The Ultrarunner Ivana Di Martino: “I run to show everyone the infinite beauty of Italy to be preserved”

«I have been running since I was 12, I was a child. Running is part of me, it’s my breath. A few years ago I had to stop for a health problem and since then my sporting soul has joined the desire to do these companies related to the social “. The next of these for Ivana Di Martino is Infinite beauty, A trip to Italy of 10 marathons in 10 days with Legambiente to promote environment, sustainability and respect.

From 12 to 21 September, the Milanese Ultrarunner will face a journey of 421.95 km from Milan to Rome, to celebrate the beauty of Italy and launch a strong appeal: act together to guarantee a more sustainable future for everyone. Infinite beauty supports the initiative We clean the world of Legambiente, the largest global environmental volunteer event.

Among the companies of Ivana Di Martino there are: Rexist Run, from Ventimiglia to Muggia, 700 km in 8 days for Dynamo Camp, Run4kids, from Milan in 12 days to Brussels, 909 km to bring a special message to the European Commission for the food counter, Inextremis 2 marathons per day for 4 days, in Norway from Alta to Cape Nord, against climate change in 2023.

How did the idea of ​​this new enterprise come about?
«We wanted to raise awareness and unite to defend beauty. I had just finished a marathon a day in Norway. I was at the theater, Mario Calabresi spoke of beauty, and showed some photos. I said to myself: “We must defend beauty. I don’t want to go abroad more, in Italy there are wonderful places, and it is right to defend them”. I would have liked to take many stages, but I am 55 years old, I can’t do more than 10 days of marathon. Indeed I tell me that I am a little unconscious if I think about what I will do from Milan to Naples to conclude in Rome. My team follows me for the love of these projects, but it has other jobs from which it detaches for me ».

How do you join the project? Can you run with her?
“Everyone can come with me. The better the better it is. He is not a performance marathon, he does not want to solicit all people a little to say: “We all do a little more for the environment”. I found myself, this summer, to collect bottles and garbage where I was on vacation. It came to me automatically and I thought that, if everyone did this, there would be nothing more. We are a sea, everyone is a droplet and we can truly fill the world of something wonderful. I did not want to talk about places devastated by man, but show the wonderful places that we must defend ».

Race is his means to say what?
«With the race I always want to bring a message, I use my legs, my resistance to fatigue and pain. My mother taught me to always do my part independently of others. I have control of my behavior and I want to behave well. I do it with the race ».

From drop in the sea you can become an example.
“Absolutely. I give the example, I try at least ».

How do you train for such a business?
«I am training for this marathon that there will be in Finland, which are the European master championships, but what will certainly guide me will be the head. I always do on 100-150 km per week. They are many. I’m not a professional, I have three children. That’s why they train your head so much. How do I do it? Training me so much alone. Step two or three hours alone running. I do so much meditation, a lot of midfullness, I try to always bring my attention to the here and now. Even when I train I don’t think about how many kilometers remain, but how many kilometers I have already done. I give myself small steps, when I make a performance marathon, for example, I think of the next step for water that is perhaps 5 kilometers. When I am making a business it is just a party, it’s just a joy, because I have the whole team that supports me there, that there is no training during training. I have my physiotherapist who follows me, I have the kind words of those who are taking me back. They give me everything and do everything. I just have to run. We do 50% each ».

Is everyone’s commitment the key?
“Yes, everyone can do something. In everyday life, for example, for the shower, I have a timer. At most two minutes to wash the hair. If everyone made the water, it would not be missing ».

Do you know all the places where it goes to run?
«I was in Abruzzo, but not there, the beautiful trabocchi coast with a wonderful cycle path. I am curious to run to Crespi d’Adda. In Turin I have already been, but they will support me with runners, a hundred, and they are organizing a beautiful stage. Milan is my acquired city. I know many people, there will be a lot of joy around the first stop definitely, because there are all the runners I follow with my course. Many cyclists offered to support me in every place. Many nominations of people have arrived who will tell me the territory. The last stop then in Rome, there will also be a connection with Legambiente and with Rai for Puliamo the world ».

To find out more and participate

The goal is Promote sustainable behaviors and the respect for natureto safeguard an environmental heritage to be protected. Each stage will touch places symbol of ecological and cultural challenges: Milanwhere urban pollution is a growing problem; Turinwhere the river redevelopment and the reduction of emissions are urgent. Crespi d’Addawhere the harmony between work, community and nature can be celebrated, promoting the defense of waterways, sustainable mobility and the protection of the river landscape e Veronawhere themes related to sustainable agriculture and the defense of rural landscapes threatened by cementing will be addressed. And then again Trentowhere the Alpine territories affected by the climatic crisis will be supported; there Tuscanyalong the Arno cycle path, to promote the protection of rivers and sustainable mobility but also Gubbiowhere the woods and biodiversity of the internal areas or the Costa dei Trabocchian example of balance between nature and tradition, where it will sensitize the protection of the sea and coastal erosion. And then Naplesto raise awareness of marine pollution and waste management and finally Rometo ask for an ecological transition in the capital, for a more green and livable future.

The project is promoted by the association founded by Ivana Di Martino, Run to besupported by Arca Sinergie and Developmentconsultancy companies specialized in the agri -food sector that supports companies in sustainable growth and ecological transition, combining strategic approach, technical and networking innovation to create concrete and measurable value. Infinite beauty It also has the The patronage of the Municipality of Milanof Ministry of the Environment and of the Ministry of Companies and Made in Italy (Mimit). Partner of the initiative too Radio24radio that hosts every Sunday morning Personal Bestthe transmission dedicated to the race conducted by the same of Martino and Silvio Lorenzi. Why runthe reference shop of the Milanese runner community, will instead be the technical sponsor.

The company is associated with the campaign We clean the world of Legambiente, the largest environmental volunteer event organized in the peninsula as well as the Italian edition of Clean Up the World ”. The initiative involves over 1,000 local clubs and more than 600,000 volunteers who clean parks, roads, rivers and beaches throughout Italy. With the support of 1,700 municipalities and over 4,000 clean areas, the goal is to raise awareness of the community and develop a strong civic sense. There Volunteer campaign will be held in conjunction with the Di Martino company on 19, 20 and 21 Septemberbut cleaning activities can be organized in other periods of the year. According to the data of the Park Litter survey in 2024 there were 20,757 waste collected and cataloged by Legambiente.

Ivana has decided to support the campaign by offering her followers and supporters the opportunity to donate free kits to Italian primary and secondary schools to participate in the initiative. The kits will contain hats, gloves, bibs, bags for waste and information materials. The fundraising for this cause will be active At this link With the possibility of donating from 12 to 21 September 2025

You can follow Ivana Di Martino on her Instagram account @Duraima and on his Blog. And from 12 September also on Legambiente’s social networks. You can share the journey, support the cause, and become part of the solution for a better planet by supporting the initiative We clean the world.