Q: Describe the typical participant on Tour?

A: First and foremost you genuinely love your running.

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 discuss ‘shoe rotation’, ‘target HR zones’, or ‘ice therapy’, but you don’t get too serious about it all (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 thrive on that challenge.

You equally have a passion for food, and it’s 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 genuinely bespoke 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. Including a full-time host (me), accommodation, transfers to multiple towns, guaranteed race entry, organised training and support, on the whole they represent great value-for-money. For any passionate runner who is also passionate about food, these gastronomic running tours tick both boxes.

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. We tend to 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. Breakfasts are usually 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 which will certainly 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, 1-hour-plus run a week. Pace is not important. The running sessions through the Tour will be divided into groups based on 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, and you'll have an opportunity to adjust these to suit. 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 jog and is 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 daily runs be organised?

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

Q: This is your first 'professional' (paid) tour. Should we be worried?

A: If there is one thing I have learned on all of my 16 trips to Italy - irrespective of how well I plan is, 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 selected events that I have done, most of them multiple times. This ensures I know exactly what I can expect at each event. At most of the events on our Tours, I am now well known to Race Organisers, many who enjoy going the extra mile to ensure my 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 become an advocate for other runners

Q: What is the accommodation like?

A: We stay in minimum 3 or 4-star hotels, or, very clean 2 br apartments reflecting at least a 3 star hotel. Again, 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 for runners. Although if you are well versed in the habits/rituals of your partner - and their need to run - then you will understand the personalities on board. You are warmly welcome, where we will have walking options 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 with the venue. 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, most of 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

Q: What are the size of the Tours?

A: All our Tours are limited to a maximum of 10 people per Tour. This allows us to comfortably travel around in a modern, air-conditioned 12-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. If you have children and want to experience everything that Eat & Run has to offer, we would be happy to discuss these Tours, or other possible dates/events that fit the 'Eat and Run' experience

Q: I'd like to join a Tour but none of the dates are lining up with my travel plans

A: If you want to experience an Eat and Run Tour outside of those available, do reach out to see what might be possible for your dates, between April 2024 and September 2024. While there are no guarantees, give us your dates and let's see what we can do.

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. So, you are encouraged to contact us as much as needed until you are satisfied. We can't stress this enough.