Home - Francesco Puppi

Olympic Trials

World Mountain Running Championship – Patagonia

Don’t mind this

Bergen – Hochfellnberglauf

Drei Zinnen Alpine Run

Summer 2019

fra_puppinho

Yesterday I ran @sierrezinal_officiel with a small

Yesterday I ran @sierrezinal_officiel with a small group of elite athletes. It was nice to share the race with @kilianjornet @remi_bonnet and @davidemagnini. In the first part it felt almost like training! I was feeling really good until...I was not. At one point I thought "how can I be running so poorly on such nice and fast trails that I usually run so well..".
Bad days just happen. Yeah, I'm really sad and I would be lying if I didn't say so. It's because I care and because I know how much work I've put in. I know that I'm in good shape and it's frustrating not to be able to prove it.

Sierre-Zinal, you are my favorite mountain race ever. You deserve the best "me". And I promise, I will come back and I give it to you.

A very warm thank you and congratulations to the organizers of SZ on such an amazing work. And sorry for my bad performance!

@niketrail.running
@nikerunning

#sierrezinal #niketrail #goldentrailseries #anysurfaceavailable #mountainrunning #nonostante #ribaltate #tough2020 #runforgood #athletesunfiltered #roadtosomewhere

Photos: @philippreiter007

@redbulldolomitenmann really was a great event, wh

@redbulldolomitenmann really was a great event, which I am really proud to have included in my career highlights.

BUT. No woman team was allowed to compete in this race.

Come on people, it's 2020. Seriously, do you really think that women are not good enough to deserve the same chance I had? That paragliding, kayaking or mountain running are too tough or macho for a female athlete? I don't see a reason to exclude women from any race. Instead, I feel sorry for all female athletes who didn't have he chance to experience such a great atmosphere and the recognition I had. I feel ashamed to have won an event that didn't guarantee the same opportunity to women. It's not a matter of gender equality, it's that we are all humans and gender doesn't have anything to do with the fact that we are athletes and we are all capable of amazing feats. Sport has the power to change the world and we should be role models in what nowadays still is one of the biggest issues of our society.

This is my thought. Let's be the change

#sportspower #whywerun #athletesunfiltered #dolomitenmann #redbulldolomitenmann #womenwhorun #equality #tough2020 #anysurfaceavailable #openyourmind #speakup

Photo: RED BULL CONTENT POOL / PHILIPP CARL RIEDL

Oggi ricomincia la scuola per alcuni milioni di ra

Oggi ricomincia la scuola per alcuni milioni di ragazzi e insegnanti. Non per me, che non ho ancora un contratto né molte certezze sul mio futuro lavorativo; vorrei pensare a fare atletica seriamente e nel frattempo mi pongo delle domande su ciò che sta succedendo.

Mi piace pensare all’educazione in termini “fisici” definendola come una forza in grado di produrre uguaglianza, nel senso di fare in modo che ciascun individuo conti e possa partecipare pienamente alla società a cui appartiene.
Uno dei luoghi primari dove questo avviene è la scuola, che serve a costruire reti di relazioni e a formare persone e cittadini. Ma che negli ultimi anni ha perso questo suo ruolo guida, non essendo più in grado di farsi portatrice di valori né di rispondere alle necessità della nostra società moderna.
L’inizio dell’anno scolastico non sarà un ritorno alla spensieratezza pre-covid. La seconda metà dello scorso anno non è stata divertente e mi ha posto di fronte ad enormi difficoltà psicologiche e pratiche nei confronti dei ragazzi. Molte persone dubitano che ci siano effettivamente le condizioni per riaprire le scuole, luogo di incontro, confronto e amicizie.

La verità è che la scuola non sarà più come prima, dopo questa pandemia. Cambieranno i metodi e le tecniche di insegnamento, crescerà la confidenza delle persone verso le tecnologie che permettono la didattica a distanza. È molto difficile combinare educazione, formazione e socializzazione, funzioni che non si possono separare in quanto l’insegnamento è un fatto relazionale, dove è fondamentale sviluppare un rapporto di empatia tra insegnanti e ragazzi per dare senso e significato a ciò che si studia.

