Competitor bio:

Monica Righelli is a 54-year-old runner living in Belgium with Italian roots. She has been the managing director of a small company for more than 20 years. Monica began running at the age of 51, at a time when she felt the need for a new personal challenge beyond her professional life. She set her sights on running a marathon, believing it to be the ultimate human distance. During her training, she met Serge, who introduced her to the world beyond marathons — ultrarunning. After completing her first marathon, Monica quickly caught the running bug. Several more marathons followed, and she gradually discovered a deep passion for long-distance running. This led her to systematically progress to 60 km races, 100 km races, multi-stage events, and, most recently, her first 100-mile race, completed in Berlin last year. While she does not consider herself the fastest or strongest runner, Monica is deeply passionate. Running has become an essential part of her life — a source of balance, calm, and personal reflection, far removed from the intensity of the business world. It is a hobby she cherishes, one that allows her to rely solely on herself and find true mental relaxation. Ultrarunning has taught Monica to push her limits and step outside her comfort zone, contributing significantly to her personal growth. Inspired by Serge’s belief that “nothing is impossible,” she has come to fully embrace that mindset through her running journey. Monica has chosen to take on the World Marathon Challenge because it aligns perfectly with this stage of her life. Above all, she hopes to fully enjoy the adventure and create a lifelong memory — one she knows she will always be deeply grateful to have experienced.