With “Exhibition of S.P.E.E.D. (Mostra di Velocità)”, Nike ACG and Mental Athletic introduced a radical indoor ultra format inside Milan’s cultural space Spazio Maiocchi.

S.P.E.E.D. stands for Sweat Pain. Endurance Euphoria. Discovery.

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What would usually unfold across mountains and natural trails is condensed here into a 150-meter off-road loop built through the gallery. A course defined by repetition: the same stretch, again and again, with no variation.

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Twenty-six runners started. Over the course of the event, 666 laps were completed, tracked by five live-stream cameras and running deep into the night.

The concept flips trail running’s usual narrative. Instead of distance and exploration, it puts mental endurance at the center.

With no changing terrain or conditions to respond to, the same loop demands sustained focus, efficiency, and speed as fatigue steadily builds.

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The distances escalated across three days: 15 kilometers on day one, 50 on day two, and 100 on day three. Eight athletes completed the full distance — all on the same 150-meter loop.

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By translating the logic of the outdoors into an urban setting, Nike ACG created a format where performance unfolds at close range. Instead of vast landscapes and expansive distances, the emphasis lies on the immediate proximity between athletes and spectators.

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“Exhibition of S.P.E.E.D.” is less a classic race than a physical and mental stress test — a compressed take on trail running, stripped down to its essentials. At the same time, the installation serves as the starting point for Nike ACG’s next chapter, launching the ACG Ultrafly Trail campaign and introducing the new model.

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The Nike ACG Ultrafly Trail SP will be released on February 19 and will then be available at selected retailers such as AFEW.

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Photos via Mental Athletic, Mattia Balsamini