
Human Performance Outliers Podcast with Zach Bitter
- Episódios
- 528
- Publicação
- semanal
- Último episódio
- 6 nov 2026
Sobre o podcast
Welcome to the Human Performance Outliers Podcast. Your host Zach Bitter, will take you through a series of interesting topics around health, fitness, endurance, running, hybrid athlete training, ultramarathon, and nutrition. Join in for interviews with folks exploring their outer limits and research in a wide variety of sports, fitness, and nutrition.
Episódios 528
Episode 505: Meg Eckert Runs 636 In 6-Days
Meg Eckert recently became one of only five humans to ever run 636 miles or more in six days. She is now the overall American Record holder and Women's World Record holder for the 6-Day event. Meg is also a …
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Meg Eckert recently became one of only five humans to ever run 636 miles or more in six days. She is now the overall American Record holder and Women's World Record holder for the 6-Day event. Meg is also a full time math teacher, coach, and puts up incredible results in a variety of events, including finishing third this year at the Cocodona 250, and winning the Vermont 100 Mile.
Meg: meganeckert.com | IG: @_megeckert
Episode Sponsors:
- LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
- deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (25% Off)
- TrainingPeaks: trainingpeaks.com (free account & premium 14-day trial)
Support HPO:
- Website: https://zachbitter.com/hpo
- Patreon: https://patreon.com/HPOpodcast
- Coaching: https://zachbitter.com/coaching
- Zach's Newsletter: https://substack.com/@zachbitter
Run The News | Javelina 100 Mile Decided In Final Minutes
The Javelina 100 Mile came down to the wire this year with the men's and women's winners decided in the final minutes. Ryan Montgomery runs a 2:23 marathon during his build towards a 24 hour World Record …
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The Javelina 100 Mile came down to the wire this year with the men's and women's winners decided in the final minutes. Ryan Montgomery runs a 2:23 marathon during his build towards a 24 hour World Record attempt in December. Jeff Garmire joins me to discuss this and share some thoughts on the Backyard Ultra craze.
Jeff Garmire: freeoutside.com | IG: @thefreeoutside | YT: @Freeoutside
Episode Sponsors:
- LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
- deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (25% Off)
- TrainingPeaks: trainingpeaks.com (free account)
Podcast Details:
- Support HPO: patreon.com/c/HPOpodcast
- HPO Website: zachbitter.com/hpo
- Zach's Coaching: zachbitter.com/coaching
- Zach's Journal: substack.com/@zachbitter
- Find Zach: zachbitter.com | IG: @zachbitter | X: @zbitter | FB: Zach Bitter | Strava: Zach Bitter
Run The News | Are Backyard Ultras The Face Of The Sport
Bigs Backyard and the Backyard World Team Championships occurred last week, featuring the best BYU athletes in the World. This ultramarathon format is growing rapidly, not just with ultra runners, but …
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Bigs Backyard and the Backyard World Team Championships occurred last week, featuring the best BYU athletes in the World. This ultramarathon format is growing rapidly, not just with ultra runners, but mainstream media. Is it just a matter of time before the BYU format becomes the face of ultramarathon? Brian Peterson joined me to discuss.
Episode Sponsors:
- LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
- deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (25% Off)
- TrainingPeaks: trainingpeaks.com (free account)
Podcast Details:
- Support HPO: zachbitter.com/hposponsors
- HPO Website: zachbitter.com/hpo
- Zach's Coaching: zachbitter.com/coaching
- Zach's Journal: substack.com/@zachbitter
- Find Zach: zachbitter.com | IG: @zachbitter | X: @zbitter | FB: Zach Bitter | Strava: Zach Bitter
Episode 504: My 100 Mile PR - Why I Will Break It
I will be taking a big swing at Desert Solstice Track Invitational on December 19th where I plan to establish a new 100 mile personal best. In this episode, I highlight why I am confident I can do it, and share …
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I will be taking a big swing at Desert Solstice Track Invitational on December 19th where I plan to establish a new 100 mile personal best. In this episode, I highlight why I am confident I can do it, and share some details on my approach going into my 100 mile peaking phase.
Episode Sponsors:
- LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
- deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (25% Off)
- TrainingPeaks: trainingpeaks.com (free account)
Podcast Details:
- Support HPO: zachbitter.com/hposponsors
- HPO Website: zachbitter.com/hpo
- Zach's Coaching: zachbitter.com/coaching
- Zach's Journal: substack.com/@zachbitter
- Find Zach: zachbitter.com | IG: @zachbitter | X: @zbitter | FB: Zach Bitter | Strava: Zach Bitter
Run The News | Moab 240 Cancellation & Chicago Marathon
Allison Mercer joined the show to recap two very different running stories from the past week: the Moab 240 cancellation amid flash flooding, mudslides, and serious safety concerns in a remote area, and the …
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Allison Mercer joined the show to recap two very different running stories from the past week: the Moab 240 cancellation amid flash flooding, mudslides, and serious safety concerns in a remote area, and the Chicago Marathon with its mix of stories. We dig into the growing risks and responsibilities around 200+ mile events (experience levels, communication, support crews, and protocols), contrast that with Chicago's high-profile narratives involving Emma Grace Hurley, Vinny Mauri, Clayton Young, and Galen Rupp, and touch on treadmill training accuracy, super-shoe competition, and race overcrowding.
