He started racking up kilometers in February, wearing—in addition to his ever-present Oxuburn bandana—a single, grand, and legendary goal in mind: the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc. Maurizio Ghidini is one of those runners, trail runners, and Ironman athletes you see out and about and never forget. Tall and imposing, fast enough to keep up with the leaders, with a tough-guy look and a big heart, the hair and beard of a hero, and the kindness and humanity of a top student.

You’ve been pushing the gas pedal for so many months—where have your legs taken you?
“I’d say it was a very demanding and challenging season, not just from a sporting standpoint. At the same time, it was also a lot of fun. Let’s just say that after a solid winter training period, I started with a mix of road and trail races, beginning with the Giulietta & Romeo Half Marathon, followed by the Maratona delle Terre Verdiane and the Ronda Ghibellina, the Brescia Marathon and the Siena Ultramarathon 50km, the 100km of Seregno, the Tuscany Crossing, the Nove Colli Running, the Magraid, and finally the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc.”

So… in kilometers?
“About 5,000…”

The Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc was your ultimate goal—how did it go?
“It was an experience I’ll never forget for the rest of my life. I’ve never been so moved—before, during, or after a race. Sure, my time was a bit on the long side—45 hours and 45 minutes—but being enveloped for two nights by the full moon, which cast a silvery glow over streams and glaciers, is worth more than any stopwatch.”

That’s the “romantic” side of it… but I don’t think it was all that easy, was it?
“It could have been much, much worse. After my knee swelled up due to inflammation, it felt like a ‘cotechino,’ but since I was past the 110-kilometer mark, it wasn’t easy to decide to drop out. So, after a ‘pit stop’ of over two hours and some back-and-forth with the organizers, I decided to set off again and try to keep going, relying solely on the strength of my mind and my friends… all the people who matter in my life.”

Did you also have a specific reason for wanting to see it through to the end? Can you tell us about it?
“My greatest strength was trusting my heart, listening to it, and listening to myself. My deep desire to convey a message that goes far beyond the race itself drove me all the way to Chamonix; in fact, in addition to proving to myself that I could do it even under such difficult conditions, I had to ‘prove’ to my friend Giammy that I would be there for him and see him through to the finish line.
His great strength and selflessness help you overcome everything, every difficulty. Giammy—my friend Giammy—with his deep desire to help “others,” despite his ongoing battle with muscular dystrophy, shows us concretely and every day what it means to be selfless. His struggle has become for me a unique and rare example of what it means to believe in and love life.”

Let’s talk about Oxyburn—what did you think of it?
“As for my clothing, I felt very confident and at ease knowing I had gear that was highly reliable, safe, and technically suited to the conditions I encountered. From the scorching sun during the day—I think it was 30 degrees—to windy nights at high altitude where temperatures dropped to 5 degrees, I wore my favorite socks, the 1465 Trail-Run,the 5030 Shout shorts, and the 5055 Forty-Two jersey. In the evening, I wore the 5025 Build jersey and 5035 Rampage pants. Of course, the 1312 Start arm sleeves and the Oxybuff—my faithful companion on every adventure—were essential…”

Is there room to dream big for 2016 as well?
“After a brief—and thankfully quick—period of rest and recovery from a minor injury, I’m back at it with my usual passion and enthusiasm, enjoying the immense gift of life with great joy and gratitude. As for 2016, I’d like to let my instincts guide me—they’ll show me, at the right moment, which new journeys to embark on…”