Run Slower, Live Fuller: What Italy Taught Me
Have you ever felt like your runs are just one more thing to tick off the list?
Like you’re chasing a pace, a plan, a progress marker, but somehow losing the joy that got you running in the first place?
That was me, until Italy, with its lazy afternoons, long lunches, and unhurried rhythm, reminded me of something I’d forgotten:
Faster isn’t always better.
Sometimes, slowing down is how we truly move forward.
Running Fast Isn’t Always Running Well
If you’re anything like me, you started running because it made you feel free.
Alive. Energised. Connected to your body.
But somewhere along the way, it became about improvement.
Then expectations.
Then pressure.
Faster times. Longer distances. More races.
And while that drive can be beautiful, it can also disconnect us from the very thing we’re chasing: joy.
La Dolce Vita — on the Run
In Italy, life moves differently.
There’s time for an espresso and a chat.
A meal isn’t rushed, it’s savoured.
Even walking to the market becomes a ritual.
At first, this slower pace felt… odd and to be honest, quite hard to get used to coming from the busy UK life.
But over time, I realised it’s not laziness.
It’s presence.
And the same can be true for running.
Run Slower, Feel More
When we stop obsessing over splits and start noticing the light in the olive trees, or the way our breath settles with each step, running transforms.
It becomes meditative.
Playful.
Healing.
Some of the most meaningful runs I’ve had were along quiet vineyard trails at a conversational pace, laughing with women beside me, soaking in the views, not checking my watch.
What Italy Taught Me
Here’s what I’ve learned running in Tuscany:
Rest is not a reward — it’s part of the rhythm.
Italians get this. From a pisolino (a mini sleep/nap) to long family lunches, the culture teaches us to honour downtime. What if we treated recovery the same way in training?
Food is fuel and pleasure
Post-run meals are full of carbs, colour, and connection. No guilt. Just enjoyment. How different would our relationship with food and movement be if we embraced this?
Running doesn’t always need a finish line.
Sometimes, the best reason to run is for the feeling, the scenery, the soul reset. As a triathlete, even if I don’t have a race planned, I love the training.
You Can Slow Down — And Still Move Forward
Slowing down doesn’t mean giving up.
It means tuning in.
Listening.
Finding a pace that fits your body and your life.
It means running not to escape — but to arrive.
Want to try it?
If this resonates with you, you’re not alone.
Every Tuscany Run Retreat is built around this philosophy: movement, joy, connection, without the hustle.
We run. We eat. We explore.
We rest.
And somewhere along the way… we come back to ourselves.
So when you’re next out on your run, stop for a photo.
Skip the stats.
And remember: you’re allowed to love running without rushing through it.