Allison: @onewomandanceparty | Strava: strava.com/athletes/18552474
Episode Sponsors:
- LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
- deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (25% Off)
- TrainingPeaks: trainingpeaks.com (free account)
Podcast Details:
- Support HPO: zachbitter.com/hposponsors
- HPO Website: zachbitter.com/hpo
- Zach's Coaching: zachbitter.com/coaching
- Zach's Journal: substack.com/@zachbitter
- Find Zach: zachbitter.com | IG: @zachbitter | X: @zbitter | FB: Zach Bitter | Strava: Zach Bitter
Run The News | Road Ultras Need Hype & Money In Ultras
Allison Mercer is an ultramarathon athlete who has competed at both 50km and 100km World Championships, Tunnel Hill, and Strolling Jim. She joined me to unpack why the World 100 KM deserves more attention, and …
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Allison Mercer is an ultramarathon athlete who has competed at both 50km and 100km World Championships, Tunnel Hill, and Strolling Jim. She joined me to unpack why the World 100 KM deserves more attention, and what ingredients make ultramarathons grow.
Allison: @onewomandanceparty | Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/18552474
Episode Sponsors:
- LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
- deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (25% Off)
Podcast Details:
- Support HPO: zachbitter.com/hposponsors
- HPO Website: zachbitter.com/hpo
- Zach's Coaching: zachbitter.com/coaching
- Zach's Journal: substack.com/@zachbitter
- Find Zach: zachbitter.com | IG: @zachbitter | X: @zbitter | FB: Zach Bitter | Strava: Zach Bitter
Episode 503: Last Soul Ultra Steals The Show | Kim Gottwald
Kim Gottwald is a German ultra runner and content creator who went from law student to backyard-ultra standout by documenting extreme projects in public, including a co-win at Go One More in Texas, and a 449 km …
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Kim Gottwald is a German ultra runner and content creator who went from law student to backyard-ultra standout by documenting extreme projects in public, including a co-win at Go One More in Texas, and a 449 km Last Soul Ultra victory at home. He co-founded the running brand Rappid, became BPN's first German athlete, and now hosts Germany's Last Soul Ultra. He has big plans for expanding Last Soul Ultra into multiple locations, including the US.
Kim: kimgottwald.info | IG: @kim.gottwald | YT: @Kim.gottwald
Episode Sponsors:
- LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
- deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (25% Off)
Podcast Details:
- Support HPO: zachbitter.com/hposponsors
- HPO Website: zachbitter.com/hpo
- Zach's Coaching: zachbitter.com/coaching
- Zach's Journal: substack.com/@zachbitter
- Find Zach: zachbitter.com | IG: @zachbitter | X: @zbitter | FB: Zach Bitter | Strava: Zach Bitter
Episode 502: Backyard Ultra Records & Recovery | Phil Gore
Phil Gore holds the World Best mark for the Backyard format, completing 119 "yards" for a total of 495.83miles. He recently completed a personal project, called Project 168, where he aimed to see if he would be …
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Phil Gore holds the World Best mark for the Backyard format, completing 119 "yards" for a total of 495.83miles. He recently completed a personal project, called Project 168, where he aimed to see if he would be able to last 168 yards (700 miles). He ended up tapping out at 152 yards (633.75 miles). We discussed this project, what the limiters were, how they have created a longer recovery, and what direction the Backyard Ultra World is going, and how his event raised nearly $300,000 for Telethon, a Western Australian appeal that supports sick, vulnerable, and disadvantaged kids and their families. You can contribute here: philgore.com.au
Phil: philgore.com.au | IG: @phil.gore.ultrarunner
Episode Sponsors:
- LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
- deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (20% Off)
Podcast Details:
- Support HPO: zachbitter.com/hposponsors
- HPO Website: zachbitter.com/hpo
- Zach's Coaching: zachbitter.com/coaching
- Zach's Journal: substack.com/@zachbitter
- Find Zach: zachbitter.com | IG: @zachbitter | X: @zbitter | FB: Zach Bitter | Strava: Zach Bitter
Episode 501: First Double Amputee To Finish Leadville 100 Mile Run | Brian Reynolds
Brian Reynolds is a Brooks-sponsored double below-knee amputee runner who, in 2026, became the first athlete in that category to finish the Leadville Trail 100 — on his fourth try, in 28 hours 55 minutes. He …
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Brian Reynolds is a Brooks-sponsored double below-knee amputee runner who, in 2026, became the first athlete in that category to finish the Leadville Trail 100 — on his fourth try, in 28 hours 55 minutes. He lost both legs at age four to meningococcemia, a rare bacterial infection with grim survival odds. For years he hid the amputation and stayed off the trails. A Grand Canyon hike cracked that open. He went from powerlifting to a 2:58 marathon, multiple classification records from 5K to the marathon, and Team USA para-athletics.
