S8E3 -- Ultraman World Champion 2025 | Max Kniazev

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)

Chapters

• 0:00 Max’s Win, Life Changes, And Goals
• 5:30 Records, 515 History, And Simon’s Benchmark
• 12:30 The 2023 Near-Record And Course Nuances
• 17:30 Fair-Play Record Plans In Australia
• 22:00 Injury Setback And Rebuilding For Hawaii
• 28:30 Bike Gains With Pro Coaching And 24-Hour Challenge
• 34:00 Day One Strategy, Watts, And Heart Rate Physiology
• 41:00 Gut Training And Race Nutrition Philosophy
• 47:00 Day Two Ride: Speed, Issues, And Course Record
• 55:00 Aero Setup, Fit, And Equipment Choices
• 1:01:30 Day Three Run: Pacing Duels And Control
• 1:09:00 Heat Management, Salt, Magnesium, And Shoes
• 1:15:00 Siberman Journey And Becoming Ultra

Transcript

Larry: 0:31

On today's show, you will get a ton of useful world campaign takeaways that you might want to apply to your own training and race. My guest opens up and shares all of his numbers and his future goals. My next guest has done a 401 half Iron Man and an 835 Iron Man and a 911 at the Iron Man Championships. Back in 2023, he spent a few months as the world record holder for the 515 distance. He has raced that distance numerous times, including in his native country of Russia, and in the United States in Arizona, and most recently in Hawaii. Joining me today from Los Angeles, your 2025 Ultraman Hawaii champion and recently new father, Max Nezev. Max, welcome to the podcast.

Max: 1:26

Yeah, hi. Thank you for the invitation. So nice to be here. Um, and um around one uh one week uh after day one uh of uh Ultraman World Championship, and uh I can say that I'm already pretty uh recovered, uh, but not ready to race again.

Larry: 1:47

Well, what about racing after your your new daughter Mia? How how how's that been going in fatherhood?

Max: 1:53

Ah she's she's waiting for us. Uh um me and my wife Alicia didn't see her um at that moment uh two weeks. So we will see her um in four days. Oh yeah, very soon. Yeah, yeah. And we're so excited uh because when we see all um videos and photos with uh with she, um it's it look she looks like uh she she she changed for this time.

Larry: 2:24

It must be uh hard for you as parents to to be away in these this time of of her life.

Max: 2:30

Yes, it was um um it was some um disgustable decision uh uh to go uh to Hawaii without uh Mia. Um and now we um realize that it was uh uh only only one right uh decision because uh if uh Mia probably would there, uh Alicia couldn't help me to uh as as she did it. So it's really probably too complicated to be mom and to be my crew crew member.

Larry: 3:02

Yeah, yeah. That's that's two full-time jobs, that's too many.

Max: 3:06

Oh yeah, oh yeah, right.

Larry: 3:08

And and what is your status these days? I know you're spending a lot of time in the United States. Um, are you trying to become a citizen of the United States? Are you still Russian? What where are you at on that?

Max: 3:21

Uh now I'm I'm uh still uh Russian uh uh because in 2023 when I thought about uh to to get uh green card uh as as I know it's like not citizenship, but uh right before. Uh and in that time I met uh Alicia. It was uh online meeting uh between us. Oh yeah, and uh we all we both uh um understood uh that's real life, and I choose uh choosing that time that I I have to go. I have to go to to build uh real uh our relationship, new family, then uh stay here. And I think it's uh was absolutely right uh because all sports goals uh still uh still can be achieved.

Larry: 4:11

Yeah. And we first spoke uh pre-COVID back when what was the first season of this podcast? It was season one, yeah, episode four. You were an athlete in profile at that time, and and during that conversation that we had, and if people want to go back and check that out, it was season one, episode four. Back in that um episode, you said that you wanted to set the world record in in that was uh that was my goal.

Max: 4:40

Uh but uh now I should uh I should say that that in 2021 the world record was uh 2048. 20 hours 48, and it was set by Petr Wabrusek in Zetch Ultra Zetch.

