DIFFERENT PASSIONS, SAME DETERMINATION
Young, determined, a mountain lover, with a passion for running (and ultras) that has led her to quickly accelerate through the ranks, taking second place at the 2021 Tor de Géants: we are talking about Melissa Paganelli, born in 1992, an athlete who in just a few years has transitioned from competitive boxing to trail running (especially long distances) within the ranks of the e-Rock Team.
Two seemingly opposite disciplines, but which share the requirement for hard training, combined with sacrifice and effort: all elements Melissa knows well.
There are few similarities between boxing and running, but many more can be found between boxing and ultra-trail running. The mental aspect is crucial: boxing teaches you to sacrifice and perseverance, similar to the habit of long races to fatigue. Physically, 15 years of boxing have given Melissa a highly trained physique, accustomed to effort and prolonged fatigue: the grueling boxing workouts are certainly an excellent foundation for performing well in ultras. The young woman from Bergamo approached running naturally, training for competitive boxing, until friends and acquaintances introduced her to running races, and especially trail running, which became a true passion for her: " Thanks to trail running, I was able to discover the mountains, which I had rarely seen before, and for which a true love was born: I also began to practice climbing, mountaineering, and ski mountaineering, moving from the lower Bergamo area to the Seriana Valley."
In Val Seriana, the e-Rock Team is well-known, and Melissa has been hanging out with some of the team members since, until she joined in 2017. Her commitments are hectic, and she can't always train with her teammates. Melissa still trains twice a day, running about 20 km between early morning and lunchtime, immersed in the hilly landscape of Val Seriana. Weekends are dedicated to long runs (40-50 km), often reaching another favorite place, the mountains of Val d'Aosta.
Melissa's passion for trail running, however, is one she wants to keep free from the obligations and pressures of competitive sport, something she's already familiar with since her boxing days. She confesses she's made sacrifices (and found satisfaction) for it that she's never experienced in running, " but I'm not even interested in trying, because for me, running is a hobby. " Melissa is a raging river: " When I started running and competing in 2017, I wanted something softer than boxing, without the obligatory, hard training; I wanted it to remain a hobby, so I decided not to seek coaching."
In boxing, she had many goals but also many commitments; it had almost become a second job. Now, she simply tries to arrive as prepared as possible for each competition, without excessive pressure: " There's a bit of competitive spirit with my opponents, but there's much more with myself. I race to beat my own times, so if I can improve on my times, I know I can also achieve a good placing."
One of her goals for 2022 is definitely the Tor des Géants, the 330-kilometer ultra-trail in the Aosta Valley, where Melissa took second place last year. Meanwhile, she's planning a few preparatory races to prepare for the big event in the best possible way.
Trail running, especially long distances, offers sensations and emotions that are difficult to explain: for Melissa, the best part of the race comes after the start, " the moment I like least" ; it's when you start to get into gear that the hours pass quickly and " you find yourself running alone – maybe at night – and you no longer think about others but only about the sensations of the moment... while your mind races."
In clothing, bright colors and functionality are the favorite features of the athlete from Bergamo, who of the Rock Experience kit especially loves the IZUMI skirt-shorts, specifically for trail-running, which thanks to the dedicated fabric avoids chafing and irritation even in case of intense use.
The next appointments are approaching and training time has arrived: good luck and talk to you again Melissa!
