“I can’t go on. I’ll go on” wrote Nobel laureate Samuel Beckett, capturing the stream of consciousness of every runner. In the mountains, this philosophical dichotomy transforms into an ongoing process of challenge, self-discovery, and understanding. Trail after trail, Beckett’s words become synonymous with natural rebellion, balancing ecstasy, and sometimes even a necessary epiphany, as experienced by the multidimensional runner Marco Del Vecchio.

“I was a left-back, and it wasn’t until the pandemic that I discovered running. The relationship evolved gradually: the first runs, the training, my debut in a half marathon, then the Milan Marathon… I became hooked, and step by step, I started increasing both distance and elevation.

I was already regularly heading to the mountains. I’d go hiking, but then I began to observe and study the trail running world that filled those spaces: its culture, its network of events… I bought my first pair of shoes and joined the crazy people I saw going up and down the trails.

Races quickly became goals—key milestones that kept me motivated, always with a clear purpose ahead. Last year, I ran my first ultra: as I tackled 4,000 meters of elevation gain in the Dolomites, I kept telling myself that I’d never imagined I could be capable of something like that in my life.

The mountains are incredibly stimulating… What I love about trail running is its complexity: you get lost, only to find your way again; you take a wrong turn, or by sheer chance, reconnect to a previous trail. You feel the adrenaline. What draws me in the most, though, are the people—the runners—the exhaustion and intense emotions they experience as they cover incredible distances.

Until recently, I worked in fashion, and spending weekends in the mountains allowed me to completely disconnect. Running brought me peace, tranquility… the serenity of my own rhythm.

What really fascinates me is the constant connection with myself—listening to my body, to my pains. It’s a very personal thing. And it’s become increasingly essential for maintaining my balance. With all the traveling I do, I’ve even developed the habit of bringing my shoes along and going for early morning runs to explore new cities.

The epiphany of running was significant on many levels. As soon as I realized that the ‘institutional’ fashion world no longer provided the right kind of inspiration, I decided to walk away and embrace freelancing.

Now, I’m dedicating my time to training, as well as to my professional and creative evolution in the outdoor and sports world. Only running could have given me this jolt… Today, this discipline symbolizes freedom for me—freedom in every sense.”

This special editorial focus features the Scarpa Ribelle Run 2