Inspired Mountain Living
Patrizia Taibon in the Dolomites
Thanks to one of our computers being in the shop, we have discovered quite a bit of extra time to be outside enjoying the spring. Cycling and trail running compliment each other perfectly here.
The strategy: Spend a few hours on the road bike, return home and quickly eat – then immediately head right out for a trail run before the legs realize what is happening. Seems by the time they begin to protest being taken advantage of you are once again home pondering the next day’s outing.
This winter’s massive snowfall in the Dolomites is still lingering in the high country keeping us lower than we’d like for running. But, each warm day gets us closer and closer to being able to take full advantage of all the trails.
Dan Patitucci dodging snowfields in the Dolomites
A delightfully inviting trail of which we have countless kilometers right out our door
Janine Patitucci in the forests around Brunico, Italy
Patrizia Taibon enjoying the spring flowers in the Dolomites
The Dolomites - perfect spring weather
Next up will be similar offerings for the road cyclist, including the Locals Favorite – the Passo delle Erbe, complete with Garmin route profile, riding info and just why we like it so much.
Comments? Suggestions? Questions? – click on the Comments Link below the title.
Late last year, the owner of a new and innovative lighting company, GoMotion Gear contacted us about shooting some photos of their lighting system for trail running, hiking, etc… Knowing that we are also athletes using gear nearly every day of the year, he wanted some feedback as well.
Instead of headlamps, their lights are mounted on the waist or chest. For the chest, you can attach a system to your own pack’s shoulder straps, or wear one of their hydration packs with lighting included. I first tried the system by mounting it on my own shoulder straps and then ski rando race training at night. I was definitely impressed. I liked having the static, although adjustable, beam on my line of travel. For skiing, it was particularly good for when it snowed as I didn’t have the mesmerizing meteor-like flakes going by that a headlamp creates. It is a completely different experience having darkness above and light below.
And, depending on the sport and terrain, there is always the option of wearing a headlamp and a GoMotion system. One benefit is that having a fixed light on the ground allows you to look around a bit more comfortably as your peripheral vision can still pick up what is in your line of travel. There is something comforting in this.
We like to run at night, and being photographers, we are often out very late. GoMotion is on board.
Janine and I have been running almost everyday for the past 6 weeks on trails around our house in Brunico. Spring has erupted in fields of yellow dandelions literally carpeting the lower elevations. Each day it is possible to look out to green hillsides and watch the yellow dandelions bloom as the temperatures rise.
Running trails through all the wildflowers, Val Pusteria
Meanwhile, looming above are the snow covered mountains with north faces still plastered in snow and ice. Two days ago we attempted our first Dolomite mountain run but got pretty well shut down once we got above treeline. Too much snow. But, it all made for a dramatic setting. The bonus was that we had timed it for late light, so our run out was idyllic as we cruised the lower spring trails through forest and alongside a rushing creek swollen from all the snowmelt – a reminder that we’ll have the high Dolomite trails soon enough to enough the spring.
Trail running in the Italian Dolomites
Our Dolomite Trail Running Tours now have scheduled dates.
DolomiteSport, together with Holimites, will be guiding several trail running tours along the Dolomite’s most famous trail, the Alta Via 1.
Holimites has all the information for dates, rates, and booking. Or click here to go directly to the itinerary PDF.
For information about the trail, along with photos, please visit DolomiteSport’s Alta Via 1 page. This is your chance to experience the Dolomites with people that are knowledgeable and passionate about the region. Come and see what all this talk is of why the Dolomites are so great.
Please pass along this information to anyone who may be interested.
Announcing a guided running tour of the Dolomite’s most famous trail, the Alta Via 1. July 2009. Dates to be finalized soon.
After running the trail ourselves, writing and photographing a feature of it for Trail Runner Magazine and teaming up with Holimites – we have decided to help guide the Alta Via 1 in 2009. For all of our regular reader’s – this is an opportunity to come and see for yourselves what all this fuss is that we make about the Dolomites.
Why the move to Italy? Why the Dolomites? Why did you make DolomiteSport.com? …well, come and see why.
But read about it here, first. For more information, and dates once finalized, please email: info@holimites.com
See you in July…
Dolomites Tour Operator