Q: Describe the typical participant on Tour?

A: First and foremost you genuinely love your running and it’s reasonable to say, running is an important part of your life.

You will run most days, typically as part of a running group or with others as you especially enjoy the social aspects as much as the run itself. Your day is more productive in many ways because of your run. You might hear terms like ‘shoe rotation’, ‘target HR zones’, maybe even ‘ice therapy’, but you don’t get too serious about it (or at least convince yourself you don’t).

You compete at any level, but mostly its against yourself. You usually have a goal - or an event you are working towards, and you enjoy the next challenge.

You equally have a passion for food, and you see it as almost a rite of passage given the miles you log. You delight in local Italian cuisine, a drink, a coffee or two, and having a sweet tooth, you get away with a little more than you should, especially on holidays. Competing in a regional Italian event with local runners at your level is exciting. You welcome the pause in tourist attractions and hoards of tourists while on your Tour. You can pick that up later.

Q: The cost is higher than I envisaged. What is driving this?

A: Our Tours are comprehensive starting from the events we participate in, the towns we visit and the places we dine. All your dining experiences (breakfast, lunch, dinner) are included in the cost and there are absolutely no add-ons. This is deliberate. You won’t need to pay for a string of extras along the way. Including a full-time host, accommodation, transfers between towns and to every venue, guaranteed race entry, organised training and support, on the whole you will see they represent great value. For any passionate runner who is also passionate about food, these gastronomic running tours are designed with you in mind.

Do take a look at what is included in each Tour to see there is a lot on offer

Q: What kind of food can I expect?

A: Regional food is about fresh, local, in-season produce prepared in an authentic, or more often these days, a modern way. Some of our produce will have made its way from the soil to our plate in a matter of hours. I have selected venues we have enjoyed time and time again over many years. I steer away from high-end venues where food portions can leave you rushing off to McDonalds for a top-up. In fact, one of our stops look like something you might walk right on by. Rest assured, you will be pleasantly surprised. Also, runners tend to have reasonable appetites and you will not go hungry while eating some of the freshest local produce in the country

Q: Are all meals included, and does this include drinks?

A: Yes, all meals and drinks throughout the whole Tour are included in the price. This includes beers & local wines with both lunch and dinner. Of course, generous but fair rules apply. Expect breakfast to be a typical (simple) Italian breakfast of a selection of fresh pastries, juices and coffee before or after our morning run. But it will be the typical Italian lunch and dinner that will not leave you hungry. Some of our food-venues are truly amazing food experiences on their own. Other Lunch and Dinner venues will be very humble, yet very filling and always authentically Italian (fresh, seasonal, local produce)

Q: I’m more of a plodder than a runner. Will I be out-of-place?

A: This is a Tour for people who primarily and genuinely love their running and appreciate their food. You will already be regularly running at least 4-5 days a week, with at least one, 80 minute run per week. Pace is not important. The running sessions through the Tour will be designed to your ability, so it doesn't matter if you think you are 'slow'. We will confirm the running schedule before the Tour commences, so you will know exactly what we will be doing. Equally, the events we have chosen cater for runners of all abilities

Q: I am quite a fast runner. Will I be out-of-place?

A: The training sessions planned for the faster runners will be similar to what you would be doing at home or with your running group. We will confirm the running schedule well before the Tour commences, so you will know exactly what we will be doing, Do note, the events we have chosen cater for all levels of runners

Q: Looking at the Itinerary, there are 2 runs per day. Are you serious?

A: The second run is designed as a slow recovery jog and is totally optional should you prefer to rest. Those that aren't up for a 2nd run will be encouraged to use the late afternoon (early evening) session as a (group) walk instead

Q: How will the Running Program be organised?

A: The runs will alternate between a standard 'easy day', followed by a 'quicker day' (ie: tempo or intervals). We will sensibly split into 2 groups based on your pace. The Tour Leader will join you for each session and we'll publish the detailed running program well ahead of your Tour

Q: These are some of your first 'professional' (paid) tours. Should we be worried?

A: If there is one thing I have learned on all of my 16 trips, as well as living in Italy in 2016 - irrespective of how well the plan, if anything can go wrong it possibly will. And when we are away from the big cities, the problems tend to magnify themselves.

So I have carefully selected events that are not only amazing, but where I have valued and close collaborations with the Event Organisers, having done their events a number of times. Many Event Organisers have enjoyed going the extra mile to ensure our experience is great.

Should something possibly go awry, do try to take this in your stride…and leave the panicking to me. If there is anything that measures the success of these tours it's that you go away wanting to do them again and again and become an advocate for other runners

Q: What is the accommodation like?

A: We stay in minimum 3 or 4-star hotels. Do note that Regional towns present the challenge of limited and mostly basic accommodation choices so you won't see the grand hotel chains - or as many options for groups - as you would find in the large cities. This fits perfectly into our look-and-feel. Above all else, the priority is always for cleanliness

Q: My partner runs but I don't. Am I still able to join?

A: The Tours are designed to cater to runners. Although if you are well versed in the habits/rituals of your partner - and their incessant need to run - then you will understand the personalities on board. You are warmly welcome, where we will have a walking option for each daily running session

Q: Do the tours cater for food allergies?

A: In short, no. Given the food places we visit are authentic, we cannot be certain that your dietary requirements can safely be met. In saying that, do call this out, and in most cases should be accommodated, especially where we have time to verify. It's just not something we can be certain about or properly control

Q: What are the pace of the tours?

A: Rather than staying at a single destination for the duration of a Tour, our Tours are designed to experience a number of towns and venues, and not be too greedy so that you need a holiday to recover from them. We think we’ve got that balance close to right and this is why we’ve embedded a pause (siesta) in the afternoons to allow you downtime

Q: What are the size of the Tours?

A: All our Tours are limited to a maximum of 8 people per Tour. This allows us to comfortably travel around in a modern, air-conditioned 10-Seater van. It also ensures we can be catered for in our chosen towns which typically have smaller food venues and accommodation options

Q: Are you able to accommodate for children?

A: These Tours are designed for runners travelling solo, as couples, or in groups. In the future we plan to cater for families with children. We’re not there just yet

Q: There are still questions I have that are not in the FAQs. Can I reach out direct?

A: At the end of the day, the better your expectations are understood, the better position we are in, to know if they can be met - and we will be sure to let you know either way. Be prepared to talk about your running experience and expectations as well. So, you are encouraged to contact us as much as needed until you are satisfied.