Hello, has anybody seen the summer? Where are the heat, the sunshine, the blue skies and that longed laziness on sandy beaches? We are all here, ready in our flip-flops, towels and bikinis but, actually, this July looks like more a rainy April. It’s really unfair for those who are on vacation and for one person in particular: ME. That’s why this week-end we have decided to go somewhere else and drive to Simbruini mountains, about 100 km far from Rome, to reach Subiaco. Why? To run, of course.
Subiaco is particularly renowned as a tourist and religious resort for its sacred grotto (Sacro Speco), in the medieval St. Benedict’s Abbey, and for the Abbey of St. Scholastica. In July there is a very picturesque race called “la Jennesina” . The route is enchanting as the race starts at the monastery of St.Benedict, then you run through the sacred places where the Saint lived and dictated the “Rule of Saint Benedict“, which contains the precepts for his monks ( the most famous is “Ora et Labora“, that is “Pray and Work” as you may see it chiseled at the entrance of the monastery), to reach the fascinating medieval hamlet of Jenne. 10 kilometers of history, natural beauties and all uphill!!!
When Mr Run and I reached Subiaco, we soon realized that we had left spring behind to be welcomed by a gloomy, rainy, autumn day. We had to stay in our car for more than half an hour, because of a heavy, endless shower. What does that motto say?”Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t know“, in fact, I started to wonder, that maybe we’d better stay at home, as I was picturing myself waiting for him under the rain at the finish line, or in the car for a couple of hours. I didn’t even have my iPad or a book with me!
Magically the rain ended and the air was clear and fresh. Mr Run soon put on his running shoes and with some friends of his team rushed to get to bus to reach the start at the monastery, while I would wait for him in Jenne.
Well, I had all the time to visit the place. Jenne is actually really quaint. You can feel that atmosphere of the middle age, typical in central Italy, in the stony alleys, little colorful houses and churches. In the late 12th century, it was the birthplace of Pope Alexander IV.
When I came back to the finish line, the runners were just about to end their fatigue. The winner took a little more than 36 minutes to run 10 kilometers uphill. Only when the last 500 meters are dangerously downhill as you can see :
Running uphill is not exactly what Mr Run loves the most, in fact he confessed he had even pondered to leave the race at the third kilometer. But Mr Run is not a quitter, particularly in the land of “Ora et Labora” so after that short crisis, he rolled up his sleeves and managed to end the competition in 51 minutes. He was disappointed of course, but his discontent didn’t last long, as after the race, the inhabitants of the village had organized a feast for the runners and their families, based on the local culinary delights as pasta with mutton tomato sauce, roasted mutton etc.
After all this “orare” and “laborare”, “manducare” (to eat) well, is the right reward, isn’t it? 🙂
51 minutes to run 10km uphill is good going, especially if uphill is not Mr Run’s forte! And what a lovely village tradition, to feed the exhausted and their supporters.
We’ve stolen some of your summer weather here in the UK I think, some lovely hot and dryish weeks — well, hot for us anyway!
We were in London last summer, it was July, in fact, and it was amazingly hot and dry. We’ve got to take our flip-flops and towels and go back there 🙂 I am not even tanned at this time of the season. Unbelievable. 😦
Not even tanned yet?! What is the world coming to?!
😀
I am with the comment above! 10km uphill in 51 minutes is pretty amazing in my books! Sorry to hear the weather has been so damp. We are actually having hot days. Could you see about getting the weather straightened out for mid Sept? 🙂
I’ll do my best 🙂 We had a warm winter and it seems we ‘ll have a fresh summer. However, when it starts like this, it will be pretty much the same for the rest of the season, with a bunch of hotter days sooner or later. I’ll keep you updated 😉
Fingers crossed for at least a dry Sept. Thanks for seeing what you can do about controlling the weather. 🙂
I understand you we’ll be going northward and those places are dump in every time of the year.