Brian: IG: @brianreynoldsrunner
Episode Sponsors:
- LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
- deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (20% Off)
Podcast Details:
- Support HPO: zachbitter.com/hposponsors
- HPO Website: zachbitter.com/hpo
- Zach's Coaching: zachbitter.com/coaching
- Zach's Journal: substack.com/@zachbitter
- Find Zach: zachbitter.com | IG: @zachbitter | X: @zbitter | FB: Zach Bitter | Strava: Zach Bitter
Run The News | Phil Gore Shocks Backyard World & Meg Eckert Targets Men's 6-Day American Record
Phil Gore holds the World Best Backyard record with 119 yards (495.87 miles). In an effort to see what he could actually do, he set up a project targeting yards/hours. Meg Eckert may be the most underrated …
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Phil Gore holds the World Best Backyard record with 119 yards (495.87 miles). In an effort to see what he could actually do, he set up a project targeting yards/hours. Meg Eckert may be the most underrated ultramarathon athlete in the game right now. She is currently on pace to break her own women's 6-day World Record, and also the outright American Record. Finally, I touch on some thoughts around the UTMB events.
Episode Sponsors:
- LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
- deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (20% Off)
Podcast Details:
- Support HPO: zachbitter.com/hposponsors
- HPO Website: zachbitter.com/hpo
- Zach's Coaching: zachbitter.com/coaching
- Zach's Journal: substack.com/@zachbitter
- Find Zach: zachbitter.com | IG: @zachbitter | X: @zbitter | FB: Zach Bitter | Strava: Zach Bitter
Episode 500: The Truth Behind Run Slow To Run Fast | Thomas Nobbs
Thomas Nobbs is a professional marathon athlete with a 2:09 PR, and endurance coach. His progression to 2:09 speaks for itself, and his public strava profile shows how he has balanced lots of low intensity …
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Thomas Nobbs is a professional marathon athlete with a 2:09 PR, and endurance coach. His progression to 2:09 speaks for itself, and his public strava profile shows how he has balanced lots of low intensity running and key quality sessions. Thomas is currently training for the Chicago Marathon, where he plans to once again improve his marathon PR.
Thomas: teamrunrun.com/coach/tom-nobbs | IG: @nobbs.not.knobs | Strava: Thomas Nobbs
Episode Sponsors:
- LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
- deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (20% Off)
Podcast Details:
- Support HPO: zachbitter.com/hposponsors
- HPO Website: zachbitter.com/hpo
- Zach's Coaching: zachbitter.com/coaching
- Zach's Journal: substack.com/@zachbitter
- Find Zach: zachbitter.com | IG: @zachbitter | X: @zbitter | FB: Zach Bitter | Strava: Zach Bitter
Episode 499: REDs & Body Composition | Dr. Trent Stellingwerff
Dr. Trent Stellingwerff joined the show to discuss the topic of relative energy deficiency syndrome (REDs) in endurance athletes, and body competition management. Trent includes working with the Women's Health …
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Dr. Trent Stellingwerff joined the show to discuss the topic of relative energy deficiency syndrome (REDs) in endurance athletes, and body competition management. Trent includes working with the Women's Health, Sport & Performance Institute (WHSP) in Boston Trent is the Chief Performance Officer (CPO) at the Canadian Sports Institute. Trent has developed many national and international collaborations in various applied research projects in the fields of nutrition and physiology, and been a part of 8 IOC position statements. Trent joined the show to discuss the topic of relative energy deficiency syndrome in endurance athletes, and body competition management in athletics.
Trent: whspinstitute.org & csipacific.ca/team-members/trent-stellingwerff | X: @TStellingwerff
Sponsors:
- LMNT: https://drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
- deltaG: https://deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (20% Off)
Support HPO:
- Website: https://zachbitter.com/hpo
- Patreon: https://patreon.com/HPOpodcast
- Coaching: https://zachbitter.com/coaching
- Zach's Newsletter: https://substack.com/@zachbitter
Run The News | Mark Dowdle Goes Crazy At Last Soul Ultra
Mark Dowdle arrives 15 minutes before the start of Last Soul Ultra, but still wins with nearly 400 miles. Should we have more unsupported ultra running events? Badwater 135 lack of streaming and interesting …
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Mark Dowdle arrives 15 minutes before the start of Last Soul Ultra, but still wins with nearly 400 miles. Should we have more unsupported ultra running events? Badwater 135 lack of streaming and interesting shoe policy. Jeff Garmire joins me to discuss and share his upcoming documentary.
Jeff Garmire: freeoutside.com | IG: @thefreeoutside | YT: @Freeoutside
Episode Sponsors:
- LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
- deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (20% Off)
- Kila Insoles: kilarun.com Code: BITTER ($50 Off)
Podcast Details:
- Support HPO: zachbitter.com/hposponsors
- HPO Website: zachbitter.com/hpo
- Zach's Coaching: zachbitter.com/coaching
- Zach's Journal: substack.com/@zachbitter
- Find Zach: zachbitter.com | IG: @zachbitter | X: @zbitter | FB: Zach Bitter | Strava: Zach Bitter
Episode 498: 2:59 to 2:18 Marathon | Matt Fox - Sweat Elite
Matt Fox joined me to chat about his interest in the marathon after coming from a National class middle distance background, his trajectory with content creation, the Chinese running shoe market, and his power …
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Matt Fox joined me to chat about his interest in the marathon after coming from a National class middle distance background, his trajectory with content creation, the Chinese running shoe market, and his power weight ratio journey.
