My first 25 years of racing
almost 25 years have passed since that February 16, 1986. L my first road race, then nearly 25 year old, a host of Montemurlo Scarpinata for the Big Foot. The long-time runners will remember, was a superb race with all those avenues, but I was there fond, because for me it was the first. Unfortunately no longer exists, as has happened with many other erased from calendars: one for all, here in Valdinievole, the travel of the rebirth in Monsummano.
I have run many miles in the race almost 15 thousand compared to more than 1,200 races celebrated recently in that of Valenzatico . One of those who are most fond of, so much so that two years ago I got angry when I could not participate due to physical problems. While in 2005 on his return from a broken toe, I decided, however, lead to the end of the race Valenzatico, albeit with very little training in the legs.
Why speak now to the end of these years and not 25 years next February? That's because December 31 happens to my season ever. How does my teammate Luchino, I have a certain age. So even if I make them year to October, from 1 January 2011 will become "veteran" or maybe "old man", to paraphrase the name by which Annapaola called me in my birthday.
And then we talk about all these 25 years in "my" team, the GP Massa and Cozzile without that symbol that the bureaucracy did, then add.
From guardrail "galley slave" goals to cut the labor of marathons
In the first year I have to admit that there was a lot of irresponsibility and a few workouts, I ran as it was: in October 1993 I decided that I could do the marathon and confronted with a sufficiency and pride incredible, I took one of those blows that you remember forever. I will not elaborate stories in detail, suffice it to say that the 37th I had been sitting on a guardrail on the bridge that connects Mestre to Venice and had it not been for Stephen was always there. Who wants any more details, ask him, I remained only a very blurred memory of that day.
The lesson served to the point that the next year with training and a lot more humility took in a decent way to end the marathon again in Venice, experiencing the wonderful feeling, never try it again in remaining after 7 marathons completed. Strong emotions, especially, the famous guardrail on arrival.
After two times in Venice, I have also tried other marathons Mugello, Cesano Boscone 2 times in 1995 and 1998, a third time in Venice and Livorno in 1996 after fifteen days. Then the two paths Emilia, perhaps the most human scale, Ferrara in 2000 and Carpi in 2001, where I closed the marathon signing my personal 3h16'47 ". Not once excelled, but it is not suitable for this competition, I believe it is also my limit.
Now I believe that the marathons have become a business for those who organize and who makes a fashion and the results are seen only among elite athletes. So there's participation in the mass, but not the quality.
I think that the race must be approached with enthusiasm, respect and training. But as I often say "is a nice play but if you train ...". That's because after the first marathon I started keeping a diary in which I have reported everything from training to racing, from sensations to training partners.
opponents, teammates, friends
The race has allowed me to places I know I would never have known, but most men and women, friends and comrades with whom I have shared a few feet or many miles. What is unusual is that the race makes it all the same share in the effort, but also the joy of achievement, each starting with its limitations. For many years I get the entries of what I consider "my" race even if I never played "The Ghibellino, one of the most beautiful and toughest of Tuscany, perhaps one of the most fascinating. It is in this race, much to my delight, that now I often identify other runners.
Going back to the people you know, there are plenty of all walks of life, but of all I would like to mention two: Claudio Simi "knight", one of those very strong, but with the humility of a simple person with whom I had the pleasure to train on my lap 16 and sometimes have competed side by side (of course when he undertook!) and Gianna Secci among us is born a good-natured sort of challenge, but often serves to give verve to a race. Rethinking, then, that our friendship was born from one of my "gufata" towards another person is saying.
In all my years on my team have passed so many people, I tied some more with some less, as happens in life. There were, however, teammates I have always endured by Rinaldo, who dragged me in my first race, Marino the "President" - that's just me Marino is about to do a joke that years later I wish I could tell the first president I found, I would say, 'We are always here and you? " - The aforementioned Stephen too close to the goal of 25 years since we started together, Sergio the only real "Massa" and Mace an athlete with a capital A, but with a simplicity that few people have and which I consider an honor. And then there are those much younger than me, I found that there was still a child and I know that is not offended if you still call it, is not it Erica ?
Although it has only recently resumed training, Simone Simo or as I call it, is another with whom I have very fond. With him I made a lot of training, a pairs competition, a marathon where he set up his staff and especially to Antraccoli a relay race where we were on different teams, but we did the same fraction of 4.300 km where both established our best time by pulling the race each at its best with a lot of sprint final side by side without ever knowing who had come before, after the change even if we embraced until just seconds before we were opponents.
