Ti benedico Vita

Running involves not only the body but also the mind and heart. Commitment, perseverance, discipline are some aspects that configure the lifestyle of a runner. Running also expresses a depth that involves the spiritual dimension, which goes beyond the physical aspect and that moves the desire, joy, passion.

The Easter dawn, Mary of Magdala, runs to announce that the tomb is empty:

She ran (τρέχει) then and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one that Jesus loved, and said to them: 'They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we do not know where they have placed him!”. Gospel according to John 20,1-2

John and Peter also run to the tomb.

“Pietro allora uscì insieme all’altro discepolo e si recarono al sepolcro. Correvano insieme tutti e due (ἔτρεχον δὲ οἱ δύο ὁμοῦ), ma l’altro discepolo corse più veloce (προέδραμεν τάχιον) di Pietro e giunse per primo al sepolcro”.
Gospel according to John 20, 3-4.

The image of running - a powerful metaphor for life - also expresses the depth, tension, and joy of faith:

I have not yet reached the goal, I have not arrived at perfection; but I strive to run to conquer it (καταλάβω), because I too have been conquered (κατελήμφθην) by Christ Jesus.
Letter to the Philippians 3,12

Sport and faith, together to help
"As love grows within you, so does beauty. For love is the beauty of the soul."
St. Augustine

The gift of gratuity, beauty, and solidarity
Gratuity contemplates beauty contempla la bellezza.
Running is simply beautiful. Running also has a great revealing power. It often gives new perspectives on the places where it is lived.
The San Francesco Marathon is an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of creation in a place of blessing: Assisi.
At the same time, it will help to discover corners, colors, details that pilgrims or tourists do not always manage to visit.

Solidarity
La maratona nasce per aiutare. I runners nel momento in cui vivono una passione (la corsa), formeranno parte di un progetto di solidarietà. Perché “l’amore è la bellezza dell’anima” (Sant’Agostino).
La partecipazione alla maratona consentirà di unire la corsa e la solidarietà.
Registering for the marathon will support aid projects of the Diocese of Assisi and the civil institutions of the area, particularly for those who are most vulnerable

The Gospel is the source of inspiration for the marathon
The marathon takes inspiration from the Gospel that is Jesus and the joy that comes from meeting Him.

Unity of the person: eurythmy or balance The Greeks have a very beautiful word: eurythmy (εὖ "well" and ῥυθμός "rhythm").
In music and also in architecture, it is a term used to indicate the harmonious distribution of parts and balance.
It is beautiful, when you are feeling well inside, to feel well outside too. And it's beautiful when body and soul run together!

Route "Come with me!". Sports is inclusion
Together with the routes for the professionals, there will also be the route "Come with me!". It's the walk/run dedicated to families, children, those who are just starting to run, those who want to run to help!
"Come with me!" is also aimed at teenagers and people with disabilities because we believe in integrated sports!

Environmental sustainability of the marathon and care for creation
In order to protect environmental sustainability, attention will be paid to the materials used, the reuse of structures, the use of eco-friendly and zero km products; eco-mobility, the study of waste reduction, recycling and raising awareness among participants in the care of creation.
A deep desire of the marathon is to transmit and spread the message of the encyclical "Laudato Sii".