La scuola è un riferimento importante per riaffermare la normalità della vita e della nostra società. Forse la scelta di fondo è proprio questa, la riapertura, la volontà di ricominciare e affermare che si può fare. Ogni anno sembra impossibile, finche non ce la si fa. Quest’anno? Penso ai ragazzi e ad alcuni (non tutti) degli insegnanti con cui ho lavorato in questi due anni, e vorrei dirgli che si, si può fare..in modo diverso, per costruire un futuro presente che sia davvero quello che desideriamo.

#firstdayofschool

#kickoftheweek @niketrail.running @nikerunning P

#kickoftheweek

@niketrail.running @nikerunning

Photo: @tito_tiberti

Hat trick 🤟🏾 • • Return to victory at @r

Hat trick 🤟🏾
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Return to victory at @redbulldolomitenmann 2020. Any surface available style was real as I have never run such a hard course! I always felt in control of the situation and I was able to break away from the guys, feeling the lightest. I had a huge motivation as I knew top three were supposed to fly back to lienz with the helicopter...and it was unbelievably cool! @remi_bonnet
@henriaymonod 😉🏔️
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Big third place with @elk.at and had a blast with teammates @luk_skyrunner @tonylongo84 @gerhard_schmid1st cheering and fighting for every second. Team work makes the dream work. Waiting for more 🚀

#dolomitenmann #niketrail #oncloudnine #alpinerunning #anysurfaceavailable #mountainrunning #lienz #terrakiger #athletesunfiltered #hooliswoosh #hooliredbull #thinair #helicoptermotivated #teamwork

Photo: @michaelwerlberger photography

Drilling like in Texas Oil Rush 🤘🏾🇺🇸🇵🇷

#drills #appianoisthenewtexas #drillare #drillspaythebills #oilrush #standardoil #texas #track #tracktown #coach #ezio #run #nikerunning #whatgravity #kickoftheweek #warmup #strides #runforgood #workout #fit #fast #cushion #selfmotivation #athletesunfiltered #anysurfaceavailable #workworkwork

Photos: @lapeppina 📸🌠 @ul_fabius

It didn't come completely unexpected, but it still

It didn't come completely unexpected, but it still hurt a bit.
World mountain running championships 2020 are cancelled.

As an athlete, I NEED racing. I LOVE racing. I need to work hard for something worth and to have a goal that inspires me. To go out there and work hard every single day without knowing what the future may hold will be even more difficult. But..

It will be another experience. I have learned to pick up the fragments and build something from what I have, for how small and seemingly unimportant it may be. Life goes on. I want to embrace this opportunity and take this shot.
The decision to cancel this world championship must have been a hard one for organizers and federations. But I understand it is the best they could do in this difficult situation. I would like to thank all the people who have worked and supported me through this strange year so far.

I will now turn my attention to my first love, track and field. I feel like there's potential, something still unattempted and worth trying. Meanwhile, I won't neglect "my" mountains. Nothing is lost, I'm no different from what I was yesterday. To be honest, I am one step forward. On to the next

#mountainrunning #ontothenext #athletesunfiltered #anysurfaceavailable #niketrail #reflections #nohumanislimited #onedream #themeaning

Si, certo che prima o poi proverò il VK10K propos

Si, certo che prima o poi proverò il VK10K proposto ieri sera da @kilianjornet. Ma rimango dell'idea che i tempi e le prestazioni si scrivano all'arrivo di una gara. Una cosa é mettersi in testa certe performance, ragionare su quando si possa valere nei 10000m, nella mezza, nella maratona, anche per atleti del #mountainrunning. Altra cosa é mettersi sulla linea di partenza e correre. Nulla da togliere all'incredibile impresa di Kilian ovviamente, che ancora una volta ha spostato un po' più in là quanto la maggior parte di noi riteneva possibile. Siamo un ambiente sempre più positivamente contaminato dalle altre specialità dell'atletica, e il fatto che anche uno come lui, che ha vinto tutto e provato ogni possibile esperienza sul trail, abbia ora voglia di mettersi in gioco su strada lo dimostra. Anche lui si sarà scontrato con le difficoltà che la velocità pone e che rappresentano la montagna scalata quotidianamente da ogni maratoneta o mezzofondista. Del resto ho (abbiamo, con il mio coach e con chi mi confronto costantemente) sempre sostenuto questo positivo scambio, questa necessità di partire dal valore della performance per definire un'impresa sportiva e il livello di un atleta

