The best part of attending a 515km / Ultraman distance event is the life-long friendships you leave with. These events attract remarkable athletes from all walks of life and all corners of the globe. 515 : The Ultra Podcast invites you into the lives of these people who make up the Ultra family through conversations hosted by Larry Ryan, race director of Ultra TriFest Canada and the new Ultra 515 World Wide Championships held in Whistler, BC.
Join us if you are an Ironman with an aspiration toward the 515km distance; if you are a seasoned veteran of Ultratriathlon; or you just want to fill your training hours listening to inspiring stories, about epic events, told by interesting people. There will be plenty of take-aways for your own training and/or your bucket list. For show notes and past guests, please visit the Podcast Website: https://515theultrapodcast.buzzsprout.com
If you like what you hear on the podcast and want to support more content, consider visiting my BUY ME A COFFEE page to show your appreciation :
https://buymeacoffee.com/larryryan
Larry has been around the Ultra family since 2010 when he first crewed his then wife, Lucy Ryan, at Ultraman Canada. Since that time Larry has crewed for numerous Ultra athletes at many different events. For a few years, Larry was co-race director of Ultraman Canada when it needed some help getting back up and running. and now is race director for Ultra TriFest Canada in Whistler, BC.
Empowering women to improve their health and wellbeing with nutritional education and daily support, inspiring new lifestyle habits.
Jen Annett has developed a reputation as a tough racing athlete, overcoming a battle with epilepsy to become a serious podium contender at every race she enters.
Jen set a new female 515 distance World record at Ultraman Canada in her home town of Penticton, British Columbia, in the summer of 2024 with a time of 21:39:32.
Connect with Jen at her website. #RaceTough
Instagram : annett_jen
Keri is the owner and founder of emPOWER Yoga. She is also a Running Coach, Triathlon Coach, & CrossFit Coach. In July 2018, she completed her first Ironman and in February, 2020 she completed the World Marathon Challenge (7 Marathons, 7 Continents, 7 Days). Keri has completed Ultraman Arizona and Ultraman Florida and is training for Ultraman Worlds in Hawaii.
website : https://empoweryoganj.com/
Keri’s Youtube
Mark is an EMT from Bellevue Washington, who holds the 60+ age group record at Ultraman Canada. He has crewed numerous times at 515 races around the world and is now ready for his own adventure on the island. He doesn’t take things too seriously when at these events, except for trying to win the Kokua award.
He recently completed the Rim 2 Rim 2 Rim and has completed 32 Ironman distance races. In addition, Mark holds a streak of 25 consecutive outings at the Yakima River Canyon Marathon -- even when Covid cancelled the race.
Simon is a professional triathlete from New Zealand with 37 Ironman finishes. He has multiple top 10 results including 4 podiums in international professional Ironman events.
in 2023, Simon was Ultraman World Champion and set the World Record at UM Australia in a time of 19:48:47. He currently holds the course records at Ultraman Australia, Canada and Hawaii
Recently taking on Ultramarathons:
Simon does one-on-one coaching through Athletic Peak.
Steve has a B.Sc. degree in Health and Human Services and is a Registered Clinical Counsellor. He is an avid runner and triathlete who has held six national age group records, has raced at Ironman and Ultraman triathlon distances and has been a member of Canada`s national 100km team.
In 1997 he was the first BC runner to finish in the BC Marathon Championships and had outright wins in the Kamloops 50km and the Haney to Harrison 100km events.
In 2001 he became only the second Canadian ever to finish the 135 miles Death Valley race. In 2012 he was inducted into the BC Athletics Hall of Fame and is in the Frontrunners Walk of Fame in Victoria, BC.
Steve is known around the world as the VOICE of Ultraman!
Steve is a regular contributor to this podcast.
Tony is living his best life as a retired Lieutenant-Colonel from the Canadian Armed Forces in Ferrara, Italy. In 2003, Tony was inducted into the CAF Sports Hall of Fame after an extensive sporting career in ultra cycling and triathlon which included 3 Solo RAAm races, 33 Ironmans, and 9 Ultraman Hawaii races.
In 1995, he placed 1st at the US Armed Forces Ironman Championship and was named the NORAD Athlete of the Year. Also in that year he was named Team Captain of the CAF CISM Triathlon Team while competing in the CISM Military World Games in Rome, Italy.
Van Sanchez is known for being the youngest person to ever complete a 515 distance race (age 19) when he completed the Ultraman UK in Wales in 2014.
Today, Van is known as the Race Director of UltraMX 515 and UltraMX 515 Non Stop. He also coaches athletes at Even Labs. www.even.mx/van
Instagram:
@vansanchez1