Talk Ultra

In Episode 259 of Talk Ultra, we speak with Fred Abramowitz, Race Director of Run Rabbit Run, following the landmark announcement that the RRR ultra will award a $100,000 prize purse to both the men's and women's winners in 2027 and 2028. The news has sent shockwaves through the ultra running community, sparking excitement, debate, and plenty of questions about what this means for the future of the sport. Is this the next evolution of professional trail running, or does such a significant prize purse risk changing the very essence of ultra running? Fred joins us to explain the thinking behind the decision, the goals of the initiative, and how Run Rabbit Run hopes to elevate the profile of ultra-distance racing. We discuss athlete opportunities, increased media attention, sponsorship, competitive depth, and the potential benefits for the sport as a whole. Of course, with any major change comes criticism. We also delve into concerns around professionalism, competitive balance, accessibility, race culture, and…

Henriette's story is one of obsessive discipline, deliberate practice and a willingness to reject the conventional path. Competitive, fiercely self-reliant and prepared to put in the work when nobody is watching. But there is much more to her story than results. From obstacle course racing and an early connection with Tromsø that involved her honeymoon, through races such as the Ring of Steel, skyrunning and the World Championships, Henriette steadily built her way into the elite of the sport. A period of serious health issues interrupted that progression, but her return produced a remarkable run of performances - including 6th at OCC and CCC, 6th at Lavaredo 80K, victory at Templiers 47K, a winter Bob Graham Round record of 17:55 across 106 km and 42 peaks, 3rd at Trofeo Kima, victory at UTS 50K, and back-to-back Transgrancanaria wins in 2025 and 2026. But the results are only part of the conversation. We talk about leaving a corporate career as an auditor to become a full-time runner, the role Norway has…

Episode 257 dives deep into the remarkable journey of Yngvild Kaspersen, fresh off her commanding 2026 CCC victory — a pacing masterclass that made her the first woman ever to win the race twice. We rewind to 2015, exploring her beginnings in skyrunning, the technical foundations that shaped her style, and the early promise that hinted at greatness. Yngvild opens up about balancing medical studies with elite racing, and the long‑standing question of identity: doctor who runs, or runner who is a doctor. We revisit her post‑Covid struggles, the breakthrough CCC win in 2023, and her emotional chapter at Western States. Then we break down her flawless 2026 performance — patience, precision, and a late‑race surge that defined the week. Finally, we look ahead: Western States 2027, UTMB 2028, and the next evolution of one of mountain running's most intelligent competitors. A decade of growth. A champion at her peak. A conversation not to miss.

In 2027, The Montane Lakeland 100 and Montanke Laklend 50 events will celebrate 20-years. An event that started with just 60 people has grown to an over subscribed sell out event that celebrates all that is good about running. Grounded in tradition and community - Montane Lakeland 100/ 50 is something very special in the ever growing and commercial landscape of ultra, trail and mountain running. I catch up with the Lakeland race director, Marc Laithwaite to discuss a very special event in the UK run scene.

Early in 2026, Shane Ohly made an announcement that Ourea Events would cease trading. With events such as The Dragons Backk Race, Cape Wrath Ultra, Northern Traverse and Skyline Scotland, this news was a bombshell to the UK and worldwide run scene. The dust has settled and while Ourea Events will not emerge from the ashes, the future of Dragons Back and Northern Traverse has been secured by Ultra-X, and Skyline Scotland will be saved by UTMB. The Cape Wrath Ultra will disappear, but a new event, WRATH (by the SPINE team) will see a non-stop race in 2027. I catch up with Shane and discuss what has been a very difficult time.

We speak with Ryan Sandes about his amazing FKT with Ryno Griesel on a section of Nepal's Great Himalayan Trail. Elisabet Barnes discusses taking a break, looking at nutrition and how to return to training and racing healthy. We speak to Amir Ben Gacem about Ultra Mirage and we offer a free place! The Godfather of Trail, Kurt Decker brings us a chat with K Henninger and of course, Speedgoat co-hosts!

Episode 153 of Talk Ultra is a packed show with multiple interviews. We speak with Beth Pascall who was 1st Brit and 4th lady at Transgrancanaria. We speak with 3 time winner of The Spine Race - Pavel Paloncy. We also chat with Michael from Russia's Golden Ring Ultra and finally, Kurt Decker brings us chat with Mike Ambrose. Speedgoat co-hosts.