Yeah, of course I will try the VK10K suggest by Kilian Jornet last night. But my idea is that PRs and performances are written at the end of a real race. One thing is to make predictions on how we could run for the 10k, half marathon or the marathon, even for mountain runners. Another thing is to go on the starting line and run. Nothing to take away from Kilian's absolutely stunning performance obviously. We are becoming a more and more interdisciplinary sport, with positive contaminations from other athletic events, and the fact that Kilian himself finds an interest in putting himself on a challenge on the flat proves it, too. I have always been convinced of the benefits of this positive interchange and the necessity to define a performance and the level of an athlete on such values

#runforgood #performance #athletesunfiltered #anysurfaceavailable #mountainrunning #roadrunning #vk10k #kilianjornet #niketrail #veronahalf #campacciocross #cecemaestri #xavidecoursa #thoughts

Pikes Peak Marathon, August 2019. While enjoying e

Pikes Peak Marathon, August 2019.
While enjoying every second of it, I honestly can say I experienced an amount of pain that is unmatched in my running career so far. Usually, you are willing to trade a huge pain for a good performance because afterwards it feels very rewarding. But PPM was another story. There was no mercy, no solace, and because of this it was a career-changing experience, a turning point in the way I approach this sport.

After the finish I cried a little and told Gloria I didn't want to feel so bad anymore during a race. I was so tired that tears naturally filled my eyes. Peter helped me regain consciousness and catch my breath after the brutal effort.
Last summer I almost forgot what running with good feelings was like. Everything felt like fatigue, exhaustion; it made me hate running sometimes and I couldn't figure out what was wrong with me, from a physical and mental point of view. I remember several days when I woke up and I was so tired I just wanted to lay on the other side and sleep again.
Luckily I was fortunate enough to have some close people helping me by my side, but not everyone understood what that period really meant to me.
Then 2019 went on and I had one of my greatest fall seasons ever culminating with the world championships in Patagonia. But part of what I am today was born in those Colorado's miles, in those red rocks, dust and sand up to the 14115 ft of Pikes Peak. Still grateful, still learning

#notdoneyet #milesformiles
#tough2020 #unboundedrunning #marathon #carpenterlegacy #impossiblerecord #americasmountain #pikespeak #pikespeakmarathon #nonamecreek #16goldenstairs #barrcamp #aframe #colorado14ers #colorado #rockymountains #nomercy #niketrail #higherthanair #anysurfaceavailable #sharing #tbt

One year ago I was running the Pikes Peak Mile - a

One year ago I was running the Pikes Peak Mile - a mile on top of Pikes Peak, America's mountain, at 14115 ft or 4302 m of elevation. I did it just for fun - a self timed trial - and of course to see how the body responded to such particular conditions, two days after running Pikes Peak Marathon. I ran 5:49, with no warm up, while @petermaksimow and @glo_87 were watching and cheering at me (and probably questioning my craziness). It was pretty harsh - I was tired from the marathon and out of breath for the low partial pressure of oxygen. But a lot of fun. I love running in unusual, inhospitable places or conditions, like on sand dunes, under a thunderstorm, on particular buildings.

There used to be a race (Pikes Peak High Altitude Mile) which was held in 2013 on a course over 6 laps around the parking lot located on the summit. The record is a stagerring 4:48 by Scott Dahlberg. You can find the footage on YouTube on PikesPeakSports channel, it's pretty interesting.
I would love to go back and give this high altitude mile another, more serious try, and even more to run Pikes Peak Marathon again - a race unlike any other who has inspired me and given me so much. But this is another story, which I will tell you tomorrow 😉

#pikespeak #pikespeakmile #pikespeakmarathon #mountainrunning #niketrail #mountainrunninglegendaryraces #highaltitude #milesformiles #colorado #colorado14ers #wanderings #higherthanair #hornsmadeanappearance #anysurfaceavailable #roadtocerberus #craftbeer #pikespeakfudge #16goldenstairs #headache #oxygen #barrtrail #uselessfeats #mountainstateofmind

