The ColleMar-athon took runners past the Guerrieri winery, which Baskin and Fletcher visited the day before the race.
Fred Fletcher, former chief of the Chattanooga Police Department (above), ran the ColleMar-athon alongside Michael Baskin, Chattanooga’s chief policy officer.Since moving to Chattanooga five years ago, Michael Baskin has not had to travel far to find outdoor adventure. But when the cyclist-turned-runner flew to Fano, Italy, to compete in the ColleMar-athon in May, he quickly discovered why marathoners venture out of the Scenic City for races thousands of miles away: culture and community.
As a competitor, Baskin was able to explore the region in a way he wouldn’t have as a tourist, with opportunities to take in the gorgeous countryside, traverse several walled villages, and even run through a castle.
Best of all, Baskin says, he was able to immerse himself in the culture by forming genuine relationships with local runners.
Ironman Chattanooga triathlete David Wade agrees.
David Wade (left) kneels next to Mackenzie Crawford, flanked by other family supporters. Mackenzie suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Wade used the Alaskaman as a way to raise funds for nonprofit CureDuchenne to help all affected by the fatal disease.“[Racing] builds a different connection that you don’t get if you just go and visit and meet somebody in a diner,” says Wade, who took a break from his duties as CEO of EPB in July to crush the Alaskaman Extreme Triathlon in Seward, Alaska.