The Buzz

At seven years old, Hunter Leininger talked his way into his first adventure race; by ten he was a national champion, and he's spent the eighteen years since turning a childhood obsession into a profession, holding the fastest unsupported traverse of Iceland (370 miles), the FKT for the 1,110-mile length of Florida, and a Guinness World Record for climbing all fifty state high points. In this conversation, Buzz and Hunter get into the strange education of growing up sleep-deprived (including the time his dad towed him by bungee cord while he sleepwalked through a 2 a.m. trek), the actual tactics of staying awake for days (pre-loading caffeine before the crash, fueling so you never fall behind, the ninety-second dirt nap )and how adventure racing builds the kind of toughness that's quietly producing today's best ultrarunners. Then the industry question Buzz can't resist: how a 25-year-old with no Western States win built a full-time career out of FKTs, TV shows, and content, and what the freelance-athlete model means for everyone trying to make a living in a sport with no teams and almost no prize money. This episode is brought to you in part by VKTRY: high-mileage carbon-plated insoles built to last over 1,000 miles, with a 90-day money-back guarantee. Find them at vktry.com. And, The Buzz is supported by Arc'teryx, and the new Sylan 2 a propulsive trail running shoe designed for speed and reduced fatigue. The Buzz is part of the UltraSignup Podcast Network.

Danelle Ballengee is one of the most decorated endurance athletes in American history, a four-time Pikes Peak Marathon champion, two-time Adventure Racing World Champion, and six-time US Athlete of the Year across four different endurance sports. In December 2006, on a routine training run near her home in Moab, she slipped on black ice on the Amasa Back trail, fell roughly 60 feet, shattered her sacrum, broke her pelvis, and spent two sub-freezing nights alone in the desert before her dog Taz led search and rescue to her location. In this conversation, Buzz sits down with Danelle at the Moab Public Library to revisit the golden era of adventure racing under Mark Burnett's Eco-Challenge, coming back two decades later for Bear Grylls' rebooted World's Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji alongside Travis and Mark Macy, the fall that should have killed her, and what it feels like to live what she calls borrowed time. Danelle is the founder and race director of the Moab Trail Marathon and Half Marathon, held the first weekend in November. Check out VKTRY performance insoles that allow you to make any shoe a carbon shoe for a fraction of the cost. The Buzz is part of the UltraSignup Podcast Network.

Camille Herron is the only athlete to win all three IAU Ultra World Championship distances, the only person to win both Comrades and Spartathlon, and the holder of world records from 50 miles to six days. But beyond the numbers, Herron is a scientist with a master's degree in exercise and sports science, a recently diagnosed autistic and ADHD athlete, and someone who has navigated more than her share of controversy. In this wide-ranging conversation with Buzz Burrell, Herron opens up about everything: her unconventional training philosophy of short, frequent runs over grinding long miles; the metabolic testing that revealed her unusual fat oxidation capacity; how neurodivergence has been both a superpower and a challenge in her career; and why, at 43, she's feeling more free and energized than ever, even without sponsors. The conversation doesn't shy away from harder topics. Herron addresses the Wikipedia controversy that cost her the Lululemon partnership, framing it as retaliation for her role as a sports whistleblower who has made multiple reports to USATF and the IAU. She also reflects on watching her records fall to Tara Dower and Caitriona Jennings with genuine enthusiasm, celebrating what she sees as a new era for women in ultrarunning. Whether you're here for the training insights, the fueling science, or the candid discussion of navigating public scrutiny, this episode offers a rare, unfiltered look at one of the most accomplished and polarizing figures in ultrarunning history. FOR MORE CONTEXT: The Wikipedia controversy referenced in this episode was first reported by Canadian Running Magazine in September 2024 and led to coverage in Runner's World, Women's Health, and other outlets. Herron's husband Conor Holt released a statement taking responsibility for the Wikipedia edits. Herron maintains her own account of events on her website.

