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This might be the quirkiest race preview we’ve ever come across.
In this video from the Dalmacija Ultra Trail, a race that apparently takes place in October in the Dalmatia region of Croatia, a runner crosses through the area’s towns and mountains.
In between running steep, rocky trails and quiet forest paths, he tags various landmarks—a fifth-century fortress in the center of town, an 11th-century chapel atop a steep series of switchbacks.
Each historical site brings encounters with self-consciously campy actors in period dress. The runner interrupts a sword fight, surprises studious monks and—our favorite—gets chased out of an open-air amphitheater by what appears to be a Roman legionary. (How, if at all, historical reenactment factors into the race itself is unclear, but a chase pack of sword-wielding soldiers would probably lead to some PRs.)
If the video sounds goofy, that’s because it is. But it’s also a pretty cool visual tour of an area with rich architectural history, lots of trails and epic scenery.