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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 Australia
• Ultra 355 Australia
• KOA Sports Coaching
• The Proof Podcast
• Australian Alpine Ascent Extreme Triathlon
• Happy Thoughts Tri Team
• Training Peaks
• Challenge Nha Trang
• IM Cairns
• IM Busselton
• Infinite Nutrition
• Kenilworth Country Bakery
• UM New Zealand
• King’s Canyon Cruise

Shout outs and mentions in this episode:

• Nestor Alejandro Ochoa Rivera
• Tim Franklin 
• Simon Hill
• Hayley Fry
• Jackson Gash 
• Andrew Trout  
• Simon Cochrane

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 : [email protected]

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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:

• Oceanman
• Trans Sweden Triathlon
• Infinitiman 
• Fun Science-Ciencia Divertida
• Bad Radkersburg Triple 
• Ultra Biking Sardinia 
• TransAmTri
• Abisko National Park
• Book Title : Solitary. The Story of a Triathlon (only in Romanian for now)
• IM Frankfurt 
• IM Lanzarote
• Challenge Amsterdam
• IM Nice
• IM Mallorca
• Challenge Israman 
• Swissman Extreme
• Challenge Madrid
• Infinitri 515 Race Director : Manu Garcia (S5E4)
• Infinitri Triathlon
• UM Florida
• Taiwan Deca Continuous
• Colmar Deca Split
• IUTA | International Ultra Triathlon Association
• “Unofficial Triple Crown of Deca”

Shout outs and mentions in this episode:

• Manu Garcia 
• Jan Frodeno 
• Fabio Spiteri
• Bogomir Dolenc
• Giampy
• Wayne 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 : [email protected]

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 : [email protected]

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 : [email protected]

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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 Wales
• UltraMX515 
• Brooks Running
• BYD  
• Fresnillo Mining
• Vazlo Auto Parts
• City of Zacatectas
• Windstone Constructions
• Goodr Sunglasses
• Ciele Athletics
• Escualo
• Wayfar
• UM Arizona
• UM World Championships
• Pan American Race
• Festival 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 Ramos
• David Gilmour
• Steve 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 : [email protected]

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 Australia
• UM New Zealand
• IM Taupo
• Challenge Wanaka
• Cardrona Hotel
• Ruby Fresh Wetsuits
• Ruby Island Swim
• Norsemen X Tri

Shout outs and mentions in this episode:

• Jen McVeay (S2E8)
• Ian Blatchford
• Gillian Winterford
• André Kajlich
• Shane Duffy (S4E5)
• Eddie Spearing
• Tim Franklin
• Simon Cochrane (S4E8)
• Carl Read
• Tiffany Dahl
• Jane Sharman
• Colleen Nisbet
• Steve York
• Tony Horton
• Craig Percival
• Wayne 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 : [email protected]

Send us a text

The decision to change often comes at our lowest moments. For Acyr Da Luz, it wasn't a missed promotion that defined him—it was his response to it. "I'm going to change myself," he declared, setting in motion a transformation from 120kg corporate executive to four-time Ultraman competitor.

What distinguishes Acyr's story is how he integrated family into his endurance journey. His young daughter biked alongside his early training runs and eventually his entire family became his support crew. This approach transformed triathlon from an individual pursuit into a family adventure, creating bonds that strengthened rather than weakened through his athletic endeavors.

The podcast offers invaluable insights for aspiring endurance athletes, including advice Acyr received from 2017 Ultraman World Champion Rob Gray.  Acyr candidly shares his failures—from multiple flat tires in Canada to a harrowing open-ocean swim in Hawaii that left him severely dehydrated—and how each setback provided crucial lessons for future success.

If you've been inspired by Acyr's story, check out his book "Running to Myself: A Journey of Endurance" available now on Amazon in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle formats.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Escape from Alcatraz
• Running to Myself :  A Journey of Endurance
• Ultraman Canada
• Badwater 135
• Ironman World Championships
• Ironman Cozumel
• Ultraman Florida
• Ultraman World Championships

Shout outs and mentions in this episode:

• Daniel (Dani) Mathias
• Sophia Da Luz
• Gabriel Da Luz
• Fernanda Keller 
• Jai Da Luz
• Tatiana (Tata) Da Luz
• Yonathan (Yon) Stephanos
• Mark Naphin
• Lucy Ryan (S2E5)
• Jordan Bryden (S1E7)
• Rob Gray (S4E13)
• Slava Makalskaya
• Sheryl Cobb (S3E11)

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 : [email protected]

Send us a text

Get ready to be inspired! On today's show, we're diving deep with Shane Kent, the 2021 UM Australia champion, who's about to take on a challenge often called 'The toughest triathlon in the world': Arch to Arc. You'll hear how Shane's triathlon career began with a bike found on the side of the road and propelled him through the 515 distance, all leading up to this monumental endeavor. 

