Talk Ultra

For much of the last twenty years, Kilian Jornet has been the benchmark against which all mountain athletes have been measured. His achievements have transcended trail running, ski mountaineering and alpinism, inspiring an entire generation to think differently about what is possible in the mountains. But as Kilian approaches 40, has the conversation has changed? In Episode 260 of Talk Ultra, we sit down for a deep discussion. Following a difficult year marked by injury, surgery and the challenges that inevitably arrive with time, Kilian reflects on identity beyond results, the realities of being elite athlete and how motivation evolves when success is no longer measured solely by victory. We explore the psychological impact of adversity, the emergence of a new generation of athletes and the question every great competitor must eventually face: what is next? Beyond racing, we discuss the expanding influence of NNormal, his increasing focus on writing, storytelling and communication, and whether we are witnessing the beginning of a transition from athlete to mentor, thinker and catalyst for change. The conversation also moves into topics that matter deeply to Kilian: the future of mountain environments, climate responsibility in a global sport, and the lasting impact he hopes to leave on the outdoor world. Along the way, we touch on mountaineering history, from Mallory and Tenzing to modern Himalayan expeditions, reflecting on how the spirit of exploration continues to evolve or devolve. This is not a podcast about winning races. It's a conversation about purpose, legacy, reinvention and the enduring search for meaning in the mountains. Kilian Jornet, as you've rarely heard him before.

In Episode 259 of Talk Ultra, we speak with Fred Abramowitz, Race Director of Run Rabbit Run, following the landmark announcement that the RRR ultra will award a $100,000 prize purse to both the men's and women's winners in 2027 and 2028. The news has sent shockwaves through the ultra running community, sparking excitement, debate, and plenty of questions about what this means for the future of the sport. Is this the next evolution of professional trail running, or does such a significant prize purse risk changing the very essence of ultra running? Fred joins us to explain the thinking behind the decision, the goals of the initiative, and how Run Rabbit Run hopes to elevate the profile of ultra-distance racing. We discuss athlete opportunities, increased media attention, sponsorship, competitive depth, and the potential benefits for the sport as a whole. Of course, with any major change comes criticism. We also delve into concerns around professionalism, competitive balance, accessibility, race culture, and whether large cash prizes could create unintended consequences for grassroots trail and ultra events. It's a wide-ranging and thought-provoking conversation that explores both sides of one of the biggest stories in ultra running today. Whether you think the announcement is a game-changer or a step too far, this episode offers valuable insight into the motivations behind the move and what it could mean for the future of the sport. Join us for Episode 259 of Talk Ultra with Fred Abramowitz. The good, the bad, and everything in between.

Henriette's story is one of obsessive discipline, deliberate practice and a willingness to reject the conventional path. Competitive, fiercely self-reliant and prepared to put in the work when nobody is watching. But there is much more to her story than results. From obstacle course racing and an early connection with Tromsø that involved her honeymoon, through races such as the Ring of Steel, skyrunning and the World Championships, Henriette steadily built her way into the elite of the sport. A period of serious health issues interrupted that progression, but her return produced a remarkable run of performances - including 6th at OCC and CCC, 6th at Lavaredo 80K, victory at Templiers 47K, a winter Bob Graham Round record of 17:55 across 106 km and 42 peaks, 3rd at Trofeo Kima, victory at UTS 50K, and back-to-back Transgrancanaria wins in 2025 and 2026. But the results are only part of the conversation. We talk about leaving a corporate career as an auditor to become a full-time runner, the role Norway has played in shaping her - from the Romsdal mountains and local races to brutal weather and hugely varied terrain. We also get into some of the less comfortable subjects in elite sport: women's health and RED-S, body shape and what 'healthy' actually means, sponsorship and the freedom to make your own choices, shoe selection, common sense and decision-making, and the pressures surrounding UTMB and the modern ultra-running landscape. Henriette is refreshingly honest, no BS and unafraid to speak about subjects that many athletes avoid. Through the Ascend Trail, Arc'teryx, her new partnership with Raid Research and the Sufferfest film, she is also building something beyond simply being a professional runner. An outlier, certainly. But perhaps more importantly, someone prepared to question the rules, take responsibility for her own decisions and find her own way through the sport.

