Paolo Marconi is one of the “original” stand up paddleboard racers. The first year he raced internationally, 2011, was the year that SUP Racer was founded. That’s fourteen years of top level SUP racing. So when it comes to talking about what it means to be a stand up paddleboard racer, there’s not many who can compete with Paolo.

But in “Racing the Quit Monkey”, Paolo shares a journey that has been about much more than racing.

In his new book, Paolo details his childhood growing up on the sea and exploring the Italian coast, how he found stand up paddleboarding and eventually racing, meeting the love of his life Susak Molinero (also a SUP racer), becoming an elite racer, discovering ultra running and ultra paddling… And how his “quit monkey” has followed him throughout this journey.

Paolo joins Paddlecast to talk about why he wrote “Racing the Quit Monkey”, how his relationship with the “quit monkey” has changed, how he approaches motivation during hard training sessions versus elite races, his 2025 season so far, and what’s next.

In this conversation on Paddlecast, Paolo offers up insights about his own life that double as practical tips for paddlers of all stripes (and even non-paddlers) on mental fortitude.Please enjoy the discussion.

02:07 Why Paolo decided to write the book & why writing is so important to him

08:39 What is the “Quit Monkey” and where does it come from?

15:50 Strategies to manage the “quit monkey”

17:52 Motivation during hard training sessions

21:08 Motivation during races

23:22 Why Salivoli?29:36 Paolo’s 2025 season so far33:43 Upcoming plans

35:26 What athletes and books inspire Paolo?

#standuppaddleboarding #supracer #ultrapaddling #ultrapaddleracing #eurotoursup #motivation #ultrarunning #racingthequitmonkey #mondaymotivation #weekendwarrior #davidgoggins

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Useful Links:

Preview “Racing the Quit Monkey”: https://supracer.com/racing-the-quit-monkey-paolo-marconis/

Paolo’s website & SUP Salivoli newsletter: https://ing.supsalivoli.com/racing-the-quit-monkey

Buy the book: https://store.youcanprint.it/racing-the-quit-monkey/b/711cfe1e-2d96-5ce3-a9a0-7016f508443b

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com.au/Racing-Quit-Monkey-endurance-journey/dp/B0F4TC5QJX/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0

eBay: https://www.ebay.ca/itm/396584251840

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/racing-the-quit-monkey-paolo-marconi/1147350260