Inside the Extreme Ultrarunning Mind of a 3-Time Barkley Finisher | TRJ #147 w/ John Kelly

Strava 👉 https://www.strava.com/athletes/130094426

TIkTok 👉 https://www.tiktok.com/@runwithrobcmv

Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/runwithrobcmv/

Facebook 👉 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089781686060

⭐⭐ Inside the Extreme Ultrarunning Mind of a 3-Time Barkley Finisher | TRJ #147 w/ John Kelly

What does it really take to finish the Barkley Marathons… not once, not twice, but three times?

In this episode, we sit down with John Kelly, one of the most unique minds in all of ultrarunning. We dive into the psychology of extreme endurance, training for sleep deprivation, how far humans can push themselves, the science behind massive suffering, and why John believes he's built for these impossible challenges.

If you love ultrarunning, mindset, Barkley stories, or just understanding what separates outliers from everyone else, this is one of our most fascinating conversations yet.

Stick around to the end as Charlie & Rob break down learnings, recap their own training, and announce a new race they've signed up for…

CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Intro

02:17 - How Was The Most Recent Barkley Marathon?

05:59 - John Kelly's Barkley Origin Story

08:35 - What Drives John to Run These Distances

13:14 - Training For Sleep Deprivation In Ultras

15:12 - John's A-Races (2025 Calendar)

17:12 - How Far Can Runners Keep Pushing Themselves?

20:57 - Philosophical Thoughts

23:54 - Back to Sleep Depravation

28:11 - The Science Behind Ultrarunners

30:52 - John's Typical Race Nutrition

32:17 - John's Typical Race Build

34:51 - Why Does John Think He's So Good At This?

36:30 - Final Advice & Goals

41:06 - Charlie & Rob Recapping

47:59 - We Signed Up For Another Race...

🎧 Listen to the full episode and join us every week on The Running Journey.

🚀 New episodes every Thursday!

#runningpodcast #runninginjury #marathontraining #marathon #halfmarathon

✤ Welcome to The Running Journey! 🏃👟

Looking for some inspiration to keep you motivated on your running journey? Look no further than this podcast, featuring two brothers who have overcome incredible obstacles to become dedicated runners. After their father was diagnosed with cancer, they were inspired to take control of their health and fitness, and have since lost an incredible 50 pounds each.

In each episode, these inspiring siblings share their experience and knowledge, as they review past races, reflect on their struggles with weight loss, and give updates on their training and recovery. With their unique perspectives and inspiring stories, this podcast is a must-listen for anyone looking to improve their running game and reach their own personal goals. Tune in and be inspired to take control of your own health and fitness journey!

So put on your running shoes, hit play, and let's run through life together!

📍Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts

============================================================