Some people discover running when they are young, while others encounter it later in life. Lorenzo Lotti belongs to the latter category, but he managed to transform a passion into something much bigger: a project, a community, and a point of reference for many runners.
We had a chat with him to learn how Sempre di Corsa was born, what it means to train hundreds of people today, and why, when it comes to running, recovery and prevention are as much a part of training as miles.
When did running go from being a simple activity to a pillar of your life?
I am not a track-born runner. Until I was thirty, I drank, smoked, and had entirely different habits. Then running truly changed me.
I'd say the precise moment was about ten years ago when I started running and completed my first marathon. Since then, it has become a pillar of my life: it captivated and enchanted me from the start.
Over time, it also became my job and an integral part of me. The definitive transition came in 2022 when I resigned and stopped being an employee. From that moment, running became the center not only of my personal life but also of my professional life.
When did you realize that your experience could turn into a shared project?
I have always enjoyed sharing, talking, and giving advice to people.
In 2022, I already had my profile, where I posted my sports results and some photos, but nothing more. When I started sharing my experiences and giving running tips, I immediately noticed a great response from people.
I believe I was one of the first, at least in the Italian running world, to continuously offer this type of content. In December 2022, inspired by the Advent calendar, I started publishing a tip a day. From there, I received a huge response.
It was at that moment that I realized that, sometimes, sharing what you've learned can bring even more satisfaction than a personal achievement.
In a landscape full of training plans and apps, your community is very attached to you: what do you think people find in your approach that they can't find elsewhere?
In my opinion, it's not so much about training plans or workouts. I train many people, but no one has ever complained about a single workout. What truly makes a difference is sharing, closeness, and personalization.
Sometimes the coach's job becomes almost a psychological one. I believe I can inspire and create a community because I try to be simple. My advice can be understood by both those who have just started running and those who don't run yet.
Above all, I am just like many others. I am not the track-born athlete, the one you watch at the Olympics and who seems unattainable. I started running as an adult, and I think that makes me more relatable to people.
Training hundreds of runners provides a privileged viewpoint: what is the most important lesson you've learned by listening to your athletes' stories, something you might not have considered at the beginning?
Every day I learn something new. The most important lesson is that listening to people and their stories is essential because everyone is different.
Two people can run a marathon in the same time, but need completely different training. Some are stronger mentally, some physically, and some emotionally.
A coach's task is to understand the person's true need and work to fill that gap. There is no one-size-fits-all approach: training must adapt to the person, not the other way around.
There's often the myth of "the more miles I run, the better": in your journey, how difficult was it to learn to give recovery and prevention their proper space? And how do you convey this balance in your daily work with runners?
Many people, when they start, think that training is everything and that just running a lot of kilometers is enough to improve. I thought that too.
Then I saw for myself that when I reduced my mileage and found a balance, I was able to perform at my best. I always repeat: the body improves when it recovers, not while it's training.
It's essential not to cut into sleep and to find a balance between sport, family, work, and daily life. Everyone has a realistic amount of time they can dedicate to sport, and it's important to respect that.
When a sport or workout becomes a burden, you need to stop for a moment and ask yourself what isn't working.
In your training routine, what can never be missing before and after a run to prepare your body and recover best?
My routine varies according to the period, situation, and type of training, but balance always remains fundamental.
You need to arrive at training ready, not overly tired or fatigued, and prepared both mentally and physically. Products designed to accompany an athlete's routine, like those from SPORTLAB Milano, can also be helpful here.
The WARMUP CREAM, for example, helps prepare the body before activity, while other products can support recovery and comfort after training.
I'm also thinking of SLIDER, useful for preventing discomforts like chafing, redness, and, in the worst cases, small lesions or bleeding.
Many people who are new to running are not yet familiar with these tools. Building a good routine also means finding the products and habits that allow you to train with greater comfort and continuity.
The advice I would give everyone is not to rush. Running requires a gradual approach: you need to give your body time, build correct habits, and when necessary, rely on someone who can guide you.
Running must remain something we enjoy. It should not become a burden and, above all, it should not hurt us.
At a time when running often seems like a continuous chase for numbers, Lorenzo reminds us that there is also another way to experience this sport: with gradualness, balance, and attention to one's body.
A vision that resonates deeply with us at SPORTLAB Milano. Because preparing well, recovering correctly, and continuing to run with pleasure are achievements that count at least as much as a new personal best.
