Local Woman Travels To Pisa, Italy, To Race

Even though Lancaster resident Krista Hurley has been running since 2011 and running half marathons since 2012, prior to last year, the farthest she had ever traveled to run was South Dakota in 2020. On that trip, she ran the Crazy Horse Half Marathon - one of 18 half marathons and two full marathons she has now completed.

A series of events in 2021 led to Hurley setting a new travel record for her running. While training for a fall half marathon, Hurley posted a photo online that led to her first European half. "I had to do a long run on a Friday morning near work," she recalled, noting that completing eight 1-mile loops in cold, rainy weather in the darkness was a source of pride. Esther Willett, a friend of Hurley from their days at Dayspring Christian Academy, saw the photo and asked Hurley to join her and her sister, Hannah, at the Athens Marathon in Greece in November. The Willett sisters, from Millersville, currently reside in Speicher, Germany, where Esther is in the Air Force and Hannah works on base.

Hurley knew she could not be prepared in time for Athens, but she learned the sisters also planned to run the Pisa Marathon in Italy in December, and that run offered a half marathon option. "I figured if I did the half, I would still have time and energy to see things and explore the town (of Pisa)," recalled Hurley, who began a modified training regimen to keep herself in shape after finishing a local half in November. She flew from Harrisburg on Dec. 14, arriving in Frankfurt, Germany, on Dec. 15.

After a few days in Germany, which included visiting Christmas markets, including one in Luxembourg, the trio drove through Switzerland to Pisa. The run was held on the morning of Dec. 19. Hurley reported that the weather was sunny with temperatures in the 30s. The flat course both started and ended near the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. "I knew going in I wouldn't have my best time because of jet lag, so I just wanted to enjoy the scenery," said Hurley, who took more photos than she usually does while running. "It was a beautiful course, and when do I get the chance to do this?" she mused, recalling crossing the River Arno and seeing Christmas trees dotting the town. Hurley noted that the homestretch of the run - with the Leaning Tower straight ahead and then the course turning left toward the Pisa Cathedral and Baptistery, where the finish line awaited - was especially memorable.

Hurley kept herself busy while waiting for the Willet sisters to complete the full marathon. During the afternoon, she climbed the Leaning Tower. "I rounded a corner, and it was (suddenly) leaning," she recalled. "You are walking up, but it's leaning down." Hurley enjoyed the view of the mountain range from the top. The trio spent a few nights in Pisa before visiting Florence. They also traveled to a number of towns, including Lucerne, Switzerland, and the town of Colmar, France. "All these little towns are decorated for Christmas with lights and trees. It's so festive," said Hurley. "At times, I would look around and think, 'I can't believe I am doing this.' It was totally worth it, and I would do it again."