I want to tell you about a discovery I made in Santorini. I have been craving for running around the Island for all the time I was preparing to go there and when finally I got there I did.
It’s hard because the height difference all around its territory but you can still do it if you are stubborn and averagely trained.
I was staying close to Red beach and a day I saw that red mountain dominating the shore where people love so much to tan. So I asked myself if I could climb it and as I usually do I gave myself an answer : “Of course and you’ll do it”.
The day after I was running uphill and the cool thing is that the only thing you have to watch out (at least in summer\ september) is the prickled low vegetation between the rocks. I performed a “running climb” and it was both extravagant and fun because I never did something like that before, and you could enjoy a magnificent view after each step taken through the blood red rocks.
You’ll just need a really good pair of trainers : I used a pair of Nike Pegasus and they did perfect, both with grip (much important when you run up or you take your descent - which is much more dangerous and tricky then the run toward the summit. If you want to add a little comfort especially if the Sun is high in the afternoon, make sure to bring a pair of sport glasses that you can fix at your head with a band so that they will stay with you while your climb by running.
It was a warm day, there was a lot of wind up there, but there is no sand going into your eyes, and of course you have to watch out and stay far from the borders of the mountain, no need to say why … they are not protected. There is only a sign made by black rocks aligend by someone who has previously explored the area.
No, in a windy day at least, don’t scream don’t call people down there on the street or at the beach … they won’t hear you, even if you call them with all the air you have in your lungs.
I invented a new type of running for people who love the environment and are so humble they can take with their hands waste not produced from them that travels around our Planet. These people who can save our World like I try to do everyday will be called Eco-Runners. To me it immediately reminds the impression of a native american, the typical men that used to scout for their tribes (oh I love indians of america!) who has to be fast, have good eyesight and that have enough love for risk to run on the paths other people walk. I gave to this kind of running the prefix “eco” because while you run you will gather waste (plastic, paper, hunter spent cartridge… ) left on the ground all around the trail, you will free the trees branches from the plastic bag somehow working with them to avoid these bags getting into the sea.
Eco-Running is not just for die hards, but for those who believe you believe in sinergy between sport and environment and in the fact that by giving the example or doing their little bit in the struggle for our Planet, they can save it.
I believe this is a good exchange. Nature gives me legs for running, hands to earn some money to buy a pair of sneakers, she gives me the path to run and infinite kilometers to explore and I help her to get cleaner and not get polluted.
What do you think about Eco-Running ? Well you might not believe like me to be an indian scout, but you will still help the places you visit, or your own wild areas to stay clean, because, yeah, also there pollutions is reaching and we cannot let that this area get lost too.
For more comfort you can bring with you those kind of equipment is used to collect spent mags from warriors today (the rollypolly) a bag that can carrie several items and that doesn’t let them fall off even if running, and you can use also sport shorts with deep pockes to keep the bottle tops or other small items you will find on your way.
The effects of this kind of running in far and difficult trails can be clearly seen since the waist in this points is usually not easy to find but when it is spotted gives that feeling of abandon and decay (of civilization) that we shouldn’t absolutely experience and especially not, never, accustom to.
So don’t you think Eco-Running is a useful practice and idea ?
