Etna parkrun run report

Mar 2, 2025

Well this is a slightly different run report to my usual because I had no idea I was heading to Etna parkrun until a few days before we flew out (I found out for my birthday 48 hrs before we flew!)

Typically, as is my luck, it was absolutely torrential rain on the morning of parkrun and we weren’t even sure the event would go ahead, you can see the localised flooding from the rain behind us here!

Etna parkrun

Etna parkrun is located in the Nicolosi area of Italy, the parkrun is at the base of Etna volcano. One of the most active volcanoes in the world (and would you believe it, it erupted the day after we left!)

Here she was when we were driving to the airport to fly home, puffing out smoke just before she erupted.

Parking: There is free parking available at the entrance to the parkrun, there is a bus which stops on the main road and it is them roughly a 1.5km very steep uphill walk to the start so I would recommend a car or taxi if possible.

What3words location : ///speak.sprayed.flexibility

Etna parkrun route

The rain was so bad, when we pulled up there was just this guy sat in his car and he asked if we were here for parkrun, we said we were and he then called the others to come and set up. He didn’t speak English but he was still so very lovely considering we were dragging them out in this absolutely awful weather to stand around while we run the course!

The Run Director was so happy to have tourists and they have a pre-written script they played over a speaker in English to explain the course. The volunteers were incredibly welcoming and genuinely so happy to have us visiting their event.

Thankfully the rain did die down once we set off so that make us feel slightly less guilty about getting them all out of bed on this miserable morning! We were joined by 2 other UK tourists who had actually been sat next to us on the flight over, what are the chances!

The course is 4 laps on a really soft surface, it was a mix of running on almost wet sand, to some more trail like paths and then a small section which was like running on children’s playground play bark! It certainly gave my legs a real work out and they hurt for several days after, (my own fault for not stretching properly after as I was so wet we just jumped in the car and drove back to the hotel) in the summer I bet this is a beautiful parkrun to do.

Etna parkrun Stats for event #236

This may be the shortest stats summary I will ever do! Today 6 people took part and for 4 of us it was our first time at Etna parkrun. We were joined by 2 locals who have previously run at this event.

Congratulations to Rosie VALLANCE who was the first finisher with a time of 22:36 an age grading of 65.49% which was also the highest age grading at this event.