Gran Sasso Ultramarathon 2024
28 July 2024: Raffaele Giusti, an oncologist, runs the 50 km of the Gran Sasso Ultramarathon again and finishes in 5 hours 5 minutes, almost 25 minutes faster than the year before. Every kilometre for lung cancer research.
A feat to breathe hope
On 28 July 2024 Raffaele Giusti returned to Santo Stefano di Sessanio to run the 50 km of the Gran Sasso Ultramarathon again, in its thirteenth edition.
An oncologist, he trained between hospital shifts: a challenge not only personal, but against lung cancer, the disease he faces every day in his work.
He finished in 5 hours, 5 minutes and 13 seconds, at an average of 6:06 per kilometre: almost 25 minutes faster than in 2023, 114th out of 518 finishers.
Campo Imperatore and the finish
Two moments filmed by those following him: crossing the Campo Imperatore plateau and the last metres towards the square of Santo Stefano di Sessanio.
A 50 km loop in the heart of the Gran Sasso
Start and finish in the town square of Santo Stefano di Sessanio. The fully paved road runs through Calascio and Castel del Monte, crosses the Capo la Serra pass, cuts across the Campo Imperatore plateau and returns to the village by Lake Racollo: 900 metres of elevation gain and an 8-hour time limit.
- km 0 · Santo Stefano di Sessanio (start)
- km 7 · Calascio
- km 16 · Castel del Monte
- km 22 · Valico di Capo la Serra
- km 30 · Campo Imperatore (Campo Imperatore plateau)
- km 37 · Lago Racollo
- km 50 · Santo Stefano di Sessanio (finish in the square)
Photos from the day
Oncologist and ultramarathon runner
Raffaele Giusti is an oncologist and a member of the Strongers Scientific Committee. He trains for long distances between hospital shifts: his races were among the first Strongers challenges, sporting feats that become fundraisers for lung cancer research.
Together against lung cancer
In 2024 Raffaele's run raised 683 euros for research. Every donation, however small, makes a difference.