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This episode of The Buzz is a special one. Recorded at TrailCon in Palisades Tahoe—wedged between Broken Arrow and Western States, Buzz Burrell sits down with four powerhouse women shaping the future of trail and ultrarunning. These aren’t just elite athletes and insiders; they’re advocates, leaders, and storytellers working to redefine what inclusion, equity, and longevity look like in the sport.

Buzz chats with:

• Anna Frost, a pioneer of professional trail running, who reflects on the early days of sponsorship (free shoes!), standing up for equal prize money, and what it means to have longevity in the sport after motherhood.

• Kelly Newlon, founder of RAD Boulder and athlete agent, who breaks down how contract negotiations are evolving for women and why authenticity, not follower count, is driving the next wave of professional sponsorship.

• Karen Merlin, UTMB World Series comms director, who outlines UTMB’s progressive policies on pregnancy, broadcast equity, and women’s visibility, and why growing participation isn’t just about signing up, but being invited in.

• Hillary Allen, trail running veteran and US team qualifier, who offers a grounded look at what elite racing means for the rest of us—and why the “core” of the sport isn’t just the fastest runners, but the everyday athletes building the community from the ground up.

From podium protests to pregnancy clauses, this episode goes deep on the real forces shifting the landscape of trail running, and why everyone has a role to play.

Subscribe to The Buzz for real talk with the people behind the biggest shifts in our sport. New episodes drop every other Tuesday, alternating with The Trailhead with Zoë Rom and Brendan Leonard.

🎙 Got feedback or a guest idea? Email Buzz at [email protected].

Be part of shaping the future of UltraSignup podcasts. Share your feedback in our quick listener survey. 

In this episode of The Buzz, Buzz Burrell and friend  Hilary Allen sit down with Meghan Hicks—ultrarunner, editor-in-chief of iRunFar, and president of the Hardrock 100 board, to unpack how trail and ultrarunning are changing. They dive into the sport’s major growth spurts, the shifting role of media and brands, why the obsession with 100 miles might be overrated, and how trail running’s anti-commercial roots clash and coexist with its rising popularity. Meghan shares why independent journalism at iRunFar still matters, how the team has adapted from live tweeting to the modern media landscape, and what keeps her excited as a runner. She also talks fueling, super shoes, and her upcoming return to the 100-mile distance at Scout Mountain.

 Big thanks to Wahoo Kickr for supporting this conversation and helping us bring these important stories to life. This treadmill is the closest you can get to running trail indoors!

If you’re curious about where trail running has been, and where it’s headed, this episode is a must-listen.

David Roche might be known as the apostle of carbs, but there’s much more to him than mid-race fueling math. In this conversation with Buzz Burrell, David opens up about the deeper forces that shape his running, coaching, and outlook on life. From nearly dying in a bike accident to experiencing depression and ultimately a powerful shift in perspective, David shares how mortality, vulnerability, and joy have become his most important performance tools. He talks candidly about the power of radical empathy—why he responds with love even to internet trolls—and how that mindset connects to his approach to coaching and competition.

Thanks to Wahoo for supporting The Buzz! Check out the best-ever treadmill for trail runners.

They also get into the science of what’s working right now in endurance sports: high-carb fueling, extreme hydration strategies, and heat training. David breaks down how the peloton revolutionized fueling practices, why hydration needs are more individual than most athletes realize, and what he's doing to push the envelope at Western States. He explains how these marginal gains stack up, why they matter (and why they sometimes don’t), and why transparency—not secrecy—is the path forward for the sport.

Riley Brady is having one hell of a season. In this episode of The Buzz, host Buzz Burrell sits down with one of the hottest names in ultrarunning just weeks before they line up at Western States. Fresh off course record wins at the Black Canyon 100K and Quad Rock 50 Mile—not to mention a scorching-fast victory at the Javelina 100—Riley shares what’s working, what they’ve learned, and how they’re keeping the momentum rolling into one of the most prestigious races in the sport.

