Correre is not just movement: it is also immersion in nature, exploration of new places and discovery of unique landscape views. So much so that it can become an excuse to get to know new places. But what are the best routes in Italy for breathtaking views and unforgettable itineraries?
Running in beauty: the most spectacular itineraries for runners
To respond, adidas analyzed the data from Komoottheapp that guides enthusiasts on the trails. He took it into consideration three key metrics: number of runners, number of votes and average rating. An average index was calculated from the three indicators, which allowed us to create a overall ranking of the most popular routes, based on popularity, participation and satisfaction.
The complete study is available at this link.
From the walls of Lucca to the tour of Lake Levico
In first place there are theand Walls of Lucca: with 55 votes and an excellent rating of 4.9, it allows you to run on the ancient Renaissance walls, admiring the medieval city, its towers and picturesque alleys. Perfect for those who love combining sport and history.
Second in the standings, the Castle of Brescia – Tour from Vittoriais liked for the panoramic view of the city and the medieval towers it offers (score 5/5). In third place is the Reschenseelaufwhich surrounds the Resia Lakewith the famous tower of the submerged church emerging from the water.
Followed in fourth and fifth place Progno cycle path in Verona and the Tour of Lake Levicowith scores of 5 and 4.5 respectively: they offer sections immersed in nature, ideal for those who love running among hills, woods and bodies of water.
The most beautiful city running routes: Milan, Turin, Rome
In the ranking there are also city itineraries: among the most popular urban experiences is Sempione Park in Milan and the Vittorio Emanuele I Bridge – Arco Valentino in Turin that combine running and architecture, with scores of 4.9 and 4.8 respectively.
Villa Doria Pamphilj in Rome closes the top 10, attended by an average of 785 runners and with a score of 4.8, for a race between beauty and culture.
Who are the best Italian runners
The study also analyzed other aspects related to running. For example, evaluating the “best” Italian runners by number of workouts and pace. The Cagliaritans win they run approximately three and a half times a week, covering an average of 26 km per week, maintaining a constant pace over all distances: from 5K at 6.8 min/km up to 8 min/km for the marathon. Runners follow Aosta with 3.6 training sessions per week and approximately 25.8 km traveled on average. Genoa completes the podium, with runners who go out a little less often but are faster: they have the best pace in the 10K ranking (6.7 min/km).
Around Lake Garda, in Trentino (Getty Images)
Men are faster, women are more resistant
Speaking of male-female differences, if men are faster over short distances (5K at 6.86 min/km vs 7.71 min/km for women) women show greater endurance over long distances (marathon at 7.25 min/km vs 7.64 min/km for men). 75% of women admit to adapting their route based on the time or perception of safety (compared to 68% of men).
In Milan and Turin, night-time safety levels are among the lowest in Italy, which is reflected in the habits of runners: in Turin, most residents prefer to train in the early hours of the morning, while in Milan around 44% choose the early evening, probably taking advantage of the end of work and the greater presence of people along the streets.
An early morning run, like therapy
In fact, however, there is a time of day that clearly emerges as the favorite for running, and that is the first morning. Nearly half of runners (48%) choose to complete their miles before 9am. This is followed by early evening (6pm-9pm).
The vast majority of Italians prefer it running alone (almost 9 out of 10) and he does it often: on average 2.7 outings per week. 83% of Italians say that running helps them manage your mental health, suggesting that running alone can represent a therapeutic moment.