Matt Fox: sweatelite.co | IG: @mattinglisfox
Episode Sponsors:
LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (20% Off)
Kila Insoles: kilarun.com Code: BITTER ($50 Off)
Episode summary: Zach Bitter interviews Matt Fox (Sweat Elite)
Matt's background: Former Australian middle-distance runner who twice finished 5th at Olympic/World trials (consistent 1:48 800m). Felt he "failed" after never making a national team, which later fueled his curiosity about how better runners train.
How Sweat Elite started: After a failed Strava-like app, Matt launched a site interviewing pros. He later began filming elite workouts (inspired by old FloTrack videos), but it lost money due to last-minute travel costs and limited YouTube revenue. He recouped losses by documenting his own marathon builds.
Content landscape: Athletes now prefer posting their own journeys, making third-party workout videos harder. Influencers-as-coaches is a growing issue; both agree formal qualifications aren't required (many great coaches never had them), but buyers should do due diligence. Bad influencer coaches can still introduce people to the sport who later seek better help.
Creators they follow: Truett Haynes (humor + ambitious Olympic Trials goal despite current times being far off; recently hired Rory Linkletter). Also Eric Floberg (cinematography) and Rory Linkletter (authenticity, Canadian marathon record pursuit).
Weight/body composition debate: Matt accidentally got very lean (70 kg) for a 2:20 marathon, then gained 3–4 kg and plateaued at 2:23–2:24. After noticing he was much larger than the Japanese runners he raced with, he used carb-cycling (high carbs around key sessions, deficit on easy days) to drop back to ~69 kg and ran 2:18–2:19. He has since lost another ~12 kg.
He stresses this is highly individual and risky. Personality matters: people with OCD/obsessive tendencies are more likely to develop RED-S or eating disorders. He now studies nutrition to give safer guidance.
Examples cited: Josh Kerr's long-term leaning-out, George Cush dropping weight before winning Comrades, Ryan Hall hitting a point where further loss hurt performance.
Both emphasize timing (fuel hard sessions, restrict on recovery days), not living in a perpetual deficit, and resetting after races.
Chinese super shoes: Matt recently lab-tested 12 models from Anta, Li-Ning, 361°, Xtep, Dynafish, etc. Many perform comparably to Western shoes at half the price and often last longer. Notable mentions: Li-Ning Dragon Flight (79 g, technically illegal but extremely fast; a legal version is coming), Anta C10 (very similar to Puma Fast-R), Dynafish trainer (versatile, durable, sub-200 g).
Barriers in the U.S.: high tariffs, limited specialty-store distribution, and brands currently focused on the Chinese market. Anta and Li-Ning are expanding globally.
Matt's current status: Recovering from injury, posting daily on Instagram/Strava as Matt Fox. Targeting a 2:17 or faster at the Melbourne Marathon in two months.
Timestamps:
0:00:02 — Intro and welcome to the episode
0:00:45 — Matt shares his background and connection to the podcast
0:01:42 — Matt's unusual running journey and early Sweat Elite work
0:04:33 — Matt's competitive middle-distance background and Olympic trials attempts
0:05:50 — Stepping away from elite running and building Sweat Elite
0:07:19 — From a failed app to interviewing pro runners
0:09:06 — Building content, monetization challenges, and workout videos
0:13:10 — Athletes making their own content and the creator/brand shift
0:14:36 — Should influencers need qualifications to coach?
0:21:08 — Coaching credentials and the role of experience
0:22:34 — Content creators Matt is excited about
0:25:46 — Truett Haynes, Rory Linkletter, and the entertainment factor
0:31:34 — Transition to weight, performance, and body composition
0:33:19 — Matt's marathon progression and how weight loss affected performance
0:40:27 — The nuance of weight loss, RED-S, and individual differences
0:48:32 — Why the conversation is different for different runners
0:50:22 — Timing carbohydrates and avoiding energy deficiency
0:52:19 — George Kusche at Comrades
0:57:30 — Josh Kerr seemingly fully optimized
01:03:12 — Chinese running shoes and why they matter
01:06:12 — Jack Crago and testing Chinese shoe models
01:08:25 — Distribution, tariffs, and market access in the U.S.
01:13:02 — Shoe durability and foam life
01:15:28 — Lightest legal shoes and new tech from Chinese brands
01:17:42 — Anta, Puma, and the global shoe market
01:19:04 — Puma concept shoes and performance development
01:20:49 — Why Chinese brands are expanding more slowly in the West
01:22:12 — Matt's trip to China and how he got deeper into shoe tech
01:23:54 — Dynafish and ultra-light trainers
01:26:12 — Wrap-up, where to find Matt, and final thoughts
Episode 497: Blood Clot Defeated & Return To Training
I reached the end of my journey with the blood clot I discovered at the end of June. I learned a lot through the process, along with information about my personal risk for blood clotting. I unpack all of that …
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I reached the end of my journey with the blood clot I discovered at the end of June. I learned a lot through the process, along with information about my personal risk for blood clotting. I unpack all of that and share my return to training.
