I started pretty recently. It was late 2020, and my uncle, who I’m really close to, started talking about his long walks. During Christmas lunch, he went on and on about his new hobby; he was so enthusiastic. So, I decided to join him. I took up running on cold January mornings in Rome. Before university, I had played tons of football; I was central midfielder. Not exactly the position where you run that much.... Then I worked out a little bit, but not a lot, and I didn't really know what this new sport was going to bring me. After I soldiered through the first month of constant running, my mind was completely free. If I don't run for 2-3 days straight now, I get sick. I seek out those feelings, listen to my breath, manage my pace, and focus on my surroundings. I love running alone and with my Souplesse crew. Souplesse and its collective runs have taught me that sharing doesn’t cut down performance; it often gets better.
The heart of Souplesse was made up of six friends at the start. We figured out that running could offer so many links to parallel worlds. When we decided to found Souplesse, the concept of a running crew in Italy didn’t really exist, there were no communities in Rome like the ones you can find in other big European cities. In Amsterdam, London, and Paris, running has long brought people together and put them in touch with other cultural scenes, like art, music, and food. Everyone in Souplesse has deep roots in Rome, and we decided to combine running with our other passions: in my case, music.
ROME IS MADE TO STAY OUTDOORS AND IT’S MADE FOR RUNNING. WE HAD THE IDEA OF FORMING THIS COMMUNITY LONG BEFORE THE CREW TREND TOOK OFF. WE DIDN'T DO IT BECAUSE IT WAS POPULAR. WE DID IT TO BRING TOGETHER THE THINGS WE LOVED AND MAKE THEM AVAILABLE TO OTHERS. IT ALL CAME ABOUT REALLY NATURALLY, AND IT’S EVOLVING IN UNEXPECTED WAYS, WHICH MAKES US REALLY PROUD.
Music is something I've always done for myself. Over time, it’s become a second job, and I invest a lot of time and energy in it. As of now, I’m able to carry on and combine all three. Running has become a key for me to disconnect and help balance my daily life. In the beginning, I used to run early in the morning, but now I go out after work. That hour and a half helps me break up my day, split it between work and after work. It lets me take a break from everything else, to unplug and enjoy the moment. On the other hand, managing Souplesse and its events has turned into a kind of third job. But I love it, and I plan to keep it up for sure. It’s not a burden, and I hope it stays that way.
Good question. Just the idea of going to Normandy and doing what I love was out of this world. I never thought I would run for KARHU in those beautiful places. I think that's my dream: to continue creating possibilities and experiences through running. I’m 28 years old, not professional, and I don’t really have any athletic ambitions. My dream is to continue taking part in these projects and, at the same time, create quality content connected to the sport. Of course, I’m always setting physical goals for myself, like improving my performance and participating in competitions. At the same time, I want to grow Souplesse and see what doors open up for our collective.
There aren’t any big, flat roads that go on and on. So, my favorite place is the Lungotevere, which starts from Trastevere and heads north. It’s the only setting with these kinds of characteristics. Another exciting one is definitely in the center. You can find some training climbs and unique views between the Colosseum and Piazza Venezia.
