515 : The Ultra Podcast

Larry Ryan
  • 5.0 (6)
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515: The Ultra Podcast invites you inside the world of the 515km Ultraman distance. Hosted by Larry Ryan, we go beyond the race results to explore the lives of the remarkable athletes who make up the global Ultra family. Whether you are an Ironman with aspirations for the 515km distance, a seasoned veteran of Ultratriathlon, or simply looking for inspiring stories to fill your training hours, this show is for you. Join us for deep-dive conversations, epic stories, and practical takeaways for your own bucket list. For show notes and past guests, please visit the Podcast Website: https://515theultrapodcast.buzzsprout.comIf you like what you hear on the podcast and want to support more content, consider visiting my BUY ME A COFFEE page to show your appreciation :https://buymeacoffee.com/larryryan

  1. 11H AGO

    S8E4 -- Beyond 515: Shanda Hill’s Ultra Triumphs And Farewell

    Send us a text A world record in 225 hours. Stitches on a gym floor. A typhoon, a temple, and a white bucket that might save your race. I sat down with IUTA Hall of Famer, Shanda Hill, to unpack the mindset, methods, and meaning behind one of the most audacious ultra tri careers ever—and the moment she chose health over history. Shanda breaks down the true shape of a DECA continuous: 10x Iron distance where the clock never stops and every decision is magnified. She shares the practical systems that carried her—soup-based fueling that works in cold pools, a hydration check using a white bowl to protect kidney function, and a sleep strategy tied to safety and weather rather than ego. We talk oxygen therapy, cold-water immersion, and why time management can beat raw speed across 38 km of swimming, 1,800 km of cycling, and 422 km of running. The stories are wild and human: riding through a South African deluge, resetting in Brazil to chase a record, crashing in France and getting field-stitched by a fellow racer, and learning the hard way in Poland how one pedal choice can sabotage your stabilizers. Along the way, Shanda spotlights the ultra community—race directors who make impossible events happen, rivals who lift the bar, and athletes finishing doubles and decas with broken bones and unbroken resolve. If you’re training for Ultraman, DECA, or your own endurance goal, you’ll leave with clear, actionable insights on fueling, electrolytes, recovery, and the mental game that keeps you moving loop after loop. Contact Shanda at : https://www.shandahillultra.com/ Resources mentioned in this episode: IUTA Hall of FameTaiwan Ultra DecaBretzel Ultra Triathlon (Colmar, France)Desenzano del Garda (Triple Deca)IUTA World Cup Ultra Tri South Africa (Deca)Ultra 520K Canada Brazil Ultra Tri (Deca)Double Ultra Triathlon EmsdettenPoland Ultra Triathlon (Deca)Triathlon Triple LensahnDouble Deca MexicoSwitzerland Double DecaVirginia Triple Anvil UB515 Shout outs and mentions in this episode: Jacs SpenceStarting BlockRancho VignolaEve-volve WellnessReatha RousseauSteve BrownBlaine Ponte  Leah GoldsteinSergio CordeiroWorld record holder decaDeca Dave Clamp  Jorge Rodriguez Mark hohe dorstBrad KelleyGustavo Vieira Lia SterciucHarriet ClampMarius Butuc (S8E1)Anelia ButucMing Ye Ronny Rossler Norbert LuffenbergerTyrese HillMicheal WardBeto Villa Wayne Kurtz Laurent QuignetteHeidi Lindemann Jade MeddersPaul BedardDaniel Oliveira Tomasz Lus If this conversation fired you up, follow the show and share it with a friend who loves big goals. Support the show Show Contributors: Host : Larry Ryan Contributing Raconteur : Steve King Announcer : Mary Jo Dionne Production : 5Five Enterprises Music : Run by 331 For show notes and past guests, please visit the Podcast Website: https://515theultrapodcast.buzzsprout.com Facebook: @515TheUltraPodcast Insta : @515theultrapodcast Youtube : @515TheUltraPodcast Email : 515Ultraman@gmail.com

