It was a beautiful day to be a Boston Marathoner
We left Hopkinton, conquered HeartBreak Hill and reached Bolyston Street to complete the 128th Boston Marathon and become 6 stars finishers on a very sunny day and with the memory of my father close to my heart. As a cheerful spectator shouted... "it is a beatiful day to be a Boston Marathoner!".
London calling! The London Marathon
We ran the London Marathon while we were living in this great city! It was our first Marathon Major, where our Six Stars journey started, and we were able to enjoy it from a local's perspective, cheered on by our dear friends and surrounded by runners trying to break Guiness records.
Up Hverfjall volcano, enjoying spectacular Iceland
We ran Iceland’s volcano marathon near Lake Mývatn: a challenging but stunning course that takes you up Hverfjall volcano and around its rim, with its spectacular volcanic background of pseudo-craters, capricious lava rocks and steaming mud pits.
Marathon in Tokyo, “my favourite place”, on a sunny morning
In a harbinger of the coming spring, Tokyo welcomed runners from all around the world. Asia's biggest marathon took place on a spectacular sunny day with cherry blossoms. We ran through avenues full of advertising billboards, Shinto temples and communication towers that are symbols of progress.
New York, New York… City Marathon
Running the NYC marathon was a dream of mine since, when I was a little girl, I watched on TV how thousands of runners crossed the Verrazano bridge. And in 2017 I was finally able to "run the 5 boroughs" and finish the biggest marathon in the world.
Running in the kingdom of sand and oil: the first Riyadh marathon
We ran the first edition of the Riyadh marathon, the capital of a country that lives between the most closed tradition and the desire for modernity. Between poverty and the most extravagant of riches. We ran past Saudi women in black niqabs and sneakers, the air cloudy after a sandstorm, and we came home with more questions than certainties.
Run Melbourne: a flat and scenic route in a city that breaths sport
Melbourne’s Half Marathon’s slogan, “run melbourne”, comes true with a flat, scenic course that includes the wide streets of the financial district, the pedestrian riverbanks with their cafés and museums, and lush parks next to terraced Victorian houses.
Running on the ice cap: the Polar Circle Marathon in Greenland
The Polar circle marathon in Greenland is about extremes: extreme weather, extreme running conditions and extreme beauty. From running on the ice cap to experience the magnificient view of glaciers and windy solitaire paths, this is not for the faint hearted.
In the desert of the Nabateans: the Petra Marathon
Starting in Petra's Treasury , our footsteps echoed in gorges that hide lost civilizations. We heard the “piercing crunch of the sand” that fascinated Lawrence of Arabia, and we put ourselves to the test climbing dizzying slopes under a blazing sun.
Running at the end of the world: the Antarctica Marathon
Overcoming the fearsome currents of the Drake Passage and facing gusts of battering wind, you run at the far end of the world, in a land of magical beryl glaciers, while colonies of penguins leap in ice-dappled waters.
Race to the Brandenburg gate: the fastest marathon, in Berlin
We ran forty-two kilometers through the streets of Berlin, ending up through the iconic Brandenburg Gate, and witnessed Eliud Kipchoge stop the timer at two hours, one minute and nine seconds, the world record at the time.
Fishermen villages, colonial churches and boats in Sâo Tomé
In Sâo Tomé, an island which closely resembles paradise, we woke up with the sun to run along the coast, passing by fishermen villages with their Portuguese colonial architecture while the boats were coming back to shore.
Echoing the wild waves of CĂ´te Sauvage in Pointe Noire, Congo
A couple of unusual runs through a monumental abandoned railway station which spoke of other times, and along a wild coastline in Pointe Noire: an unforgettable run on a beach of wild beauty while the waves roared.
Run along the flooded shore of Lake Tanganika in Burundi
Right after sunrise we ran along the teeming shore of the epic Lake Tanganyika while local youths fished in the flooded “Avenue du plage” in Bujumbura, Burundi, before heading to the legendary source of the Nile!
The land of a thousand hills: Kigali International Peace Marathon
We conquered a few of the thousand hills of Rwanda during the 10k of the “Race for Peace” in the Kigali International Peace Marathon. A fast-growing event with a challenging course with stunning views over the city.
An adventure in the Pearl of Africa: the Uganda Marathon
We enjoyed the “adventure like no other” which is the Uganda Marathon, running up and down hills through red earth paths with lush vegetation and across the vibrant streets of Masaka while students sang.
Sunset and Sunrise in Djibouti: Lake Abbe and Tadjourah
A couple of very opposite but equally fascinating runs: one at sunset in the wild nature, amongst the chimneys in Lake Abbe, and the other at sunrise in the maritime front of bustling Tadjourah.
Running around rock-hewn churches in Ethiopia
A couple of very difficult runs in Lalibela due to the steep hills and the altitude, but worth it for the opportunity to run amongst the vibrant local life, with smiles everywhere and... seeing the locals praying in front of the amazing Lalibela churches!
Conquering history in Malta in La Valetta Marathon
Races for everyone and a scenic course through robust walls built by the ancient cavaliers of the Malta Order. After my surgery and months of recovery and no running at all, I loved being back! My first 5k without pain and… under 28m!
Chaos, folklore and a “park run”: Tirana Marathon
We ran in Tirana a good course around the Artificial lake and the Great Park. In the streets girls were performing folkloric dances. Could have been a great race but the organization was not up to the standard, with chaos at the starting line.
Running somewhere in la Mancha, in a place I do care to remember
On a cold morning of December we ran in Campo de Criptana, amongst the windmills that inspired the famous episode in Don Quixote: "they are giants", said Don Quixote, "and if you’re afraid, get away from here and start praying while I go into fierce and unequal battle with them"