Home - Francesco Puppi

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4 febbraio 2024, domenica

Un po’ di cose che ho scritto

Cadenze

Relentless pursuit

Olympic Trials

francesco.puppi

08/2025 and just like that, August 🥲 #august2

08/2025 and just like that, August 🥲

#august2025 #runthedistance #anysurfaceavailable #summerofmotion #wearesoback

Cover photo @alp.lense, Sierre Zinal photo @goldentrailseries / @rising.story

I’m super excited to announce that I’ve decide

I’m super excited to announce that I’ve decided to accept my Golden Ticket to Western States that I earned at CCC. Not because, after saying no the first time (at Canyons), I felt an obligation to say yes this time. But because I can actually visualize myself running Western States in 2026 and because it’s an experience I might want and feel ready to try.

I’m in a very different position than I was after Canyons, when turning down a Golden Ticket was a no brainer because I already had other goals for 2025 (and I’m so glad I stuck with that plan!).

In short, I’m accepting this Golden Ticket because it gives me the freedom to plan my 2026 season far in advance, because a Golden Ticket is never guaranteed, and because I can enter any race I want without the pressure of chasing one, regardless of how I plan my calendar.

Part of me was still drawn to say no, simply because it was within my possibilities. Originally, I wanted to earn a Golden Ticket at a race where winning one was the explicit goal (at CCC it wasn’t necessarily the goal, just a consequence of my win). And part of me enjoys letting down people who think they can write the story of my career.

At the end of the day, my coach and I decided this is what makes the most sense right now, and what leaves the most options open. And really, what’s better than having a full range of possibilities in front of you?

It’s hard for me to focus on two goals at once, so while I’m announcing this decision now (because I had to email Craig Thornley, WS Race Director, within two weeks from CCC), my full focus is on the World Championships at the end of the month. After that (and the off-season! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾)… hopefully #seeyouatstates 🙂

#wser #horseracing #wearesoback #goldenticket #runlikeacrazy #ultrarunning #seeyounextyear

Photos @peigneeverticale and @tonywithasony

After CCC, I received thousands of messages and wi

After CCC, I received thousands of messages and wishes which made me very happy and thankful. Many people told me “enjoy your success”. But what does it actually mean? Like, how does one actually enjoy something they have achieved? Nobody really teaches you how to.

Since I got back home on Sunday night, I’ve been struggling a bit. Post-race blues are real. The pre-race cadence with training, recovery, planning etc, felt so fluid and purposeful. Now I can’t seem to focus on a single task for more than a few minutes. I don’t want to fall into the productivity trap, I know how important it is to unwind, recover and basically do nothing, but I also feel like I’ve been wasting time in a not so fulfilling way: scrolling, overthinking, procrastinating, feeling pressure to give attention to everyone and answer every message.

It’s hard for me to stop, and it’s not a moment where I can really take time off anyway. World Championships are just around the corner, and I need to focus on recovery and getting back to training for one last push in 2025. It’s demanding, but it’s also what I signed up for, and I’m actually very excited by the challenge (CCC+Worlds double).

Even if I could go on holiday or similar, I’m not sure I would, because the sense of privilege would feel overwhelming, and while my life already kinda feels like being on holiday 365 days a year (what’s objectively better than running for a living, for someone who loves running?), I would perceive it as an injustice towards all the people who have a regular job and can’t just go on vacation when they want. The sense of shame, like I don’t deserve that kind of rest, like I’d be letting down others who don’t have the same privilege, would feel immense.

There’s a strange gap between what people expect you to feel (pure joy, satisfaction, fulfillment) and what you actually feel (restlessness, pressure, self-doubt) after a win. And that “I should feel happier” feeling adds another layer of guilt.

We work so hard for these moments, only to find out that they’re not as meaningful as we painted them (continues in comments)

It’s good to be back home 🫶🏾🫶🏾😍

It’s good to be back home 🫶🏾🫶🏾😍

@hoka @hoka_eu @utmbmontblanc

#wearesoback #flyhumanfly

It was everything I had hoped and worked for, and

It was everything I had hoped and worked for, and then some more.

So much went into this one, it’ll take some time to truly sink in. I will probably need your help in order to do this, just like I wasn’t able to achieve this goal alone.

Realizing that asking for help, leaning on others, and not relying only on your own strengths isn’t a weakness, but a deeper kind of strength.

