The words and blessing of Pope Francis, the prayer for peace by Monsignor Domenico Sorrentino and a sporting event that brought hundreds of runners, professionals and amateurs, to the start in Assisi, who crossed the Lands of Saint Francis to the spectacular finish line in front of the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli.
The first San Francesco Marathon, despite adverse weather up to an hour before the start, was a success in every respect. Let's start with the sporting one: over 2,000 registered participants in the Marathon, 10K and the Vieni con me walk, which saw the triumph, for the 42K, of the ultramarathon runner Lorenzo Lotti (Asd Berunners) who finished in 2 hours, 36 minutes and 54 seconds lit by a spectacular finish along the esplanade of the Basilica of S. M. Degli Angeli.
Behind him Federico Furiani (TX Fitness) at the finish line after 2 hours, 39 minutes and 6 seconds and the Ukrainian Evgenii Glyva (Asd Filippide/Avis C.Lago) who finished in 2 hours, 47 minutes and 8 seconds. Among women first overall Federica Moroni (G.S. Gabbi) at the finish line in 2 hours 55 minutes 35 seconds followed by Paola Salvatori (Us. Roma 83) in 2 hours 57 minutes 30 seconds and Cristina Mercuri (Atletica Winner Foligno) arrived at the finish line after 3 hours, 12 minutes and 34 seconds.
More than 700 finishers followed, who on Sunday morning, together with the hundreds of runners who ran the 10K, gathered in Assisi despite the rain in the early hours of the day. Bad weather that melted away half an hour before the start, transforming into splendid sunshine that accompanied the marathon runners along the route that connected the Seraphic City with Spello and Cannara, all the way back to Santa Maria degli Angeli.
SFM23, as mentioned, was also a great moment of spirituality. Pope Francis he sent his greetings hoping that the event could be "a providential occasion to promote human, Christian and Franciscan values that can provide sport with a soul and an ideal drive," the Pontiff wrote before giving his apostolic blessing and reminding that cooperation between people is necessary "to promote acceptance and solidarity".
The message was read by the bishop of the Diocese of Assisi, Gualdo Tadino and Nocera Umbra, Monsignor Domenico Sorrentino, who then launched his prayer for peace from the square of the Lower Basilica - during the blessing of the marathon runners - with his thoughts turned to the Holy Land. Remaining on the theme of solidarity and charity, at the start of the San Francesco Marathon, as announced by the organisers, namely Life Running Assisi and Kolorado, clothes donated by the runners were collected and will be distributed to people in fragile conditions.
At the same time, part of the registration proceeds will be donated to a number of charities working in the area and to the Santa Marta Paediatric Dispensary Foundation of the Vatican City.
