INTERVIEWS

the photo as above was taken before the race.

Daniele Felicetti, 1st place

The race for me today was a bit of an unknown because I did a lot of flat, I ran strong on the flat but uphill I had not had a test yet and I did not know how my leg would be. I had only raced one race in the mountains and it had gone very badly. This morning, as soon as I got out of bed I felt good and that was an extra input to try and do well right away. Alex told me he wanted to forage and I stuck to him, after about thirty minutes of the race, just after the Rifugio Comici, I still felt good and tried to launch the attack. Then I pushed hard until the last kilometre. It is always nice to race together with Alex, this race is always a challenge for us and he has often won, I have always been second or third, today I had my revenge if you can call it that, and I am very happy. I'm fond of this race, I'm from the first edition and I really want to do well, it's a race that suits me very well. And then the landscape is always beautiful, even if today, for the first time, I didn't look up from the trail!

Alex Oberbacher, 2nd place

It was tough from the start! Second place is always good, but of course I was hoping for third. I tried to take advantage of the start, but I soon realised that it wasn't turning today. I tried to break away with Daniele, I knew it was hard and that he is stronger on the flat. Just after the descent and before the Friedrich August Refuge, Daniele decided to leave and I didn't catch him again. The course is always beautiful, the weather too: lots of stuff!


Martin Griesser, 3rd place

I didn't expect this result! I haven't raced for a year and a half, I've just started again with local races and I didn't think I would get this third place. I gave it my all, at the beginning maybe I gave a bit too much and felt I had to slow down. I had a bit of a stomach ache, but in the last few kilometres with all this atmosphere you can't feel anything anymore. I tried to keep Alex's pace at the start but realised a little later that I had to do my own, otherwise it was bad. This is my third time here, I took part in the first and second edition, it is always wonderful here, the scenery is spectacular, unfortunately we don't have too much time to look around and concentrate, but the atmosphere and the people are perfect. Everything is organised very well, I can recommend this race to anyone who likes running. I am from Brunico, where we don't have these mountains, but where I can still train well.

Lukas Messner, 4th place

I had difficulties on the climbs, this year I lost 10 minutes compared to last year, but I am getting by and I hope to do some better races next year. Running here is always nice, I really like the course and on the flat parts I like to run fast. I gave everything and more than that I could not give. I am from Valdaora in Val Pusteria.

Benedetta Coliva, 1st place

It is a very strong emotion, always. Last year was my first time, but this year was incredible. I love this place and it's always a spectacle for me, I adore it. I am not looking forward to the trail, but this race feels a little bit mine because these are the places where I grew up and it gives me a crazy charge. This morning I was a bit nervous, very nervous, but as soon as I left I turned everything off and went: these are my mountains, I lived these trails when I was a child. The last edition of the Saslong had been my very first race and I had come second, in fact I couldn't believe it. I remember arriving at Sasso Piatto and hearing: "Second woman, second woman!" and I couldn't believe it. It had been incredible and I really enjoyed it this year. I felt good, I felt strong and I followed my heart, as I always do when I run. When you get to the finish line it's an explosion.
I did the race alone, I pushed hard uphill because on the downhill I tend to brake, I'm not very good downhill, I don't have the technique. That's why I push so hard uphill and on the flat, which is my speciality. Doing so many kilometres a week, on the flat I let my legs go. Here I'm a bit scared going downhill in the woods, but I push uphill. Today my mum, dad and my dog are with me. My sisters didn't come but it's as if they were with me. I take home an infinite joy, a postcard of a crazy place and my greatest passion, which is running. I love this place and I love running here. In the last few months I have had many results that I did not expect, such as winning the Pisa Marathon, but I am slowly learning to believe in what I can do and one step at a time I will conquer my goals, without haste, because I am very young and I have all the time in the world. I entered the competition but my passion hasn't changed, it has become bigger, I haven't had any changes. I am quite humble and I am content to feel good and be happy, to keep my passion alive, which comes before results and goals. Highs and lows are always there, you have to accept them and deal with them. If you talk to me about the Olympics I tell you it's early days, but who knows, maybe we will make it. It is my dream, as I believe it is every athlete's dream, but the beauty of dreams is to conquer them slowly, not immediately, we will get there.


Ingalena Schömburg-Heuck (GER), 2nd place

The race was tough, but I had a lot of fun. I had never run in the mountains before, it was my first trail running race, I concentrated on myself and my energy and also got out of my comfort zone a bit. On the climbs I knew I had to put my energy aside so that I could give something more on the flat and on the descents. The course is very beautiful and then in this area, everything was very well organised. Obviously I could not pay much attention to the surrounding mountains, but only on my legs and my energy

Ingalena Schömburg-Heuck (GER), 2nd place

The race was tough, but I had a lot of fun. I had never run in the mountains before, it was my first trail running race, I concentrated on myself and my energy and also got out of my comfort zone a bit. On the climbs I knew I had to put my energy aside so that I could give something more on the flat and on the descents. The course is very beautiful and then in this area, everything was very well organised. Obviously I could not pay much attention to the surrounding mountains, but only on my legs and my energy. However, I hope to return one day! I was national half-marathon champion, but almost thirteen years ago, now I'm a mum, I'm here on holiday and when I booked I thought I would look for a race to take part in during these two weeks' holiday in Bruneck. It was perfect, now I can rest!


Martina Falchetti, 3rd place

It was definitely tough, I suffered from the heat and I was very thirsty: I stopped at every station to drink, because if I didn't stop I wouldn't reach the finish line! It was fantastic, I was afraid it would be slippery, but instead it's fantastic. Then once you get to the Sassopiatto you practically just descend, so I felt good and all I thought about was getting there. The German girl overtook me at the Città dei Sassi, she was gaining more and more ground so I told myself to let her go and continue my race. I'm happy with third place, it went well. I am right here in Ortisei, I took part for the first time last year. It's great because people know you and you know the people, you feel cheered on by everyone and that keeps you going. And then you get excited thinking that once you get to the finish line people are cheering you on, fantastic. The most beautiful part of the course... is the finish! I take home a lot of leg pain and a great adventure. Two carefree hours of running, wonderful. We hope to see each other again next year.

Luca Clara, 6th place

I'm happy, I thought I was faster, like last year, but I took three minutes longer. I am part of the ASV Gherdeina Runners and racing at home is always nice. See you next year!

Anton Eisenstecken, 9th place

It is always a nice race, it went well and the course is always perfect. I am from Brixen, so I play at home, or almost! The most beautiful part of the course is... everything!