#bela_a_runlover: “Running is my time to reflect, regenerate and train resilience, bringing energy and serenity into my daily life and the lives of the people I love. I am always running-everything in my life revolves around movement and the desire to help more people spark toward a healthier lifestyle.”
interview by Carlotta Montanera (runningcharlotte.org | IG: @runningcharlotte)
#bela_a_runlover
Lei è Bledjana Beqiri, più facile però conoscerla come Bela. Runner, professionista, madre, Bela parla sui social dello sport e della corsa come fonti di equilibrio mentale, mettendo in luce quello che è il loro “potere trasformativo”. Runner di lunghe distanze, Bela inizia a correre nel 2018, per provare a spingersi un pochino più in là, certa che la corsa non sia il suo sport, fino a scoprire quanto invece il suo destino sia proprio nel mettere un piede davanti all’altro.
Running is Freedom!
“I live running as a moment of freedom. I thought I was in denial, but instead it has given me a well-being I have never experienced, a true discovery. Running for me means listening to myself, feeling myself. It is my moment, a music, a natural rhythm.”
It all started…
Her life story is multifaceted and not just about sports, but is deeply connected to communication and begins in her native Albania when she was very young. By the time she was 16, Bela was already working on national television in a program for up-and-coming young people and then pursued her passion for writing in a national newspaper, where she covered business and finance, and in various press offices. She then began working for a German bank, living between Frankfurt and Albania until 2010, when she came to Italy for love.
“My experiences in the field of communication still serve me today when I talk about running. In addition to being a runner, I am a board member of Raschiani Triathlon Pavese and a provincial UISP councilor, positions that allow me to actively contribute to the promotion of sports and physical activity in my community. From time to time I also wear the shoes of pacer, a role that gives me immense satisfaction because it allows me to support and motivate other runners to achieve the dream of crossing that much-desired finish line. All these experiences enrich my journey and turn each run into an opportunity to grow, share and inspire others.”
Pacer at Milano Marathon
Bela has been one of the pacers of the Milan Marathon since 2024, but she has a long experience in accompanying people in races. Somehow for her, the marathon was born as a team game. Her first was in Forli, a marathon that she had planned as long and in which, according to the schedule, she had to retire at the 32nd kilometer. Having performed the “task,” however, after drinking and resting, she decided to help those she saw in crisis for the fateful wall, accompanying them one by one in the next 10 km.
“For me, the marathon is a journey of transformation, a journey of inner growth that begins long before the starting line. I experience the 42 km as an opportunity to challenge myself and share my journey with those who follow me. Each marathon tells a unique story of sacrifices, emotions and small milestones that follow one another. After running a marathon, I feel like Wonder Woman: invincible and ready to take on any challenge. It is a feeling of strength and freedom that reminds me that nothing is impossible. I realize, however, that I especially love races where I help others.”
Running is sharing
On her socials, Bela tells precisely about her inner side of running, made of sharing, but also as a professional, and how running and work are a winning partnership. Since 2024, she has joined the ASICS FrontRunner group precisely to continue in this mission of promoting physical and mental well-being through sporting activity.
“This role gives me the opportunity to share my experience and inspire other people, particularly women and mothers, to take care of themselves through movement for their own well-being and that of their families. I deeply believe that sport is about sharing, and running together is an extraordinary way to strengthen the sense of community in the running world. In this journey, the ASICS FrontRunner team is a family that supports and inspires me every day: we encourage each other, share successes and difficulties, and motivate each other to always give our best, on and off the race course. Every step I take as an ASICS FrontRunner enriches me humanly and reminds me that running is not just a personal challenge, but a journey to be experienced together with others.”
Running to feel good
In this sports landscape of running, gymnasium, but above all wellness, emotions play a leading role. Races become an opportunity for sharing on the one hand, but for deep reflection on the other.
“Of all the races run, the Istanbul Half Marathon holds a special place in my heart. I ran in memory of my father, in a city that has deep meaning for me. Every step was a way to feel his presence and turn pain into positive energy.”
Bela choice: ASICS Gel-Nimbus 27
“To run marathons, the ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 27 is my number one choice: it offers comfort and stability, perfect for tackling long distances. For faster races, however, I rely on MAGIC SPEED or NOVABLAST, which are lightweight, responsive and ideal for pushing hard. Each of these shoes has a specific role in my training and racing, and with ASICS I always have the confidence that I have a reliable ally under my feet.”