Episode 257 dives deep into the remarkable journey of Yngvild Kaspersen, fresh off her commanding 2026 CCC victory — a pacing masterclass that made her the first woman ever to win the race twice. We rewind to 2015, exploring her beginnings in skyrunning, the technical foundations that shaped her style, and the early promise that hinted at greatness. Yngvild opens up about balancing medical studies with elite racing, and the long‑standing question of identity: doctor who runs, or runner who is a doctor. We revisit her post‑Covid struggles, the breakthrough CCC win in 2023, and her emotional chapter at Western States. Then we break down her flawless 2026 performance — patience, precision, and a late‑race surge that defined the week. Finally, we look ahead: Western States 2027, UTMB 2028, and the next evolution of one of mountain running's most intelligent competitors. A decade of growth. A champion at her peak. A conversation not to miss.

In 2027, The Montane Lakeland 100 and Montanke Laklend 50 events will celebrate 20-years. An event that started with just 60 people has grown to an over subscribed sell out event that celebrates all that is good about running. Grounded in tradition and community - Montane Lakeland 100/ 50 is something very special in the ever growing and commercial landscape of ultra, trail and mountain running. I catch up with the Lakeland race director, Marc Laithwaite to discuss a very special event in the UK run scene.

Early in 2026, Shane Ohly made an announcement that Ourea Events would cease trading. With events such as The Dragons Backk Race, Cape Wrath Ultra, Northern Traverse and Skyline Scotland, this news was a bombshell to the UK and worldwide run scene. The dust has settled and while Ourea Events will not emerge from the ashes, the future of Dragons Back and Northern Traverse has been secured by Ultra-X, and Skyline Scotland will be saved by UTMB. The Cape Wrath Ultra will disappear, but a new event, WRATH (by the SPINE team) will see a non-stop race in 2027. I catch up with Shane and discuss what has been a very difficult time.

Amy is a world-renowned author who in 2022 toed the line of the iconic Marathon des Sables. The race planted seeds for a story, one of ultra-running and mystery. In June 2025, 'RUNNER 13' was released. Amy joins the podcast to discuss the book and her MDS story.     Runner 13 is a thriller that drops readers straight into a deadly stage race across the Sahara, echoing the notorious Marathon des Sables in Morocco. McCulloch's own experience running that event shapes every detail - the brutal desert landscape, the psychological toll, and the obsession with endurance that defines the sport. The story follows Adrienne, a once-great ultrarunner forced back into competition, and Stella, daughter of the race's manipulative director, Boones. His events, modelled on real-world extreme events, they aren't designed to be won, but to break runners. Central to the mystery is Runner 13, a symbol of both glory and doom. Told in sharp, cliff-hanging chapters that jump between present and past, the novel feels like Agatha Christie transplanted to the Sahara: a brutal race where survival, not victory, is the prize, and where Morocco's desert becomes both the setting and the trap.

From Lockdown Laps to FKT's Lydia started running during lockdown whist living in the UK. From very slow 2km runs, Lydia soon progressed to creating her own approach to running and ultra. She did road marathons, but did them different, failed at her first ultra, but then something clicked... • The Speed Project solo in the USA – 500km in 5 days. • Oman Desert Marathon – done. •FKT across 650km of the Camino de Santiago in Portugal – done. Now she lines up at OCC during UTMB week and follows up with her own fundraising project in the UK. 2026? she's coming to Costa Rica to face heat, jungle, mountains, and coastline of The Coastal Challenge

You may assume it's all about speed and pressure. Not this time. Norwegian runner, Abelone Lyng, put her own spin on the legend that is the DNT MASSIV TRAIL: 364 km, and just under 13,000 m vertical gain across four national parks in Norway: Breheimen, Jotunheimen, Skarvheimen, and Hardangervidda.  In just 10-days, Abelone moved fast and light, unbroken, solo, yet utterly connected. She didn't chase a formal FKT. She chased what she coined a "Funnest Known Time."  

Elisabet Barnes is a 5x participant at MDS The Legendary and a 2x champion. In 2025, Elisabet returned to the Legendary with different goals, different perspectives and to experience the race without the pressure of the podium. Her last MDS participation was 2017. A great deal has happened in the last 8-years, Covid for one and of course, a change of organisation at The Legendary. With extensive experience of MDS as a participant and coach, Elisabet provides and in-depth insight of the 'new' Legendary. "...very friendly, cheerful, supportive, it was a very positive experience to come to a checkpoint or the finish line. There was always people on the course wether in buggies or a medic running the opposite way; I saw so many people on the course, it was good for moral but it also felt safe... but I never felt there was less people on the course, actually I think there was more and they could access everywhere." Evolution not revolution.