Before a race I always try to visualize what it wi

Before a race I always try to visualize what it will be like, how I will feel, where my feet will hit the ground.
I have found myself several times daydreaming to cross that finish line, to cut that tape, to run side to side with this or that athlete. Most times it actually goes the way your mind has pictured, other times it doesn't. Challenge Stellina was definitely one of those.
It's oddly realistic how this picture could be a first place finish, but instead it shows me finishing over 10' after the winner. I can't hide I had great expectations from this national mountain running championship - I thought "if I don't win the race, then I'll be for sure second" - and I'm aware I lost a big chance on my favorite type of terrain.
I trust my possibilities with all my strength even though from the outside I look so vulnerable and insecure...so weak, sometimes. I gain this self confidence from training in first place, and I believe racing is just a display of what I am prepared for, an execution of something my body has learned and internalized, like a pianist playing a concert. It's not that racing doesn't require creativity, courage and talent, but I value the other aspect way more.
Training has been going really well recently and I am happy not only because I feel good and I can complete sessions with relative ease, but because I am becoming a better athlete in general. And this is the result of years of work, confrontations, efforts, experiences and, countless times, to call myself (ourselves, @tito_tiberti @glo_87) into question. There's no limit to this humbleness and listening attitude. I'm no champion, no talent, no hero. I am just - with all my limits, failures, flaws - Francesco (Franchescoh, for those reading it on the other side of the pond).

#reflections #athletesunfiltered #roomofonesown #figtree #challengestellina #mountainrunning #resistenza #niketrail #altitudethoughts #backtoreality #training #racing #remembermoscapass #runforgood #anysurfaceavailable #jordanstateofmind #sharethetrail

Photos: @damianobenedettophoto (thanks!)

Preferisco lasciar parlare le fredde classifiche..

Preferisco lasciar parlare le fredde classifiche...
Un campionato italiano, o meglio un Challenge Stellina che mi aspettavo diverso, ma questa é l'Atletica, questo é il meglio che sono riuscito a fare oggi.
Ci penserò un po' su, come é giusto che sia, e lascerò che la mia mente ritorni ai momenti di assoluto equilibrio e leggerezza, così come a quelli di fatica pura, cruda e brutale che ho vissuto in queste settimane di preparazione.
Super felice per i miei amici @cecemaestri e @gaiacolli - you absolutely crushed it and I'm so proud of you 💙
Thank you, mountains...until next time 😉🌠

#25thplace #25avril #resistenza #grangesevine #costarossa #aldolaghi #giuliobolaffi #challengestellina #stellinarace #theanswer #mountainrunning #nonostante #dilaniato #anotheroneinthebag #anysurfaceavailable #milesformiles #runforgood #timecounts #altitudetraining #niketrail #niketrailmates #cecemaestriéungrande #ontothenext

National champs coming up tomorrow... I've done a

National champs coming up tomorrow... I've done a few over the years. This wait brings me back some nice memories of when mountain running and racing in general used to be more spontaneous and wild in some way... sleeping in a tent before the race, or in a friend's van..trying to keep up with the best, which sometimes I managed..coming as the unknown, the foreigner, looking up to Xavier, Martin, Luca and feeling proud when they waved at me when we crossed our paths.
Tomorrow will be quite different as I'm well aware I'm one of the favorite to win Challenge Stellina in Susa, a race with such a deep history and meaning. But I haven't lost the desire and willingness to overcome difficulties and toeing the line with nothing to lose, everything to win, to surprise myself and to create something meaningful. I have trained well and I'm ready, this is enough for me to say I will have a good race. I don't feel pressure, just the beauty to go there and execute what I'm prepared for.
It's always special, this year even more as it's a privilege to be able to run in such difficult conditions worldwide. Let's not forget it and let's do it wisely.

#runforgood #nationalchamps #challengestellina #diary #athletesunfiltered #mountainrunning #puppinhoisgrowing #milesformiles #altitudethoughts #hoolirun #sub1h20 #likeitseasy #niketrail #learning

Hill sprints + 5k fartlek Guess the pace?!? @nike

Hill sprints + 5k fartlek
Guess the pace?!?

