🇫🇮 Ultra-Marathon #9, Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland

Giuseppe Miuccio

Mar 30

2 min read

22nd March 2026

Running 50K in Lapland the Arctic isn’t just about distance.

It’s about adapting to an environment that demands your full attention.

After Iceland, country #3; I found myself back in the Arctic.

Cold. Silent. Peaceful.

A place that strips everything back.

I used the first day to explore the terrain.

Testing the ground.

Checking the ice.

Making sure every step would be stable.

In these conditions, even your shoes matter.

Sunday morning.

Oats. Routine. Focus.

The run started at 8:30 AM.

Around 3°C, wearing thermal layers, I set off from near Santa Claus Village, heading towards the city centre for my Ultra Marathon in Rovaniemi.

From there, I pushed south for a long 20K stretch.

Snow. Ice. Stillness.

The kind of environment where time slows down…

but effort doesn’t.

At around 30k, I met Missu.

Giuseppe Miuccio running a 50km ultra marathon with Missu in Rovaniemi Lapland on snowy roads during the Run for Voices Arctic challenge — Giuseppe joined by Missu

We ran together for 10K.

She showed me around the city, taught me a few Finnish words…

and reminded me how powerful it is to share the journey.

I even saw my first ski resort,

kids moving on skis better than I ever could.

(Remember… I’m Sicilian.)

Then came the final stretch.

Back north.

Fatigue setting in.

That’s when I met Heikki, who joined me for the last 7 kilometres.

Giuseppe Miuccio running the final kilometres of a 50km ultra marathon with Heikki in Rovaniemi Finnish Lapland during the Run for Voices challenge — Giuseppe joined by Heikki

And in that moment, I realised something:

This challenge isn’t just about running.

It’s about people.

It was particularly dedicated to Mark Johnson, who recently passed away from Throat Cancer.

That day, I gained a brother and a sister in the Arctic.

50K done.

Personal best: 4 hours 51 minutes.

Three ultra-marathons in three weeks.

And instead of breaking…

my body adapted.

Stronger than ever.

The Arctic was conquered again.

But what stayed with me the most… wasn’t just the run.

It was the sky.

The northern lights, the most incredible I’ve ever seen.

Northern lights over Rovaniemi Lapland during an Arctic night following a 50km ultra marathon in the Run for Voices challenge — Northern lights in Lapland, Country #9 of 50

My fifth time witnessing them…

and by far the most powerful.

Reindeers.

Ice.

Silence.

Culture.

This is a place that will always stay with me.

Country #9, Ultra marathon in Lapland completed.

Next stop: Edinburgh, Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

11th April 2026, Country #10 of 50

Run for Voices continues.

50K in 50 countries.

Follow the Journey on Instagram: giuseppe_miuccio