Running with Nature

Running is more than a sporting activity. It brings people together, encourages healthier lifestyles and offers a different perspective on the places we experience every day. Throughout 2026, LANDlers across Italy and Germany took part in several running events, sharing moments beyond the office while rediscovering the urban landscapes and green spaces of their cities.

On 3 May, nearly 40 LANDlers representing more than five different countries joined Stramilano, one of Milan’s most iconic running events.

First organised in 1972, Stramilano has grown into a celebration of sport and community, bringing thousands of people into the streets of Milan every year. The 2026 edition welcomed more than 62,500 participants, transforming the city into a lively meeting place for runners, families and friends.

For our international team, it was an opportunity to come together in a different setting, enjoy a shared experience and see Milan from another perspective. After all, reconnecting with nature does not necessarily mean leaving the city behind. It can also mean discovering the urban landscapes, parks and public spaces that are part of our everyday lives.

Just a few weeks later, on 21 May, our colleagues at LAND Germany took part in B2Run Düsseldorf, joining teams from across the region for a 5.8 km route along the Rhine, culminating in a memorable finish inside the MERKUR SPIEL-ARENA.

Beyond the sporting challenge, B2Run provided another opportunity to strengthen connections among colleagues while experiencing Düsseldorf’s urban riverfront. The event also reflects a broader commitment to environmental responsibility, with organisers working to reduce their environmental footprint through measures including reduced printing, support for climate protection projects and tree planting initiatives.

In autumn, our running journey returned to Milan with a cause particularly close to us. On 24 October, LAND Italia  took part in the Victoria for Women Run, organised by Vittoria Assicurazioni to promote women’s health, cancer prevention and the importance of physical activity.

With women making up more than 64% of LAND’s workforce, supporting this initiative held particular significance for our team. All registration proceeds were donated to LILT (the Italian League for the Fight Against Cancer) to support its breast cancer prevention initiatives. The event also offered free specialist breast health consultations, including for people who did not participate in the run, making prevention accessible beyond the sporting event itself.

The run took participants through Parco Monte Stella, one of Milan’s distinctive urban green spaces, with paths and elevated views towards the city skyline and surrounding mountains. It was another reminder of the important role that parks and accessible green spaces play in bringing people together and supporting wellbeing.

From Milan’s streets and parks to the banks of the Rhine in Düsseldorf, these experiences brought together colleagues from different backgrounds, teams and offices, united by the simple pleasure of moving together.

For LAND, reconnecting people with nature is not only about the places we design, but also about how we experience them. Running together is one more way to celebrate those connections: with our colleagues, with our communities and with the landscapes that surround us.