Correndo Lungo il Piave, Maserada sul Piave, Italia 19.6km

What do you do when visiting a friend and former clubmate in Venice? Gondola under the Rialto Bridge, coffee in St Marks Square or go visit the Doge? (The office of Doge was abolished in 1797, ed). No, go to a race of course. With no results this is just a low key local event that most people use as training for proper races; like a collective long run supported with water stations and feed station at the end. Only three Euros to register there’s also a 2.7km fun run plus shorter 5km and 12.6km variations. Starting and finishing in the town of Maserada sul Piave the course includes all sorts of terrain. Clear blue sky and a crisp four degrees sounded perfect conditions but many of the locals were togged up in thermals and even body warmers although perhaps not so silly as there had been snow in Istabul that weekend.

Our Italian correspondent informs us that she thinks our club captain, tapering for the Manchester Marathon in two weeks, finished in second place. Unfortunately prizes were only awarded to those registering for the whole series although it might have been difficult/costly getting a microwave onto the flight home.

Everyone got a panini and some biscuits at the end, on this occasion the panini being bartered for more, vegan, biscuits.