At exactly ten years after my participation in the European Championships U23 Erfurt I found myself once again wear the blue shirt, but this time to the senior category. 

A call-up is the dream of every athlete, so needless to say what has been happy to have been selected! Podebrady was my third 20 km in a month (after 8 years that I was not even one), so I tried not walk  too hard and  distribute my energy.

 

Being a team competition the main goal was to do my best to bring a good score for the team. I can only be satisfied with my fifth place in a race that saw the departure at least ten athletes with a personal best better  of mine and with much more experience than me in the international events. I'm very happy for the second place in team also achieved thanks to the efforts of my companions.

 

 

The first emotions we have given away came from U18  who competed in the morning and have won the first medals (gold and silver for Giacomo Brandi and Anthea Mirabello). Other successes at the individual arrived in the Junior races, which I have not been able to follow until the end because I was already warming up. The first place of Noemi  Stella  and the third of Gregorio Angelini contributed to the victory in Junior teams (men and women alike).

 

 

Although there haven’t been in the Seniors categories good results if we consider timing performances,   I think the Italian expedition was still positive with two second places in teams (men and women), considering that for most of the boys and girls the race of Podebrady was not the main goal of the season. All  have honored the blue shirt giving the best of themselves and finished the race: from those who have had some physical problems in the race, or by those who have had a bad fall and was raised by continuing to walk, or simply by those who have caught a day "no." 

 

t should be emphasized that many had made the personal best just two weeks before the Italian Championships of Cassino and for them this was already the third or fourth 20 km of the year (and there are those who competed in the 50 km of winter trophy) .

 

Tatyana Gabellone