Dislivello Più was not born from an editorial plan, a meticulously crafted social media strategy, or the idea of “creating trail running content.” It was born from a phone call.
From one of those conversations between people who share the same passion and, above all, the same perplexity: why is there so much online discussion about running, training, nutrition, and injuries, but so little that is truly clear, reliable, and based on real expertise?
From that phone call between Leonardo, Marco, and Jacopo, Dislivello Più took shape: a community that now discusses trail running with a direct, scientific, and accessible approach, bringing together physiotherapy, nutrition, training, prevention, and extensive field experience.
Let's start from the beginning: how was the Dislivello Più project born, and what need were you trying to address in the world of trail running?
After collaborating for several years as lecturers in a university master's degree in physiotherapy, I (Leonardo), Marco, and Jacopo found ourselves discussing trail running.
We were somewhat perplexed by the fact that there wasn't a social media page dedicated to running that addressed the topic in a scientific and reliable way. Many pages proclaimed themselves experts, dispensing advice on training, nutrition, and injuries without scientific basis.
Feeling obliged, thanks to our expertise, to contribute some scientific rigor to the world of trail running on social media and to debunk some common myths, we decided to launch Dislivello.
And let's just say our idea was very well received!
Dislivello Più approaches trail running in a very practical and multidisciplinary way. How important is it today to help runners distinguish between valid advice, false myths, and "hearsay"?
As trail runners, we believe it's essential to help runners distinguish truly useful and valid information from what is simply hype or, in some cases, potentially harmful practices.
This also applies to physiotherapy and all those ineffective therapies or practices that, in addition to costing a lot of money, do not actually speed up recovery. Debunking false myths and unfounded beliefs can make a difference, helping runners run better, healthier, and with more joy.
Do we want to name names? Some of the most common false myths are: that carbohydrates are bad, that being lighter is always better, that tecar therapy is effective, that pronation is necessarily a risk factor, that stretching prevents injuries, or that running is bad for knees and back.
Let's talk about it, then :)
Trail running is a fascinating discipline, but also very different from road running: terrains, paces, ascents, descents, and how effort is managed all change. What are the most common mistakes you see among those new to this world?
The most common mistakes, and I've made them myself, mainly concern training.
One of the most frequent is thinking that doing more is always better and that if you're not improving, it's only because you're not trying hard enough. With an adequate methodology, however, sometimes you can achieve better results even by doing less.
Another mistake is trying to replicate the training of professionals: probably the best way to get injured. Professionals have different physical capabilities, volumes, and goals than ours, and even when their workouts are excellent, they were designed for them, not for us.
An often underestimated aspect is the volume of slow running. Slow running is fundamental for increasing training volumes, can help improve speed, and helps reduce the risk of injury.
Finally, especially for ultrarunners, it is essential to eat enough and adequately. This is a crucial detail.
In trail running, every detail counts: preparation, protection, recovery, and body care. How important is it to have a complete routine even outside of training? And how does the collaboration with SPORTLAB Milano fit into this?
Detail is fundamental. And the longer the distances, the more details can make the difference between continuing to move forward and having to withdraw.
Preparation, training, nutrition, sleep care, and body care become essential to sustain hours and hours of running, if not days.
And this is also why we were very happy to collaborate with SPORTLAB Milano: because they develop products designed for athletes and for those who need to take care of their body before, during, and after activity.
I think, for example, of Jacopo's experience and the melanoma he fortunately managed to catch in time. For this reason, we also wanted to raise awareness among runners about an often underestimated issue: sun exposure. How much time do we spend in the sun while running? A lot. And we should all learn to protect ourselves better, using a sunscreen suitable for sports, like ACTIVE SUN 50+.
For runners, it's ideal: it's non-greasy, odorless, and you don't even feel like you're wearing it. And that's no small detail.
Another example: during the Lavaredo Ultra Trail 120 km, I ran the last 50 km with a really annoying chafing. I hadn't thought about it, but if I had had SLIDER with me, I would have gladly used it and avoided that growing annoyance.
Details make the difference.
Among Dislivello Più's activities are also the Camps: moments where running, training, and sharing meet in the field. What experience do you offer to participants?
In our Camps, the absolute priority is to ensure that participants return home satisfied, with a beautiful experience to remember. The human aspect, for us, is fundamental.
At the same time, in the Camps, we try to translate our mission from theory to practice.
We have the privilege of collaborating with two exceptional professionals: Andrea Begnis, our coach, and Sara Toloni, our nutritionist. Both are passionate about trail running and, even more importantly, have a deep passion for their profession and for extraordinary running.
During the two-day Camp, we organize practical running sessions on the trails, during which we share useful tips for tackling ascents, descents, and for making the best use of poles. Participants are always very enthusiastic when they learn to run downhill without fear!
Furthermore, we offer interactive lessons on nutrition and injury prevention, with useful notions and concepts that participants can take home and apply in their daily practice.
We are proud to be one of the few Camps, if not the only one, where physiotherapists, a nutritionist, and a coach with a degree in Sport Science are available to participants.
Looking ahead, what is the goal of Dislivello Più? Where do you want to take this community in the coming months and years?
Where do we want to take this community? We've always had an idea: to become the most reliable scientific reference in the trail running landscape. We want to help runners do it with more awareness, more serenity, and consequently, more happiness.
There are some projects in the pipeline precisely to move in this direction, but for now, we don't want to reveal anything. Let's just say that the path of scientific dissemination is always uphill, but we are not afraid of climbs.
What emerges from Leonardo's words is a very practical way of looking at trail running: fewer slogans, less "hearsay," more awareness.
Because running in the mountains doesn't just mean accumulating kilometers and elevation gain. It means learning to know yourself, training wisely, eating enough, protecting yourself when needed, recovering well, and valuing even those details that often seem secondary until they become decisive.
And this is exactly where Dislivello Più and SPORTLAB Milano meet: in the desire to help runners take care of themselves more comprehensively, before, during, and after activity.
The road, as Leonardo says, is always uphill. But for those who love trail running, perhaps that's the best part.
