No two races are ever the same—each one has its own approach, performance, context, and setting. And just like that, there are countless—actually, infinite—ways to experience running.
Exploring all those ways could be a full-time job, and probably not even a lifetime would be enough to fully capture them. If you remember, that’s exactly what we tried to do last year with RUN YOUR WAY, a podcast we created with New Balance to explore the many different ways people relate to running. Within that context, there are moments and places where running takes on a more unique flavor—and the Milano Marathon is definitely one of those.
The spirit of the city (and its people) naturally encourages originality—no question about that. But it’s not easy to find events that are original, authentic, and inclusive all at once. That’s exactly what happened at Cascina Nascosta (right in the heart of Parco Sempione) during marathon weekend.
The Crusher Running Club, together with New Balance, organized a weekend packed with activities—and the first one was Speed Demons: a full-throttle relay—literally—around Parco Sempione.
Let’s start from the beginning.
Running is made of many elements, and speed is undeniably one of them—so why not celebrate it while adding a social twist? That’s exactly what I experienced on the evening of Friday, April 4th, when 26 teams of 3 runners each went head-to-head on a 2.7 km loop around the park, starting from Cascina Nascosta. If you’ve never been there, it’s such a surreal spot that it doesn’t even feel like you’re in Milan.
First things first—you need the right shoes. So you take off whatever you’re wearing and slip into a pair from the FuelCell line, provided by the Boston-based brand. Because there’s a shoe for every way of interpreting and experiencing running (Run Your Way, right?) and in this case, it’s time to go fast.
There’s music, a DJ set that sets the mood and soundtrack of the night, and—most importantly—there’s conversation, fist bumps, and smiles shared before becoming competitors. Runners and clubs from all over Italy and Europe. Friends. Strangers. All gathered for one reason: to pass the baton and cross the finish line first.
The sun sets. It’s go time.
A wall of dust
The ground at Parco Sempione is dry, and a wall of dust rises under the feet of runners pushing at full speed from the very first step. There’s no pacing, no holding back—just one clear strategy: push hard, give it everything over those 900 meters of each leg, and hand off the glowing baton to your teammate before anyone else.
Two rounds: all teams run the first, only the top 10 go to round two. The final stretch leads to the Arco della Pace, a finish line that’s been waiting for runners for nearly 200 years.
But this wasn’t just a regular relay. The crew at CRC managed to create something truly special—a kind of underground vibe, where competition met camaraderie. That rare mix of fire and unity, of shared passion that goes beyond rivalry.
At the finish line, in that exact moment, there were countless “run your ways,” each different from the other, yet all part of the same bigger picture. Milan ran fast. Milan ran together. And through the dust, the music, and the beating hearts, the city proved once again: running is always more than just a race.
