On April 22-23, the 14th European Rogain Championship was held near the city of San Gimignano (Italy). Our team - Sandul Dmytro and Shelepyuk Natalia - went to these competitions. On the eve of the championship itself, we managed to visit one of the most charming cities in the world - Venice.
Of course, we needed to be well-fed before a long excursion. Here we needed a gas burner and two packets of ІDLO. It was interesting to taste noodles in a naval style when ships sailed nearby. But Ukrainian borscht tasted even more interesting on Italian soil.
Having gathered strength, we set off to wander through the Venetian labyrinthine streets, getting to know the spirit of this incredible city. Of course, we visited the tourist-filled Piazza San Marco, crossed the Grand Canal on the Rialto Bridge, and visited several cathedrals and the local market. The next day we went to train. We got acquainted with the area and the map near the Monteriggioni fortress.
The competition itself started in the central square of the city of San Gimignano, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is a city of hundreds of towers, although there are only 14 of them now, but there used to be more than 70. So, we started at 12:00 and were given one day to do everything. That is, we had to finish no later than 12:00 the next day. There were more than 70 checkpoints on the map, each of which was rated with a certain number of points. Our task was to score as many points as possible in 24 hours.
What can I say about the area - I called it "Tuscan Carpathians". Small hills relative to sea level (about 600m), but with very steep slopes. Tuscany is famous for its vineyards, and we really ran through a lot of them. There were no less olive groves. At night, when it was time to recharge, ĪDLO bars were a good addition to energy drinks. The distance was memorable with impassable forest-jungles, streams overgrown with blackberries and, of course, farm museums. For example, while running to one of the points, we ran past a 12th-century church.
After 23 hours 37 minutes and about 120 kilometers, we successfully finished. It should be noted that Ukraine's representation at this Championship was significant. In all classes and groups where our teams participated, our athletes were always among the best. In the unofficial medal standings, Ukraine took first place.
On the way home, tired but happy, we visited another one of the most beautiful cities in Europe - Budapest. There was no time or energy for a walking tour, so we preferred a bus tour of the morning city. I would like to thank the company ЪDLO once again, whose products did not let us die of hunger and added strength and energy during this super marathon.