This week on The Buzz, Buzz Burrell sits down in Moab, fresh off the finish of the Moab 240, with newly crowned Triple Crown champion Kilian Korth. In a season that redefined what's possible in ultrarunning, Kilian swept the 200-mile series, Tahoe, Bigfoot, and Moab, setting a new cumulative record and proving that success is built on years of setbacks. He opens up about how pulmonary edema, DNFs, and near-collapse moments became the foundation for his breakout year, why he prioritizes rest and recovery over mileage, and how a six-minute dirt nap can reboot the brain mid-race. From efficient aid-station strategy to fueling exclusively on simple sugars for nearly 60 hours, Kilian breaks down the methodical mindset behind running 200s fast—and the humility it takes to get there. He and Buzz talk sleep deprivation, hallucinations, and the mental games required to stay focused through multiple nights on foot. Plus, Kilian reveals his plans for 2026: the Cocodona 250 and a shot at the Colorado Trail FKT. Whether you're dreaming of your first 100 or fascinated by the world of multi-day racing, this episode is a masterclass in resilience, efficiency, and the art of going long.

In this episode of The Buzz, Buzz Burrell sits down with ultrarunning icon and race director Candice Burt, the woman who put 200-mile races on the map. From founding the Triple Crown of 200s to tackling self-supported FKT attempts on Colorado's infamous Nolan's 14, Candice has redefined what "too far" really means. They talk about what it takes to stay awake and moving for days on end, the psychology of pushing beyond comfort, and why even the most seasoned athletes need to respect the line between adventure and danger. Candice opens up about her 200-day streak of running 50Ks, the creation of the Arizona Monster 300, and what she's learned from organizing and rescuing runners in some of the toughest races on Earth. Together, Buzz and Candice explore how sleep, fear, and risk shape performance, and why the most meaningful endurance challenges aren't just about suffering, but about self-reliance, courage, and curiosity. Thanks to Arc'teryx for supporting The Buzz!

At this year's UTMB, it wasn't just about who won, it was about what the event has become. In this episode of The Buzz, host Buzz Burrell talks with longtime running journalist Brian Metzler about the transformation of UTMB Week into the sport's most competitive race series, biggest trade show, and all-out cultural festival. From Jim Walmsley's sprint finish at OCC, to Courtney Dauwalter's gritty 10th-place finish at UTMB, to Ruth Croft's commanding win, Buzz and Brian break down the racing itself before zooming out to ask what all the brand activations, media attention, and 175 million livestream views mean for the future of trail running. Thanks to Arc'teryx for supporting the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, check out the rest of the UltraSignup Podcast Network. The Trailhead with Zoë Rom and Brendan Leonard brings humor, heart, and a love of running culture to every episode, and Between Two Pines offers offbeat, laugh-out-loud conversations with Dom Grossman and Andy Pearson. And now, both The Buzz and The Trailhead are on YouTube, so you can listen on the run or watch from home.

Take our listener survey! It only takes five minutes, and you help us make better podcasts. Adventure runner Fritz Sitte isn't chasing podiums, he's chasing experiences. In this episode of The Buzz, Fritz joins Buzz Burrell to share the story of his 6,400-mile, eight-month run from Cape Town to the northern tip of Africa, completed alongside his brother on a bicycle. They talk about the challenges of covering a continent without motorized support, the life lessons learned from protecting their relationship on the road, and why lowering your boundaries (and your pace) can lead to deeper cultural connections. Fritz also gives a preview of his next big project: running the length of Germany to set an FKT while raising money for refugee education, plus a possible attempt in the Atacama Desert. Along the way, they dig into the philosophy of "meaningful meaninglessness," the value of strength training for long efforts, and why you don't have to run 100K a day to make a journey run worthwhile. If you've ever dreamed about ditching the race bib for an open-ended adventure, this conversation might just convince you to take that first step. Thanks to Arc'teryx for supporting The Buzz!

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