Thanks to everyone who was part of it. We did it 🫶🏾

CCC 2025, 101km +6050m 10h06:02 🥇

@hoka @hoka_eu @enervitsport @utmbmontblanc

#wearesoback #anysurfaceavailable #summerofmotion #utmb #flyhumanfly

Ph. @peigneeverticale

One last piece of the puzzle See you tomorrow, C

One last piece of the puzzle

See you tomorrow, CCC @utmbmontblanc

Have a great race everyone! And thanks for the inspiration and entertainment today, OCC runners 🙌🏾

@hoka @hoka_eu @enervitsport

#CCC #utmb #chamonix #wearesoback #summerofmotion #anysurfaceavailable #processoveroutcome #flyhumanfly

Photo: @peigneeverticale

Race week plans: - saying “no, thank you” to

Race week plans:

- saying “no, thank you” to basically every opportunity that comes up.

UTMB week can feel overwhelming. It’s a lot of fun, but it can also be stressful, especially if the focus is on performance. I personally have a hard time with this, but I know how important it is: as athletes, we are under no obligation to say yes to everything.

Set your priorities first and everything else will follow. Be kind, and people will understand.

See you on Friday!

#utmb #wearesoback #merci #montblanc #runthedistance #summerofmotion #flyhumanfly

Photo: @goldentrailseries / @rising.story from a very warm @sierrezinal_officiel

Next week I’ll be racing CCC at @utmbmontblanc.

Next week I’ll be racing CCC at @utmbmontblanc. I’m excited and a bit nervous to tackle a distance that still feels very new to me and an incredible field of athletes.

It’s been a fun and challenging preparation, which started way back during the winter, and went through some pretty special places and circumstances, thanks to many great people.

Of course, a race is just the tip of the iceberg of a massive amount of training that goes into it, it’s when we get to enjoy what we love the most: running in the mountains and trying to push our bodies beyond what we thought was possible.

I’ll try to bring you with me through the process: the highs and lows, the doubts, the joys, and a bit of madness that makes this adventure my own.

Watch on Youtube: GOING FURTHER - Season Two: The Build

[ITA]

La prossima settimana correrò la CCC a @utmbmontblanc. Sono emozionato e un po’ nervoso nell’affrontare una distanza che per me è ancora nuova e un parterre di atleti incredibile.

È stata una preparazione divertente ma anche molto impegnativa, iniziata già durante l’inverno e passata attraverso luoghi e circostanze davvero speciali, grazie a persone straordinarie.

Una gara è solo la punta dell’iceberg rispetto al percorso e al lavoro che ci stanno dietro, è il momento in cui possiamo divertirci facendo ciò che amiamo di più: correre in montagna e provare a spingere il nostro corpo oltre quanto ritenevamo possibile.

Cercherò di portarvi con me attraverso il processo: gli alti e bassi, i dubbi, le gioie e quel pizzico di madness che rende questa avventura la mia.

Watch on Youtube: GOING FURTHER - Season Two: The Build

Production and editing: @demiangoaway
Support: @hoka @hoka_eu

#runthedistance #anysurfaceavailable #trailrunning #summerofmotion #utmb #wearesoback

Sierre Zinal madness at its finest ⚡️⚡️ S

Sierre Zinal madness at its finest ⚡️⚡️

Success is going from finishing 4th, running 2:35 and feeling like a failure, like in 2018….to running 2 min slower, placing 10th and feeling at peace, like this year.

Sometimes the real win is how you carry yourself across the line. It’s in the way you choose to see yourself when the race is done.

Every race, no matter the result, can be a step forward in becoming a better athlete

@hoka @hoka_eu @enervitsport

#runthedistance #anysurfaceavailable #trailrunning #sierrezinal #basetraining #flyhumanfly

Video: @timetjean

9th time the charm @sierrezinal_officiel I’ve

9th time the charm @sierrezinal_officiel

I’ve given you my best, you’ve given me more

@hoka @hoka_eu @enervitsport

#sierrezinal #summerofmotion #runthedistance #anysurfaceavailable #wearesoback

Another consequence of having a season that is wid

Another consequence of having a season that is widely regarded as successful (so far), is that people start putting more expectations on you. I’ve won four races in a row, and technically I’m undefeated since OCC 2024, so almost a year. So there’s pressure to keep the streak alive, like it’s the most important and logical thing to do, like I owe it to the story that people are writing about me, in order to continue this narrative and build a reputation that honestly doesn’t belong to me.

Well, I’m sorry to let you down, because I’m racing Sierre-Zinal this weekend, and realistically I’m not going to win what is widely regarded as the most competitive mountain race in the world. The thing is, I don’t have any ego to protect, reputation to defend, or public image to build. So the possibility of my win streak ending on Saturday doesn’t touch me at all and in fact, I’m kind of relieved that this whole narrative is going to end. Because it’s not who I am.

I primarily compete to see how good I can get relative to myself and to the best athletes in the world on race day, and if I walk away from a race knowing I gave it everything, I’m happy, regardless if the result is a 1st, 4th or 20th place. I feel like this is a healthier approach to competing which stems from an intrinsic motivation, instead of putting all the importance on the external outcome (which is only partially within our control) and recognition.