@niketrail.running @nikerunning

#hillspaythebills #workoutwednesday #niketrail #roadtosomewhere #altitudetraining #lifeat2035 #nonostante #fartlek #workout #run #running #sestriere #athletesunfiltered #anysurfaceavailable

Tempo run with Dini! There's something good happen

Tempo run with Dini!
There's something good happening here in Sestriere and I guess it's best to just keep rolling with it..Today's workout makes me feel we're tracking in the right direction..road to somewhere - to the better us.

Valle Argentera: 12km - 38'40" - 3'13/km

#temporun #dinitwins #niketrail #distancerunning
#anysurfaceavailable
#valleargentera #altitudetraining
#nonostante #upanddown #allenarsicomecaimani #nondirebacchiosenoncelhainelsacchio

Just a little fired up after watching yesterday's

Just a little fired up after watching yesterday's world record on 5000m by @joshuacheptegei. 12:35:36 is insanely fast. It's 60.43 seconds per lap, which he completed at an unrelenting pace, in a display of stunning efficiency. An absolutely brilliant performance, a picture of moving elegance in its purest form. What strikes me is that Joshua is human like anyone of us. He's still got lungs, muscles, guts and a heart. He still strives like anyone of us when we are doing workouts or racing for a PB. He, most importantly, goes out there every day trying to be better than yesterday, learning and feeling emotions. Yet during yesterday's performance he seemed so supernatural, so far above from our ephemeral world of fatigue and slower movements.

Records have always motivated me to run well and not to put myself any limit. As a kid, they indicated the way towards real athletics. When 16 years ago @kenenisabekele_42 ran 12:37, I was 12 and already learning what it took to become a world class athlete. Emulating Gebre, Tergat, Komen and Songok was a common game at the track where I used to train with my group.

Today I will go out and train with Joshua's strides in my mind. Being thankful for what I was able to witness, feel and understand.

Thank you, Joshua Cheptegei. You are an incredible human being.

#worldrecord #joshuacheptegei #cheptegei #5000 #track #monaco #diamondleague #inspiration #anysurfaceavailable #nohumanislimited #whatgravity #striveforgood #higherthanair #distancerunning #puppinhosdream

Photos: @ul_fabius and @lapeppina 🤟🏾

Flash Back Friday.. ...to the most beautiful altit

Flash Back Friday..
...to the most beautiful altitude long run I've ever done. Magnolia Road is a mecca for distance runners. Located just outside of Nederland, CO, it winds down towards Boulder starting from an elevator of 2700m. The place is just wild and unspoilt like only in Colorado's Rockies. I did a 20k long run on Magnolia (or Mags, as the locals call it) rolling hills a week before Pikes Peak Marathon last year.
Of course current training here in Sestriere doesn't disappoint, but I think I left a piece of my heart there.

#flashbackfriday #tb #magnoliaroad #colorado #wanderings #altitudetraining #niketrail #mountainstateofmind #distancerunning #anysurfaceavailable #puppinhosdream

Go out there and put some work in. Run with care.

Go out there and put some work in.
Run with care.
Enjoy.
Repeat.

@niketrail.running @nikerunning

#run #anysurfaceavailable #workout #track #niketrail #speedwork #runwithcare #athletesunfiltered #living #learning #milesformiles #everybodyrun #mindset #altitudetraining #kickoftheweek #trail #trailrunning #puppinhosdream

Picture: @lapeppina

Just a few days ago, feeling in the right place. M

Just a few days ago, feeling in the right place.
Mediterranean scents.
Sardinia's mountains.
July's sun.
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@glo_87
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#sardinia #sardegna #wanderings #furgo #camping #gennargentu #baronie #morningrun #mediterraneansundance #backtobike #carasau #comenoi

Like supertramps on trails 🏴‍☠️🤟🏾
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Did you have a look at our Like Us project - Campiglio-Cima Tosa-Campiglio FKT on the last edition of @thepillmagazine?
It's super cool and shares the story behind it, how the project was born and what we wanted to achieve and communicate. Plus it has some sick shots by @camillapizzini, the Brenta Dolomites and our @niketrail.running Peg Trail 2.
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I also suggest checking out their review on @corsainmontagna.it

#yo #highstoke #niketrail #niketrailmates #supertramp #anysurfaceavailable #athletesunfiltered #brentadolomites #mountainrunning #trailrunning #campigliodolomiti #swoosh #higherthanair #magazine #bangbang #sharethetrail

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