Eighteen years of Strapollese: Rino Di Leo and the Podistica Pollese team mark an edition that symbolizes growth and maturity.

Great satisfaction and important numbers for Podistica Pollese and for president Rino Di Leo, who this year has organized a special edition of the Strapollese: the eighteenth, the "coming of age".

A race included in the FIDAL calendar that demonstrated organizational maturity and excellent results, confirmed by the enthusiasm of the participants and the lively response that has been fueling social media posts in recent days.

Starting at 14:30 PM on Saturday, September 12, the Sports Village—animated by stands from the Army, the Guardia di Finanza, Fitwalking for AIL, and the sponsors, who provided technical assistance and information—appeared to be in a cheerful pre-race buzz.

The crowd of runners, driven by high expectations based on the success of previous editions, flowed continuously and massively, filling every space like a small, pulsating world and lighting up the area with color and excitement. Voices, smiles, and the adrenaline-filled anticipation of a grand occasion set the pace.

At 17:00 PM sharp, the friendly voice of Carlo Cantales, speaker and traditional presence of the Strapollese, signaled the start of the competition. The 650 runners lined up at the starting line bravely tackled the first few meters of the race, heading toward the Roman Bridge over the Tanagro River, an icon of Polla, before continuing along other historic sites in the city.

The Strapollese course, with its linear sections and no challenging climbs, has been one of the event's strengths for years. Its smoothness makes it ideal for those aiming for a personal best. It's no surprise, then, that the record turnout has prompted organizers to close registration well in advance.

Confirmation also comes from the results, which once again reaffirm this fundamental characteristic of the track. Concrete proof of this is the times recorded in the top five men's and women's positions.

Valerio Santoro (ASD Polisportiva Eppe Merla) took the lead in the men's race with a time of 31:26.65. Giulio Iannone (ASD Mannara Running) finished second, clocking 32:09.64, while Marco Pascarella (ASD ASI Polisportiva Bellona EPS) took third place with a time of 32:20.80. Abdelillah Majidi, representing Podistica Pollese, achieved a significant fourth place, finishing in 33:02.64. Ali Akinou (ASD Carmax Camaldolese) finished fifth, finishing in 33:49.73.

In the women's ranking, sisters Francesca and Filomena Palomba (Caivano Runners) took first and second place, with respective times of 38:22.35 and 39:26.34. Francesca Apicella (ASD Carmax Camaldolese) followed, third in 41:21.83, and her teammate Carolina Paladino, fourth in 41:24.32. Fifth place went to local athlete Nadia Tepedino (ASD Podistica Pollese), who finished in 43:25.63.

President Rino Di Leo and the members of the ASD Podistica Pollese wanted to reward all the athletes who reached the finish line with the 2026 finisher medal, associating the historical celebratory value with the identity value.

This year, too, the creativity of engineer Luigi Sarno has made the event's emblem a successful combination of texture and aesthetics, capable of telling a story: that of the patriot Carlo Pisacane and his march through the Vallo di Diano, ideally linked to the athlete's run.

On the front, the historical figure portrayed expresses dedication, courage, and dignity; on the back, the runner embraces this moral legacy and runs toward the future, embodying the true spirit of the Strapollese.

That future, in its sporting dimension, is intertwined with the roots of the city of Polla, the gateway to the Vallo di Diano, and is translated annually into concrete events: with the parallel event of the Strapollesina, an extension dedicated to children aged 5 to 13, who are trained and guided, with great motivation, by the athletes of the ASD Podistica Pollese towards running; and with the presence during the event of the Tanager Folklore Group, made up of young people and very young people who wear traditional costumes and give substance to the history of the area. They represent continuity over time, the roots and cultural framework of the community, in direct dialogue with the symbolism of the medal: memory on the front, the future on the back.

What reaches the audience, the participants, and everyone involved is the essence of an event founded on values. Each year, ASD Podistica Pollese renews these values ​​for the benefit of its community and its guests, with unwavering dedication and a remarkable concentration of energy and ideas.

With attention to every detail and a sensitive eye for realities that touch on fragile aspects of society, Strapollese expresses a sport capable of breaking down barriers.
A symbolic gesture that has become a tradition fits into this tradition: the number 1 bib awarded to a Paralympic athlete. This year, it was awarded to Claudio De Vivo, the Italian 100-meter record holder, whose presence further enhanced the race.

The participation of the Sognoattivo association was also significant and important, with eight young people on sports jolettes accompanied by eight athletes: a concrete testimony to how this race transforms running into inclusion, community, and a shared future.

The Strapollese vigorously demonstrates that planning and dedication are the only true investment for consistent and consolidated growth. This is demonstrated by the numbers, the participation of participants, and the federal recognition granted to this event over time. Already twinned with ASD Atletica Salerno, led by President Ruggero Gatto, for the Salerno Runs Towards Polla award, the 2026 edition marked the fourth stage of the Coast to Coast Trophy, which brings together several important running events in the Campania region and southern Italy.

The Strapollese, in this all-encompassing dimension, appears to be more than a race. It's a collective story that brings together and unites fundamental pillars such as sport, territory, and community. A dimension in which running together becomes a gesture that reflects the essential act of looking ahead, improving—and even dreaming—with a confident step. A way of being in the world that ASD Podistica Pollese embodies every day. An example to follow.