She began to develop as a road runner, taking three victories in four years between 2003–2007 at the Budapest Half Marathon. She still continued with track running, however, and competed at the 2005 World Championships without reaching the final, finished eleventh at the 2006 World Road Running Championships and in the 10,000 metres she finished 22nd at the 2008 Olympic Games. She was a prominent competitor on the Italian road running circuit and won over a number of competitions and distances: a 2005 win at the Stramilano Half Marathon grew into a three-year undefeated streak and she won both the Italian Marathon and BOclassic in 2006, as well as a cross country win at the Cinque Mulini. She repeated as champion at the Italian Marathon in 2007 and was the 2008 winner of the Venice Marathon.