Sightjogging (a mixture of sightseeing and jogging) is a cultural and fitness service basically meant for foreigners visiting Italy, but actually good for whoever wants to have a look at Roma from an "unconventional" point of view.

A team of highly qualified, multilingual trainers take people jogging along pre-defined routes. Trainers meet and take back clients directly at hotels; they make programmes and running pace according to clients' age and fitness level. During the run, they give cultural information about the monuments and the highlights they run by.

The average run is approximately one hour long, but it can be made longer on demand. Clients can choose both route and language. At the moment, 15 routes and 5 languages are available. The languages you can choose from are English, German, Spanish, French and Italian. For the tenth anniversary of the foundation of Sightjogging new routes and languages will be introduced.

Sightjogging is normally meant for 1 to 4 people at a time, in order to safeguard the quality of the service. Prices vary according to the number of runners. The service is available from 5 a.m. till 10 p.m.

In addition, for those who wish to share the price of the run with other runners, Sightjogging created the "join in a group" option, available only on Saturdays and/or Sundays. It has a pre-defined starting point and requires a minimum of four participants.

To reserve: www.sightjogging.it, tel. +39 347 3353185.

Bordering on the regions of Apulia and Basilicata, in the Southern Italy, the city of Matera - still unknown to most tourists - is inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage list for its incomparable urban structure and its rock-hewn churches (more than one hundred). There are very few cars in the ancient part of the town and this is a real bonus for any runner and any walker. My favourite course starts from piazza Pascoli, and it is very safe also during the night. Go downhill towards via Casalnuovo and immediately turn left on via Bruno Buozzi. Follow via Bruno Buozzi to piazza San Pietro Caveoso and then take the panoramic via Madonna delle Virtů all the way around the Rione Sassi. The Rione Sassi is one of the most panoramic and charming areas of the ancient part of Matera, excavated in the tufa stone, testifying a millenary civilization dating back to the Paleolithic age. Via Madonna delle Virtů becomes then via Sant'Antonio Abate. Keep running and you will find yourself in via Fiorentini. From here a good workout is to run any of the stairs up the Sasso Barisano quarter, all the way up to the cathedral, dating back to 1270. Explore any of the narrow streets: you can't really get lost although some of the streets could be dead-end ones. An unforgettable city, an unforgettable run!

NEWTON DISTANCE III - The Distance slots into Newton's line as their answer to the needs of the ultra triathlete, but they also happen to be pretty special performance running shoes, what Newton calls their "Speed Trainer." The Distance reaches its third round with some changes overall, still sharing some genetic similarity to the Gravity and Motion. The upper has been overhauled significantly, retaining some of the open mesh as before, but welded suede replaces the traditional overlays, and minimesh at the sides of the vamp offers a bit more support, though still in a stretch mesh to move well with the foot. The midsole is similar to the tooling of the Gravity (like the Distance S is to the Motion), but with 2 millimeter geometry. Instead of the Gravity's full-length action/reaction membrane, the rear foot is just lightweight foam, the POP1 platform centered under the metatarsals. Sort of a best of both worlds - Newton's rebound while shaving almost 8 percent of the weight between the two. The outersole is completely updated, and beefier with a touch of carbon rubber in the heel and under the lugs. Speaking of the lugs, there are now 5 instead of 4, so the ride is more stable and a little more responsive as well. The verdict on the Distance III is that the performance is preserved while improving the durability and stability of the shoe.

Testers: "Roomy in the toes and snug from the mid foot back, that was plusher than expected. Unique forefoot spring makes them ride fast."

Sizes: Men: 6-13, 14, 15; Women: 5–12
Weight: 8.4 oz. (men's size 11); 6.7 oz. (women's size 8)
Shape: semi-curved
Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board
Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics