Credit to his character, certainly, to his Roman-ness, but also to his running. Since running came into her life, it has given her energy and new stimulation. Since becoming an ASICS FrontRunner, so have many new friendships.
This is his story.
I am not exaggerating when I say that running is now a way of life for me.
She has not always been, although she has played a lot of sports in the past. I met running about three years ago, when I was going through a period that was not easy in my life and I realized that it was the only sport with which I could really vent, throw out thoughts and, at the same time, lift myself up.
Today running is an essential part of my day, if I don’t run I miss it, and the real struggle for me is not being able to train.
In the past year, then, I have focused particularly on one goal, the Rome Marathon, and training has also become more methodical.
Rome is my city, I love it and I love running through its streets. I have run the Roma-Ostia three times, which is a beautiful race: you start from the city to get to the sea. As you run you see Columbus invaded by runners. Entertainment.
On April 2, 2017, I ran the first Rome Marathon. I’m from Rome, so I couldn’t help but try. But it had been just that: a test, an adventure, following my teammates. I had not prepared it properly, and for many stretches I found myself walking.
Instead, this year I got myself followed up with special charts, took care of my nutrition, and this gave me more energy, more stamina and more muscle tone. Proper preparation is essential for such long races.
So on April 8, I showed up at the start. It was very hot in Rome that day, and the route, between climbs and cobblestones, is not the fastest. I did it though, I ran it all the way and managed to reach my goal: I wanted to run it in less than 5 hours, it took me 4h37. The crisis was not lacking, at the 37th kilometer, but when I arrived at the descent of Piazza Venezia, running alongside the Altar of the Fatherland, when I realized that the finish line was now near and I realized my chrono, it was a very strong emotion and a liberating cry came out!
I have to thank my team for this achievement, the Runner Trainers, who followed me throughout the preparation.
Will I try again? Sure, next year. I am from Rome and for me the marathon is the one in my city, although I am thinking of giving myself the Florence marathon for my birthday.
First, however, the Cortina trail awaits me at the end of June. It will be my first trail and I don’t know what to expect. I train in the city, have never run in the mountains, have no experience with altitude or trails, and don’t have the technique to run on the Lavaredo Peaks, but I’m sure it will be a beautiful course.
I will rely on my ASICS Geko and the advice of my FrontRunner friends. In them I found not only a lot of stimulation but also new friends. Back in 2017 I had sent in the application but was not taken. When I heard I was selected I was overjoyed! We are all different, and that is the beauty of it, because each of us can teach others something. I, for example, for the Cortina race, which is 48 km long, asked for advice from Sara Taiocchi, who is an expert in mountain running, and Virginia Nanni, who is an expert in long distances, since she just finished the Nove Colli Runnning.
And if you don’t know what to do in August, come run the Rome Half Marathon, at night, through the streets of the Eternal City. It is a beautiful race and I will obviously be at the start.