As they pass by, at lightning speed, on the dirt paths of the Sinis , raising a cloud of dust that only on this occasion fascinates and enraptures, you can feel the human warmth: perhaps because there are almost a thousand of them , perhaps because they are all running close together, heated by the feat they are trying to complete.
A seven and a half kilometre run from Cabras to the village of San Salvatore di Sinis, carrying the statue of the Saint on one's shoulders, renewing a vow . For the men of Cabras, this is a duty, a necessity to begin a new year at peace with themselves and purified after the great effort.
This is the Corsa degli Scalzi: the ritual has just concluded, amid shouts of joy, tears, and strong emotions . One heart, one faith, that of San Salvatore. This is what you can feel among those thousand runnerswearing sweaty white robes, marked by the dust of the Sinis Mountains, who invaded the ancient village this morning at nine o'clock. Today the day began at dawn ,in the three naves of the church of Santa Maria, bathed in white. First the mass, then the procession towards Via Tharros and off we go. That journey of faith and promises was opened by the red flag waving in the distance.
<p>The arrival of the Saint (Photo by Sara Pinna) </p>The race from Cabras was opened by "muda" number 11, while the honour of closing it upon arrival in the village of San Salvatore will go to "muda" number 3 this year .
The nine hundred runners reached the village of San Salvatore at 9:00 a.m.: the explosion of firecrackers announced their arrival, greeted by a cheering crowd of thousands. Among that long line of people were many young people, but also veterans.
Antonio Cossu and Stefano Pinna, the first 75 and the second 76 , the oldest and with more than sixty races behind them, also succeeded in the feat.
<p>Stefano Pinna and Antonio Cossu (Photo by Sara Pinna) </p>"As long as Saint Salvatore keeps us healthy, we will not give up wearing the habit, no, we can't," they say as they hug each other after saying goodbye to their daughters Federica and Jessica.
Because running is also about supporting one another. That's what they say around here. At the end of the race, applause and the choral singing of Is Coggius, the ancient hymns in the Sardinian language, along the narrow streets of the ancient novena.
Here, San Salvatore will remain guarded until tomorrow, Sunday, September 7th, the day of the return trip to Cabras scheduled for 6 pm. Only then will the vote be dissolved.
