Running. Not just to get fit but to learn to look at life from a different angle. To reach seemingly unthinkable goals, to motivate yourself, to experience your own resilience as well as resistance. The “Run to Feel Better” project was born from these premises and with these objectives.
Objectives that Tollegno 1900 has embraced since the beginning. Michele Stefani, Physiotherapist and running coach of “Run to Feel Better”, tells us about it.
Michele, how did this project come about?
“Run to Feel Better” was born in 2017 with a clear and ambitious objective: to demonstrate that sport can really change people’s lives. The basic idea was simple but bold: choose some sedentary people and accompany them until they run a marathon in the space of a year. At first it might have seemed like a slightly crazy idea, but the success of the project has shown that, with a strong motivation and a clear objective in mind, anyone can make this transformation.
The initiative starts from an important premise: sport as a “tool” for positive change in one’s lifestyle…
The main purpose of “Run to Feel Better” is to make people understand that sport is one of the most powerful resources available to us to ensure healthy and quality aging. In particular, setting an ambitious goal like running a marathon not only improves physical well-being, but also offers enormous benefits from a mental point of view, helping to strengthen determination, self-discipline and self-confidence.
Who has decided to get involved?
Our target is mainly made up of people between 35 and 55 years old, individuals who feel the need to get back in shape and regain control over an important part of their life. They are men and women who have often neglected themselves for family or work reasons and who want to rediscover their potential through a path of well-being and personal growth.
How does training actually happen?
We offer continuous and personalized support to our athletes, following them step by step along the entire path. We create tailor-made training programs, adapting them to the needs and abilities of each person. Training begins with light activities, often based on walking, and then gradually increases the intensity over the months. This progressive approach allows you to build a solid base and avoid overloads, always keeping motivation high.
Are there other sui generis initiatives you are working on?
In the past we have brought “Run to Feel Better” into companies as a corporate welfare project, obtaining excellent results. For 2025, we intend to further expand this aspect, convinced that it can represent an ideal solution to promote employee well-being and, at the same time, improve productivity at work. We believe that integrating movement and an active lifestyle into corporate environments is a winning strategy to create healthier and more motivated work environments.
