Tony’s background in running spans over 40 years. After running the famous City-to-Surf in Sydney with school friends in 1984, he was hooked. He joined his local running club - the Randwick Botany Harriers and over the next 15 years he was surrounded by club coaches and running mentors whose support enriched a great passion for all things running and racing competitively.

In 2001 he moved to Melbourne, and was lucky to find himself running with the famous Glenhuntly Athletics Club, with whom he still passionately competes for. After 35 City-to-Surf’s, he still enjoys experiencing the electric energy of the 14km run from Sydney’s CBD to Bondi Beach.

Growing up in Australia in an environment surrounded by Italian customs and traditions, travelling to Italy and experiencing Italian life was already an extension of what he knew only too well - fresh produce from the garden, preparing for Sunday lunch with his grandparents and an appreciation of time in nature.

So, on his regular trips to Italy from 2002, Tony ventured deep into Italy with the goal of spending time in local towns undisturbed by endless tourists. His desire was to find local running events that allowed him to mix with locals and explore more of the true essence of Italy and its simple, yet rich way of life.

What he discovered was truly amazing. Local running communities that respected every runner no matter their level. Running events that were often tied to traditions and traversed incredible scenery. On the remote Sicilian islands of his ancestors, he discovered a week-long running stage-race.

The culinary experiences were all too similar to that of his beloved grandparents back in Sydney, Australia.

Was this all a dream?

In 2016, Tony furloughed his IT Project Manager career, moved all their possessions into storage and along with his young family, moved to Lucca in Tuscany as a base for a year-long running journey throughout Italy. The results were far beyond anything he could have ever planned or imagined. Life-long friendships throughout running communities, running events in truly remarkable destinations, culinary destinations only locals frequented, and the learnings to get onto the start line of truly local events where documentation can send you into an endless loop.

After years of planning and consultation, Tony and his Italian team have crafted week-long Running Tours with itineraries that include a hand-picked Running Event, a daily / twice-daily training Program leading into the event, multiple town stops for each Tour, and local culinary experiences along the way that could stand up to a food tour on its own.

Having experienced each of the events multiple times, dined in each venue, stayed in every location, we now look forward to sharing our amazing experiences with you.