PADDLER 6
By Sarah Thornely( supjunkie. co. uk)
PADDLER 6
REVIEWS
Racing the Quit Monkey by Paolo Marconi
By Sarah Thornely( supjunkie. co. uk)
Writing a book is tough, but writing a good book is even tougher, and on top of that, you decide to self-publish? So, first things first, I’ d love to congratulate Paolo Marconi on his fascinating read, Racing the Quit Monkey.
I have met Paolo over the years at various international events, and just over a year ago, he asked me to review a portion of the book, specifically about his Last Paddler Standing experience. I’ m slightly obsessed with that race, and the portion reliving it was riveting, so I’ m delighted to have been given a copy of the finished book.
You may have heard of the‘ Quit Monkey’ before, but not realised exactly what it is. It’ s the little voice in your head that pops up when you are doing something that your body or mind finds difficult, be that the last few kms of a tough training session or even down to encouraging you to have just one more glass of wine when you don’ t want it. Some challenges are easier to deal with, and you can knock that quit monkey down easily but the bigger the test, the more that little demon will hang on and Paolo’ s book gives you a real insight into how he deals with it.
From Paolo’ s humble beginnings as a wild child living on a beach to being the first to win probably the best endurance race on the circuit, this book takes you on a beautiful journey. A real love letter to SUP racing and endurance, but also his wife Susak Molinero, a professional SUP racer in her own right, and their life together with their young son Kilian now in tow.
Paolo is a top-flight athlete and has been on a paddleboard since 2008, so a very early adopter. He has been racing since 2009 and turned professional in 2011. The Quit Monkey made its first appearance early on, asking him to stop and give up during the first-ever Italian SUP Championship event.
In the book, Paolo takes you on a journey of his SUP adventures and life, from paddling around Elba Island, meeting Susak, and their life together, to the wild ride of a race that changed his world. All written with simplicity but also in great depth, the minutiae of how racing works, and how his mind and body work, too.
In 2019, Paolo discovered endurance racing. If you want to know more about the SUP 11 Cities Tour, you need this book in your life. It will enlighten you to one of the oldest SUP races in the world. Here he feels joy and happiness, tears and suffering, good and bad vibes, cramps, sore muscles and countless blisters. It was the race that launched him onto a new journey, one in which he discovered how far he could push himself both physically and mentally.
Paolo is also an enthusiastic amateur runner, and reading his account of his ultramarathon experience at the Transgrancanaria in 2020 is utterly fascinating. He is now a keen ultra runner. There were changes afoot during this time, including the growth of a SUP school and the arrival of a child. During the Covid years, Paolo’ s commitment to SUP was in question, so he began to explore backyard ultras and transfer his love of ultra running to the water. He completed his ultra creation, the‘ Salivoli Backyard Challenge’ on his home spot, an 8-kilometre loop to be completed every hour, for eight laps. It was tough, but once complete, Paolo felt a deep connection to the place where he lives and the people he loves.
When Paolo discovered the Last Paddler Standing event, it was surely inevitable that this race was almost created for him. I won’ t spoil the read for you, but Paolo takes us through the whole race, lap by lap, from nutrition routines and blisters to hallucinations on the course. What makes this even more remarkable is that Paolo accomplished it unsupported, as a vegan, and on an inflatable board. I watched the coverage for almost 50 hours, and not a single moment disappointed.
I hope this has given you a flavour of the book; Quit Monkey rises and falls, but what comes across is Paolo’ s attention to detail, utter determination, and complete consistency in his daily life and training. He deserves all the successes, with too many wins and podiums to mention, and we look forward to seeing where he goes next. The fascinating mix of SUP racing and the ultra-endurance Paolo throws himself at makes for engrossing reading.
This book is an excellent read, and for anyone interested in improving their racing and even their life, it’ s a must-have. Price: Around £ 14.00