Episode Sponsors:
LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (20% Off)
Kila Insoles: kilarun.com Code: BITTER ($50 Off)
Podcast Details:
Support HPO: zachbitter.com/hposponsors
HPO Website: zachbitter.com/hpo
Zach's Coaching: zachbitter.com/coaching
Zach's Journal: substack.com/@zachbitter
Find Zach: zachbitter.com | IG: @zachbitter | X: @zbitter | FB: Zach Bitter | Strava: Zach Bitter
Episode 496: Fueling Your Ultra: Strategies & Challenges | Vic Johnson
Vic Johnson shares the practical limits of high-carb strategies, discusses how carbohydrate needs can exceed what the gut can absorb, especially under heat and high intensity. Vic shares typical successful …
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Vic Johnson shares the practical limits of high-carb strategies, discusses how carbohydrate needs can exceed what the gut can absorb, especially under heat and high intensity. Vic shares typical successful ranges, why hotter races and faster pacing worsen digestion, and emphasizes consistent intake over large boluses that can trigger GI issues. They discuss individualizing targets for mid-pack runners, finding a personal carb "cap" in training then scaling back for race day, sex differences (body size, culture, psychology), links between GI issues and disordered eating, the role of day-to-day carb intake in building intestinal transporters, and practical choices between drink mix vs gels.
Vic Johnson: mountainsportsnutrition.com | IG: @mountain.sports.dietitian
Episode Sponsors:
LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (20% Off)
True Nutrition: truenutrition.com/hpo Code: HPO (20% Off)
Podcast Details:
Support HPO: zachbitter.com/hposponsors
HPO Website: zachbitter.com/hpo
Zach's Coaching: zachbitter.com/coaching
Zach's Journal: substack.com/@zachbitter
Find Zach: zachbitter.com | IG: @zachbitter | X: @zbitter | FB: Zach Bitter | Strava: Zach Bitter
Episode 495: Performance Enhancing Drugs In Ultramarathon | Kilian Korth
Kilian Korth joined the show to have a discussion around ultrarunning's growing professionalization without sophisticated regulated drug testing, the limits and trade-offs of WADA/USADA-style regimes, and why …
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Kilian Korth joined the show to have a discussion around ultrarunning's growing professionalization without sophisticated regulated drug testing, the limits and trade-offs of WADA/USADA-style regimes, and why "doping" as a blanket term obscures intent and severity. We unpack gray areas such as THC thresholds, TUE complexity for common medications, transparency vs backlash, influencer incentives, and the future pressure regenerative medicine and technology (e.g., super shoes) may place on sport rules.
Kilian: IG: @runtoughmindset | Substack: https://substack.com/@runtoughmindset
Sponsors:
LMNT: https://drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
deltaG: https://deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (20% Off)
True Nutrition: https://truenutrition.com/hpo Code: HPO (20% Off)
Episode Summary & Notes: Zach Bitter & Kilian Korth on PEDs, incentives, and doping in ultrarunning
Context & framingConversation is the third appearance by Kilian on Zach's podcast; shifts from traditional training/racing episodes toward current events in running.
Sparked by recent doping-related controversies (Cam Hanes / Sage Canaday online conflict, Mike McKnight's discussion of BPC-157 use on Hanes' podcast).
Both emphasize moving beyond narrow focus on specific peptides/cases to broader structural issues.
Skepticism of modern activism: good causes often get distorted by perverse incentives (attention, platform growth, organizational self-preservation/mission creep).
Online environments (especially short-form social media) reward polarization over curiosity or truth-seeking.
Parallel drawn to low-carb diet advocacy: movement shifted from exploration of pros/cons toward dietary supremacy and identity attachment.
Both hosts value changing one's mind with new evidence and prefer evolving conversations over tribal "debates" aimed at winning.
Rapid professionalization and financial incentives exist, but sophisticated testing (especially out-of-competition) is essentially absent.
Honor-code system + high rewards creates conditions in which some athletes near the top are likely to use PEDs.
Contrast with Olympic sports (e.g., swimming) where positives occur even with lower financial stakes.
"Doping" is an unhelpful blanket term that equates intentional, high-impact cheating (e.g., EPO) with gray-area or accidental cases.
BPC-157 is an experimental peptide with very limited human data (one small study of 12 people among 36 total studies reviewed).
Anecdotally has been used for tendon/muscle healing; on the WADA banned list at all times (no TUE pathway currently).
Gray areas exist in WADA criteria themselves (performance enhancement potential, health risk, "spirit of the sport").
THC example: banned in-competition with a relatively high threshold; removed alcohol from the list is an example of changes over time.
Distinction between letter of the rules vs. moral/cosmic fairness; between intentional advantage-seeking and medical/recovery use.
Full USADA/WADA-style regimes require whereabouts reporting, out-of-competition testing, and significant lifestyle constraints (conflicts with the free-spirited, remote nature of trail/ultrarunning).
Even gold-standard systems have loopholes (missed whereabouts, remote camps, short-acting substances timed around sleep windows).
Half-measures are expensive, burdensome, and unlikely to deter determined cheaters.
