515 : The Ultra Podcast

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Start with a last-minute sprint tri in footy shorts and end with a finish line that feels like family—that’s the arc of Peter “Huddo” Hudson. We sit down with the four-time 515 finisher, personal trainer, and stalwart of the UM Australia Dream Team to unpack how a brutal first swim, a life-changing crash in Hawaii, and years of volunteering forged a deeper reason to race. What emerges is a raw, generous look at the culture that defines Ultraman: you arrive as strangers, you leave as family.
Huddo walks us through the early days—being dragged into a race the night before, dog paddling next to a lifeguard, then getting hooked on the grind that builds real endurance. He shares how coaching and community carried his business through COVID, why day two on the bike still ties his stomach in knots, and how crews and race volunteers quietly stitch the event together with 20-hour days and calm heads. We revisit Hawaii 2015 and Scott McDermott’s horrific crash, the “Relentless” bracelet found at the scene, and the long road to Scott’s 2018 return. Along the way, you’ll hear why rival crews stop to help, how a blind athlete’s grit rewrites fear, and what it means to finish when the clock says you shouldn’t.
We also dive into purpose: fundraising after losing his mum, staging a solo double iron to turn grief into action, and the moment Huddo received the inaugural HUDDO Award minutes before learning his uncle had passed. It’s a portrait of resilience anchored by service, friendship, and a shared promise to bring everyone home safe. Plus, a peek behind the curtain at UM Australia’s evolving live stream and the launch of UM New Zealand—new routes, bigger climbs, and the same heartbeat.
If stories of grit, community, ultra endurance, and human kindness move you, hit play. Then follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a lift, and leave a review so more people find these voices.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
UM Australia 
Ultraman World Championships
Living the Warrior Code (Documentary)  Link
IM Coeur d’Alene
UM New Zealand
Shout outs and mentions in this episode:
Jeff Morris (S7E11)
Shane Duffy (S4E5)
Matt O’Brien (S8E5)
David Kalinowski
Mike Coughlin (S2E7)
Erica RIley (S8E2)
Beñat Oliveira (S7E6)
Brittney Litton (S8E7)
Scott McDermott (S1E9)
Adam Fox   
Gary Wang (S2E6)
Staci Studer
Christian Isakson (S3E5)
John Domandl (S7E7)
Daniel Merange 
Dayle Jordan
Mel Kemp
Jason Clark
Shae Hamilton
Kim Jenkins
Gillian Winterford
Tiffany Dahl
Steve King (S1E1)
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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A flipped boat, a blinking EPIRB, and a helicopter descent into a sunset—Matt O’Brien’s life pivot starts there. From mining shifts and weekend benders to air rescue work, and a growing list of endurance adventures; Matt’s story is a blueprint for rebuilding a life around endurance and purpose.
We unpack how he cracked into rescue aviation by cold-messaging mentors on LinkedIn, tackled a fitness test he once thought impossible, and learned to swim from scratch as an adult. Matt shares the nuts and bolts of training through a harsh roster—day shifts as recovery, nights for volume, and two weeks off to stack big sessions—plus the mental habits that made those choices stick. If you’re navigating shift work training, adult swim relearning, or prepping for Ultraman distances, his playbook is practical and honest.
Matt also takes us 4,200 kms across Australia from Fremantle to Sydney on an unsupported bikepacking journey defined by mechanical chaos and grit.  He rode through the Nullarbor with breaking spokes, limped into Ceduna to swap a rim, and woke to find his bike stolen—only to track it with an AirTag on his keys and get it back.  Along the way, we break down roadhouse food realities, water carry strategies, and the small logistics that make or break an ultra-distance plan. And we revisit his first Ultraman finish, where pacers and crew helped him slip under the run cutoff by minutes, setting clear goals for a calmer, faster return to UM Australia in 2026.
If you’re a beginner eyeing your first triathlon, a FIFO worker balancing training with fatigue, or an endurance fan who loves a hard-earned comeback, this one’s for you. Follow Matt’s coaching at Lantern Endurance on socials, and keep an eye out for the website launch soon. Enjoy the conversation, then subscribe, rate, and share with a friend who needs a push to start their own first. 
Resources mentioned in this episode:
UM Australia 
Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA)
Ultra 355 Australia
Cupcake  Cartel
Indipac
Shout outs and mentions in this episode:
Casey Neistat
Jeff Morris (S7E11)
Andrew Trout
John Domandl (S7E7)
Tony Horton
Nikki Fox
Michael Wakeman   
Belinda Sansom
Kim Jenkins
Janita Ray
Troy Ridgley
Michelle Barratt 
Nick Mallett (S2E12)
Carl Gillies
Kate Bevilaqua
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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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 Fame
Taiwan Ultra Deca
Bretzel 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 Emsdetten
Poland Ultra Triathlon (Deca)
Triathlon Triple Lensahn
Double Deca Mexico
Switzerland Double Deca
Virginia Triple Anvil 
UB515 
Shout outs and mentions in this episode:
Jacs Spence
Starting Block
Rancho Vignola
Eve-volve Wellness
Reatha Rousseau
Steve Brown
Blaine Ponte  
Leah Goldstein
Sergio Cordeiro
World record holder deca
Deca Dave Clamp  
Jorge Rodriguez 
Mark hohe dorst
Brad Kelley
Gustavo Vieira 
Lia Sterciuc
Harriet Clamp
Marius Butuc (S8E1)
Anelia Butuc
Ming Ye 
Ronny Rossler 
Norbert Luffenberger
Tyrese Hill
Micheal Ward
Beto Villa 
Wayne Kurtz 
Laurent Quignette
Heidi Lindemann 
Jade Medders
Paul Bedard
Daniel 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 : [email protected]

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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 Hawaii
UltraCzech 515 (S5E5)
Ultraman Arizona
Siberman 515
UM Australia 
Double Ultra Triathlon Emsdetten
Vitargo Nutrition
Finding Ultra  by Rich Roll
Norseman Xtreme Championship
Shout outs and mentions in this episode:
Mia Kniazev
Olesia Kniazev 
Petr Vabrousek   (S2E2)
Richard Thompson 
Shane Duffy (S4E5)
Simon Cochrane  (S4E8)
Javier Sola
​​Tadej Pogačar
Dave Matheson (S3E6)
Bob Babbit S6E12
Cameron Wurf
Mike Coughlin (S2E7)
Billy Rickards (S7E1)
Steve King (S1E1)
Sheryl Cobb (S2E6)
Dave Cobb
Terumasu Matsuda
Ultra 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 : [email protected]

Send 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 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]