@katieschide, one of my role models in the sport, who hasn’t lost a race in 2 years, is also lining up at Sierre Zinal and I can imagine similar thoughts going through her mind. Sure, it might be easier to pick a low key race or, in my case, a 50-80km race where I’m probably more competitive, keep the win streak alive, and sell the victory to reinforce the myth. But we chose not to. Because ultimately that’s not how we define success.

Success is challenging ourselves with hard things, and trying our best in the process. That’s what really matters. It’s tempting to think that a win or the achievement of some goal will fulfil you, but what will truly fulfil you is who you become and what you discover in the process of going for it.

And you still wonder why I signed with Hoka? Firs

And you still wonder why I signed with Hoka?

First ever training camp with the team (and first ever training camp with any sponsor I’ve had, at 33) surrounded by incredible athletes, amazing energy and the kind of support that makes you dream bigger. Going from Nike to Hoka was worth it even just for experiences like this.

It’s kind of crazy that I get to call this my job and that, at the same time, it remains my greatest passion and source of happiness, fun, and motivation. It will forever feel like a privilege.

As athletes, we live in a system that often pushes us to move quickly from one goal to the next, making it hard to truly appreciate and soak in all the in‑between moments that actually make up most of our time. While competing is the main reason we get to live this life, those moments are the real why behind what we do. Training at a high level is hard, but sharing parts of the journey with people who share my same passion and lifestyle is incredibly motivating.

Feeling grateful, inspired, honestly somewhat tired but excited for the big goals ahead!

Thanks @hoka @hoka_eu teammates and people for making this possible!

Cool photos by @peigneeverticale and @simon.dugue, everything else 🤳

07/2025 - Wild July #runthedistance #summerofmoti

07/2025 - Wild July

#runthedistance #summerofmotion #vertvertvert #anysurfaceavailable

Cover photo @danielemolineris

I try my best #runthedistance #anysurfaceavailab

I try my best

#runthedistance #anysurfaceavailable #summerofmotion #track

Filming and editing: @demiangoaway @danielemolineris

Many people asked me what’s changed since I star

Many people asked me what’s changed since I started winning some international races - apparently I have won four this year (Transgrancanaria Marathon, Chianti 50k, Canyons 100k, Lavaredo 50k).

I would be lying if I said nothing has changed, however it’s not the kind of change that most people think, and I cannot point out a single factor that has made all the difference. It’s more like the result of a long term process, of years of hard, silent work now beginning to show more consistent results. It’s probably just a coincidence that I have won four races in a row, and realistically I’m not going to win the next one; it also doesn’t hurt me at all to say so because I don’t have any ego to protect.

It’s crazy how the body learns, adapts and normalizes what once seemed impossible. With my coach, when we started working over 10 years ago, we set things up for long term growth, not for immediate success. We never chased race results over the simple beauty of challenging ourselves with running. Results were just a consequence, like the fact that I’m now a professional runner.

The difference between a victory and any other outcome that falls short of it is less than you’d think. I don’t believe it takes any particular talent, killer instinct, or any other god given gift to win. Everyone is working hard, at a high level. The oversimplified, eternal mind vs body debate, like how much impact one or the other has on performance, like they were two separate entities, doesn’t apply. My mindset hasn’t fundamentally changed. I’m probably just more at peace with myself than a while ago, and I recognize that’s a huge component. My body has definitely changed, slowly and gradually, because I can handle more training than ever.

Over 60 years ago, Ikai and Steinhaus wrote: “Physiologic factors set the relatively fixed and outermost limits, psychological factors, the more proximate ones. In this sense it is appropriate to speak of a physiologic and psychologic limit. Capacity is the always undetermined measure of the former. Performance is always limited by the latter.”

I believe this is as relevant as ever.

#runthedistance #summerofmotion

Photos: @danielemolineris

06/25. June was a hot one #nevertoolate #summerof

06/25. June was a hot one

#nevertoolate #summerofmotion #anysurfaceavailable #nomadland #runthedistance #viavareselibera #flyhumanfly

Cover photo @philippreiter007
Photo 15 @martin_fettich

Three days in Canfranc to check out the long and s

Three days in Canfranc to check out the long and short trail running world championships course.

Wild and tough, technical and beautiful, we really enjoyed these 85km and almost +6000m in the Pyrenees. It’s interesting to see how different communities and parts of the world decline the concept of trail running, here, for example, in a version that is maybe closer to skyrunning, with lots of scrambling and many parts off-trail, where you have to employ some navigation skills. I feel like it’s this uniqueness- which is the contrary of standardization- that we should strive to preserve, as one of the beauties of our sport. Sure this course may not be my favorite, it might not suit me 100%, but this is what trail running is also about!

