STRALIVIGNO: THE TRAIL RUN AT ALTITUDE

Fifteen nations have already registered to line up at the start, and athletes can sign up until just before the race begins. A race for competitive athletes and enthusiasts alike, which can even be run as a relay.

“See Naples and die” goes the old adage, “See Livigno and run” could be coined from that, and only slightly jokingly…

Livigno, a small village in Alta Valtellina, is special in every sense of the word and an extraordinary natural stadium for sportspeople, in which they can carry out multidisciplinary training. Outdoor summer and winter sports have a true ‘home’ in Livigno, and a huge number of athletes choose to train in this resort in the province of Sondrio for countless reasons.

The area is also known as Little Tibet, due to its particular formation lying on a vast plateau 1800 metres a.s.l.. Destination for a huge number of athletes from a range of different sports, it is both the highest plateau in Europe and the second highest in the world after that of Mexico City.

Saturday 21st July will be devoted to the many runners who have answered and will answer to the call of the 19th Stralivigno event, a half marathon with trails through the mountains. Held in such a charmingly beautiful setting, it attracts both competitive athletes and those who simply love running, who also come due to the many other opportunities Livigno offers, not least the advantages of duty-free shopping.

If the view of the mountains is breathtaking, for athletes Livigno is more of a paradise. They can run at 1800 a.s.l. and tone both their muscles and lungs with a race, the Stralivigno. During almost 20 years of history, the race has written pages and pages of great sport with a large number of champions on the podium. In particular there are the athletes from Kenya, for whom being in Livigno is almost like being at home because of the large plateaus and so many enthusiasts who have wisely combined sport and fun.

The Stralivigno committee has been working hard on this 19th event, in association with the local ASD Marathon Club Alta Quota, in order to ensure everyone enjoys a truly exceptional day to the full. Indeed, the route starts from one of Livigno’s great attractions, the Aquagranda Active You centre, about which there would be so much to say but that it’s better to actually go and try firsthand. There are 21km of trails on a slight slope and also some enjoyable climbs which go up to over 2000 metres a.s.l. The views over Livigno deserve to be experienced 360°.

Stralivigno is a race for everyone and indeed the youngest runner at the off on Saturday 21st July was born in 2002, whilst one of the more experienced in 1939, a truly impressive age range. For the youngest of our visitors, there is Ministralivigno on Sunday, organised especially for little runners who are split into a range of categories - Allievi/Students, Cadetti/Cadets, Ragazzi/Kids, Esordienti/Beginners, Cuccioli/Pups, Baby A and B and Super Baby. This is a proposal especially for sporty families who like the idea of a couple of days to focus on running.

For those who love team games but don’t have too many “kilometres in their legs” there is also the relay race, with two runners who take on half the race each. This opportunity should not  be underestimated for pairs of male or female athletes, or mixed pairs.

The first Stralivigno was held in 2000 and bears the signature of Andrea Agostini and last year’s that of his nephew/grandson, Francesco Agostini. This is why the saying "See Livigno and then run" is so apt.

Marianna Longa, a former Italian national cross-country skiing team member will also be at the event. Marianna won the first female Stralivigno race and and, as a citizen of Livigno through and through, feels this is kind of her race. Indeed, she’s run in the event four times already. Amongst the many participants, the name Sara Dossena also stands out. Sara is currently preparing for the European marathon Championships to be held in August in Berlin. The Italian national running team is currently in Livigno, a preparation hub for many athletes as already mentioned, in view of the European Championships. Who knows, there may even be someone else who wants to hop up onto the Livigno stage. In the pairs competition, we’re expecting triathlete and testimonial for Livigno Giulio Molinari along with his wife Carlotta Bolis. Giulio recently came 5th in the world long distance race. There will also be biathletes and cross-country skiers in training, like Rudy Zini and Paolo Rodigari in the first category, and the unmissable Thomas and Nicolas Bormolini in the second.

Fifteen countries will line up on the starting strips from the Aquagranda Active You sports centre including Switzerland, German and the Czech Republic which are competing with the highest number of non-Italian runners. Anyone who has yet to “polish” their shoes for Saturday’s event needs to do so sooner rather than later and take advantage of the registration fee which will stay at 30 Euro until 19th July. However, latecomers and the undecided will be able to join actually on site (as of Friday) in the race office at a cost of 35 Euros, whilst fees are 40 Euros and then 45 Euros for the relay race. This includes timekeeping services, refreshments along the route and a meal voucher, as well as a race pack with gadgets for the first 1100 to sign up, featuring Scarpa, Rock Experience, Mulino Tudori, Livigno dairy branded products.

This short version of the programme (the complete one is here: www.stralivigno.it) specifies that race packs will be handed out on Friday (9-12.30 and 2-7p.m.) initially, and then Saturday (8a.m.-2p.m.), all focussing on Aquagranda Active You.

The start of the race is scheduled for 3p.m. after which everyone will head off to celebrate with dinner at Plaza Placheda at 7p.m., where the awards ceremony will be held an hour later. The youngest racers will set off at 9.30a.m. on Sunday.

Info: www.stralivigno.it