Meet Eugenio Aluffi Valletti, this year’s Step Challenge champion

This year’s Step Challenge brought Jakalers together across teams and countries, encouraging everyone to get moving while supporting a wider sustainability initiative

And one colleague clocked up a particularly impressive number of steps.

We caught up with Eugenio Aluffi Valletti, Senior Consultant in JAKALA France’s Data team, to find out how he managed it, why running plays such a big part in his life, and what keeps him motivated.

Hi Eugenio! Tell us a little bit about yourself

I’m Eugenio. I’m Italian, but I work for JAKALA France. I started my journey in France and wanted to stay here, so JAKALA was a good combination for me.

I’d say I’m quite an active person too. A little secret is that I’m an endurance runner, so that made the Step Challenge quite a bit easier for me.

How did you manage to fit so many steps into your routine?

I run a lot and I’m currently training for a marathon, so it’s actually what I normally do every week. I train six days a week, so it wasn’t really anything different from what I would have done the week before or the week after. The steps just come along with it, really.

Where do you normally run?

In Paris, I run a lot along the Seine. It’s beautiful and it’s always full of runners, so that’s where I train most often.

But I also really like exploring the city. Paris is a beautiful place to walk and run around.

What advice would you give to colleagues who want to become more active?

Staying active is a really positive thing, especially for those of us who spend a lot of time sitting in the office. You don’t have to run or do thousands of steps every day. Just doing a little here and there to stay active can improve your health and your day, and help you feel more active and proactive.

I also really love being outside. That’s one of the reasons I chose running. It’s a free sport: you just go outside and run.

This year, the Step Challenge is helping to support the growth of a forest. How does it feel knowing your steps contributed to that?

It’s great. I’m always a big supporter of sustainability challenges.

If it’s something I already enjoy doing, and at the same time it encourages other colleagues to be active for a bigger cause, then I’m always happy to take part.

It also creates conversations between colleagues and gives people another reason to get involved. It’s a good combination.

Music, podcast, or silence when you run?

Actually, neither music nor podcasts. I just listen to my mind.

I train early in the morning, when the city is very quiet and there isn’t much noise around. It’s a perfect moment for yourself, so I like to take advantage of that.

Beyond the finish line: how running can inspire personal growth and stronger connections at work

Do you think challenges like this have an impact on company culture?

I think they do. In JAKALA France, I saw lots of conversations and jokes happening because of the challenge. People were sharing their step counts and encouraging each other.

It becomes a good topic of conversation, and it also gives you an opportunity to get to know people you might not usually speak to. I even found myself meeting other Italian colleagues I didn’t know before.

What’s your ideal running setup? Do you have a routine or caffeine before training?

I'm probably an odd Italian because I don’t like coffee!

But apart from that, I always say running is a very simple sport. You just need a pair of shoes and you can go outside. Whether I’m running alone or with someone else, that’s enough for me.

Did you realise you were winning the challenge?

Not really. You could only see your own team, and I could see there were other people doing a lot of steps too. One day I wasn’t even first in my own team, so I knew other people were running or walking a lot as well.

What’s the furthest you’ve ever run?

Last year I ran an 80-kilometre ultra trail near Lyon, in the mountains. Eighty kilometres in the mountains. Why? That’s a good question!

I still don’t really have an answer because I keep signing up for new races.

Do you have a dream race you’d like to do one day?

I don’t really have one dream competition.

The dream for me is to keep challenging myself and improving my performance. That’s how I train. Running is always against yourself, and that’s one of the things I like about it.

I’d also like to run with more people and encourage more people to be active. Running has become much more popular recently, which I think is a good thing because it’s such a simple sport.

What happens on the days when you really don’t feel like running?

It happens a lot!

I always try to keep my goal in mind. At the moment, I’m training for a marathon and I want to get faster.

There are plenty of mornings when I don’t want to wake up and go outside, especially when it’s getting colder. But I tell myself it’s just a matter of ten minutes. Once you’re out of the door, it gets easier.

You warm up, you get into your own bubble, and eventually you start enjoying it.

Running, walking and wellbeing: finding balance and connection in everyday life

Is that why you prefer running in the morning?

I originally started training in the morning during summer because it was too warm to run later in the day. Now it’s become part of my routine, so it’s easier.

Also, once I get home from work and sit on the couch, I usually don’t want to move again!

And what about recovery?

I don’t do anything particularly special. I just try to sleep enough and eat enough, and I have one day a week where I’m supposed to do nothing.

Sometimes I’m tired, so I’ll skip a run or cut it short. I’m human, I’m not a professional athlete, so I don’t mind if I miss one sometimes. It’s normal.

Do you walk much too, or is it mostly running?

I walk a lot as well.

I live around 20 or 25 minutes from the JAKALA office, so I usually walk there. I’ll take the metro if I’m going to a client, but otherwise I prefer walking. Paris is a beautiful city to walk around, so why not? I’ve always been used to walking, even when I was going to school.

If a Jakaler was visiting Paris, where would you take them for a walk?

I’d start with the big boulevards. There are some great long avenues across Paris, and then I’d go into the city centre and walk along the river. There are so many beautiful buildings. I think Paris is a kind of magic city.

Do you think running has a positive impact on your mental wellbeing too?

I think it does because it gives you time just for yourself.

Nowadays, we’re constantly receiving inputs — whether we’re at work, on our phones, or with other people — and we don’t always take the time to step back and be by ourselves. For me, running gives me that space. You’re in your own bubble and you have time to think.

Finally, if someone wants to beat you in next year’s Step Challenge, how worried should they be?

They can come with me and we can train together! I’m always open to running with new people. Why not?