Cold wind on Easter Monday

Today is Easter Monday. And this morning the weather was colder than normal, so I had no choice but running with scarf and hat. I ran 50 minutes through a strong and cold wind ... although this is the second week of April, and we saw the beginning of Spring on March 21st.

The chart below shows the running path where I ran last week. I was delighted with my training as I did 12 km at 05.30 min./km pace.

I would like to post four pictures that I took today after I had run. We spent this cold and windy Easter Monday in the hills, here in Central Italy. The first one shows a very small stone house in the countryside.

An old farm house has been transformed into a restaurant. We had lunch there with other friends.

 The  picture below shows its old wooden ceiling.

After we had had lunch, we went walking through a village called Tuscania, about 100k North from Rome, where we visited the old church of Santa Maria Maggiore. Its rose window, also called wheel window in Gothic architecture, gives to the church a somewhat English character. Absolutely stunning! If you were to visit me I would be honoured to take you there. 

 Nice week to all my blogger friends!

Easter cakes are ready

As usual, the South Italy's Easter cake is still ready: we'll have it tomorrow at lunch. We've planned to go in the hill with other friends on Easter Monday.

My running shape is slightly increasing: this week I ran three times, and I did 32 km (10k on Monday, 12k on Wednesday, and 10k yesterday). I hope to run a 10k race in Tuscany on April 18th. 

Happy Easter to everyone! 

Can you go running with your boss? It depends on a number of factors

No one could think otherwise about advantages to being friends with our boss. But how do we know when it's a good idea to be friend with our boss? I am writing down this post about the relationship between boss and subordinate after I had spoken with my boss about running, races, and average pace. I noticed that my boss is a runner (sort of). So last week while I was speaking with him about running he said he would like to join my running group once a week. He  doesn't live in the same town where he works, that's why he would like to discover new running paths as he doesn't know Civitavecchia and its outskirts. Maybe, he is looking for new places to run or he doesn't like to run on his own. Anyway, my answer was: "Yes, of course. I would be honored. You can join my running group whenever you want ". 

In my opinion the main question is: are we going together because we genuinely get along?  I have to think how to make sure that the friendship-boss line doesn't get blurred. In addition, some colleagues might perceive  the relationship with the boss as  favoritism.
I'd like to put on this post two pictures which I took on this rainy Wednesday. I took the first picture from my office (pink houses). The second one shows pink colors of both the trees along the sidewalk and the buildings in the middle of the town.  I took it this morning  while I was going to work.

Can you go running with your boss? I'd like to know your point of view about this topic.

Last cold of the Winter ... Maybe.

It seems that last week we saw the last cold of the Winter here in taly. And I'd like to post a few pictures which I took while I was running. There are some sweet hills close to the town, and I went running there last Friday. I tryed to maintain the same pace along those soft paths up-hill and down-hill.   

The weather was windy and cold while I ran past the red house which you can see here below. This time the running path was quite flat. 

And it was cold too in the middle of the town where I ran last Wednesday. As you can see here below, there weren't any people along the pedestrian area of the town in the early afternoon .

Last week I really enjoyed running with my camera. I have seen that runners sometimes do the same. Have you ever run with your camera?
Nice week to all my blogger fiends!

Black chickpeas

In my last post I mentioned the place where I've been working  since Monday. I will be there until Friday 27th. I'd like to show two dishes which I have had there. The first may be perfect as pre-race food (carbohydrates). It's spaghetti with artichoke.

The second one may be good after a training session (proteins). It's black chickpeas supper. Really tasty! I would have never thought about black chickpeas. I have heard about black beans (from South America) or black lentils (from India) but not of  black chickpeas.

Have nice runs!

Changing my routes

In terms of running, I have lost my sense of purpose. I mean that I haven't plan to run any race in March, although I'm still running almost three times a week. And changing my routes is a thing that I've beared in mind: a fast run (or 45 min. tempo run), a long run (1 hour and 15 mins.) and a repeats session (including the warm up) every week. Maybe, I'll run a race in Summer.

Running helps us finding inner peace and good mental health, but we should run only when we really want. So I did'n run this afternoon as the weather was cold and I was mentally tired enough after I had finished working. On the other hand, the place, where I went this morning for job, was really interesting, as you can see in the picture. All the old small houses, which you see in the picture above, are located in a pedestrian area without cars and motorcycles. Wonderful! There isn't any noise there. And pollution level is very low. people don't go biking through the village because streets are up-hill ... and I didn't see any donkey or horse. Tomorrow, I will be there once again. 

