, established 2700 years ago, then became a Roman colony so it has lots of history.
My last race was in Catania which has a marathon, half marathon & half of a half (10.5) which I did, coming 1st at 1.21, & if you’re wondering how many in my age group 80 to 84 ( which is not polite to ask ) I was the only one in all categories. Catania is nicknamed the Black city because of its closeness to our active volcano Mount Etna & the soot from it. It was also settled by the Greeks in 729 BC & its first university, established 1434, well before America was discovered. A lot of the streets we run on are made of lava stone ( 30 x 30 cm.) & slightly arced from the centre to the curb, where there are drains at the curb, as a lot of the old Roman streets were made.
I'll include 2 pics of the road I run on for training from Potopalo di C.P. to Marzamemi, the first looking towards Portopalo shows the old tuna factory (circa 1700) , behind the Castello Tafuri, a hotel & to the left the start of the town, the other pic in the middle is Marzamemi & on top of that flat mountain range at the back, if you expand the pic you will see faintly Mount Etna. It's been a hot summer with most races in the mid to higher 20es.
Congrats to all who have been out there exercising, good for the mind, good for the body, Back first week in Feb. Stay hungry, Stay foolish,
Ciao, Ken Pungente