Magraid, Running through the Steppe – 3rd Edition

The Magredi - which in Italian means “poor soils” - are characterized by large spaces and endless silences and represent a spot of wild nature set in the heart of Friuli, that is the last Steppe in Northern Italy.

Due to its features, Magredi are the area in Europe that most resembles the vast Saharan stony desert: in fact, the European Union has recognized its uniqueness by declaring it as “Site of Community Importance” (SCI).

This arid zone, heated by the sun in summertime and struck by the wind and the freezing cold in wintertime, is hosting the 3rd Edition of “MAGRAID – Running through the Steppe” from June 18th to 20th 2010. That is a real Raid full of African awesomeness under extreme environmental conditions – just like the past two races.

For the entire summer solstice weekend, racers will be staying at the Base Camp prepared by the 132° Reggimento Carri della Brigata Ariete (one of the Tank Regiment of the Italian Army) in a real “Dakar-like” atmosphere.

In the day, they will be running through a primitive environment where nature has never been subdued, while at night they will be given the chance to breathe the absolute silence in a primitive darkness which is only mitigated by the star brightness.

The 100 km long route will be divided into three laps – one of which is a Ultra-Marathon – running through the municipal districts of the seven communes belonging to the Province Pordenone. Four of them - Cordenons, San Quirino, S. Giorgio della Richinvelda, and Zoppola – are the promoters of this Event which leads runners to explore the most peculiar spots of this extraordinary natural environment.

Like the most extreme world races, also the MAGRAID requires food self-sufficiency during the laps, while water will be supplied only at the Check Points along the route.

The peculiar resemblance of the Magredi area to the African stony deserts and the food and water half-sufficiency lap race type make of the MAGRAID an ideal test-bed for those who are willing to compete in the most demanding African races.

The physical and psychological adaptation capability and a good training are of fundamental importance in order to finish the MAGRAID. But, the race organizers’ aim is that all runners will pass the finishing line. So, limit times have been set that allows a high percentage of runners to finish it.

For this 3rd edition 2010, the organizers have succeeded - thanks to the bodies involved - in keeping the entry fee at € 200.00 for the newly registered participants, just like in the previous race. The fee includes race pack, first aid as well as institutional food and water supplies, e.g. water, mineral salts, energy bar and a fruit, tent accommodation and high quality food at the Base Camp.

The vast desert landscape is surrounded by an unreal silence while the extraordinary theatre of nature makes runners’ feelings unique during an uncommon enterprise where mental power is as important as physical training. All participants – with no exception – will be fighting for three days and doing their best to get to the finishing line every evening. The MAGRAID will be, though, an extraordinary chance to get back to a human dimension which is too often forgotten: the desire to live your life like an adventure with its proofs, fatigues, defeats but also with its great victories.