We break down Arch to Arc's incredible stages: an 87-mile / 140 km run from London to Dover, a 21-mile / 34 km swim across the English Channel, and a 181-mile / 291 km bike from Calais to Paris. Shane also gives us an exclusive look into his intense training and tells us exactly how we can track his progress when his official challenge window kicks off between August 15th and August 24th, 2025.

Follow the Arch to Arc live tracker : https://enduroman.com/live-tracking

Shane’s Instagram : @shane_rockss

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• UM Australia
• Arch to Arc
• IM Melbourne
• Sufferfest
• Canadaman 
• Kiwiman
• Celtman
• Norseman
• IM Taupo
• Aid Station

Shout outs and mentions in this episode:

• Tim Franklin (S7E4)
• Shane Murphy
• Chris Manteit 
• Angela Manteit 
• Daniel Thompson
• Cath Spencer
• Neill Williamson 
• Jen Williamson 
• Luke Keddie 
• Doug Kent 
• Tris Lahey
• Michael Durrington
• Steven Walker
• Claire Smith
• Melissa Kent
• Paul Robinson

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 : [email protected]

Send us a text

Get ready for an inspiring conversation with Mary and Randy Latza! Hailing from Pennsburg, Pennsylvania, this power couple has an astonishing 32 Ultraman events under their belts either racing or crewing. 

They'll share invaluable lessons and heartwarming stories of the friendships they've built as part of "Rat Pack 2.0." But their racing doesn't stop there—Mary and Randy are also gearing up for the Ironman World Championships in Nice and Kona. 

Plus, Mary sheds light on Stiff Person Syndrome, a rare condition impacting her family, and how she's used events to raise awareness and funds. You can find more information and donation links at this website.  

515 is Now on YouTube.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• DeSales University 
• IM Ottawa
• IM Lake Placid
• IM St. George 
• Ultraman Florida
• IM New York City
• IM Mont-Tremblant
• IM Louisville
• IM Switzerland
• IM Waco
• Stiff Person Syndrome
• Ultraman World Championships
• IM Nice
• IM Wisconsin
• FulGaz 
• Spartan
• Death Race
• Winter Death

Shout outs and mentions in this episode:

• Julie Moss
• Eric Suro
• Simon Shurey
• Sheryl Cobb (S2E6)
• Mark Jones
• Tom Regal
• Billy Rickards (S7E1)
• Joan Kim
• Dede Greisbauer (S3E13) 
• Leanda Cave  (S1E8)
• Billy Edwards
• Chris McCormack 
• Cynthia Bartus 
• Ryan Toner
• Jeremy Howard (S2E8)
• Chuck Kemeny
• Steven Keller (S2E10)
• Jamie Harris  (S2E11)
• Jen Annett (S6E9)
• Armando Armelli  (S4E9)

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 : [email protected]

Send us a text

Join us for an inspiring conversation with John Domandl, whose triathlon career spans over 40 years and includes more than 150 events, along with four World Championships. In 1988, John proudly represented Australia at the Seoul Paralympics. 

We caught up with him right after his second time competing at Ultraman Australia 2025, where he experienced quite the adventure in Noosa! Hear all about the ups and downs of those three days for John and his dedicated team. 

John, who lives with retinitis pigmentosa, is also an ambassador for Cure Blindness Australia. You can learn more about their important work on their website.

Find the Live Stream links for 2025 UM Australia on YouTube.  

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• UM Australia
• 1988 Seoul Paralympics 
• Retinitis Pigmentosa
• Foster Ironman
• Calfee designs 
• Stages cycles
• World Para Triathlon London
• World  Mulitsport Long Course Championships
• Challenge Roth 
• Ultra 355 Australia
• IM Hobart 70.3
• Bellview Parkrun
• IM Western Australia
• New York Marathon
• Cure Blindness Australia

Shout outs and mentions in this episode:

• Kim Jenkins
• Dee Fuller  (S4E12)
• Alister Trendell
• Paul McGlynn
• Steve King (S1E1)
• Leone McGlynn
• Dan Merange
• Jason Clarke
• Ben Gaffey
• Andrew Trout
• Dan Casey
• Duncan Adams
• Paul  McGlyn
• Jay Gaffey
• Craig Percival
• Ailie Payne
• Simon Cochrane (S4E8)
• Shane Duffy (S4E5)
• Kirsty Sheehan (S7E5)
• Kellie Ridges
• Peter Lee
• Michael Wakeman
• Rebecca Goodwin
• Tiff Dahl
• Erica Riley
• Tamara  Lee
• Peter Wheatley
• Catherine Wheatley      
• Jeff Morris (S7E4)
• Beñat Oliveira (S7E6)
• Tim Belstead (S7E5)
• Reece Byrne
• Ben Yates  
• Gail Laux
• Michael Laux
• Sam Cooke
• Nicola Mattheus 
• Hanno Mattheus

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 : [email protected]