There are teammates, came after me in the GP, and with whom I have, however, bound by a Nic Luciano Luciano G other aforementioned Annapaola and pestiferous Luchino , all these have shown great determination in getting results, so as to dissipate on their human potential.
A bond of friendship and not only created, then, with three friends and I quote them in alphabetical order Antoinette, Mark and Michael.
For Antoinette I have my best finish in a race, second in a race Prato couples close to victory. But placements are not everything. What's between us is a special feeling, as the many times we practiced together, the chats, discussions and sometimes mutual confidences. How do you say friend in the round.
Marco Marchino or better, now I renamed it, it is not so much that has developed a closer relationship, up to a year ago was a younger companion and nothing more. Then he asked me to train with me and after less than a month he asked me to be his coach. A request that the beginning I was blown away, then slowly I tried to fall in this new dimension, seeking to know the person before the athlete. And after some time I must say that I see in him the Daniel many years ago, I think this is enough.
As Michele 4 years have passed now since I once asked if he could venirsi to train with me. I do not know how many times has failed to do so, we say that we know, perhaps better, than we know ourselves. I remember two years ago when I spent a period when I was struggling with muscle problems and still managed to maintain an acceptable form, thanks to Michael who was preparing the marathon. And at the end of a workout speed was Michael himself to tell me that I had not asked for anything "I have finally revised run by Daniel." In short, Michael is Michael, I think this is enough to describe him.
Among the many people I had the pleasure of knowing I would remind the three people Biggi, a nice old man died while running in a race with a smile, Alfio Balloni runner died in a Florentine accident with whom I shared many races and Aldo Welcome he died prematurely, I have to remind him a lot of photos depicting me glad now suffering hours, a hug to all three.
I've been doing all these years many races as I said at the beginning and many have told me that I have a big problem: that of not being able to give everything in the race. That may be true, or maybe just have a bulb that tells me not to go too far. This, however, allowed me to run for many years, not as many who have competed for a short time. Maybe I make more in training and competitions, but lately I feel much less Anto says the race and run quieter.
I still removed a lot of satisfaction, including the one to win a race with my team in 1997, the twelve hour runway Agliana: I was one of those "magnificent dozen" and was an immense satisfaction, but also several races where I had wonderful feelings on all Valenzatico 2000, Gianna memories? And Vinci 2008 race with a race to the limit, or half-marathon ever in 2008, returning to Pistoia to run as strong as happened a long time. Anchione 2009 race with an ankle in a mess and still done very well, but a special chapter is that of three races where I ran to the other. The first half-marathon on October 11, 2009 at Pisa, where I helped to make Luchino staff, the second on 1 November 2009 in the marathon of Agliana I dragged him to the staff and Mark Antony. I've done it before the official pacer but happiness and proven by my companions were unforgettable. The third race was in Pisa on October 10 this year. Even at that time played the role of the pacer with Anto, Michael and Mark have three friends and teammates together and make him captain - Rinaldo will allow me to stealing the role for once - was special because I have shown that trust in them was well placed.
In these 25 years there were also periods not beautiful, the various problems with his back that led me to inactivity, the right big toe fracture 5 years ago from which it is always returned to run for my levels. I've also had people who helped me by advising me workouts, more or less tables, what I have Rinaldo thank the most is that since I submitted the "chromosomes" of the race was the one who has followed me more, and even now is that I still ask advice. But I can not forget Luca Panichi alias Cannon, who brought me back almost 50 years at optimal levels, making me think again especially on my Achilles' heel of the climb. A special relationship is, then, with Piero Giacomelli that in addition to advise on training, I was captured with his photos from 2004 races for Tuscany, for him, I also did the only exception in the race to failing to wear various vests the GP, but those of pacer.
The 600 yards incredible
In recent years I think I had the honor and privilege to participate in tenders, to know people and places but the most beautiful emotion was only one. It was not a race. I found myself running slowly, between two wings of the crowd with a lot of bodyguard and escort of Police, was December 15, 2005 when the suit torchbearer, jealously preserved, I did the 600 meters best times of my life. In his hand he held the Olympic torch, with which I ran near here, on the road to Borgo a Buggiano. Photos, people you touched, a mother who asked me to give a kiss to his daughters, five with a flood of people, drivers who look at you with admiration and not with the usual contempt. In short, those five minutes were the most incredible of my life for runners, as they say to tell the grandchildren.
Now let's absolute with only one regret, not the age that I know to be a natural factor, but for the fact that there are very few young people behind and that's a bad sign for the future. I would like for the next 25 years, ask me in so many. My answer is simple: nothing in particular and just feel good to feel the same emotions of these incredible twenty-five.
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