About cycling & running in Reggio EmiliaReggio Emilia Training Notes
Running: Locals keep running simple in Reggio Emilia: city laps, Crostolo stream paths, and steady Z2 on the plain. Parco Le Ginestre works for easy loops before Colora Rivalta starts there at 6:00 PM. Atletica Reggio gives the scene a real club spine, especially around La 21 di Reggio Emilia. La 21 brings a 21K and 10K on March 15, 2026, with the club challenge adding some bite. The course covers 195 km and moves between 57 and 148 meters elevation.
Cycling: Locals ride the flat stuff first, because Reggio Emilia sits entirely on a plain. The Crostolo cycle-pedestrian trail connects Vezzano sul Crostolo with the town centre and keeps going north to Cadelbosco di Sopra. The Reggio Emilia-Cavriago route heads west through Ghiardo, San Bartolomeo, San Rigo, Coviolo, and Codemondo, which is good base miles territory. The Modolena Stream Greenway runs beside the Modolena river, and the Rodano Stream Greenway follows the river Rodano. Granfondo Matildica is the anchor event. The climbs start to matter south, where the San Pellegrino Trail leaves Reggio Emilia for the San Pellegrino Sanctuary.
Season: April, October, and November bring the rainiest months, so locals still train but keep the session honest. January and July are the driest months, which sounds neat until July turns hot and moist. Summer can push above 35°C, so runners move intervals early and cyclists take Z2 before the heat sits on the plain. Hail can show up in summer, so long rides need a little judgment. Winter changes the feel for both sports. Frosts are frequent, temperatures can drop below -10°C, and fog is common outside the city, so cyclocross legs and short steady runs make more sense.
