Dear Malonno,
Malonno is Malonno. The emotions felt here are hard to explain. There are no words but I have to at least try.
Almost a year ago I first journeyed to Malonno. I remember the wonder and awe I felt being a spectator of the PizTri Vertical. The start of the show. The difficultly of just sitting in the grass without slipping down because of how brutally steep the final wall is up to the finish. The excitement of the fans building as the runners crawl their way up. This year I took the chance to be a part of the experience from the other side and raced the Vertical KM. The wall of noise from the fans is far greater than the difficult wall you face in the final metres. That is what pulls you forward and makes you push even harder when your body is doing nothing but screaming at you to stop. The spirit of Malonno holds the runners up; makes us greater and into something more than ourselves. Because without the fans there would be no show.
2017 FlettaTrail… crossing the line with tears in my eyes. I was nineteen and filled with nostalgia for my junior mountain running career finished just a few weeks before. I had never run over 18km before and the pain I felt during the race was immense. The spirit of Malonno pushed me through that pain and out onto the other side. FlettaTrail was the beginning of something opening within me. Malonno gave me courage. Because there are no limits to our dreams.
FlettaTrail 2018... I don't think I can say anything to justify the emotions. To know that I was there and felt them is enough. Through the villages and along the mountain paths there was a flow I've never felt anything close to before. To try to find a meaning behind this journey would be pointless but I know the connections felt were true and real.
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| sometimes you just have to be still and let yourself feel |
Malonno. The home of mountain running. We were all there. We felt it. Thank you.
Alex… you said you trusted me with a key to the hostel. I'm sorry to admit at the end of our stay I forgot to give it back. I can only apologise but maybe this is a sign. A piece of Malonno will always be with me. I have the key. Ever since I first came to Malonno in 2017 I've had the key because Malonno has opened doors within me. It will always continue to do so. You told me and it is true; Malonno is my home. Now this key will stay with me until next year. Everyday I will remember. I will live the emotions once more.
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| the key to my dreams |
Malonno… you have a hold on my heart forever...
Love, always
Heidi xx
P.S. Here's a few photo highlights...
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| up up up (Justin Britton) |
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| Francesco Puppi crosses the line to take victory once again at the PizTri Vertical |
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| The British crew at the top of the PizTri |
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| With Ben Mounsey & Tony Tamusin, the organiser of Tre Rifugi |
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| Pre race announcements and run to the start line |
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| Mid race sponge bath? Yes please! Multiple times over |
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| Slapping hands at the finish with Fabrizio Lela.. one of the first friends I made in Malonno last year |
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| top three women |
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| The British crew (with some adopted Yorkshire members) & Fujio from Japan |
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| Jack Woooooooooood (my favourite giant) |
Thank you to everyone who made this year so special. You know who you are. Malonno 2019... I'm coming...
( Pictures: Justin Britton / Alexis Courthoud / Damiano Benedetto / Marco Gulberti )