    2h 16m

  2. 12/26/2025

    S8E3 -- Ultraman World Champion 2025 | Max Kniazev

    Send us a text A champion’s story doesn’t start at the finish line. Fresh off winning Ultraman Hawaii, Max Kniazev opens up about rebuilding from a collarbone ligament rupture, balancing newborn-dad life, and crafting a pragmatic plan to race smarter in heat and wind. We get into the mechanics of durability: how a naturally low heart rate at high power shapes his ultra identity, why shorter cranks opened his hip and cut drag, and how a custom 3D-printed cockpit with rear-aligned bottles shaved the little costs that add up over 515 kilometers. Max explains how he trained the gut to handle 120–135 grams of carbohydrates per hour using a starch-based mix (Vitargo), and why he practices fueling even in short swim sessions. He shares the exact salt and magnesium rhythm he used to skirt cramps, plus ice tactics that kept core temp in check when the island turned harsh. Day by day, he walks us through winning choices: holding back in the swim after lost shoulder strength, stacking steady watts on day one, solving a mid-ride electronic derailleur scare on day two en route to a stage record, and using simple marathon math on day three to let rivals come back without ever redlining. Max also lays out what’s next. He wants a fair-play shot at the 515 world record on the same Ultraman Australia course, not just a fast loop, with an audacious long-term vision for sub-19 under ideal conditions. Between now and then, he’s sharpening the sword in XTRI events and aiming for Norseman while keeping the “ultra mindset” front and center: choose long goals, stack stable steps, and let the mind lead the body.  If you care about endurance strategy, bike aerodynamics, heat management, or the art of pacing 84 kilometers, this conversation is a masterclass built on lived miles and honest numbers. Max previously appeared on the podcast in (S1E4) and the Season 4 UMAZ race wrap up. Youtube movie “1 minute less” mentioned. This Instagram post has Max describing his bike. Resources mentioned in this episode: Ultraman HawaiiUltraCzech 515 (S5E5)Ultraman ArizonaSiberman 515UM Australia Double Ultra Triathlon EmsdettenVitargo NutritionFinding Ultra  by Rich RollNorseman Xtreme ChampionshipShout outs and mentions in this episode: Mia KniazevOlesia Kniazev Petr Vabrousek   (S2E2)Richard Thompson Shane Duffy (S4E5)Simon Cochrane  (S4E8)Javier Sola​​Tadej PogačarDave Matheson (S3E6)Bob Babbit S6E12Cameron WurfMike Coughlin (S2E7)Billy Rickards (S7E1)Steve King (S1E1)Sheryl Cobb (S2E6)Dave CobbTerumasu MatsudaUltra Chamba (S6E11)Support the show Show Contributors: Host : Larry Ryan Contributing Raconteur : Steve King Announcer : Mary Jo Dionne Production : 5Five Enterprises Music : Run by 331 For show notes and past guests, please visit the Podcast Website: https://515theultrapodcast.buzzsprout.com Facebook: @515TheUltraPodcast Insta : @515theultrapodcast Youtube : @515TheUltraPodcast Email : 515Ultraman@gmail.com

    1h 16m

  3. 12/05/2025

    S8E2 -- UM Australia Athlete in Profile | Erica Riley

    Send us a text What does it take to chase Ultraman while working 12-hour shifts in emergency care? We sit down with Erica Riley—critical care nurse, coach, and multi-time ultradistance triathlete—to unpack the systems, habits, and mindset that make high performance sustainable in a busy life.  From 3 a.m. Zwift rides to meticulous time boxing, she shows exactly how to build consistency without sacrificing your health, your job, or your relationships. Erica takes us inside the toughest days of lockdown, when PPE, quarantine hotels, and strict radius rules forced radical creativity: ocean swims inside a five-kilometer bubble, stacked run commutes, and eight-hour trainer marathons. That crucible led her to Ultraman and a new goal—to not only finish but compete—under coach Tim Franklin of KOA Sports. We explore the art of crew selection, live-stream storytelling, and keeping a tight bond with the UM Australia Ohana. Nutrition and strength become Erica’s quiet superpowers. Longtime plant-based, she refined protein intake, embraced whole foods, and saw clear changes in lean mass and visceral fat. Race fuel is simple and effective: Infinite custom blends, salty chips when the gut turns, and a well-timed orange Fanta for mood and carbs. Off the course, her secret weapon is reformer Pilates—45 minutes that deliver strength, mobility, posture, and injury prevention for time-poor athletes who need durability as much as speed. We also dig into coaching. With Synergy Sports Coaching, Erica builds plans for real people—shift workers, parents, and professionals—using TrainingPeaks as a living diary. She treats sessions like meetings you won’t miss, teaches sleep hygiene around rotating rosters, and helps athletes fit training into life, not the other way around. Along the way, she shares favorite races (hello, Cairns and Nha Trang), a brutal and beautiful lead-in at Alpine Ascent Extreme, and the mindset work that turned perfectionism from procrastination into fuel. If you want practical tools to train smarter, eat better, and perform under pressure, you’ll find tangible tactics you can use today. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s juggling big goals, and leave a review to help more athletes discover the show. Contact Erica : @synergysportscoaching on Instagram Resources mentioned in this episode: UM AustraliaUltra 355 AustraliaKOA Sports CoachingThe Proof PodcastAustralian Alpine Ascent Extreme TriathlonHappy Thoughts Tri TeamTraining PeaksChallenge Nha TrangIM CairnsIM BusseltonInfinite NutritionKenilworth Country BakeryUM New ZealandKing’s Canyon CruiseShout outs and mentions in this episode: Nestor Alejandro Ochoa RiveraTim Franklin Simon HillHayley FryJackson Gash Andrew Trout  Simon CochraneSupport the show Show Contributors: Host : Larry Ryan Contributing Raconteur : Steve King Announcer : Mary Jo Dionne Production : 5Five Enterprises Music : Run by 331 For show notes and past guests, please visit the Podcast Website: https://515theultrapodcast.buzzsprout.com Facebook: @515TheUltraPodcast Insta : @515theultrapodcast Youtube : @515TheUltraPodcast Email : 515Ultraman@gmail.com

