Time: 12 hours 39 minutes
Distance: 89 km (55 miles)
Elevation: 6,562 feet (≈ 2,000 m)
Race: Le Maioliche di Laterza 85 K – Puglia by UTMB®, Saturday 8 November 2025
Learn more about the event at puglia.utmb.world
One foot in front of the other
That was the whole mission.
Through pain, silence and the kind of raw beauty that makes you forget how much your legs hurt.
Running through the canyons of Puglia felt surreal.
There were moments when I’d catch the smell of wild garlic, rosemary and thyme drifting through the air, snapping me into pure gratitude. Even in the middle of an ultra, nature finds ways to lift your spirit. The wildflowers, cliffs, dusty trails and cactus plants looked almost painted.
At one point curiosity got the better of me – I grabbed a cactus fruit from the side of the trail, thinking it’d be a refreshing little treat. Big mistake. It exploded microscopic needles all over my lips and tongue. I spent hours picking them out while laughing at my own stupidity. Don’t add that to your race-nutrition plan.
When silence becomes your coach
Things got interesting when my phone died five hours in. Suddenly it was just me, the terrain, and my own mind.
Quick tip for anyone running this: bring a power bank in a waterproof bag. You’ll thank me later.
In a strange way, that silence made everything more introspective.
Some sections were genuinely technical – loose stones, awkward drops, uneven ridges. I saw runners twist ankles and leave in ambulances. Out there, coordination isn’t optional; it’s survival.
Simple fuel, powerful results
By mile forty my legs felt like granite. Every step was a negotiation. Chewing electrolyte tablets and sipping honey kept me alive. Simple fuel, no nonsense.
Other runners told me their stomachs were wrecked from additive-packed gels.
Pure honey is the way to go.
It proved again what we teach at MaxWellness Cafe – your body performs best when fuelled naturally.
The night shift
When night fell and I switched on my headlamp, the whole race changed. The sky opened up; the stars felt electric. Cool air finally replaced the heat, helping me retain more fluid.
That stretch alone in the dark, forty-five miles deep in an Italian canyon, was one of the most introspective moments of my life.
An orange moon rose. It was just me, my breath, and the will to keep moving toward the beach – resisting every temptation to check my watch.
I drifted between trance and pain. It felt like my brain was drip-feeding endorphins, a tiny internal chemist trying to keep me alive.
The final stretch
At the last aid station I felt slightly drunk from fatigue. Hunger had gone.
I topped up my water; volunteers pointed me toward the final stretch – just half a marathon to go.
Jogging alone through the dark canyons sparked irrational thoughts about wild hogs and wolves. It made me laugh – fear and comedy sometimes overlap at mile 70.
Then I heard the waves. The sand underfoot told me it was almost over.
When my feet hit the beach for the last five miles, everything hit me back: pride, relief, excitement. Twelve hours and thirty-nine minutes of effort.
Crossing the line felt like handing in a ten-thousand-word dissertation made entirely of footsteps.
I waited for other runners, shaking hands because I knew exactly what it cost each one to get there.
Recovery and reflection
The next day: sauna, protein, upper-body training. Legs were destroyed; spirit wasn’t.
This race taught me a lot about myself – patience, focus, respect for nature.
Honey, electrolytes and stubbornness.
That was the formula.
And yes… maybe Mont Blanc 100 KM is next.
Takeaways for you
You don’t have to run an 89 KM ultramarathon to learn from one.
But you can:
- Simplify your fuel.
- Move through discomfort instead of away from it.
- Let silence teach you.
- Celebrate what your body can do when trained, not punished.
That’s the MaxWellness way – From Inflammation to Liberation.
📅 Book a Session with MAXWELL
Maxwell offers free consultations and 1:1 sessions at MaxWellness Cafe, London.
What an incredible journey through Puglia! The description of your run is both enchanting and motivating. I was captivated by your insights on fuel; it’s so refreshing to hear that natural is better!