Fifteen years… Running Magazine reaches an important milestone this year. In chronological order, it is the third magazine in MagNet’s publishing history after Pointbreak, now kept in the archives and memories of those who founded it, and Outdoor Magazine, the older brother who is getting ready to celebrate its first 20 years. Of these 15 years, I have experienced ten firsthand. Enough to see the two souls that have always inhabited these pages emerge, consolidate, and coexist: on one side the road, on the other the off-road. Road and trail. Speed and elevation. Asphalt and nature. Two different worlds, but increasingly destined to meet. That is why we have decided to dedicate a “Special” to trail running, telling you very different stories but connected by a common thread: the evolution of a movement. From the story of Silvia Berlendis and Nicola Quattrone, two young trail running enthusiasts who founded the startup Data Crunch, to the new professional challenge at VJ of the multiple world champion Marco De Gasperi who has also decided to fulfill his dream by organizing a new race, the Ortles Haute Route Trail, which will debut in September. From the historic Portland brand, Keen, which has chosen to enter the trail running scene in a period of strong market expansion, to NNormal which has recently launched a model designed to accompany runners in all their mountain experiences, with specific attention to female anatomy. And many other stories that you can also hear firsthand at the Trail & Running Village set up inside the pavilions of ORBDAYS & OUTDOOR, in Riva Del Garda from May 17 to 19. But beware: the souls of Running Magazine could soon become three. Let’s not blame the brand with the mustache, which ended up in the spotlight just a few days before the Boston Marathon, for a slip-up that caused quite a stir on social media: that “Runners welcome. Walkers tolerated” sign, seen on a red sign on Newbury Street. Because if there is a clear direction in contemporary running, it is the opposite: more inclusion, more accessibility, less obsession with performance. The era of personal bests flaunted on social media with GPS screenshots now has the same appeal as a pack of cigarettes. Now we run to feel good, have fun, and share experiences. It must be said, however, that Nike immediately corrected its course, first by removing the sign, then by publishing its apologies: “We want more people to feel welcome in running – no matter their pace, experience or the distance…”. But for some, there is still a question: do slow runners or walkers really interest brands? The answer, more than an opinion, for us is a fact. It comes from our exclusive investigation “The Charge of the 101”, signed by Cristina Turini, in this issue in its second to last installment: 50% of customers who enter some specialized running stores are walkers. Half of the market, far from being a niche… Enough, at least for us, to start imagining a new chapter: a special dedicated to walking, coming in issue 4 of Running Magazine. But in the meantime, enjoy these pages, flipping through them calmly. Happy reading and… see you in Riva!
Manuela Barbieri manuela.barbieri@mag-net.it