From dialing in nutrition to choosing VaporFlys for the trails, Riley breaks down the decisions and strategies that make the difference. We get into heat training (hello, 200-degree sauna), fueling mishaps and fixes, and why shoe weight might matter more than grip when it comes to speed.

Thanks to Wahoo for supporting The Buzz! Check out the best ever treadmill for trail runners. 

Topics include:

• How Riley stopped puking mid-race (mostly)
• The hydration-first fueling strategy that changed everything
• Why VaporFlys aren’t just for road runners
• Passive vs. active heat training—and why Riley thrives in the sauna
• Inclusivity in ultrarunning
• The decade-long path from college trail runs to elite podiums

Whether you're deep in your own build or just love hearing what makes top athletes tick, this episode is full of insight, candor, and real talk from one of ultrarunning’s rising stars.

🎧 Subscribe to The Buzz for grounded takes and great conversations with the people shaping the future of trail running.

What does it take to finish the Barkley Marathons—not once, but three times? And what kind of person dreams of spending 40 straight days trying to break the Appalachian Trail FKT? This week on The Buzz, Buzz Burrell sits down with ultrarunner, data scientist, and father of four John Kelly. Known for his legendary Barkley finishes, the self-invented "Grand Round" in the UK, and a marathon PR under 2:30, John blends scientific rigor with deep grit. He’s not just a top-tier athlete—he’s a methodical thinker applying systems-level thinking to some of the hardest challenges in endurance sport.

They discuss:

• What went wrong (and right) at Barkley 2025

• Why failing early on matters—and how to keep showing up

• His nuanced take on Jasmine Paris’ historic Barkley finish

• The logistics, strategy, and mindset behind his upcoming Appalachian Trail FKT attempt

• Why training on a treadmill isn’t a dealbreaker for mountain dreams

• The case for “flexible consistency”—and why the best support crews are full-on teams.

If you’re curious how someone balances family, big goals, and brutal sleep deprivation while still pushing the sport forward, this one’s for you. 

📍Links:

• John’s blog: randomforestrunner.com 

• Start tracking John’s Appalachian Trail FKT on May 25th 

Thanks to Wahoo Kickr for supporting The Buzz!

🎉 Shoutout to our sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Dirtbag Bar—real fuel made with real food. No mystery syrups, no gut bombs, just tasty, trail-tested ingredients. Get 20% off with code ULTRADIRTBAG20 at checkout.

Trail and ultrarunning have never had more reach and attention. In this episode of The Buzz, host Buzz Burrell sits down with Brian Metzler, founding editor of Trail Runner Magazine, longtime gear tester, and one of the most prolific journalists in the sport. Together, they trace the rise and fall of endurance media, from the golden era of print to the digital Wild West.

Brian reflects on his recent layoff from Outside Run, what makes storytelling in trail running so vital, and how social media has disrupted—and occasionally deepened—our sense of community. Along the way, Buzz and Brian tackle everything from super shoes to calorie myths to doping in ultras, before closing with a rapid-fire round of hot takes and trail weirdness.

Then, journalist and co-host of The Trailhead podcast Zoë Rom joins Buzz for a debrief on the future of running media. Drawing on her own experience as the final editor-in-chief of Trail Runner Magazine, Zoë offers her take on the rise of personality-driven content, the commodification of attention, and why we all have to vote with our attention—and our clicks—if we want to keep real storytelling alive.

Anton Krupicka never set out to become an icon. But with a string of legendary performances in the early 2000s, including back-to-back wins at Leadville and a second-place finish in the epic 2010 Western States, plus a starring role in Unbreakable, he did. In this episode, Buzz and Anton sit down for a reflective, raw, and deeply insightful conversation about the sport’s past, present, and future.