Episode 152 of Talk Ultra is a packed show with two interviews from The Coastal Challenge! Race winner and course record holder, Tom Evans tells us how he won and we also chat with Marcus Scotney. Kurt Decker brings us an interview with John Storkamp and Speedgoat is here to tell us about his 39th 100-mile win!

We bring you an interview with the 2018 female winner of the UK's Spine Race and Speedgoat Karl is here to co-host and chew the ultra fat.

Episode 150 of Talk Ultra brings you a preview chat with Ryan Sandes before he embarks on an epic FKT on the Great Himalayan Trail with Ryno Griesel. Kurt Decker brings us a chat with Brian Boyle and Speedgoat Karl is co-hosting.

Welcome to our 2017 Christmas and New Year show! We interview Camille Herron about her stunning end to the year and an amazing 100-mile world record. We also introduce Kurt Decker, the Godfather of Trail, as he does his first solo 'TU' interview with Pat Reagan.

Episode 148 is a Kilian Jornet Special - It is in-depth and discusses the whole #SOML Summits of My Life project and we talk about Kilian's approach and ethos in regard to his adventures, in particular Everest. The interview is not about trying to prove what Kilian has achieved! This is about providing a voice and hopefully in that process, many aspects will be made clear.

Episode 147 of Talk Ultra brings you an interview with the amazing running nomad, Felix Weber. We also bring you a selection of interviews from the 2017 Everest Trail Race with Elisabet Barnes, Paul Allum, Becks Ferry, Sondre Amdahl and Ester Alves. The show is co-hosted by the Godfather of Trail, Kurt Decker.

Talk Ultra brings you an interview with the amazing Courtney Dauwalter who won Run Rabbit Run and then just weeks later won Moab 200 (238 miles) outright! We also speak with rising trail and mountain runner, Katie Kaars. Speedgoat co-hosts!

A fascinating interview with Jeff Browning who has been dominating the 100-mile racing scene with a string of highly placed finishes - what makes hime tick and be so consistent? We also speak with Mark Hammond who placed 3rd at Western States this year. We have the news and Speedgoat Karl is co-hosting

Episode 144 of Talk Ultra brings you an interview with Darcy Piceu after her incredible FKT on the John Muir Trail. We also speak with Anna-Marie Watson who this year placed 7th at UTMB and just recently won the first edition of the Half Marathon des Sables Fuerteventura. Speedgoat is back co-hosting!

Talk Ultra brings you an interview with Emelie Forsberg after her victory and CR at Glen Coe Skyline. We speak with 3rd placed UTMB finisher, Tim Tollefson and we speak with the inspiring Susan Donnelly who recently completed her 100th 100-mile race! The show is co-hosted by Hillary Allen.

Episode 142 of Talk Ultra brings and we bring you a full and in-depth interview with Damian Hall who was first Brit, first Vet and 12th overall at UTMB. We also speak to Elisabet Barnes about her training and racing at altitude at the 2017 Transrockies. The show is co-hosted by Kurt Decker.

Episode 141 of Talk Ultra is all about inspiration and fighting back! If episode 141 doesn't make you look at yourself and your running then we have failed as a podcast... We bring you a full and in-depth interview with Dave Mackey who had an accident whilst running and recently made the decision to amputate his leg… We also have a surprise guest appearance during Dave's interview. We speak with Kelvin T Reid aka Ultracowboy who in 2016 was diagnosed with ALS and continues to run ultras. Speedgoat is also here to co-host!

Episode 140 brings you an in-depth chat with Hector Haines who's is having a great year in the 2017 Migu Run Skyrunner World Series. We also chat with Ragna Debats about her rise in the sport. Karl 'Speedgoat' Meltzer is back and we bring you the latest news from around the world.

We bring you a full and in-depth interview with Adam Campbell. Adam had a horrific accident that could have so easily killed him. He has come back with a remarkable recovery and just finished Hardrock 100. Chris DeNucci has slowly but surely moved through there ultra ranks with solid performances, this year he placed 5th at Western States. We have the news, some chat and I am pleased to say, Niandi is back!

