three athletes from Alghero under Giotto’s bell tower
The restart race had been defined, the long-awaited edition after a year of stoppage due to Covid. Born in 1984, the 37th edition of the Florence Marathon did not betray the expectations, giving Florentine, national and international athletics a great Sunday of running. There were hundreds of reasons that led the more than 4400 marathon runners (a number imposed by the organizers of the Florence Marathon) to the starting line in one of the most famous cities in the world and, among these, the desire to run through centuries-old monuments and streets with flavor ancient. From piazza Duomo to piazza Duomo in a triumph of art with the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Giotto’s bell tower and the Baptistery of San Giovanni as a backdrop to the arch of departure and arrival. A real dip in the Renaissance for those who have chosen to run along the history of Florence that offer architectural jewels. The route has not changed compared to 2019, except for some minor adjustments, with pavement between asphalt and paving, various changes of direction and several curves in the final stretch. 42.195 kilometers between Piazza Duomo and Ponte Vecchio, the avenues skirting the Fortezza Da Basso and arriving at the Parco delle Cascine and then Oltrarno and San Frediano before passing through Ponte Vecchio just before the halfway point.
A long door to Santa Croce, still on the Arno river, Campo di Marte, the Franchi stadium, the “Ridolfi” athletics track and finally Piazza Alberti, via Fra Angelico until you return to the square at the finish line. The weather offered a cool morning with rain only at times. For the Alghero Marathon the appointment with the Florence marathon is one of those circled with the red marker within the Italian calendar. Present at the start from Piazza Duomo Angelo Tiloca, Luigi Pisanu, Pietro Paschino and Francesca Masala. For Angelo Tiloca Florence represented, three years ago, the direct contact with the distance Regina. The experience of 2019 in Milan followed. The 2021 edition of the Tuscan race was completed in 2h53’38 (4’06 / km) which earned him 98th place in the men’s ranking and 26th among the 421 SM40s present. “The Florence marathon was born almost by chance – explains Angelo Tiloca. A month and a half ago, a week before the half marathon in Alghero, I wanted to venture a 30km long ride which, however, gave me excellent sensations from a marathon point of view. From mid-October onwards I still had time to organize some quality training sessions including the 32-36km long ones and so I signed up.
The climate was ideal for a long race and in fact immediately the legs responded very well, remaining under 4 ‘/ km until the half marathon (1h23’). I felt the first signs of fatigue towards 28km, before the fateful “wall” and then I opted for a wise management of residual energies. Despite everything I am really happy and satisfied. The marathon offers emotions and a continuous self-discovery. Thanks to my companions from the Alghero Marathon and above all to my wife Giuliana present with me in Florence “Seventy days after the Rome marathon, Luigi Pisanu wanted to relive the adrenaline that the marathon gives, he completed the one in Florence with the new personal best of 3h37’35 (5’09 / km) which improves the time in Rome by two minutes (3h39’28) which in turn improved the performance of New York 2019 by ten minutes. Fourth career marathon . “Florence is magnificent – says Gigi Pisanu. The path is sensational, artistic, immersed in history and in the beauty of Rome, even if it is fascinating. I didn’t have much hope of getting it right. After the Rome marathon I had run the half of Alghero and only a couple of longs of 24-28km without counting the flu that stopped me for a few days. I checked up to 30km respecting every refueling and in the last twelve he gave up his energy saving by running on 5’15-5’25 / km having learned the post Rome lesson.
And so I improved my 42km personal by two minutes. I am satisfied despite a discomfort in the big toe. Excellent proximity to teammates. For transport reasons we had to return to the airport almost immediately. We would have preferred to toast with Chianti in front of a Florentine. ” Tenth career marathon for Pietro Paschino, back on the 42km distance twelve months after Lisbon 2019. In the middle of the pandemic stop. An excellent return completed in less than three hours (2h58’05 at 4’13 / km) “The marathon requires preparation and therefore I diligently followed a particular training plan – says Pietro Paschino. The break of the last year and a half have influenced. I largely hit the expected time, that is to stay under three hours and for a very short time (sixteen seconds, 80 meters) I didn’t improve my staff. It helped the perfect cold day but with clear skies. I am very happy and congratulations to the organizers of the Florence Marathon ”First time ever in a marathon for Francesca Masala.
Previously for her intermediate stages over the distance of 10km, half marathon up to the demanding “From the sea to the mountains”. The debut in the queen distance was brought to a conclusion after 3h39’01 at 5’11 / km with fifteenth place among the SF35s. “It was not a race, it was a journey – assures Francesca Masala. In the marathon you share a moment with thousands of people, each with a different baggage to take with them, each with their own personal one. The biggest stimulus was to think about running, more than for me, for those who cannot do it and who cannot do sports. Living such a beautiful experience is a privilege “. On Sunday 5th December the Alghero Marathon will be at the start of the CagliariRespira half marathon and on Sunday 12th of the 21km in Olbia.