I woke up at four. Between four-thirty and seven I did a long run through the center of Turin (Italy), along the river Po, around the Moncalieri castle, up the hill that leads to Revigliasco.
I ran into a group of drunken kids returning from a disco; I was made fun of by two girls, seemingly drunk and high, who were coming back from I don't know where and who started mimicking my run. I circumnavigated a noisy party at the river park.
I slalomed around cars and trucks full of police armed up to their teeth. I watched from above as half of the city woke up while the other half finally went to sleep. I ran over a carpet of dead leaves and appreciated the sensation while fearing a fall that might close my running season. I was bothered by a German shepherd without a leash or muzzle and then I was scolded by the owner: "He does that because he sees you running. You shouldn't run in the presence of dogs". I smiled at the poor woman, thinking how little I would like having to wake up so early just to take the dog out to pee...
I frightened some guy by coming up behind him quite suddenly, as light as a butterfly. I had no muzzle either. I ran the last thirty minutes at marathon speed and closed my two and a half hours with a senseless craving for a few more miles. I had never finished a long run so well.
Now I'm going to my office. The weekend hasn't started yet but my long run is already behind. It's a good feeling.
Giorgio Pogliano’s morning coffee doesn’t come in a cup, but he can still find it everywhere. Running each morning is his daily “coffee” – it gives him the surge of energy, something good to reflect upon during the day, and a reason to look forward to tomorrow. Just like the different types of coffee found around the world, Giorgio finds different surroundings as he runs.