Great post, Sweetie!!! It’s been SUPER rainy here too. I have a post coming where I was shooting farm land and houses, but the bonus is, the CLOUDS that were captured blew me away. We have had some really nasty storms. So you are not alone. When that sun shines, I get on my bike and ride with wind!!! (((HUGS))) Amy
Wow, a windy post 🙂 look forward to seeing it. You know, here it’s a kind of sad. I live near the sea and in this desolate weather there is nothing I would like to do. Summer should show up next Wednesday. Let me paraphrase the old poet “If springs comes,may summer be far behind?” 😀
I hope this rain stops soon. Again today it is pouring. *sigh* All my beautiful Roses with their lovely blooms are just coming right down in this rain. My post is not about wind, it is about how I was capturing a dying tradition where I live, (farming) and in the process, I got some really powerful looking clouds. I still have yet to put that together, but hopefully that will be up this coming week. 🙂 Love, Amy
Well, it sounds promising.
Cheers
Stefy 🙂
I’m tired just thinking of that run! And sorry that the weather isn’t assisting the long awaited tan you must have longed for.
I don’t want to go back to work, looking sick and pale 😦
Reblogged this on theowlladyblog.
Beautiful photos — thank you for sharing. We have had a wonderful mix of weather this year in central NY. A few really hot days and just as that gets tedious — a few cooler days — and some invigorating windy days. Unfortunately, a few too intense thunderstorms that created some havoc. I will try to send you some better weather soon. 😀
Hi Colleen, I appreciate your nice thought;)…according to our weather forecast, summer should eventually arrive tomorrow. 😀 Hopefully.
Cheers
Stefy
10km uphill in 51 minutes is a serious running, how amazing! Mutton tomato sauce pasta, what a fun way to celebrate.
I know, but he is disappointed, because despite the hard training he was the last of the four “musketeers” to reach the finish line 😦 He is a competitive guy 🙂
Cheers
Stefy
Congratulations on finishing the run! 🙂
it’s always a treat to have sunshine, I must say I enjoy the long nights here, especially with blackout curtains in my bedroom 🙂 you can even run at 11pm or 3am if you feel like it, but that’s not something I ever do. 🙂 cheers, Tanny
Hi Tanny, Mr Run thanks you. What you write about the place you live is really fascinating. I think my husband would enjoy running at midnight 🙂 It seems summer has arrived here ,hope it will last, otherwise we will all go to the fourth continent 😉
Hugs
Stefy
Hi Stefy, Good luck with the summer and hope you get a tan! =) Tanny
Just started 🙂 Thanks
Looks like a thrilling run. I am a weird strong-legged girl who doesn’t mind running uphill–at least, not if the scenery is this beautiful. x
Hi Jackie, you can come and try next year. It will be a pleasure for Mr Run to run with you 🙂
What a fascinating run. I am glad I only had to participate from a safe distance. 🙂
The other side of the world is very safe distance indeed 😀
Welcome to Italy
Hugs
Stefy
If at the end of the run I get to eat what those ladies where serving, then I´m in. The sights I doubt I will see because I´d be looking down at the floor almost having a heart attack, but if the end result is that food, so be it, count me in next time. I have a pretty good sense of direction so to get there Mr.Run will have a nice cool copilot. I just want food!
On a serious note, what a lucky lady you are, beautiful place.
Hi Charly, these are the kind of runs I love: small, quaint villages, food and music after the race, just nice. With a little train, you can come and join us next year. I’ll wait for you and my husband at the finish line of course. 😉
You wish you could beat me, but wishing is free…What I´ll do is let you win, so your morale doesn´t plummet.
I didn’t mean that. I’ll be waiting for you both at the finish line as I don’t run. During Mr Run’s runs, I usually have a nice walk in the surroundings, sip a cappuccino at a bar…you know, stuff like that 🙂
The run sounded positively exhausting, but the food made it all look worthwhile! Fantastic post, thanks for sharing! 🙂
Well, it was. The roasted mutton in particular was delicious. Yummy 🙂