Rome's 20th Race for the cure

I'm happy to report that on May, 19th I ran the Rome's 20th Race for the cure. I enjoyed once again this wonderful running event which was held close to the most beautiful Rome's landmarks, such as coliseum, Circus Maximus, and Altar of the Fatherland.

The picture above on the right shows Stefano  (wearing black outfit) and the wet cobblestones along the track that were very dangerous, as the weather was rainy.  It was also raining while we were waiting on the starting line (picture below).  

Fortunately, there were no cobblestones on the finish line :-)))

Social lives of networked people

Nowadays we can always see people attracted by texting, Facebook,  Twitter, instant messaging, and other social media. We see them completely "networked" everywhere: along the streets, in open plan offices, and inside restaurants and department stores. Sometimes we can see them inside the church. We are surrounded by awkward images of people who now go online to connect other people in their community. They don't  see the world around them. Since the late 2000s I have seen people who send text messages while they are running. How do they carrying mobile phones while they are running?

I would like to carry a camera while I am running instead of a mobile ... I took the picture of the seagull above while I was running this week.

Happy Easter to the blogging community!

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!

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.

 

Day of remembrance

February 10th is the day of remembrance here in Italy (but it isn't Public holiday). It reminds us the mass killings perpetrated by Yugoslav partisans and directed against native Italians during late world war II. That ethnic cleansing of Italians has something to do with running as last Sunday a 5 km race remembered the more than 10,000 Italians put into the foibe (See: http://shelf3d.com/i/Foibe%20massacres ).

The race was held in Rome and I ran most of that 5 km race through the rain. After I had run that "wet" race I noticed that my previous workouts in the rain had paid off: I haven't got a cold. On the other hand, I ran with beanie hat and scarf as you can see in the picture which I found through the web. It was taken while I was running the race and shows clearly my happiness. The picture reminds me that running stimulates endorphin production which improves mood and makes us feel good.

As usual, Stefano and I enjoyed the race although the track was tough and hilly. The organization wasn't good enough and volunteers weren't helpful. After the race I got a medal, a T-shirt and a very small loot as you can see in  the picture (pasta and Gatorade).

  

I crossed the finish line after 23 minutes and 11 seconds (4:38 min./km) and noticed that since last month my average pace has been increasing slightly (compared with my previous 5 km race which I ran in January at 5:00 min./km pace). 

The last picture below shows runners who didn't wear beanie hat and scarf while they were running the race ... How could they wear summer clothes while they are running in February? Didn't they get a cold? In Winter, the problem  is before the race on the starting line, when runners are waiting for the signal to begin the race ... on a rainy Sunday.  That's why I wore beanie hat and scarf  :)

Have nice runs!

Race for the cure

Thousands of enthusiastic people  ran this Sunday the Race for the cure and could enjoy the wonderful landmarks and buildings located in the old neighborhoods of Rome.

Running around the Colosseum and past some Rome's monuments was exciting. But I also enjoyed the friendly atmosphere along the track. The organization was very efficient and a lot of people, who didn't run, were very supportive and enjoyed seeing the race: I have never seen such  beautiful people along the running path and next to the finish line. The weather was never too hot and never too cold: it was perfect. I was so happy to see some runners from France, Spain and other countries. As known, the main aim of the race was raising money for medical research.

Stefano and I enjoyed that 5 km race and reached our sub 5 min./km goal. I ran the race as tempo run training and crossed the finish line after 23:48 minutes. I was happy for that!  

The second picture here on the left shows the two black knights  close to the starting line.

It was the first time that I ran with a camera and took pictures while I was running. Some running friends of our world blogger community, such as Johann, inspired me to run with  a camera and this time I decided to run with my Nokia camera mobile phone. Unfortunately it rang while I was running the 3rd km past the Altar of the Fatherland (photo below). A colleague had to communicate some information (I saw his name on the mobile phone while it was ringing) but I had no choice but give him a quick answer. So, I quickly told him: "I am afraid I can't speak at the moment. I'll give you a call as soon as possible". After I had crossed the finish line I gave him a call. Next time I will run with a camera ... without mobile phone :)

The picture here on the right was taken while I was running past the Altar of Fatherland. As you can see, there were cobblestones along the track but it wasn't  dangerous. Have you never got a phone call while you were running a race? Nice week to everyone!

