L'Italo-Americano

www.italoamericano.org 10 THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015 L'Italo-Americano Picture the following scene if you will. The place is Verona, I t a l y . T h e y e a r i s 1271. Crowds of men, possibly n a k e d , a c c o r d i n g t o h i s t o r i c accounts, stand at the ready to run a foot race that will continue to be held annually in one form or another for the next seven centuries. F a s t f o r w a r d t o J u n e 7 , 2015. The place is now San F r a n c i s c o ' s N o r t h B e a c h o n S t o c k t o n S t r e e t b e t w e e n t h e historic landmarked Washington Square and the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club. At 9:00 a.m., a crowd of men will stand, clothed this time, in contempory running attire and expensive athletic shoes, ready to run a North Beach tradition called the Statuto foot race. This local community event h a s b e e n h a p p e n i n g i n S a n Francisco since 1919. For the past 96 years, other than the attire, nothing much has chan- ged. The Statuto Race commemo- rates the Statuto Albertino, the Italian "constitution" that laid the ground work for the unifica- tion of Italy. Each year since 1919, the race has been run in North Beach, with only a one- y e a r g a p d u r i n g W o r l d W a r II. Today, the Statuto Race is America's fourth oldest foot race. T h e S t a t u t o A l b e r t i n o , A l b e r t i n o c o d e x o f l a w s , ( a codex being an ancient manu- s c r i p t t e x t i n b o o k f o r m ) o f 1271 stated that two races were to be held on the first Sunday of Lent, a horse race and a foot race. In 1328 the prizes where made more specific. A green palio (green cloth), would go to the winner of the foot race and a rooster to the last runner. An early victory for women's lib c a m e w i t h t h e S t a t u t o b y Giangaleazzo Visconti, appro- ved in 1393. There was now to be a race for women. The men would seek to win a red cloth, with the traditional rooster to the l a s t r u n n e r . I n t h e w o m e n ' s race, the palio verde that had p r e v i o u s l y b e e n r e s e r v e d f o r m e n , n o w w a s r e a s s i g n e d t o w o m e n . T h e f a s t e s t w o m a n would receive the green cloth, the slowest would be given a rooster. The Statuto specified that the running event was open to "honest women, even if only one is to participate; however, if no honest women are available, t h e n p r o s t i t u t e s w o u l d run." Male runners traditionally ran naked which could be a tra- dition linked to ancient Etruscan games where those performing in athletic races ran naked. Or, a more likely reason could be that running naked made it diffi- The Statuto Foot Race: A Race That Spans Seven Centuries CATHERINE ACCARDI cult for other fellow runners to grab at the clothing of those in front of them in order to sabota- g e t h e i r l e a d . A c c o u n t s a r e u n c l e a r a s t o w h e t h e r t h e women also ran naked. Some historic records indica- te that the race may actually be an indirect outcome of, believe i t o r n o t , I t a l i a n p o e t D a n t e Alighieri's "Divine Comedy". How so? Well, when introdu- cing his encounter with master Brunetto Latini in the "Divine Comedy" (Inferno, chapter XV, verses 121-124), Alighieri men- t i o n s a r u n n i n g e v e n t . T h e excerpt reads (translated from the Italian) as follows: Then he turned round, and seemed to be of those who at Verona run for the green cloth across the plain; and seemed to b e a m o n g t h e m t h e o n e w h o wins, and not the one who loses In these four verses Dante mentions a running race that was held in Verona the first Sunday of Lent. The race was known as corsa del palio or corsa del drappo verde ("Run of the green cloth"). In 1393 the previous race became three separate races; the horse race (with a velvet cloth for the win- ner, and the pork's leg to the l a s t o n e ) a n d t w o r u n n i n g events, the first one for men (red cloth to the winner, and rooster to the loser), and the o t h e r r u n n i n g e v e n t o p e n t o w o m e n . T h e s i m i l a r i t i e s i n Dante's verses to the actual race are striking. So what has changed over these many centuries? Certainly the running attire has changed, especially the shoes, but the community spirit endures. It w a s t h e I t a l i a n A t h l e t i c a n d Social Club, Unione Sportiva Italiana, that sponsored the first Statuto Race in San Francisco. These spirited foot races were c r e a t e d t o b r i n g r e s i d e n t s together through events that inspired cooperation, commu- nity pride, and personal health. The annual foot race across city s t r e e t s e n e r g i z e d t h e N o r t h Beach community, largely com- p o s e d o f I t a l i a n i m m i g r a n t s l o o k i n g f o r a b e t t e r l i f e i n America. The club's activism in community improvement inclu- ded not only the foot race and other sports but also culture and community service. The Statuto f o o t r a c e i s n o w a m o n g t h e oldest footraces in the United States. And it will happen again on June 7, 2015. Whether you par- ticipate in or just observe the 95 th annual Statuto foot race taking place on the streets of San Francisco, let your mind wander back to the historical context behind this Italian com- munity event. The course is an 8K run/2mile walk north from t h e S a n F r a n c i s c o I t a l i a n Athletic Club headquartered at 1630 Stockton Street to North Point, Herb Caen Way, Bryant Street and back. Although the streets of San Francisco are not quite like the original course run back in the 14 th century through the City of Verona, the civic and cultural pride is alive and well. After nine decades, the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club keeps the tradition alive as they continue to sponsor and organi- ze this historic race that spans seven centuries. For more infor- mation about the Statuto Foot R a c e , a n d t o r e g i s t e r , g o t o h t t p : / / s f i a c . o r g / C l u b - E v e n t s / I t a l i a n - C o m m u n i t y - News-and-events. The start of the 93rd running of the Statuto Race at the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club 650.400.4747 AdeleDS@aol.com www.AdeleDS.com BRE# 00911740 Certied Trust, Probate and Estate Specialist Expert in preparation, promotion, and negotiation! SELLING HOMES THROUGHOUT THE BAY AREA Adele Della Santina "e Right Realtor makes all the difference."

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