    54 min

  4. 11/14/2025

    S8E1 -- “The One and Only” Marius Butuc (Trans Sweden Triathlon’s Only Racer)

    Send us a text What if the most important finish line has nothing to do with a podium? We sit down with Romanian ultra-triathlete Marius Butuc, a self-taught swimmer who learned by watching the next lane and never stopped moving forward. From the Ironman icons of Europe to the brutal circuits of ultra-triathlon, Marius shows how resilience, curiosity, and honest self-assessment can take you places training plans can’t. If you’ve wondered what truly makes triple Iron, quintuple, and deca formats hard, Marius explains the hidden traps: why triple continuous destroys the sleep-deprived, how deca one-per-day turns recovery into a race within the race, and where continuous deca becomes a masterclass in nutrition, pacing, and humility. He’s now headed to Taiwan chasing an unofficial “Deca Triple Crown” after completing the daily and split versions—a bid not for glory, but for completion with integrity.  Follow the Taiwan Deca here. Resources mentioned in this episode: OceanmanTrans Sweden TriathlonInfinitiman Fun Science-Ciencia DivertidaBad Radkersburg Triple Ultra Biking Sardinia TransAmTriAbisko National ParkBook Title : Solitary. The Story of a Triathlon (only in Romanian for now)IM Frankfurt IM LanzaroteChallenge AmsterdamIM NiceIM MallorcaChallenge Israman Swissman ExtremeChallenge MadridInfinitri 515 Race Director : Manu Garcia (S5E4)Infinitri TriathlonUM FloridaTaiwan Deca ContinuousColmar Deca SplitIUTA | International Ultra Triathlon Association“Unofficial Triple Crown of Deca”Shout outs and mentions in this episode: Manu Garcia Jan Frodeno Fabio SpiteriBogomir DolencGiampyWayne Kurtz Kristian Kristiansen    Come for the extreme triathlon wisdom—unsupported tactics, gear judgment, sleep strategy, and mental frameworks. Stay for the human story of failure reimagined, memory recovered, and finishing defined on your own terms. If this conversation moved you, follow the journey, share the episode with a friend who needs a nudge to start, and leave a review to help others find the show. Support the show Show Contributors: Host : Larry Ryan Contributing Raconteur : Steve King Announcer : Mary Jo Dionne Production : 5Five Enterprises Music : Run by 331 For show notes and past guests, please visit the Podcast Website: https://515theultrapodcast.buzzsprout.com Facebook: @515TheUltraPodcast Insta : @515theultrapodcast Youtube : @515TheUltraPodcast Email : 515Ultraman@gmail.com

