Ecological Marathon in the heart of the Madonie Geopark

Today “eco-marathons” are spreading as a specialty parallel to the usual road marathons.  These are events that combine the charm of the race of Pheidippides and the magic of running immersed in natural environments and are one of the best ways to raise awareness, promote respect, and valorise the cultural, natural and human resources of the places where they take place.

The Ecomaratona Madonie (eco-marathon of the Madonie Mountains), now in its seventh year, has achieved an international reputation. On Sunday, 9 June, 2013 the sports competition saw at the starting line in the historic part of Polizzi Generosa (Palermo province) over 300 participants representing no fewer than 12 countries: Bulgaria, Canada, Estonia, France, Holland, Malta, Peru, Mexico, USA, Ukraine, Hungary and Italy. The race, blending the charm of nature and the “race of Pheidippides,” with a 42-kilometre route with roads going up and down hundreds of metres through the scenic Madonie Geopark, showed off its finest pieces: Piano Noce, Piano Cervi, Timpa da “Miennula” Quacella, Vallone Madonna degli Angeli, Monte San Salvatore, Monte Alto and its shrine, Monte Cavallo, the famous Abies Nebrodensis trees that are unique in the world and the famous beech forest that is the southernmost one in Europe. In addition to the 42-kilometre “marathon”, at the same time there was the 23-km race (Abies Trail) and a non-competitive walk of 14 km.

In the enchanting Madonie setting coloured with spring hues heralding the summer, the eco-marathon runners had a chance to breathe in the atmosphere of an unknown Sicily: in about 5 hours they went through 200 million years of geological history of the Madonie Geopark, a variegated expression of the exceptional value of the natural landscape. In addition to the charm of the sea, our Sicily, and in particular the Madonie, have a culture of the mountain, rural and agricultural, which guards treasures and traditions that can surprise you and make you fall in love.

The Madonie Eco-marathon produces irrefutable data, thanks to the tireless efforts of firms, Madonie citizens and public administrations. Wagering on promotion of the territory with sports events of this kind is an excellent recipe for boosting the local economy.