Enrica Tomei, alias “La Tommy,” is a talented athlete who has distinguished herself in the world of swimrun, a relatively unknown discipline in Italy. She shares her experience in swimrun, the challenges she has faced, and her passion for balancing sports and career.
In 2017, I was recovering from a running-related injury and so had increased the volume of swimming training in the meantime. I didn’t want to give up either of the two disciplines anymore and so I went looking for a sport that combined both and that’s how I came across swimrun by searching on Google.
La Tommy was immediately attracted to swimrun, describing her discovery as:
”love at first jump! ”
What are La Tommy’s reasons for cultivating this passion?
The contact with nature, the spirit of adaptation, the contiguous hamlets without transition zones, the free waters for lakes and seas… is all that made me fall in love with it right away.
But let’s see what swimrun is:
A swimrun is an athletic discipline that combines swimming and running in a continuous manner, without interruptions or transition zones; athletes move through a predefined course, which usually includes stretches of swimming in open water such as lakes, rivers or the sea, and stretches of running over varied terrain such as beaches, trails, rock and mountainous terrain.
During a swimrun competition, athletes wear the necessary equipment for both disciplines, such as a wetsuit, swimming-specific running shoes, pull buoy (a buoyant device to be placed between the legs while swimming), tow belts, and waterproof bags to carry the mandatory equipment during the run.
There are several international swimrun competitions, including, for example, the famous ÖTILLÖ Swimrun, which takes place in Sweden and involves a challenging course of swimming and running through the Stockholm archipelago. Swimrun is a relatively young discipline, but it is gaining popularity worldwide because of its combination of physical challenge, contact with nature and team spirit.
But how does Enrica balance work and passion for sports, so much so that she gets great results in competitions?
Simple, only with constancy and sacrifice. Waking up at dawn or double workouts between morning and evening or lunch break… I try, as much as possible, to fit all workouts into my work which in any case absorbs a large part of my day.
Enrica, in addition to being a great athlete, works in a leader hospitality Group as Employer Branding and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Manager for MED Region (Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Israel, Malta, and Cyprus). A graduate of Bari University with a degree in Foreign Languages and Literature, she went on to further her studies with a Master’s degree in Human Resources Management and Recruitment and obtained a scholarship in Spain that enabled her to earn a second degree.
Enrica manages to achieve great results in competitions and is keen to emphasize the importance of dedicating the weekend to “long” lake running training to prepare for the most challenging races.
Talking about swimrun we mentioned equipment…
There is quite a lot of swimrun equipment that you will need to need to think about. Some of the gear you will have already, but other things you will need to get. The right equipment for you it’s important at least for 80%.
What about shoes?
There is quite a lot of swimrun equipment that you will need to need to think about. Some of the gear you will have already, but other things you will need to get. The right equipment for you it’s important at least for 80%.
La Tommy then highlighted the need for the shoes to provide excellent grip in wet conditions, be comfortable, and protect the feet while running. Enrica reassures anyone who is planning to start or is new to this discipline ‘’was beginner myself once, and I have been through the process, and have learned a lot on my journey about equipment and me myself too!‘‘
Enrica thus reconfirms herself as a great woman of success, not only in sports, but also in her personal and working life, and proves to be an inspiration to all those who wish to achieve success, whether in sports or in their careers. With her extraordinary talent and tireless dedication, La Tommy proved that nothing is impossible when you pursue your passions with perseverance and sacrifice.
These words resonate as a powerful reminder to never give up in the face of challenges, but to persevere with tenacity and determination toward our goals.
You may also be interested in the following articles:
ECCO: A shoe brand’s history of quality and innovation
ECCO: where respect, innovation and craftsmanship create an extraordinary experience
The revolution of BOA Fit System, from a specific demand to a versatile solution
The BOA Fit System and the importance of the sole for maximum performance and comfort
Mountain boots: features for professional and rescuers
Learn what are the crucial features of mountain boots to ensure stability, traction and protection in the challenges of professional hikers and rescuers.