Lots of double digit kilometers were ran (and hiked), lots of calories were consumed, lots of madness was shared and fun was had.

This course is far beyond my comfort zone, but I really want to take this challenge, learn, adapt and discover things I thought I’d never be able to do.

See you at the end of September @wmtrc2025_canfrancpirineos 👋🏾

Thanks @atleticaitaliana for making this trip possible
Thanks @luca_delpe97 and @andreas_reiterer for the fun

#canfranc #runeverything #anysurfaceavailable #pyrenees #canfrancmadness #hiking #runthedistance #wildandtough

@maratonadolomites - my first bike race! 😍

- è bellissimo essere dei principianti, andare in gara senza aspettative, senza pretendere nulla da se stessi se non il massimo dell’impegno, come sempre del resto, e farselo bastare. Senza bisogno di fingere di essere esperti, né di sapere più di quanto sappiamo davvero, solo con la voglia di esserci, imparare, cercare di dare il meglio

- probabilmente ero l’unico al via con i fili del manubrio ancora fuori come negli anni ’90, cosa che faceva già capire diverse cose sul mio livello tecnico

- non ho ancora capito come funzionano i rifornimenti. Mi sembrava di essere l’unico a fermarsi alle aid station per prendere l’acqua. Ma i ciclisti non bevono?

- mangiare cibo solido si è rivelato molto più complicato del previsto: in discesa staccare le mani dal manubrio è fuori discussione, in salita rischi di soffocare, in pianura…alla maratona dles dolomites non c’e mai pianura 😰

- il bello di essere un beginner è che migliori rapidamente, sulla prima discesa sei come un bambi su ghiaccio e gli altri ti passano al doppio della velocità, ora della quarta o quinta discesa la fiducia nella forza di attrito cresce notevolmente e non sei più aggrappato ai freni come se la tua vita dipendesse da quello (in realtà dipende sempre da quello)

- è una follia realizzare quanto vadano forte i veri pro. Non che ce ne fosse un reale bisogno…ma ho preso quasi mezz’ora dal primo classificato (grande @ste_bona88) su una gara da meno di 4h, facendo 106km con +3200m a 27.8km/h di media. Cosa farebbe Pogi?

- mi è mancata un po’ la dinamica da gara ciclistica che pensavo avrei vissuto: le scie, i gruppetti, la sensazione di correre in gruppo. E’ stato uno sforzo molto più individuale di quanto mi aspettassi. Probabilmente il percorso non si prestava granché: troppo duro, in salita ognuno prendeva il suo ritmo e in discesa il pensiero principale era salvarsi la pelle. Mi rimane la voglia di riprovarci su un percorso più filante e di limare quanto più possibile

- la sensazione di andare a canna in bici > quasi ogni altra cosa

- rimaniamo in ogni caso dei piantati totali, ed è bellissimo così

Photos: @piegaro
Special thanks @enervitsport

Mai avrei pensato di poter pedalare a fianco di Mi

Mai avrei pensato di poter pedalare a fianco di Miguel Indurain, di fare uno shooting con @fabioaru1, di presentarmi sulla stessa linea di partenza di @petosagan.

Mai avrei pensato che sarei diventato un atleta professionista - non è mai stato un obiettivo, ma forse è sempre stata una possibilità lasciata aperta - che avrei vinto delle gare abbastanza importanti, che avrei avuto un mio podcast, pubblicato per delle riviste, fondato un’associazione di atleti pro riconosciuta a livello internazionale e tante altre cose.

Mai avrei pensato che avrei potuto seguire fino in fondo la mia strada, senza bisogno di soddisfare alcuna aspettativa, né mia né degli altri. Che in fondo essere me stesso va bene, e probabilmente è il modo migliore di stare al mondo sia per me che per gli altri.

Uno degli aspetti più affascinanti dell’endurance è quello di riuscire a normalizzare ciò che prima sembrava difficile o impossibile. Trovare sempre degli step successivi che vale la pena inseguire, a qualsiasi livello, non importa quanto forte o piano andiate.

Domani torneremo a seguire sempre la stessa strada, a fare un km, un metro di dislivello in più, a scoprire che ne vale sempre la pena.

@maratonadolomites bring it on

@enervitsport 💙

#anysurfaceavailable #maratonadlesdolomites #altabadia #ridethedistance #outsideisfeee #dolomites #mdd38 #lüm

Photos: @piegaro

Not interested in letting off the gas pedal #runt

Not interested in letting off the gas pedal

#runthedistance #lavaredo #feelslikegrignetta #anysurfaceavailable #trailrunning #runhard

Photos: @diegodelfavero_

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