The second big event that the race directors planned in
association with the race was a recovery run this morning with the Puma
promoting manager, Gennaro di Napoli, and the NYC champion, Gianni Poli. Running with celebrities. Not only that, but it was a 9k loop around
the big island in the middle of Lake Iseo.
It is Monte Isola and the largest freshwater island in Europe (it’s
claim to fame). There were only about 20
people who went, and the boat was big enough for 300 or so. I chatted with an Italian who now has his
home in Bermuda but is here vacationing in Italy. I also chatted with di Napoli. He ran down for me some of his impressive
running accolades at my request, and he told me about his career. He worked for Saucony for 6-7 years then Puma
raided Saucony, including him and a designer, to launch a running
emphasis. He said that they first
launched in the Boston area, and they are currently launching in Italy. When I
told him that Saucony isn’t found in HK he told me flatly that he did not
believe it. I will have to look around
some more to see if I misspoke :/ The run around the lake was beautiful. It was raining, and the island was lush and
had a couple of villages with old buildings, tiny vineyards, only authorized cars
allowed. At one point a little road going up a hill had a bugle with a circle
and slash. No bugles allowed up this
hill! I cracked up at the sign. Perhaps that is the road up to a shrine they
have on the island. It reminds me of
some “no devil” signs (pictures of devils with circles and slashes) Paul and I
saw in Northern California in our ill fated attempt to find the redwoods in the
summer of 1996. Back to 2012, I wonder
how many of the residents on the island keep to the island. There were two private
islands we saw on the run and the boat ride.
Those private islands had impressive villas on them. When we got to the boat we took some
pictures, then once inside I took off my shirt even though I only had a thinner
sports bra on, and got on a dry shirt. I
was the first to unrobe just a bit, but soon everyone is stripping down to
undergarments in very mixed sex company, and I was pretty surprised, though as
runners, we do lose some of our modesty. No one attacked each other so I guess
it was all ok :D 8.67k @ 5:22/k pace. | 