A RIVER OF GREEN IN BEDONIA

Oh my – from winter jackets we are skipping straight to bikinis here……as the old fogies love to repeat “the half seasons no longer exist”, and it seems to be true. Our cute little spring clothes (not too

cold – not too hot) are just sitting mournfully in our closets, gazing at us despondently while we dive straight for our t-shirts……but will it last? The popular saying goes “aprile, ogni giorno un barile” – april, every day a barrel of water –  since this can be, and usually is, a very unstable month. But in the meantime, there are a lot of red faces walking around, some due to untimely exposure to the unusually hot sun, but since yesterday, many of them belonging to participants of the “PelpiTrail”.

This event took place for the first time last year, so this was only the second edition, but the involvement was remarkable! The two different runs prepared – the competitive one 23.50km long, the other only 10km, were set along the rough trails and tracks of the local Mount Pelpi, which overlooks Bedonia. In order to be accepted for the former, candidates had to be over 18, and were required to present a medical certificate confirming a suitable degree of fitness; furthermore they had to have adequate experience of mountain walking and self-sufficiency in these circumstances. For the non-competitive run, no particular requirements were necessary, since it was designed for amateur walkers and children.

As mentioned before, the turn-out was incredible, an enormous crowd of 500 and more enthusiastic people decided to take on the challenge, probably encouraged by the lovely weather we have been having in the last couple of weeks. The starting point was scheduled at 7.30am in one of Bedonia’s central squares, and all runners were given either a green t- shirt (10km walkers) or an identifying vest (23km race). All were duly registered, and given instructions and advice as to how the challenge should be undertaken – seriously, but with the right spirit. So….time to shake off the cobwebs and make a run for it!!!

And, at the strike of 9.30am, run they did, first out of the town, then up the road which leads to the foot of Mount Pelpi and to the beginning of the real grind….. jogging along mountain tracks, through woods and fields, secure in the knowledge that along every step of the way, there would always be help on hand if needed. The organisation of the event was excellent, nothing left to chance and every detail thoroughly dealt with. The “Protezione Civile” guards (civil protection), trained to step in on many emergency situations, were spread all over the routes, but despite the heat, and the participants of many different ages, thankfully no emergencies arised. The aim was to reach the very top of Mount Pelpi, where an enormous iron cross is situated, and the goal was reached  first by Alessio Gatti, from neighbouring town Albareto.

The visual impact of the event was amazing – a green river of people flowing through Bedonia; the racers sprinting ahead in their bid to win, whilst the walkers later spoke of the wonderful experience of chatting, making new friends as they sauntered along! In a way, the PelpiTrail  symbolises Bedonia, in a moment in time in which important issues concerning our area are making people come together, strengthening our sense of belonging and pride, and the knowledge of living in a beautiful valley which deserves respect and dignity. In fact many people who either participated, or witnessed the huge crowd that gathered for the occasion, commented on the significance of this, because the feeling of togetherness was palpable – it means we really care.

So going back to the red faces and, no doubt, some very aching limbs today, there was another thing they all agreed on – “we can’t wait to repeat the experience again next year!!”

A big thank you to Andrea Longinotti for the use of his video in this article.