MacomeRun

The MacomeRun is a FIDAL-sanctioned road race held in the Albano pine wood in Macomer, in central Sardinia, in the province of Nuoro. It was created in 2026 by the ASD Macomerunners club, with the support of the town council and the technical approval of the federation, and takes place on a Sunday in early October. It is dedicated to the memory of Riccardo Delrio, hence its name, Trofeo Riccardo Delrio. Rikinik, a cultural association founded in his memory to support young people in the area through sport, music and events, joins in the day and runs the social gathering after the finish.

The format is a short, repeated circuit: a loop of about 1,550 m, run four times anticlockwise, for roughly 6.2 km. Each lap combines around 1,170 m of dirt track under the pines, 180 m of tarmac and 200 m of concrete, so runners have to adjust their stride to the changing surface. The women go first, at 10:30, and the men an hour later, at 11:30, which lets each field cheer on the other from the side of the course.

The race is open to runners in the junior, under-23, senior and masters categories who hold a licence with FIDAL or a sports promotion body recognised by CONI, or a Runcard, together with a medical certificate for competitive athletics. Entries are capped at two hundred. Over such a short distance the pace is quick from start to finish, and the repeated passes in front of spectators and the mix of surfaces make for a lively race, somewhere between road running and cross country. Random shoe checks are carried out under World Athletics rules. The top six men and women are rewarded, as are the top three in each category, with a special award for the winners of the over-45 categories.

Macomer is the main town of the Marghine area. It grew up on the edge of a basalt plateau, at the crossroads of the routes linking Sassari, Nuoro and Oristano, and the surrounding countryside is dotted with nuraghi, including Santa Barbara, one of the best known in the region. The Albano pine wood provides a car-free green space within the town, well suited to a circuit race.

Runners meet at 9 a.m. Entries are taken online until the Wednesday before the race; a few late entries are accepted on site between 9:00 and 9:30, subject to a penalty set by the regional committee. Entry includes a chip-timed bib, medical cover with an ambulance, a drinks station at halfway and another at the finish. Parking is along Via Emilio Lussu and Via Pietro Nenni, close to the pine wood. Toilets are provided on site, and an accessible toilet is available in the premises of a nearby social cooperative. The prize-giving is scheduled for around 1 p.m.