Episode 138 of Talk Ultra and we bring you a full and in-depth interview with Western States 2017 Champ - Ryan Sandes. We also bring you an interview with the USA's Hillary Allen who is very much pioneering a path for female mountain runners in Europe. We have the news, ultra chat and the 2017 Marathon des Sables champion, Elisabet Barnes co-hosts.

Episode 137 of Talk Ultra brings you three interviews - Camille Herron talks about winning the biggest road ultra in the world, Comrades. We delve into the mind of Tom Withers and how he used his brain to finish the UK's Dragons Back Race. Niandi Carmont talks with Tania Hodgkinson in her next 'one-on-one' interview and yes, Speedgoat is back.

Episode 136 of Talk Ultra is all about the UK's epic multi-day mountain challenge, the Berghaus Dragons Back Race - 5 days, 315km and 1000m's of vert! We speak with the winner, Marcus Scotney. We speak with Sabrina Verjee who lead the ladies race for 4-days and finished 2nd. We also speak with Jan Rogers who finished in the final 20% of the race. I also have the pleasure of my excellent buddy from the USA co-hosting - Kurt Decker.

Eoin Keith has just run the length of Ireland in a new FKT and we catch up with him to find out about the journey and the record. Tim Freriks burst onto the world Skyrunning scene by winning Transvulcania Ultramarathon, but who is Tim? We find out...

Episode 134 of Talk Ultra brings you two interviews. Niandi Carmont talks with Kate Driskell who is about to take on an epic multi-day challenge and Ian talks with Timothy Olson about his return to the top of the podium. We have the news and Speedgoat is back to talk about winning again and his new film about the Appalachian Trail FKT.

This weeks show is all about the 32nd edition of the Marathon des Sables. 2017 ladies champion Elisabet Barnes co-hosts and discusses her race and we have a full and in-depth interview with top Brit and 3rd overall, Tom Evans.

Episode 132 of Talk Ultra and we talk 'The Road To Sparta' with Dean Karnazes. Mike Wardian tells us how difficult it is to cover 20-miles at Barkley and Janine Canham tells us about multi-day running, the Hong Kong run scene and the 9 Dragons race.

Episode 131 of Talk Ultra and we bring you an interview with TCC winner, Tom Owens. We also speak with Jo Meek who recently placed on the podium in Hong Kong at Translantau 100km. Niandi brings us a 'one-on-one' interview with Inge Nijkamp. We have the news and ultra-chat!

We bring you audio from The Coastal Challenge with Sondre Amdahl, Jason Schlarb, Anna Comet and an in-depth chat with Cherie Soria, Dan Ladermann and 'Coastal' the dog. We also talk with UK based fell and mountain runner, Jim Mann.

Episode 129 of Talk Ultra brings you an in-depth interview with Anna Frost. We speak with the inspiring Fred Streatfield and we talk with the Rocky Racoon 100 winner, James Stewart.

What a show… we speak in-depth with the incredible Michael Wardian after his record breaking World Marathon Challenge. We speak to star in the making, Hayden Hawks and Niandi Carmont brings us her first female 'one-to-one' interview with Pushpa Chandra. We have the news, chat, gossip and of course Speedgoat co-hosts.

We have an in-depth talk with coach, Mario Fraioli. We also have chat with Stephanie Howe Violett who is back after injury, not only with a ladies' win, but an outright victory at Bandera 100k and a slot for Western States. Niandi is going me as co-host.

Happy New Year! We have an interview with Stevie Kremer, we chat with Lindsey Topham about her movie, 'The Trails Are Free' and Sondre Amdahl tells us about racing in Hong Kong and how is preparation for The Coastal Challenge is going… Speedgoat is back too!

Happy Christmas everyone! We have interviews with Zach Miller, Caroline Boller and Samantha Gash to spice up the end of 2016 and we also have a review of the year!Niandi Carmont is co-hosting.

We bring you five interviews from the 2016 Everest Trail Race that took place in Nepal, November 2016 - Andreja Sterle Podobonik, Casey Morgan, Jennifer Hill, Tom Arnold and John Percy. In addition we bring you the news and Niandi co-hosts.

