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5 min readThe Advice Ryan Got Before Running His First 50K
Ryan Holiday was training for a 50-kilometer ultra marathon through the stoic sites of Rome when he stumbled upon a blog called Ultra Running Destinations, run by a man named Luke Tuttle. Tuttle had spent years doing something most people would consider unhinged: flying into European cities and immediately running 50 kilometers from the airport into town, carrying everything he needed for the weekend in a single backpack. Holiday reached out for advice, and the conversation became this bonus episode — a practical look at how one person approaches long, solo endurance efforts, and what the rest of us might learn from it.
The Logistics of Running a 50K With No Support
Tuttle's setup was deliberately minimal. He carried a CamelBak marketed for mountain biking — called "the Mule" — which perfectly fit two compression sacks. Inside: a pair of Marino wool pants, a Marino wool shirt, Marino wool underwear for the weekend, plus his running clothes (windbreaker pants, shorts, a shirt, a long sleeve shirt, and one extra dry shirt). That was it. No suitcase, no crew, no support vehicle. His fuel? Coffee, croissants, Nutella, and whatever gummy bears and Twix he could buy at any airport along the way. "I have yet to find a place on the globe where you can't get gummy bears and Twix," he said.
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What you'll learn
- 1 (01:28) **Why Ryan Decided to Run a 50K Through Rome** - Ryan explains his dream vacation includes family time and pushing himself physically, and how he wanted to top last summer's solo marathon in Greece with an ultra marathon through stoic sites in Rome.
- 2 (03:24) **Introducing Luke Tuttle: The Man Who Runs from Airports** - Ryan brings in Luke Tuttle, who ran 50K+ from airports into cities every three weeks for three years while working in European banking.
- 3 (06:28) **The Minimalist Gear List for an Airport-to-City Ultra** - Luke details exactly what he packed in a single camelback to support a weekend of running and sightseeing.
- 4 (07:12) **What Surprised Luke About Running the Appian Way** - Luke shares the most profound realization from running Rome's ancient roads: the physical connection to history.
- 5 (09:45) **How Luke Handles the Distance: Fuel, Pace, and Avoiding the Wall** - Luke explains his approach to fueling and pacing for solo ultras, which is radically different from a race.
- 6 (13:36) **Ryan's Stoic Question: What Are the Cobblestones Really Like?** - Ryan asks about the practical danger of Rome's famous cobblestones, seeking the negative advice a Stoic would want.
- 7 (16:09) **Ryan's Planned Route: From the City to Seneca's Tomb** - Ryan outlines his specific 50K plan, starting in the city and running out to the Appian Way and back.
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Guests on this episode
Show Notes
Ryan knew running 50 kilometers through Rome would require more than just being in shape. So he turned to Luke Tuttle from the blog Ultra Running Destinations for firsthand advice on how to prepare for everything the run might throw at him.
🎥 Watch Ryan run the Stoic 50k here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2LNSVXbsaI
👉 Read Luke Tuttle's article about his 53k ultra run through Rome: https://www.ultrarunningdestinations.com/home/53k-along-ancient-roman-roads-and-trail-rome-italy
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