Western States provides the setting, but Francesco Puppi’s One Step at a Time is interested in more than what happens between Olympic Valley and Auburn.
Directed by Damiano Levati, the documentary follows Puppi’s first 100-mile race through disrupted preparation, uncertainty and the pressure of competing at the highest level. His second-place finish gives the story its sporting significance. The more interesting question is what it took to reach the start without the confidence that a perfect training block might have provided.
The film’s strongest subject is the gap between being prepared and feeling ready. Puppi’s analytical approach meets a distance that cannot be completely controlled, while his partner Gloria Giudici and coach Tito Tiberti become central to the story. Support is not simply something waiting at an aid station; it is part of how the challenge becomes manageable.
That gives One Step at a Time a worthwhile perspective, even within the crowded field of athlete-led running documentaries. Its themes—uncertainty, self-acceptance and trusting the people around you—will feel familiar to regular viewers of the genre. The appeal lies less in a radically different premise than in whose experience we are following.
For those looking primarily for a comprehensive account of the Western States race, this is a narrower proposition. It belongs to Puppi rather than the entire field. Approach it as a personal portrait with a major race at its centre, and the reasons to watch become clearer.
The verdict
A worthwhile addition to the trail-running watchlist, particularly for viewers interested in the person behind the performance. One Step at a Time offers more than a result recap, without needing to be treated as essential viewing for everyone.
Hold W Club rating: 7.0/10