Back blogging about Sudan's social cause

I wrote my last post on December 31st and despite a drop in frequency of posts I've still read  hugely interesting running blogs. 

I've just read the Johann 's post about Sudan and a great social cause to be raising money for.

As you know, Sudan is such a dangerous place again.

This is my first post in 2013 because I've been busy for job and since January 8th I have finished working late. That's why I am compelled to run in the dark and can't join my running group. Consequently, I try to keep my eyes out for dangers along the track. First of all, I always wear high visibility running clothes and don't listen music along the track. Unfortunatey I haven't planned yet any races.

Nice Sunday to all my bogger friends!

Formula Run Cap

This morning, once again, the most challenging part of the track was situated next to the finish line. I would have never thought that the  Formula Run Cap race was tough, considering that we ran through the Southern part of Rome.

Anyway, more than 1500 runners ran that 10 km race which was held in support of  the children's Hospital of Rome (Bambino Gesù, that's its name). The organization was good, The volunteers were all great and really nice, the weather was perfect.
 The photo shows the starting line 1 hour before the race and  behind the starting line you can see the Square Colosseum, which is considered an icon of Fascist architecture.  
Despite the hilly track I enjoyed the race and was delighted enough with my time taken: it was 45:43, although my goal was under 45 minutes (04:30 min./km).

The chart above shows the running track's altimetry

Stefano and I before the race

Runners before the race

Along the track there were two refreshment points, after the race we had yogurt, milk, tea, cakes and water and ... the loot was good too :) It was a nice and good running shirt (see photo below).

          Nice week to all my blogger friends!

Eastern Monday

The photo posted shows the place where we spent Eastern Monday on April, 9th. That old farm has been transformed in a nice farm house resort and it is located 120 km North from Rome. In Italy, that style of vacationing is called "agriturismo" and this word is a  combination of the words for "agriculture" and "tourism" in Italian.

We stayed with friends and their children and we had a great time although the weather was windy.

Tomorrow I am running the Rome's Vivicittà 12 km race. It's a world–renowned Italian-founded race which takes place every year all over Europe and in other cities around the world. Its aim is to achieve integration between different cultures and peoples by using sport as an instrument of socialization.

Stefano and I are running that race as training. As I wrote on  Char's blog, where I've just left a comment, I still see a lot of chocolate in my house and I'm not losing weight :)

I hope you'll have a nice running, swimming and biking weekend!

10 km race to help charities

On Sunday, December, 18th the Liberty Christmas run starts in my town. It's its first edition and it will be organized to help many charities. I hope that hundreds of runners will run this 10 km race although in the same day another Christmas race starts in Orbetello (Tuscany).
Today I ran with the group along the race's track which is situated around the industrial area in the northern side of the town.
After the warm-up (25 mins) we did 8 x 5 mins repeats at a average pace of 5.10 min./km. It's a good pace considering that the track was hilly and it wasn't easy. At this point, I would need to lose weight, 3 kg at least. It's always the same problem before every race. So, I'm going to increase healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables ... and of course, less both red wine and beer ... in the Autumn I love having red wine with chocolate and chestnut :) Moreover, carbs (bread, pasta, pizza and potatoes) are really dangerous at dinner. Although I enjoy the kitchen table, I'll try to monitor calories ... until Sunday, December, 18th :)

On the political front, while economic newspapers in the world are writing that Europe stands on the brink of disaster, in Italy there are people who predict disaster, quite routinely, in order to justify the distruction of social security and other popular programs: I hope that conservatives in the world don't exist any more. And if they were to resurface today in the policy world they would be taken seriously by no one. 

The second photo shows the Mignone river, situated 100 km North from Rome.  Last week I was here for job.

I hope all you blogger friends will have a nice week and a happy running!