Happy running to all the members of our blogging community!

Physical exercise

I've just finished reading posts of our blogging community, and I've noticed that most blogger friends are still running, in spite of cold wind and snow.That's really a good thing! Since February 1st I have run twice along my favourite track close to the seacoast, where I can enjoy the smell of sea salt in the air. Wind and waves kick up spray, and bits of sodium chloride can permeate the air while I am running.

 



The palm trees in the sidewalk area close to the seacoast 

 

I noticed that since January motivation is increasing slightly, that's why I'd like to say just a note to focus on one of the most important fenefit of running. We always see a relationship between running and phisical benefits, such as lower blood pressure,  healthier heart or a more attractive physique. But running magazines have recently suggested that there is another benefit of regular walking/running: exercise enables us to soak in more information. Our lifestyle is related to the way we think.  

Some friends of mine say they don't have time for an activity. But I think they don't consider it a priority. In my opinion, there are two ways to relate the time we have available and physical exercise:

• first, becoming part of a group (running, walking, dancing, etc.); 
• second, reframing physical activity as part of our job.

Happy running/walking to everyone!    

Pink houses

I have just planned my next race: it's a 5k race which will be held in Rome on February 8th. I don't do the registration through the race's internet website as I'll try to do it two hours before the race.  

And now two pictures which show pink houses in the middle of the town. I took the pictures last week while I was running through the pedestrian area, where there isn't any noise pollution or car's emissions.  

In addition, the two pictures show that it was a cloudy morning, although since the beginning of the new year we have had Autumn temperatures without cold, snow and rain ... until now.

Happy running/walking/biking to everyone!

Assault on Democracy

I'm still astonished to see the assault on Democracy in Paris this week. And while French Policemen are still dealing with one of the worst terrorist attack in Europe for half a century, today Vatican Square seems quite deserted: Italians and tourists are feared terrorist attack on Vatican. 

The Christmas tree and the Nativity scene are still there, in the middle of Vatican Square. 

This post has nothing to do with running. Sorry for that!
Freedom will always be stronger than barbarism!

I already did a race in 2015

Hi  everyone! Have you had a good beginning of the New Year? I hope so! I have been glad to see that most blogger friends began the New Year along running paths in a wood, through the countryside, or simply walking/hiking. With regards to walking and hiking I have just seen the useful post written by Amy Crawshaw, from Leuven. In her interesting post she underlines the difference between the two verbs walking and hiking. Thanks again for sharing those information, Amy! As it is known, English isn't my first language, that's why I am always interested in this kind of posts. The meaning of words and expanding my vocabulary will always be the most important of learning English. The British  language is constantly changing, so I need to keep up to date with new words and new ways of speaking.

Maybe, the picture has something to do with the two verbs above mentioned, as it shows the post-race atmosphere which I saw this morning :) 

I already did a race in 2015: this morning I ran a 5k race in a place close to Rome.

On this sunny Sunday, the runners gave something to eat such as cakes, wine, and olive oil, while they were making the registration. The food was collected to benefit social cause programs in Rome and surroundings. 

I'll try to find other pictures through the web later.

Enjoy your walking/running/hiking!

Christmas shopping

I've just finished walking through shopping centers and Christmas markets in Rome and surroundings. I've just  finished doing Christmas shopping :)

Consequently, our Christmas tree is surrounded by Christmas gifts. 15 people will be at home at Christmas, that's why you see a lot of gifs around the tree

Happy Christmas to all my blogger friends!

Italy's most multicultural city

The two pictures above have nothing to do with running. They were taken this month while I was walking through the Italy's largest and most multicultural city. I'm talking about a Rome's neighborhood located close to the main railway station, where most people who live there aren't Italians. And it works great! Of course that neighborhood  does have its downsides:someone can't find Italian items in the shops located along that street and restaurants mainly sell exotic dishes. 

Back to the running topic, I haven't planned to run any race yet. Maybe motivation have been decreasing since last Spring ... although  I have bought a new pair of running shoes :) This week I have been so glad to hear that Stefano has planned to run the Christmas race. It will be held on December 22nd and I'll give it a try!

I am a mild over pronator

New running shoes are still in their packing box.. Last week I  bought a pair of Asics Gel - Kayano 20, after I had got my style analysed in a specialist running shop in Rome. I am a mild over pronator, that's why I chose a shoe that gives more arch support.