    1h 17m

  5. 11/13/2025

    Season Eight Trailer

    Send us a text Season eight is on the start line, and we’re bringing bigger stories, sharper coverage, and more ways to take you inside the 515 world. After 105 episodes reaching listeners in thousands of cities across 142 countries, we’re doubling down on what makes this community special: honest conversations, race-day grit, and the people who keep showing up when the course gets long and the hours get weird. We share where we’ve been and where we’re headed next. You’ll hear how to navigate our episode library like a pro, using the show notes to find every race, event, and athlete we mention. We also pull back the curtain on our growing YouTube strategy, from live catch-ups with past guests to a bigger and better UM Australia three-day live stream. Expect more cameras, tighter storytelling, and wider angles that put you right at the edge of the action—perfect for fans, athletes, and crews who want a front-row view. This season, your input drives the agenda. We’re asking for your guest picks, your burning questions, and the topics that will help a focused niche reach new ears without losing its soul. Whether it’s training and fueling for multi-day efforts, the logistics of crewing and recovery, or the mental game required to finish strong, we aim to serve both the die-hard 515 Ohana and curious endurance fans discovering ultra-distance triathlon for the first time. Along the way, we’ll highlight under-told roles—race directors, volunteers, medics—and revisit favorite athletes to see how their big goals turned out. Want to help? Follow the show in your podcast app to boost visibility, subscribe on YouTube for live coverage and exclusive content, and share an episode with someone who loves endurance stories. Have a guest idea or a topic we should tackle next? Message us via the links in the show notes, and if you want to fuel the work, tap the "Support the Show" link. Season eight starts Friday, with new episodes dropping every three weeks—come along and shape what happens next. Support the show Show Contributors: Host : Larry Ryan Contributing Raconteur : Steve King Announcer : Mary Jo Dionne Production : 5Five Enterprises Music : Run by 331 For show notes and past guests, please visit the Podcast Website: https://515theultrapodcast.buzzsprout.com Facebook: @515TheUltraPodcast Insta : @515theultrapodcast Youtube : @515TheUltraPodcast Email : 515Ultraman@gmail.com

    3 min

  6. 10/24/2025

    S7E13 -- Inside the Ultraman Florida Rift: Disqualification, Licenses Revoked, and What Comes Next

    Send us a text A champion crowned, then stripped. A director ousted. A brand reorganized. We trace the real timeline behind the Ultraman Florida shake-up—starting with a handlebar-mounted, voice-activated camera and ending with revoked licenses, refund confusion, and a newly relaunched qualifier under different leadership. As hosts who’ve watched this community grow, we unpack the roles of Ohana Loa, Sheryl and Dave Cobb, and former race director Jen McVeay, and explain how board decisions moved from private meetings to public fallout. You’ll hear how conflicting accounts took shape: was Stephen Keller offered a path to a time penalty through accountability, or faced an ultimatum tied to removing a video and apologizing? We lay out the verified statements, the disputed claims, and the rule at the center of it all—filming during competition—so you can assess what fairness and precedent should look like at the ultra-distance level. Then we zoom out to the operational consequences: licenses revoked, negotiations over race assets that reportedly stalled, and athletes stuck between emails and Facebook posts while trying to recover entry fees, deposits, and travel costs. Looking ahead, we map the new race landscape: Ultraman Florida accepting applications under current board control, Arizona canceled for 2026 pending review, Canada continuing with small recent fields, and a first-year Mexico event led by a seasoned organizer, Van Sanchez. We also share what Jen is building next—a new ultra format that’s been years in the making—and what that might mean for athletes choosing between legacy branding and organizer trust. Our aim is clarity: who owns what, what’s canceled or confirmed, and how to navigate the next few months without losing your season. If this helped you get your bearings, subscribe, share with your crew, and drop a review with your take on the penalty, the process, and the path forward. Support the show Show Contributors: Host : Larry Ryan Contributing Raconteur : Steve King Announcer : Mary Jo Dionne Production : 5Five Enterprises Music : Run by 331 For show notes and past guests, please visit the Podcast Website: https://515theultrapodcast.buzzsprout.com Facebook: @515TheUltraPodcast Insta : @515theultrapodcast Youtube : @515TheUltraPodcast Email : 515Ultraman@gmail.com

