🇨🇠Ultra Marathon in Switzerland: Country #17 - Lugano, Switzerland
25th July 2026
Some ultra-marathons test your endurance.
Others test everything at once.
Lugano did exactly that.
Country #17 of the Run for Voices challenge brought me to Switzerland for one of the toughest 50K runs of the journey so far.
The day was beautiful, but unforgiving.
Around 30°C.
Approximately 1,200 metres of elevation.
Steep mountain climbs that demanded patience from the very first kilometre.
Every ascent felt endless.
Every descent reminded me another climb was still waiting.
This wasn’t a day to chase a fast time.
It was a day to stay composed, manage the effort, and keep moving forward.
The views over Lake Lugano and the surrounding mountains made every difficult step worthwhile.
Then, around 20 kilometres into the run, something happened that reminded me why this project exists.
I met Luna, completely by chance.
She decided to join me for part of the run, and only afterwards did I discover that her mum is currently living with throat cancer.
We had never met before.
Yet somehow, thousands of miles from home, Run for Voices brought our paths together.
Moments like these remind me that behind every statistic is a real person.
A family.
A story.
A reason to keep running.
As the route descended back towards the city, the legs were exhausted, but the mission was stronger than the fatigue.
The final kilometres became a celebration of resilience, community, and purpose.
A special thank you to Mattea, who joined me for the final 6 kilometres and helped me push all the way to the finish.
And thank you to Valentino from 692 Run Club for the incredible support throughout the day, and for welcoming me afterwards with what might just be the best focaccia I’ve ever had in Lugano.
That’s what makes these runs unforgettable.
Not just the mountains.
Not just the distance.
The people.
After 50 kilometres, 1,200 metres of elevation, and hours in the Swiss summer heat, another country was complete.
We suffered.
We laughed.
We kept going.
Country #17 of 50 is complete.
Another step towards raising awareness for throat cancer patients and their families.
Run for Voices continues.
50K in 50 Countries. One mission.
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giuseppe_miuccio
