The Saint Valentine Marathon 2015 (42km, 21km and 5 km races) took place on the occasion of “Saint Valentine’s Festival”, in February, when people celebrate the Patron Saint of Terni and of eternal love all around the world. Among the shows, exhibitions, concerts organized during the Festival, “Cioccolentino” is famous for its stands full of products made with chocolate with original shapes and flavors.
EACH YEAR IN FEBRUARY TERNI GIVES A WARM WELCOME TO VISITORS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. THEY COME TO VISIT SAINT VALENTINE’S CHURCH, TO PRAY AT THE TOMB OF THE PATRON SAINT OF OUR CITY AND TO RUN BY MARMORE WATERFALLS (165-METER-HIGH JUMPS) IN A UNIQUE ENVIRONMENTAL SCENARIO.
This year many tourists from all over the world visited Umbria, only 100km far away from Rome and 20 nations were represented by athletes from Finland, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, USA, Germany, the Netherlands, Israel, Morocco, Greece, Peru’ etc.
A totally free hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus was organized to connect all the hotels with the spectacular medieval villages of Narni, Arrone, Ferentillo, Montefranco and with Marmore Waterfalls, a resounding success facilitating the sightseeing of adults and children.
The Festival started on Saturday, the 14th of February, with the opening ceremony of the Marathon Expò that took place at “Circolo Lavoratori Terni”, moreover a little train brought runners and their families to Saint Valentine’s Church, the city was full of stands, historical medieval parades were performed and the “Pasta Party” took place with typical local food such as lasagne, local ham, parmesan and Carnival candies.
On Sunday, at 09:30am, the race started from the city center, with 2600 runners passing through a huge heart-shaped arch, running in front of Saint Valentine’s church after 1km and observing the medieval parade. 2km after, athletes continued running along Valnerina, the valley known as the green heart of Umbria and crossed by Nera river.
At the 10th km runners passed by Marmore Waterfalls, 165-meter-high-jumps, a wonderful area with amazing trails and in this unique location most of the athletes forgot the chronometer and stopped to take an unforgettable picture of the falls.
According to the legend, a very beautiful nymph, Nera, daughter of the God of Appenino Mountains fell in love with a young shepherd, Velino. But Juno during a feast discovered the profane love story and decided to punish the nymph, transforming her into a river, Nera River, on the top of Vettore Mountain. Then she flowed downstream like tears reaching the cliff where she had met Velino the first time. Velino, ignoring the fate of the nymph consulted the sybil discovering the truth. The shepherd, anguished, threw himself down from the cliff in order to be united with his beloved Nera. That jump today is known as Marmore Waterfalls, the symbol of eternal love all over the world.
At the 15th km runners passed through the spectacular medieval village of Arrone, with houses made of stones, old portals, picturesque alleys and ancient monuments. Here San Giovanni Battista’s church and Saint Mary’s Church are located with very interesting remains.
Entertainment activities were performed by Torre Orsina Band.
At the 22nd km the group transited through Ferentillo village, one of the most suggestive locations along Valnerina valley that creates a narrow gorge close to the village. Inside the crypt of Santo Stefano’s Church (XV cent.) the Mummy Museumis open to the public.
During the race adults and children exhorted runners with whistles and other kinds of bells.
After Ferentillo Village the way decreases and athletes having calibrated their strengths during the first part of the race are now able to speed up. The slight slop close to the falls becomes a slope of about 3km, the best moment to recover energies and relax muscles before passing by the Steel Factory again and before the 2km final sprint to the finish line in Piazza Europa (main square).
The new itinerary with a double transit by Marmore Waterfalls was very appreciated with a lot of positive comments and so many people who have promised to come back next year (2016).
One of the main characteristics of Saint Valentine Marathon is that athletes can run even in couple, man plus woman, as race partners. Many of them got as an award free bib numbers for other marathons such as the ones in Brussels, Dusseldorf, Rome, Venice, Milan.
Runners liked very much the wonderful medal, the only one in the world with a heart in the heart, blessed in Saint Valentine’s church, with the effigy of the Saint, the logo of the race, and Montefranco square with its church.
The race gift package was really appreciated too with a technical New Balance T-shirt, a bracelet, a home-made chocolate Malù heart and a panpepato, a typical sweet from Terni.
AND THE WINNERS ARE…CARMINE BUCCILLI AND MARIJA VRAJIC
Carmine Buccilli (Atletica Casone Noceto) was the first runner to cross the finish line in Piazza Europa in 2h 18m 51s establishing the new record for this race. The second place went to Mohamed Hajjy (Atletica Castenaso Celtic Druic) who finished the marathon in 2h 19m 58s. Youness Zitouni (Podistica Il Laghetto) obtained the third step of the podium in 2h 20m 31s.
On the women side Marija Vrajic (AK Maksimir) covered the distance of 42 km and 195 meters in 2h 55m 21s getting on the first step of the podium, followed by Paola Salvatori (U.S. Roma 83) with 2h 57m 53s. The third place went to Monica Carlin (G.S. Valsugana Trentino) who finished the race in 3h and 41s.
We are waiting for youto run with us the 6th edition of the marathon: visit Umbria, the green heart of Italy and run for love in the native land of Saint Valentine.
www.maratonadisanvalentino.it
