He covered 330 kilometers across the Alps in 133 hours and 37 minutes, crossing the finish line in Courmayeur on Friday, September 19, at 11:30 p.m. This achievement shows that limits really do exist only in our minds.
Editorial staff: – What emotions are you experiencing after completing such a grueling race?
Daniel Milewicz: – On the one hand, immense joy and satisfaction that I managed to survive so many days in difficult conditions. On the other, a slight sense of disappointment that it is already over. You prepare for this start for so long, wait for that moment of solitude in the mountains… and suddenly everything ends.
– What was the race like from start to finish? Which moments were the most difficult?
– There was no doubt—rather curiosity and uncertainty about what the route would be like and, above all, what the weather would bring. And it changed dramatically: from cooler days to heat reaching 25 degrees. On the peaks, there was sometimes no wind, and then the sun was extremely intense. I had to plan everything carefully to avoid dehydration—it would have been a shame to drop out because of such simple mistakes. That is why I tried to climb the highest passes at night or at dawn, before it became truly hot.
The climbs themselves were extremely demanding—often above 2,800–3,000 meters above sea level. We thought the descent would be easier, but it turned out to be even more difficult and more taxing on the knees. Many competitors suffered injuries. Fortunately, physiotherapists and masseurs were waiting at the aid stations—they saved our legs and allowed us to continue.
– Did you run in a group or alone?
– At the beginning, we passed other competitors and sometimes spoke for a while. But after two or three days, the distances between us became so great that you were left alone. And for me, that was best—to escape contact and immerse myself in my own thoughts. That is also what such competitions are about for me.
– What are your plans for the future?
Daniel Milewicz: This race had been a dream for years—and I managed to make it a reality. But I already have other goals in mind: a 450-kilometer ultramarathon across glaciers in Courmayeur, 700 kilometers in the Alps, and even a run across the Pyrenees covering around 900 kilometers. These are huge challenges, unimaginable to many, but they fascinate me. It is not only about proving anything to myself—I simply feel best during races like these.