Middle-of-pack and age-group athletes face different calculus; many use legitimate medications (inhalers, etc.) that may or may not require TUEs depending on type and dose/threshold.
Transparency and honesty should be encouraged rather than punished (both hosts respect that Hanes and McKnight disclosed BPC-157 use).
Practical ideas:
Optional "non-competitive / open" checkbox so athletes using regulated substances can still participate without affecting results/records.
Tested vs. non-tested divisions (bodybuilding-style model).
More education needed around legitimate medical use (TUEs, Global DRO checks).
Focus should prioritize the small professional/elite tier where financial and competitive incentives are highest over age-group minutiae.
Future regenerative medicine and longevity interventions will force further adaptation; sport has already accepted large performance gains from technology (super shoes) more readily than internal/medical ones.
Influencer economy adds complexity: financial incentives to promote products or share experimental practices; difference between sharing personal experience vs. recommending use.
Transparency with clear caveats is preferred; pure anecdote-driven advice remains problematic.
Societal issues (tribalism, algorithmic incentives, low scientific literacy) make clean solutions difficult inside a small niche like ultrarunning.
Both stress nuance over black-and-white absolutism
Conversation aims to push the sport toward honest discussion of incentive structures rather than endless case-by-case outrage.
Kilian's Substack article ("The Run Tough Mindset") and upcoming documentary Forged in Failure are referenced as related material.
Run The News | Josh Kerr Shatters 27 Year Old Mile World Record
Josh Kerr shattered the mile World Record, running 3:42.66. Everett Smulders has run 3:58 in the mile, and follows the sport closely, so he joined me to discuss everything surrounding this historic day. We dive …
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Josh Kerr shattered the mile World Record, running 3:42.66. Everett Smulders has run 3:58 in the mile, and follows the sport closely, so he joined me to discuss everything surrounding this historic day. We dive into what made this such a mainstream attention grabber, what made it stand out from similar accomplishments, and a variety of other topics.
Everett: wesflytrained.club/apply? I IG: @coachsmulders
Episode Sponsors:
- True Nutrition: truenutrition.com/hpo Code: HPO (20% Off)
ProBio: probionutrition.com/endurance Code: Endurance (20% Off)
LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (20% Off)
Podcast Details:
Support HPO: zachbitter.com/hposponsors
HPO Website: zachbitter.com/hpo
Zach's Coaching: zachbitter.com/coaching
Zach's Journal: substack.com/@zachbitter
Find Zach: zachbitter.com | IG: @zachbitter | X: @zbitter | FB: Zach Bitter | Strava: Zach Bitter
Run The News | Backyard Ultra Records Disqualified at the Biotropica Backyard Ultra
There was recently some controversy at the Biotropica Backyard Ultra where both the men's and women's world bests were broken. After the event concluded, it was revealed that some violations occurred, causing …
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There was recently some controversy at the Biotropica Backyard Ultra where both the men's and women's world bests were broken. After the event concluded, it was revealed that some violations occurred, causing all results from the event to be disqualified, including the top performances. Mark Dowdle joined me to discuss what happened, along with other related topics around rules in the sport of ultra marathon.
Mark Dowdle: IG @mark.dowdle | YT @mark.dowdle
Episode Sponsors:
ProBio: probionutrition.com/endurance Code: Endurance (20% Off)
LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (20% Off)
Podcast Details:
Support HPO: zachbitter.com/hposponsors
HPO Website: zachbitter.com/hpo
Zach's Coaching: zachbitter.com/coaching
Zach's Journal: substack.com/@zachbitter
Find Zach: zachbitter.com | IG: @zachbitter | X: @zbitter | FB: Zach Bitter | Strava: Zach Bitter
Episode 494: Developing As An Ultramarathon Runner | Lotti Brinks
Lotti Brinks is a rising star in the sport of trail ultramarathon. She has improved year over year, which recently resulted in finishing 5th at the 2026 WSER 100. She joins the show to discuss history with the …
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Lotti Brinks is a rising star in the sport of trail ultramarathon. She has improved year over year, which recently resulted in finishing 5th at the 2026 WSER 100. She joins the show to discuss history with the sport of running, introduction to the sport of ultramarathon, becoming a professional athlete with Hoka, the growing trend of race day optimization with team training camps, and how she has shaped her mindset to stay balanced in life outside of being a professional runner.
Lotti Brinks: @lotti_brinks | https://www.strava.com/pros/25210246
Episode Sponsors:
ProBio: probionutrition.com/endurance Code: Endurance (20% Off)
LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (20% Off)
True Nutrition: truenutrition.com/hpo Code: HPO (20% Off)
Podcast Details:
Support HPO: zachbitter.com/hposponsors
HPO Website: zachbitter.com/hpo
Zach's Coaching: zachbitter.com/coaching
Zach's Journal: substack.com/@zachbitter
Find Zach: zachbitter.com | IG: @zachbitter | X: @zbitter | FB: Zach Bitter | Strava: Zach Bitter
Episode 493: Comrades Champion | George Kusche
The Comrades Marathon is one of the most competitive ultramarathons on the planet. The 99th running of the historic point to point course recently saw both the men's and women's course records go down. George …
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The Comrades Marathon is one of the most competitive ultramarathons on the planet. The 99th running of the historic point to point course recently saw both the men's and women's course records go down. George Kusche was the men's and overall winner with a time of 5 hours 15 minutes 56 seconds over the 85.77 km net uphill course.