They talk about:

• The early days of ultrarunning sponsorships and the dawn of the minimalist movement

• What it felt like to be in Unbreakable—and how that race really felt

• How Anton’s training philosophy has evolved (“I used to run too hard all the time”)

• Why social media metrics can’t measure meaning

• The role of athletes in brand storytelling—and why inspiration still matters

• His return to Sportiva, future alpine missions, and maybe even UTMB

• Why he still shows up, even after injury, and what keeps him running

Plus, Buzz gets candid with pro athlete Hillary Allen, who shares why Anton's legacy matters far beyond podiums—and how storytelling shapes the next generation of endurance athletes.

📣 Sponsor Shoutout: This episode is brought to you by Wahoo Fitness. Meet the Wahoo Kickr Run, a game-changing treadmill designed for real runners. With Run Free Mode and automatic grade control, it’s the closest thing to trail running without getting your socks wet. Check it out at wahoofitness.com and bring the mountains inside.

📬 Got a guest suggestion? A hot take to share? Email Buzz at [email protected].

🔔 The Buzz drops every other Tuesday, alternating with The Trailhead. Subscribe, rate, and share to keep the conversation going.

Buzz continues his conversation with the man at the center of a pivotal moment in running history.

Did you know that, not long ago, athletes risked losing their amateur status—and their shot at the Olympics—if they accepted any form of payment? Even something as simple as having someone buy you lunch could get you banned. This system, known as “shamateurism,” governed the sporting world until Frank Shorter helped change it, forever altering the landscape for athletes worldwide.

“We got the White House involved. When the President of the United States talks, even the International Olympic Committee is going to listen.”

In this episode, Frank reflects on the mindset that carried him through it all:

“I never focused on winning. I went in wanting to find out.”

“I always wanted to keep running. Since I turned 35, my goal has always been to slow down as slowly as possible.”

This episode is brought to you by Wahoo Fitness. Get ready to rethink treadmill running with the Wahoo Kickr Run. With auto-adjusting pace and grade control from -3% to 15%, it’s the closest thing to trail running without stepping outside. Perfect for squeezing in training when life gets busy, weather turns wild, or you’re prepping for big mountain days. Learn more at wahoofitness.com.

 

Why is Frank Shorter is the most influential runner in the history of the sport?  In the debut episode of The Buzz, we hear Frank tell amazing first-hand stories none of us have ever heard before.   Frank won the Marathon gold medal at the 1972 Munich Olympics, which is credited with starting the first running boom, and he heard the shots ring out in what came to be known as the Munich Massacre, which forever changed how we think about terrorism.   At the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, Frank was again at a pivotal point in running history, when an unheralded runner, later revealed to be part of the East German doping program, won the gold medal.  Frank tells the shocking story of why he couldn’t do anything about that.  Then Buzz points out he actually did: He was the first Chairman the USADA (U.S. Anti Doping Agency) and basically started the modern anti-doping movement.   You’ve probably heard the name but did not know who Frank Shorter was.  Now you know!   “I heard the shots. I heard the bomb go off. I was in both places."   The Buzz is supported by Wahoo. The Kickr Run reimagines readmill training with automatic pace and incline adjustments that respond to your movement—no buttons, just natural running. Train for your next big trail day, rain or shine, at wahoofitness.com.

Trail and ultrarunning are evolving fast—so how do you keep up? Enter The Buzz, a podcast that cuts through the noise with grounded takes from a true expert in the sport. Hosted by pioneering ultrarunner, FKT legend, and industry veteran Buzz Burrell, this show dives deep into the ideas shaping endurance sports.

In this trailer, Buzz shares what to expect from The Buzz: thought-provoking conversations with the thinkers, historians, and innovators driving change in the sport—not just athletes, but the voices behind trail running’s biggest shifts. If you’re looking for more than just race results and training tips, you’ve come to the right place.

New episodes drop every two weeks, with the first episode launching on March 25th. Hit subscribe and get ready for sharp insights, fresh perspectives, and the conversations that matter in trail running. The Buzz is coming soon!