20 Dec 2024

Hoka Rincon 4 – The Shoes That Turn Every Step Into a Simple and Pleasant Experience

These are the kind of shoes you take with you without overthinking. They are not meant for personal records or ultra-competitive races, but they are good enough to become a reliable partner in almost any situation. The more than 60, 000 steps during my city break in Rome, the rain that caught us at the...

20 Dec 2024

48 Hours in Rome: A Gastronomic Adventure Through Pasta, Pizza, and Heavenly Desserts

I decided not to limit myself to just posting pictures of what I eat during my travels but to also offer a short description. In less than 48 hours, I ate wherever I could, but with a bit of thought 🤭. Below, you'll see the places and dishes I chose, some with short descriptions where I found it necessary...

13 Dec 2024

Hoka Mach X2: The Shoes That Redefine Your Running Experience

After 10 years of long-distance running, 121 marathons, and 15 ultramarathons of 100 km, I’ve tried countless pairs of shoes, yet I still get excited every time I open a new box. That’s exactly how it felt with the Hoka Mach X2. These are light shoes—extremely light. So light, in fact, that you...

20 Dec 2024

December 1st Marathon: The Shoes, the Stairs, and the Spirit of Nea Ilie

The December 1st Marathon has already become a tradition. It is another heartfelt marathon for me because it takes place in my hometown. More precisely, right behind my house, in IOR Park, where I regularly train and where I believe I have run over 18, 000 kilometers. This year’s edition was special:...

17 Nov 2024

Napoli 100k – A Run Through the Parties

How I ran less than I planned and partied more than I should have 🤌🇮🇹It’s 3:30 AM, and I can’t sleep. My thoughts—about the plan, the route—just won’t let me rest. I didn’t manage to prepare for this run the way I wanted to. I simply didn’t have the time.Over the last two months,...

20 Dec 2024

Bucharest Marathon 2024 – A Race Like Two Races

I was coming off an extremely busy month where I barely found time to run. Two months ago, I had decided to focus more on speed and get back to that aspect of training. Things went well for a while, but then work overwhelmed me, and I simply ran out of time. There were weeks when I didn’t run at all...

20 Dec 2024

Thassosman - An Ironman in Thassos, 2nd Edition

On Friday, I had a “homemade” Ironman on the menu, in Thassos, for the second year in a row. The appetizer of 3.8 km swimming, the main course of 180 km biking, and the dessert of 42.2 km running are quickly becoming a tradition 😍. For the last two days in Thassos, I had planned a tour around...

14 Mai 2024

Ultrabalaton 2024 - 211 km, 30 hours and 15 minutes

It was the toughest and most challenging race I've ever faced. This was my ultimate test, marking ten years since I changed my lifestyle, lost weight, and took up running. This race utilized every bit of knowledge and skill I’ve accumulated over the years about running. Everything was useful—from...

2 Apr 2024

A weekend full of sweets, 60 km of running and 85 of cycling

The recent weather has made my training for the Ultrabalaton truly effective. I've maximized the heatwave-like warmth to its fullest.I had planned to run 45 km on Sunday, but I decided to run with Paul, my lifelong friend, on Friday, with whom I began this "journey" almost 10 years ago. He had a 30 km...

26 Mar 2024

45 kilometers of running amidst ducks, flowers and my own contemplations

I missed feeling warm 😂, even at home. Honestly, I had grown tired of long runs in the cold and bulky clothing. And yesterday was definitely spring.After a complicated week, where I barely managed to squeeze in two 18 km runs towards the end, on Friday and Saturday, I dreamt of doing my long run in...