Weather is still hot although Summer is sadly over. And I am ready for a couple of gloomy months, when days get shorter, temperatures drop and the rain settles in. We might enjoy a second summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Have you never escaped the European and North American winter and spent some time on the other side of the world?

Nice week to everyone!

The Pope and the lawyer

This week I am dealing with a legal matter related to compensation for damages. One of the walls of the block of flats where I live shows signs of dampness and moisture penetration. Thertin homeowners live in this building which is experiencing noticeable seepage because of a shop's bathroom  located on the other side of the wall. Unfortunately, the owner of the shop is a lawyer: he said that the moisture penetration is related to our basement. I don't think so, because it's easy to see moisture penetration only on the wall which is situated between our building and his bathroom, whose water main was built more than fifty years ago. In addition, this line of thinking is supported by two plumbers who saw both our wall and his bathroom.

This legal matter reminds me the joke about the Pope and the lawyer which I heard last Summer. It would be a good idea to share the joke, considering that I've just bored you with moisture penetration and seepage.
the joke is named "The Pope and the lawyer".
The Pope and a lawyer are on the elvator to heaven. When they arrive at the gates, dozens of angels, saints and other holy people are waiting for them.
They pick the lawyer up and carry him on their shoulders. They all cheer. They don't take any notice of the Pope who is very sad.
St. Peter sees this and goes over to him and says: "Don't feel bad. We get popes here all the times. It's not every day we get a lawyer". 
  

Today we have had one day of Summer sunny once again. the picture picture below shows one of the things I like most about my town: it's its running path along the sea.

Have nice outdoor adventures!

Post scriptum:  I mentioned above the definition "block of flats", with regards to the building where I live. Do you think it is correct? Could I use also the word "condominium"?

The last three week of this Summer

Today, the first day of September, it seems that Summer is going to an end sharply: wind and rain. It's easy to see that climate change worsens, and the forecast through September doesn't promise much relief.  Maybe, we are still seeing possible problems due to Mediterranean climate change.

It's a real pity that many tourists, who have just reached my country, will not enjoy our beaches this month.

 

The picture on the left shows how was the sky above the street were I live. I took it after I had had breakfast  this morning, Monday, September 1st. I hope that these weather conditions will be good for running.

In addition to climate change, this summer  we, Italians, have experienced also  a disease affecting olive trees in Central Italy. The two pictures here on the left show a view of my mother's small farmland: we can see olive trees without olives! Unfortunately, in fall we will not make olive oil. And black figs aren't ready yet!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy running/walking/byking to all my blogger friends.

 

Day of Assumption of Mary

Hi to everyone! Today is the day of Assumption of Mary (The Virgin Mary enters Heaven).

According to Catholic Church, August 15th is considered a Holy day of obligation.

Yesterday I was ready for my first day back at work. I had been on vacation since July 28th to August 13th: beaches and rest, although the weather wasn't good enough.

The picture above shows the small black cat who lives close to my mother's house. When I took that picture he was sleeping sweetly. 

At the moment I am not running as much as I should, considerng that I would like to run a half marathon in October. Moreover, I have low back pain:  muscles were torn or overly stretched because of sudden movement while I was digging in my mother's garden. I hope I can run again as soon as possible. The problem is that I don't dig every week ... the sudden increase in digging the  garden is rapidly followed by injuries. Do you know how to avoid back pain conditions relating to gardening? 
Nice weekend to all my blogger firends!

My 200th post

Hello everyone! This is my 200th post.
I haven't been blogging since last month.(sorry for delay). Next week I'll be on vacation and my best destination will be the Ponza Island. Two days ago, my  sister sent me the picture below which shows the place where I'll spend a three days next month. It's the place where my mother usually lives in Summer which is situated in the hills close to Gaeta. Her house's rooftops are covered with photovoltaic panels. We are going to celebrate her birthday on August 2nd.

I have never seen such stunning rainbow through that valley.

As usual, in Summer I lose the ability to run over a long period of time without getting tired. I haven't plan to run any race in the next two months. That's why I didn't run the 10km race which was held yesterday in my hometown. On the other hand, I gave my support as volunteer, providing water along the track :) and got the t-shirt of the race although I didn't run it. Some runners from Sweden and Netherlands ran that 10km race as they were here in Italy on vacation. Beautiful atmopshere before the race.
I'll probaby sign up for a Half Marathon which will be held in October. The running path will be around the "Vico lake" here in Central Italy. So, at the moment I am trying to maintain my running shape considering that our body sometimes needs a break.
Happy Summer to all my blogger friends!