This weeks show is a one interview special with Adam Campbell. On August 30th, Adam Campbell was attempting a big traverse that had never been completed in a single push before in Rogers Pass, BC. Adam was accompanied by two partners, Nick Elson and Dakota Jones. They were fairly early on in the journey, going up relatively moderate terrain (class 3/4). Adam followed Nick and Dakota up a route matching their steps and actions, Adam pulled on a rock that the previous two climbers had used. This giant rock came loose, broke and away and Adam fell. He tumbled backwards, summersaulting and rag dolling over 200 feet (70-80 meters) down a serious of ledges and sharp rocks.

We have a 1-hour interview with Pete Kostelnick all about his amazing, record breaking run across the USA. Ryan Sandes talks Raid de la Reunion and Casey Morgan talks about Madeira's EcoTrail Funchal and the Everest Trail Race. The show is co-hosted by my good buddy from the Twin Cities, Kurt Decker.

We speak with Matt Lefort, race director for the super tough and challenging ELS2900 which takes place in Andorra. Niandi brings us a selection of audio from the 2016 Big Red Run which took place in Australia and Ian is interviewed by a Portuguese magazine... Speedgoat co-hosts!

Alex Nichols tells us all about his first 100-miler and how how he won it! Emelie Forsberg tells us about her return to Kima and finding solace and new skills in India. Jasmin Paris is on fire and we sum up an incredible 2016 and 'another' round record and finally Speedgoat Karl answers your questions about the Appalachian Trail FKT.

We have a 1-hour special interview with Speedgoat Karl Meltzer on his incredible record breaking FKT on the AT. We also have interviews with the male and female winners of the Superior 100, Mallory Richard and Frank Pipp.

This week is going to be a short and sharp show… it's all about the UTMB races and Trofeo Kima. We have interviews with Jo Meek who placed 2nd lady at the CCC and Damian Hall who placed 19th in the UTMB and recently completed a 'FKT' on the South West Coast Path in the UK. This weeks show is co hosted by Albert Jorquera.

Episode 117 of Talk Ultra and it's a packed show. We talk with Jonathan Albon who last year won the Tromso SkyRace and this year placed 2nd. Debbie Martin-Consani talks about running long and her recent CR at the North Downs Way 100 in the UK. We also speak to my fellow podfather and good friend, Martin Yelling, about his inspiring, 'Long Run Home.' The News and Niandi co-hosts.

We speak with Beth Pascall who obliterated the female record at the UK's Lakeland 100 and placed 4th overall in the process. We also speak with Donnie Campbell who won the Lakes Sky Ultra. We have the news, results and Niandi Carmont co-hosts while Speedgoat Karl goes for a jog on the AT!

We have an interview with Hardrock 100 winner, Jason Schlarb. We also speak with Elisabet Barnes about her Richtersveld Transfrontier Wildrun and Big Red Run double. Speedboat Karl joins us and tells us all about his up and coming FKT on the 'AT!' We have the news from around the world and of course, ultra chat.

We have two interviews from Western States - Ladies champion Kaci Lickteig and the incredible Jim Walmsley who looked to break all WSER records only to go off course at 92 miles. We also speak with Joanna Williams, the outright winner from South Africa's Richtersveld Transfrontier Wildrun. We have the news, ultra chat and Ryan Sandes co-hosts!

We have a show with a selection of audio from participants who took part in the 8-day, 400km Cape Wrath Ultra (Ita Marzotto, Jenny Davis, Louise Watson, Luke Robertson, Richard Beard and Ted Kristensson)and the 190-mile, single stage, Northern Traverse (Angela White, Clare Turton and Eoin Keith). We have the news and Niandi Carmont co-hosts.

We speak with Nicky Spinks about that incredible DOUBLE Bob Graham Round. Emelie Forsberg joins us to tell us all about her injury, how she feels and when (we hope) she will be back and we speak to 'The Jeff's' - an inspiring husband and wife who took respective 1st places at the Salt Flats 100

It's all about Transvulcania. We speak with Chris Vargo who placed 5th, Alicia Shay who placed 4th and Ida Nilsson who blasted around the course to take the ladies victory. We have the news, a chat with Holly Rush and Speedgoat Karl is back

This weeks show is a Marathon des Sables special with a load of great content from the Bivouac by Niandi Carmont and then a series of post race interviews with Sondre Amdahl, Elisabet Barnes and Elinor Evans. If that wasn't enough, we have an interview with Jasmin Paris who has just blasted the Bob Graham Round ladies record to a new level.