A company from Cesena known worldwide for the quality and innovation of its kiwifruit. An athlete from the same city ready to face one of the most extreme endurance challenges on the planet. A shared goal: to inspire people to take care of their wellbeing every day.
From 27 to 29 July, Nicola Placucci, an ultramarathon runner from Cesena, take part in the Badwater 135, considered the toughest foot race in the world: 217 kilometres across Death Valley, in the United States, with temperatures that can exceed 50°C and more than 4,400 metres of positive elevation gain. The race is reserved each year for just 100 athletes selected internationally.
At his side will be Jingold, the global kiwi specialist, which has chosen to support an athlete from its own city not as a simple ambassador, but as the embodiment of a shared vision of wellbeing. For Jingold, taking care of oneself means much more than following a proper diet. It means building a balanced lifestyle every day, in which nutrition, physical activity, recovery, prevention and mental wellbeing all contribute to improving quality of life. This is the message the company promotes through its wellness project, and one that finds a natural expression in Nicola Placucci.
A doctor, an athlete, a model of wellbeing
In addition to being one of Italy’s leading figures in ultrarunning, Nicola Placucci is a general practitioner, with degrees in Medicine and Surgery and Philosophy. Since 2014, he has built one of the most prestigious records in Italian endurance sport, with more than 90 marathons and ultramarathons, two victories in the Nove Colli Running, and a previous participation in the Badwater 135, which he completed in 2021 as the first and only Italian to reach the finish line.
This year, he returns to the United States with the aim of further improving that result. The Badwater 135 will start from Badwater Basin, in Death Valley, the lowest point in North America, and finish at Whitney Portal, at the foot of Mount Whitney. Along the route, athletes will cross three mountain ranges and some of the most iconic and inhospitable places in the Californian desert, facing a total positive elevation gain of more than 4,400 metres.
Kiwi, a natural ally for an active lifestyle
Rich in vitamin C and a source of fibre, kiwi is a fruit that fits easily into the daily diet of those who practise sport and of anyone who simply wants to take care of their wellbeing. In 100 grams of product, the vitamin C content can be up to three times higher than that of an orange*, helping to reduce tiredness and fatigue and supporting the normal function of the immune system.
Thanks to its nutritional characteristics, kiwi also has a place in the diet of those who lead an active lifestyle and during recovery after physical activity, always as part of a varied and balanced diet.
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“The Badwater is an extreme race and it is not prepared for simply by running many kilometres. Training, recovery, sleep, nutrition and attention to the body: as a doctor, even before being an athlete, I know how important it is to build healthy and sustainable habits over time,” says Nicola Placucci.
“Nutrition plays a fundamental role in my preparation,” he continues. “Kiwi is part of my daily routine. I eat it regularly, especially at breakfast before training, because it is a fruit rich in vitamin C and represents a simple, natural way to start the day with the right nutritional intake. It is a choice that perfectly reflects the message I share with Jingold: wellbeing is built every day, one step at a time.”
Beyond the race, a culture of wellbeing
For Jingold, the Badwater challenge represents much more than a sporting competition. It tells the story of a journey built on consistency, discipline and balance: the same values the company promotes every day through scientific outreach activities, local initiatives and content developed together with nutritionists and health professionals.
The aim is to inspire consumers to look after themselves, taking care of both body and mind through a healthy and conscious lifestyle.