    22 min

  7. 10/16/2025

    S7E12 -- Inaugural Ultraman Mexico with Van Sanchez

    Send us a text The countdown to Ultraman Mexico is on—and the mountains are calling. We sit down with race director and former teenage Ultraman finisher, Van Sanchez, to map out exactly what athletes and crews will face across three days at altitude in Zacatecas. From a 10-loop open-water swim to a punchy run that climbs late and drops into a party finish.   The field is stacked and global: Mexico, the United States, Spain, Colombia, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Argentina. You’ll hear about iconic veterans like Juan Antonio Craveri on his quest to complete every Ultraman-branded event, and the eldest entrant, Ramiro de Jesús Gutiérrez Piedra, chasing five Ultraman races in a single year. We address safety concerns head-on with clear context, highlight the deep local support and government coordination.   Follow along October 17–19 on Instagram for live updates, results, and behind-the-scenes moments. Enjoy the preview, share it with your crew, and hit follow to stay tuned for race-week coverage and post-race debriefs. Instagram: @ultramanmexico Van has appeared four other times on the podcast.  You can find those episodes free in our podcast library. Resources mentioned in this episode: Ultraman WalesUltraMX515 Brooks RunningBYD  Fresnillo MiningVazlo Auto PartsCity of ZacatectasWindstone ConstructionsGoodr SunglassesCiele AthleticsEscualoWayfarUM ArizonaUM World ChampionshipsPan American RaceFestival Internacional de Teatro Shout outs and mentions in this episode: Sheryl and Dave Cobb (S2E6)Jen McVeay (S2E8)Steven Keller (S6E13)Jane Bockus  (S1E4)ATHLETE LIST : Lucas Cruz, María Yanga Alvarez Solis, Hector Ayuso, Johusua Duran, Pablo Enrique Solís Mayorga, Diana Carolina Pereira Vieira, Karlo Mendoza Arancibia, Roberto Dávila Otozco, Luis Antonio González Padilla, Tania Margarita Briseño Valdivia, Hector Martínez Bogard, Rafa Jaime, Juan A. Craveri (S1E5), Erik Noe Duran Luna, Edson Nevárez, Isaias Mireles Vazquez, Adolfo López Mercado, Samuel Maturano Ortiz, Alejandro Rivas, Miguel Madrid Lopez, Mateo Alba, Maria Margarita Tascón González, Felipe Montiel Flores, Toni Marin Ramos, Adrián Comparan Cueva, Ramiro De Jesus Gutierrez Piedra, Jorge Adrian Perera RamosDavid GilmourSteve King (S1E1)Will Rogers (S5E8)Shane Duffy (S4E5)Support the show Show Contributors: Host : Larry Ryan Contributing Raconteur : Steve King Announcer : Mary Jo Dionne Production : 5Five Enterprises Music : Run by 331 For show notes and past guests, please visit the Podcast Website: https://515theultrapodcast.buzzsprout.com Facebook: @515TheUltraPodcast Insta : @515theultrapodcast Youtube : @515TheUltraPodcast Email : 515Ultraman@gmail.com

    47 min

  8. 09/26/2025

    S7E11 -- Details on the new 515 Race | UM New Zealand

    Send us a text News of the UM brand's expansion into New Zealand broke earlier this year during the UM Australia Livestream event, hosted by 515. Remarkably, the new event sold out immediately—even before athletes knew any details about the course. To share how Wanaka was chosen as the host site and fill in the details, I'm joined by Race Director Jeff Morris. Resources mentioned in this episode: UM AustraliaUM New ZealandIM TaupoChallenge WanakaCardrona HotelRuby Fresh WetsuitsRuby Island SwimNorsemen X TriShout outs and mentions in this episode: Jen McVeay (S2E8)Ian BlatchfordGillian WinterfordAndré KajlichShane Duffy (S4E5)Eddie SpearingTim FranklinSimon Cochrane (S4E8)Carl ReadTiffany DahlJane SharmanColleen NisbetSteve YorkTony HortonCraig PercivalWayne Metcalf Support the show Show Contributors: Host : Larry Ryan Contributing Raconteur : Steve King Announcer : Mary Jo Dionne Production : 5Five Enterprises Music : Run by 331 For show notes and past guests, please visit the Podcast Website: https://515theultrapodcast.buzzsprout.com Facebook: @515TheUltraPodcast Insta : @515theultrapodcast Youtube : @515TheUltraPodcast Email : 515Ultraman@gmail.com

    40 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

515: The Ultra Podcast invites you inside the world of the 515km Ultraman distance. Hosted by Larry Ryan, we go beyond the race results to explore the lives of the remarkable athletes who make up the global Ultra family. Whether you are an Ironman with aspirations for the 515km distance, a seasoned veteran of Ultratriathlon, or simply looking for inspiring stories to fill your training hours, this show is for you. Join us for deep-dive conversations, epic stories, and practical takeaways for your own bucket list. For show notes and past guests, please visit the Podcast Website: https://515theultrapodcast.buzzsprout.comIf you like what you hear on the podcast and want to support more content, consider visiting my BUY ME A COFFEE page to show your appreciation :https://buymeacoffee.com/larryryan

Information

  • Creator
    Larry Ryan
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    110
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 515 : The Ultra Podcast
  • Show Website
    515 : The Ultra Podcast

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