Lists

I'm trying to run three times a week, despite this Spring is rainy enough, because I've to find my motivation. Thanks to all the blogger friends who supported me.  Their comments really help me while I'm trying to find my motivation and inspiration back.
I'm busy (family and work) and I'm making lists because it is relaxing. Somebody says that making lists, where you can write everything to do, calm you down, especially at the end of a stressful day.

How do you remember everything you have to do each day, week or month? A lot of people write lists  but they sometimes forget where they put them : )  And few people write key words on the back of their hands !!!

I saw that young people relied on their personal organizer. Anyway, an old cell phone is good for this purpose.

On the running front, on Saturday, June, 4th, a 6 km race will be held in support of South America's Children who live in poverty and emargination. The race's total gain will be useful to help those children  (school, sports and vaccinations) who live in that special part of the world. 
That race starts at 06:00 p.m. and the running path will be around a beautiful park in the centre of Rome. The following website shows the race's track.

http://www.acorp.it/italiano/acorp_mappapercorso.php
I'm running it as training.
I hope all my blogger friends will  have a nice weekend!    

Can a Muslim woman find a place for running?

There are some countries in the world where a tradition says that girls can't run. For example, in Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, girls can't play outside and go for a run. And in the spring of 2005, in Pakistan, girls' participation in public sports was declared un-Islamic.

I think we would have to dedicate races to the girls who live in some countries such as Iran and Pakistan. They're girls who can't know their own strenght.
I took the photo which you can see above in 1990 while I was travelling through a small town called Jayce, which is situated in the middle of Bosnia (former Yugoslavia).
Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is an European country, are a little under two million in number and constitute 40 percent of the country's population (2002 estimate). The modern Bosniaks, often referred to as Bosnian Muslims, descend from Slavic speakers who converted to Islam in the 15th and 16th centuries.

I'm not running a race this weekend and I'll do tomorrow 8 km tempo run around the Oliveto park. You can see above an image of this park where there are a lot of olive trees. The 19th of Semptember the Grosseto's 12 kilometers race will be held. I've planned to run it.

Have a nice weekend!

12 kilometers "green" race

I think that I have to run the races which are held in my town. Although since the 1st of April I've got weight, this morning I decided to run the "Vivicittà" 12 kilometers race. Before we began to run the warm up I and Stefano had met some friends who wore green T-shirts. They were "green" runners because the race had been held in support of environmental protection. The atmosphere was very friendly and the weather was cloudy. I show you some photos of those "green" runners and I am near the two dogs with green T-shirts.


In the next photo you can see the two black knights before the race.

The track of the 12 kilometers race was hard and we ran four steep up hills. The time taken was 55:20 minutes.

In support of a social cause

Since last Monday, 2 March, I haven't run because of a sore throat. I think I have to change my running time. Last Monday I ran from 02:00 to 03:00 p.m. and before I got out to take my daughters to the tennis club I had had a shower. Maybe I got out while the body's defences were decreasing. Every day In the afternoon there is something to do such as shopping, working, socializing and so on. Of consequence, I'll try to run in the early evening so I haven't got out after the training while the weather is rainy and cold.

Next Sunday, the 14th of March 2010, the first edition of the Race for Haiti starts in Rome at 10:00 a.m.. The overall earning of the race will be given to the people of Haiti. It'a a race in support of that territory which was recently destroyed by the earthquake.
My photo above posted shows the hills near the town where I live.

Montalto's running race 10.700 km.

Last Sunday, the 11th of October 2009, Stefano, Umberto and I, ran a 10.700 race in Montalto in support of "Italian Association blood's donors". I was the fifth on the list which includes runners who were born from 1960 to 1964. The loot, which you can see in the photo above posted, consists of two bottles of wine, one bottle of oil, coffee and pasta. Stefano's loot is the same because he was the fourth on the other list which includes runners who were born from 1955 to 1959. Congratulations to Stefano for his ordeal. We are planning to run another 10.00 km. race in support of another social cause the 1st of November 2009.