Churches, bridges and soviet architecture: the Sofia Marathon
We ran amongst Orthodox churches, Catholic cathedrals, mosques and synagogues, monumental bridges, impressive state buildings and endless boulevards lined with ex-Soviet skyscrapers.
Running the traditional São Silvestre race in Lisbon
Dressed with Santa Claus hats, we ran in the historical center of Lisbon, nicely illuminated with Christmas lights, for the traditional São Silvestre race.
Cartago currera est! The 36th edition of the Tunis Marathon
For our first African Half marathon, we traveled to Tunis to run a race which takes place from 1986. The race crosses the Lake of Tunis, once a natural harbour, and finishes at the feet of the Clock Tower.
Running in the ancient Dacia: Chisinau Marathon in Moldova
We ran the “Chisnau Big Hearts Marathon” in the ancient Dacia, modern day’s Moldova, on a very sunny day, surrounded by Orthodox churches, Soviet relics, Neoclassical buildings and blooming flowers.
Running in the heart of Reykjavik: the old harbor and Hallgrimskirja
Reykjavik proved to be ideal for running, with a scenic course across the old harbor, the true heart of the city, to which we added climbing the Thufa and the hill where the magnificent Hallgrimskirja church is located.
Running on thin ice: the Frozen Lake Marathon in Norway
Two centuries after Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote "The ice was here, the ice was there, the ice was all around; it cracked and growled, and roared and howled, like noises in a swound", in Norway they reimagine the experience in a much more festive way: running on the frozen Tisleifjorden lake.
In the Golden Horn of Istanbul, along the Bosphorus strait
We ran in Old Istanbul, up and down their narrow cobblestone streets amongst the magnificent wonders of ancient Byzantium and Constantinople, and along the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus strait. We were in Europe, yet we had Asia in sight.
Running with the locals and climbing 300 steps in Dili, Timor Leste
In the remote and legendary country of Timor Leste, we mingled with the local runners, who were many and were fast, from the urban center along sandy beaches, to end up climbing 500 steps to the foot of the Cristo Rei statue in Cap Fatucama.
Running across “a bridge over the Sava river” in Belgrade
An orchestra played classical music in the imposing Ada Bridge while serbian flags were waving. We ran through the historic center, still displaying ruins of the NATO bombings during the 90s, and the new town, with its soviet archicture. Belgrade is a capital that is proud of its past but designs its modernity, in its own way.
When you are part of paradise: running on Koh Samui’s beaches
While running in the golden sand beaches of Koh Samui, the ones that inspired “The beach”, I recalled its famous quote: “Paradise is how you feel for a moment in your life when you are a part of something… and if you find that moment… it lasts forever”.