Sep 14, 2026 · 25 min
Ultrarunning turns Rome into a living history lesson
BONUS: The Advice Ryan Got Before Running His First 50K
The conversation shows how long-distance travel can become a test of attention, judgment, and historical perspective rather than a race for speed.
- 1Running through historic landscapes makes the past tangible while demanding attention to terrain and surroundings.
- 2Minimal gear and loose planning enable ambitious travel runs, but exhaustion makes sound decisions increasingly difficult.
- 3Early-morning miles offer a solitary way to experience crowded cities and discover unexpected countryside.
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Luke describes how running Rome’s ancient roads, seeing cart ruts and tombs firsthand, creates a deeper sense of historical continuity.
The brief
Ryan Holiday talks with Luke Tuttle about using long-distance runs to explore history, beginning with the appeal of moving through Europe with little luggage and few fixed plans.
Luke’s compact gear system lets him run directly from airports and travel without a suitcase, turning work trips into loosely planned endurance adventures across Europe.
On Rome’s ancient roads, cart ruts, tombs, and catacombs make historical continuity physical; the route matters less as a race than as a way to stay present.
The central challenge is judgment under fatigue: dehydration, traffic, poor timing, and underestimated distances can make a late-run decision more consequential than pace.
Ryan’s plans for Rome and memories of running from Marathon to Athens lead to a broader travel philosophy: early miles reveal cities before they wake.