178. Francesco Puppi & Max Keith | CCC to Worlds: The Art of Recovery

Vert.run co-founder and coach Max Keith joins host Francesco Puppi for a wide-ranging conversation about the end of a long racing season—what recovery really means, how to avoid burnout, and why finishing strong sometimes means doing less.

Fresh off his CCC win and top-10 finish at the World Championships, Francesco shares what it felt like to go from 49th to 9th after cramping from the first downhill, how he managed the CCC–Worlds double just one month apart, and what it taught him about patience, motivation, and balance.

They also discuss how the sport is evolving—from the growing competitiveness of Worlds and the rise of athlete-led storytelling, to the importance of community and content that shows the real side of trail running.

If you’ve ever wondered how the world’s best athletes recover, reflect, and reset after a big season—this one’s for you.

What you’ll learn

• The reality of managing a full ultra season from February to October
• Lessons from the CCC–Worlds double: recovery, resilience, and mindset
• How to build sustainability into your training and racing
• Why “rest” is an active part of performance
• The growing future of storytelling and authenticity in trail running
• Francesco's CCC video.

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Francesco’s links:
Instagram | Twitter | Strava | Website