Fruit, vegetables and water

Since the 1st week of May I've been reading some good posts  about the importance of fruit, vegetables and water.  Blogging writers have focused their  posts of the fact that we, runners and walkers who live in the Northern emisphere, are headed into the warmer months. This reminds me the importance of rehydration. I always put into my body more than 2 bottles of water a day and I drink three cups of water before breakfast. There is always a small bottle of water in my handbag (not sparkling water). I try to do the same in Winter too.  Other bloggers talk about food: the more the fruit and vegetables, the less the risk of heart disease. We would have to teach good behaviour rules about food and drink ... our children are watching us.

The picture above shows the starting line of the race for the cure which I ran on Sunday May 18th. Fantastic! I didn't run too fast because I decided to enjoy the atmoshpere and the landmarks along the track. A fantastic race for a great social cause!
 

 

Nice week to all my blogger friends!

All posts should come with a picture

Few people who live in my town really know the fountain of Vanvitelli. It' s a symbol of Civitavecchia. It's the gateway to the town, so  it almost guards Civitavecchia and the sea. 

http://www.portofrome.it/the-fountain-of-vanvitelli/
I took the picture yesterday while I was running along the port.

Last week I went to Rome twice for job and tomorrow I will be still there where I will run the "Race for the cure".  Its goal is to raise money for a specific type of cancer research.

Nice weekend to everyone.

 

The last two weeks of April

Since Aprile 6th I haven't been running as much as I should, that's why last week I visited my mother on April 20th and decided to do a long run up-hill.  The  road  passes through the countryside and  it even becomes a dangerous track as you can see below. 

While I was running on the way back I saw those two street plates representing a cow and a landslide. 

... and two  minutes later I saw those two cows along the street.

 It may be dangerous especially in the dark

Saturday,  April 26th, was our 24th wedding anniversary and we spent all the day with the kids in Rome where we  visited  the exhibition of  a selection  of  seventy works created  between 1848 and 1914  by the  great French masters, such as Monet and Van Gogh.  Those extraordinary works were  in  Rome for  the first time and will be there  until June 8th.

Paradoxically, although we have been to Paris twice since 2001, we haven't visited the "Musée d'Orsay" yet. As it is known, there are many things to visit in Paris, such as Saint Germain de-Prés, Montmartre, Le louvre, and Notre Dame, but we hadn't enough time. So last Saturday we visited a small part of the "Musée d'Orsay" in Rome. I had took three photos of the paintings before I learnt that it is forbidden to take pictures. I was sorry for that although I took the pictures with my mobile phone and without light which might damage the painting. Here below on the right, I post a picture of a wonderful work made by Claude Monet in 1878, the "Rue Montorgueil" in Paris. The photo doesn't represent the painting nearly as well as it should: while I was watching that work it seemed that those flags were moving. Extraordinary!

The picture above on the left shows  the Geoffroy's work "Visit day at the Hospital", made in 1889.

As you can see through the following pictures, the weather was perfect for a walk along the old side of the town. The streets close to the main Rome's landmarks were really crowded. In addition to the usual tourists, there were hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world who were filling the town (and they are still filling St. Peter Vatican square) for a historic event involving four popes.

Nice week to everyone!

Happy Easter!

I'd like to show you this picture taken yesterday while I was running in the hills near to the town. We (my wife and I with our friends) have planned to spend there Easter Monday. As you can see in the picture, yesterday the weather wasn't sunny enough and it still is so cloudy. I hope it will be better during this Easter weekend, considering that my daughters have planned to go on the beach.   

Happy Easter to all of you!

Vivicittà 2014

Yesterday I ran a 12 km race on a sunny Sunday. My average pace was 04:20 min./km and it is the same pace I did when I ran the two races last month. 

Maybe I tend to run the same routes and repeat the same kind of training week after week. 

Before I had run the race I got a purple shirt with the logo which you can see in the picture. I'll post the pictures of the race as soon as possible. 

Have a nice week!

Running in the green hills

The third week of Spring is upon us and we can't enjoy the typical sunny weather of this season, as you can see in the picture below: cloudy and rainy weather since March 21st.

This post shows three pictures which I took while I was running though  the  countryside. I did running reperats and tempo runs there during the last two weeks. The picture below shows three olive trees which are 200 years old. As you can see the running path is soft: that's great because I don't like to run on concrete or asphalt.

I've planned to run  a 12km  race tomorrow and  I will be careful because the track is mainly up-hill and down-hill. In addition to this, information about weather forecast aren't good enough.

Nice weekend to everyone!