Presenter, author, radio speaker. Always at high speed. Then he made a choice: to slow down. And he recounted it in his book, “Un decimo di te” (A tenth of you): “This way, I am living the present better.”
Sometimes all it takes is one step to change direction. For Marco Maccarini, that step was real, concrete: along a dusty path, with a backpack on his shoulders and the noise of the city now far away. After years of living at a frenetic pace between cameras, stages, and live radio broadcasts, he chose to slow down. Not to escape, but to listen. To listen to himself. Walking became his new compass: a simple, everyday gesture, but one capable of transforming itself into a powerful practice of physical and mental well-being. By walking, he learned to leave behind not only material superfluities, but also the inner “weights” that often prevent us from truly moving forward. This personal turning point also became a shared story. In the book Un decimo di te (A Tenth of You), Maccarini weaves together practical advice, memories, and reflections born step by step, along ancient roads and landscapes that have redrawn his idea of time: “I felt the need to leave something written, something lasting: it’s not like me, I realize, because of my professional background. Because I’ve always been used to working in radio: my messages were volatile. Moreover, I did not grow up in the Internet age, where words remain, for better or worse, within the world wide web.”
“The title refers to a golden rule for walkers: your backpack should never exceed one-tenth of your body weight. But, to broaden the meaning, it’s not just a physical issue: every now and then, we can also leave our problems at home and discover how to live, and walk, without that burden.”
Why start walking?
“Because walking gives you a lot of time to yourself: it’s a long meditation in motion. After a few days, your body gets used to walking, and as the days go by, you feel more and more fit. And you realize that the time spent in silence has also cleared your mind.”
Better alone or in company?
“Most of the time I walk alone: in those moments I can focus my attention on myself. My daily life often leads me to share the day with many people, all very different from each other. That’s why I prefer to experience these things mostly alone.”
However, he is not always alone.
“I happened to be accompanied on some stages by friends such as Corrado Fortuna, Roy Paci, Frankie hi-nrg mc, and Maccio Capatonda, and it was absolutely delightful. And then there were occasions when I shared the experience with ‘non-walkers’ such as Fabrizio Biggio and Angelo Pisani: we respected and helped each other, understanding each other’s needs, alternating hours of absolute fun with moments of introspection.“
When did you realize that you needed to ‘walk’ in a deeper sense, not just physically?
” It happened in 2005, when I tackled the Camino de Santiago for the first time: back then, it was far from the popular phenomenon it is today. I didn’t share it with anyone: it remained my own experience. Then, in 2016, I started talking about these routes and, over the years, I have led thousands of people on walks.”
Where did this choice come from?
“I was in a happy and fulfilling period from a work point of view: I had had some intense years with Trl and Festivalbar. But I had no time for myself. I was going too fast. A friend’s father advised me to slow down. It was the first time I began to read the signs that the journey offered me. Because I had given myself the time to do so.“
Going back to 2005, how did you feel during the first few kilometers?
”I wasn’t prepared, either physically or technically. I set off with a backpack that was too heavy, and the first few kilometers were very painful. But right away, I met people who gave me valuable advice. The physical pain disappeared after a few days, giving way to awareness and enjoyment of what I was experiencing.“
How was the journey?
”There’s an unwritten rule that I learned the hard way: at the beginning, it’s enjoyable, but at the end of the day, you feel the fatigue. On the second day, you gather your strength to start again. The third day is a tough test. If you get through that, things can only get better. And from the sixth day onwards, you could walk… forever.“
Has your approach changed over time?
”Over the years, I’ve learned to train before setting off. It’s a very useful habit for avoiding the initial pain. In the two months before a walk, I try to exercise three or four times a week, so I can enjoy the journey from the very first step.“
Walking alone can be scary: how did you learn to deal with loneliness?
”Actually, I really like it. If you find the right conditions, loneliness is not scary: on the contrary, it becomes an ally. If there is a real danger, you have to be careful. But often fears are a figment of our imagination, so we mustn’t let them influence us. Fear breeds more fear. My advice? If you have to do something new, just do it. Don’t let hypothetical risks stop you.”
What physical benefits have you noticed since you started?
“Walking burns fat, even if you don’t always lose weight: your muscles get stronger and your body becomes like steel. I consider myself a joyful traveler, not a penitent pilgrim: I like to share convivial moments with other walkers. Some routes, such as the Magna Via Francigena in Sicily, make you return home a few pounds heavier due to the hospitality of the locals.“
How do you manage pain and injury prevention?
”It’s a very personal thing. On devotional walks, such as the one to Santiago, even discomfort is part of a journey of purification. However, I always try to prevent them: I use Vaseline to avoid blisters, I lighten my backpack to protect my knees, and I take care of my feet every evening. I also do mental work: I try to understand if physical pain can correspond to something psychological. Giving meaning to pain helps me overcome it.“
How important is nutrition?
” I’m not very strict when it comes to preparation, but I am during the walk. There have been trips, when I was alone, where I prepared food in advance: I dried it to reduce the weight and rehydrated it along the way. In less than a kilo, I managed to carry what I needed for five days, maintaining a balanced diet.“
Future plans?
” I’d like to get to know central and southern Italy better: a Calabria Coast to Coast or the Cammino delle Terre Mutate, for example. Walking makes you realize how beautiful our country is: we often miss it when we drive through it. In a few years, I also dream of tackling some of the great American trails, such as the Appalachian Trail or the Pacific Crest Trail.”
