KING OF MOAB: How Max Jolliffe Conquered the MOAB 240 Miles with Grit, Grind, and a Stair Climber

In October 2024, Max Jolliffe didn’t just finish the Moab 240, he conquered it. Crossing 240 challenging miles of Utah’s rugged desert trails, high mountain passes, and tough climbs, Max’s epic victory took 69 hours, 22 minutes, and 17 seconds. His incredible story, told in the gripping YouTube documentary Inside Max Jolliffe's "Hail Mary" WIN At The Moab 240, shows that success comes from hard work, adaptability, and smart preparation.

The Making of an Ultra-Endurance Champion

Max Jolliffe’s story is inspiring because it wasn't simple or easy. Originally from the world of board sports, Max found running as a way to improve his life. Overcoming personal challenges and choosing a healthier lifestyle, Max became a role model by showing how running can help people change their lives.

To really understand Max’s win, you need to know just how hard the Moab 240 race is. This ultra-endurance race takes runners through incredible yet challenging landscapes. They must deal with deserts, steep mountain climbs, tricky downhill trails, and changing weather conditions, from hot days to very cold nights. The course covers over 31,000 feet of uphill climbing.

Completing the Moab 240 means runners have to be strong physically and mentally. They need to carefully plan their nutrition, hydration, rest, and how they handle extreme tiredness.

Inside Max’s Training: Creative and Smart Preparation

Max prepared for this huge challenge by being smart and resourceful. One important part of his training was using a stair climber, specifically the STEPR stair climber, to practice uphill climbing.

In the documentary, Max jokes with his pacer, “well, all I could do is stair master. So hopefully that works.”

And it did!

Stair climbing with STEPR was key to Max’s success for several reasons:

Vertical Climbing Practice: Stair climbing closely mimics the steep climbs of mountain trails.
Low-Impact Exercise: Stair climbing is easier on the joints than running uphill outdoors, so runners can train consistently without getting injured.
Improved Heart and Lung Health: Regular stair climbing improves endurance by increasing cardiovascular fitness.
Mental Toughness: Climbing stairs repeatedly builds mental strength needed to endure long-distance challenges.

Max's use of the STEPR stair climber turned a limitation, not having easy access to mountains, into an advantage.

Victory Through Determination

The documentary does a great job capturing the emotional and physical struggle Max experienced. You can see him fighting through tiredness, lack of sleep, and high levels of pain in those final miles. Each step he took proved the value of his months of careful training and mental toughness.

One powerful moment in the film shows Max determined to continue despite intense discomfort. He embodies the simple but powerful idea of ultrarunning: just keep moving forward.

When Max crossed the finish line first, it was a deeply meaningful moment for both him and everyone who followed his journey. His win shows that careful training, dedication, and determination can achieve amazing results.

Start Your Own Journey

Inspired by Max’s story? Stair climbing can help you achieve your goals too. STEPR offers the best stair climbing equipment available for athletes at every level.