StraLugano

In late September, Lugano's lakeside promenade is still bathed in soft autumn light, perfect for a post-run stroll past the city's elegant piazzas and the shimmering waters of Lake Ceresio. Between sessions, wander the old town's cobbled lanes, where you can savor a plate of risotto al salto or a slice of chestnut cake at a café terrace, while the season's grape harvest brings local wines to the forefront. It's a chance to blend professional growth with the relaxed, Mediterranean pace of Ticino, when the crowds have thinned and the weather remains pleasantly mild.