George Kusche: @kuschegeorge
Episode Sponsors:
ProBio: probionutrition.com/endurance Code: Endurance (20% Off)
LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (20% Off)
Podcast Details:
Support HPO: zachbitter.com/hposponsors
HPO Website: zachbitter.com/hpo
Zach's Coaching: zachbitter.com/coaching
Zach's Journal: substack.com/@zachbitter
Find Zach: zachbitter.com | IG: @zachbitter | X: @zbitter | FB: Zach Bitter | Strava: Zach Bitter
Run The News | Did WSER 100 Highlight A Missed Pacing Advantage?
WSER 100 2026 was defined by large improvements in finishing times across both the men's and women's top finishers. What does the historically cooler temps help tell us about the next big performance boosting …
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WSER 100 2026 was defined by large improvements in finishing times across both the men's and women's top finishers. What does the historically cooler temps help tell us about the next big performance boosting strategy for ultramarathon races? Nick Coury joins me to discuss the pacing variable that may still yield big improvements at races like WSER 100.
Episode Sponsors:
ProBio: probionutrition.com/endurance Code: Endurance (20% Off)
LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (20% Off)
True Nutrition: truenutrition.com/hpo Code: HPO (20% Off)
Podcast Details:
Support HPO: zachbitter.com/hposponsors
HPO Website: zachbitter.com/hpo
Zach's Coaching: zachbitter.com/coaching
Zach's Journal: substack.com/@zachbitter
Find Zach: zachbitter.com | IG: @zachbitter | X: @zbitter | FB: Zach Bitter | Strava: Zach Bitter
Run The News | Downhill Treadmill & Heat Training
Some eye catching training techniques have recently been highlighted in the running world. These included what appears to be an excessive degree weighted downhill treadmill work, and heat train maxxing. I give …
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Some eye catching training techniques have recently been highlighted in the running world. These included what appears to be an excessive degree weighted downhill treadmill work, and heat train maxxing. I give some thoughts on both, and what they mean for the average runner.
Episode Sponsors:
ProBio: probionutrition.com/endurance Code: Endurance (20% Off)
LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (20% Off)
Podcast Details:
Support HPO: zachbitter.com/hposponsors
HPO Website: zachbitter.com/hpo
Zach's Coaching: zachbitter.com/coaching
Zach's Journal: substack.com/@zachbitter
Find Zach: zachbitter.com | IG: @zachbitter | X: @zbitter | FB: Zach Bitter | Strava: Zach Bitter
Episode 492: My Blood Clot Diagnosis
I was recently diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or a blood clot. I was traveling for a race when symptoms presented. This is a timeline of the events that led to me getting checked and confirmed. DVT …
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I was recently diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or a blood clot. I was traveling for a race when symptoms presented. This is a timeline of the events that led to me getting checked and confirmed. DVT is a situation where if you don't act soon, it can get very bad. Getting checked when symptoms present is very important, and I hope to highlight that with my story.
Episode Sponsors:
ProBio: probionutrition.com/endurance Code: Endurance (20% Off)
LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (20% Off)
True Nutrition: truenutrition.com/hpo Code: HPO (20% Off)
Podcast Details:
Support HPO: zachbitter.com/hposponsors
HPO Website: zachbitter.com/hpo
Zach's Coaching: zachbitter.com/coaching
Zach's Journal: substack.com/@zachbitter
Find Zach: zachbitter.com | IG: @zachbitter | X: @zbitter | FB: Zach Bitter | Strava: Zach Bitter
Run The News | Enhanced Games Failure? Fuel Abundance Signaling, Comrades Marathon
On paper, the Enhanced Games was a massive failure, but was success the real goal or something bigger? Hyper carb fueling strategies are all the rage right now, but is there more to this approach than gut …
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On paper, the Enhanced Games was a massive failure, but was success the real goal or something bigger? Hyper carb fueling strategies are all the rage right now, but is there more to this approach than gut training on race day? The Comrades Marathon produced course records on both the men's and women's side of the event.
Episode Sponsors:
ProBio: probionutrition.com/endurance Code: Endurance (20% Off)
LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (20% Off)
Podcast Details:
Support HPO: zachbitter.com/hposponsors
HPO Website: zachbitter.com/hpo
Zach's Coaching: zachbitter.com/coaching
Zach's Journal: substack.com/@zachbitter
Find Zach: zachbitter.com | IG: @zachbitter | X: @zbitter | FB: Zach Bitter | Strava: Zach Bitter
Episode 491: The Art Of Ultrarunning | Ian Sharman
Ian Sharman is a legend in the ultramarathon space, finishing top ten at WSER 100 nine times, four wins at Leadville 100 mile, and a wealth of knowledge with respect to training theory and the variables that …
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Ian Sharman is a legend in the ultramarathon space, finishing top ten at WSER 100 nine times, four wins at Leadville 100 mile, and a wealth of knowledge with respect to training theory and the variables that make for successful ultramarathon results. Ian recently published a book, "Art of Ultrarunning: Tried & Tested Strategies for Long-Distance Runners." We spent some time covering what he has learned throughout his career as an athlete and coach.
Ian: sharmanultra.com | IG: @sharmanian | X: @sharmanian
Episode Sponsors:
ProBio: probionutrition.com/endurance Code: Endurance (20% Off)
LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (20% Off)
True Nutrition: truenutrition.com/hpo Code: HPO (20% Off)
Podcast Details:
Support HPO: zachbitter.com/hposponsors
HPO Website: zachbitter.com/hpo
Zach's Coaching: zachbitter.com/coaching
Zach's Journal: substack.com/@zachbitter
Find Zach: zachbitter.com | IG: @zachbitter | X: @zbitter | FB: Zach Bitter | Strava: Zach Bitter
Episode 490: Multiday Ultramarathon Performance Insights | Kevin Goldberg
Multiday Ultramarathons are growing in popularity, but offer a high bar to be successful. Kevin Goldberg is the host of the "Distance To Empty Podcast" where they dive into the specific variables surrounding …
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Multiday Ultramarathons are growing in popularity, but offer a high bar to be successful. Kevin Goldberg is the host of the "Distance To Empty Podcast" where they dive into the specific variables surrounding multiday ultras. We discussed what he has learned from experts along the way, as well his own participation in this style of ultramarathon.
Kevin: https://linktr.ee/distancetoemptypod | IG: @distancetoemptypod
Episode Sponsors:
- ProBio: probionutrition.com/endurance Code: Endurance (20% Off)
- LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
- deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (20% Off)
Podcast Details:
- Support HPO: zachbitter.com/hposponsors
- HPO Website: zachbitter.com/hpo
- Zach's Coaching: zachbitter.com/coaching
- Zach's Journal: substack.com/@zachbitter
- Find Zach: zachbitter.com | IG: @zachbitter | X: @zbitter | FB: Zach Bitter | Strava: Zach Bitter
Episode 489: Walmsley Deserves WSER Entry & Policing Non-Professionals | Brian Peterson
Brian Peterson (Wolfie's World) joined me to discuss Jim Walmsley's entry into WSER through sponsor spot, and what to make of all the discussion around policing non-professional runners in sport. Brian …
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Brian Peterson (Wolfie's World) joined me to discuss Jim Walmsley's entry into WSER through sponsor spot, and what to make of all the discussion around policing non-professional runners in sport.
Brian: @wolffrunner | Wolfies World Podcast
Episode Sponsors:
ProBio: probionutrition.com/endurance Code: Endurance (20% Off)
LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (20% Off)
Support HPO:
Website: https://zachbitter.com/hpo
Patreon: https://patreon.com/HPOpodcast
Coaching: https://zachbitter.com/coaching
Zach's Newsletter: https://substack.com/@zachbitter
Episode 488: Ultramarathon Problem Solving | Kilian Korth
Kilian Korth finally cracked the code for a successful race at Cocodona 250 on his forth attempt. It didn't come without challenges and unpredictable hurdles to clear. Kilian is one of the best problem solvers …
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Kilian Korth finally cracked the code for a successful race at Cocodona 250 on his forth attempt. It didn't come without challenges and unpredictable hurdles to clear. Kilian is one of the best problem solvers in the sport. We discuss his approach, problem solving, and what makes Cocodona and multiday events so appealing in the modern ultramarathon era.
Kilian: IG @runtoughmindset | Substack: https://runtoughmindset.substack.com/about | Kilian Korth x Creerpers Socks
Episode Sponsors:
ProBio: probionutrition.com/endurance Code: Endurance (20% Off)
LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (20% Off)
Podcast Details:
Support HPO: zachbitter.com/hposponsors
HPO Website: zachbitter.com/hpo
Zach's Coaching: zachbitter.com/coaching
Zach's Journal: substack.com/@zachbitter
Find Zach: zachbitter.com | IG: @zachbitter | X: @zbitter | FB: Zach Bitter | Strava: Zach Bitter
Run The News | Is Fair Sport Fantasy?
Recently, Sage Canaday called into question Cameron Hanes participation in running events by pointing out some of the products he has openly discussed using. The topic raises questions about what the best …
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Recently, Sage Canaday called into question Cameron Hanes participation in running events by pointing out some of the products he has openly discussed using. The topic raises questions about what the best process is for maintaining clean sport. I discuss what I believe both of their broader points include, and potential options to minimize the divide.
Episode Sponsors:
ProBio: probionutrition.com/endurance Code: Endurance (20% Off)
LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (20% Off)
Podcast Details:
Support HPO: zachbitter.com/hposponsors
HPO Website: zachbitter.com/hpo
Zach's Coaching: zachbitter.com/coaching
Zach's Journal: substack.com/@zachbitter
Find Zach: zachbitter.com | IG: @zachbitter | X: @zbitter | FB: Zach Bitter | Strava: Zach Bitter
Aqui estão os 40 episódios mais recentes de 528. Os mais antigos estão no feed do podcast.
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