Larry: 4:58

In the Ultra Czech, yeah, yeah, that's right.

Max: 5:00

Yeah, you want to check, yeah, yeah. Yeah, uh it was uh 515 race. Um so uh uh in that moment I I didn't know that uh um ultra ultraman world record and uh um um overall uh 515 race is the different numbers, right?

Larry: 5:21

Yes. Uh I think the the Ultraman was recognizing Richard Thompson's 2121.

Max: 5:28

Uh yes, yes, and yes, and I studied about uh Richard Thompson's uh world record only in Arizona. Okay, on Arizona race.

Larry: 5:37

Yeah, and and based on on his time when you went to Arizona, which is the second time we met, we met in Arizona. I was crewing for Shane Duffy, who coincidentally was crewing for you this time in Hawaii. Um, you got ahead of Richard Thompson with the 21-2105, and that was kind of recognized as the Ultraman um world record at that time for at least a couple of months.

Max: 6:02

Oh yeah. Uh I uh I was uh uh world uh record holder just uh one and a half months after that. Uh one guy, uh I'm a big fan of him. Uh he already uh sent me a message with congratulations, and I answered that uh I'm so happy to finish. And uh also I'm very glad to be uh so close to his time. And his name is Simon Kakray. He's a really high-level guy.

Larry: 6:36

Yeah, of course. We've had Simon on the on the podcast as well. He's at a New Zealand, and uh when he did the UM Australia a couple months after your race, he did that in a 1948 with 47 seconds, the first man to break 20 hours, which was uh amazing.

Max: 6:55

I I I thought that it's uh like um PR company of Richard Thompson of Richard Thompson to uh um to to do in that uh uh race, uh sub sub 20. And uh uh honestly I didn't believe it because I did some calculations uh um and um and um I thought that it's probably possible, but um depend on too much uh obstacles, too much uh uh conditions like weather, wind, uh, some maybe um competitors uh who can uh make you faster, who who can uh offer you real battle.

Larry: 7:37

Yeah, yeah, push you push you to go a little bit more. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Now now that being said, I was looking up the Cyberman stats and uh it in 2023, is this correct? You got a 1950.

Max: 7:52

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Larry: 7:54

Yeah, 1950.

Max: 7:56

You know, I have uh the uh movie on uh YouTube which called the one uh minute less. It means that uh that uh was a real uh attempt to to beat uh world record. I was uh in that I think uh 2023, my um currently top shape in uh triathlon uh and uh I did all my best. I gave uh that time 100%. But um the joke uh of that race was uh that I got cramp, um two cramps uh on my back uh uh how to say backside of uh yeah, yeah, yeah. No, no, no, uh um a little up uh on the back side of my leg.

Larry: 8:44

Your hamstring.

Max: 8:46

Yeah. Uh and uh it was uh on uh the last maybe two or maybe two and a half K of uh running course. Uh uh before before that cramps, I was uh maybe some 20 or maybe 30 seconds uh faster than uh world record, and only after finish I uh understood, and the organizers uh said me that their run course a little more. Um yeah, there are 12 loops uh by 7k, as I as I um thought, but in fact it was 12 loops, 7k 100 meters. So in sum it was uh uh 85 uh 200. So it's so but um you you know it's um not uh honestly um it was like an attemption attempt, uh good um good try. Um I'm not so sad about that I uh didn't uh do this, uh, because all courses uh are different. Yeah. So my goal probably now I'm saying about it only first time in public. Um uh I'm planning to go to Ultraman Australia and try to beat their record. That will be a real fair play. Ah, yes, because same, yeah, same race, uh, same courses. Uh probably weather, wind, conditions uh can be different, but uh in fact, uh same time, same same race, same course. Yeah, that's uh that's why now I think about this seriously because um I asked um a couple of days um ago before our podcast uh to myself um the key question. Yeah, uh, what else what else can I do here? I can uh I want to achieve in out inside Ultra Man. And um two things. Uh first one I already said that to beat the world record, but uh to do it uh in uh uh in fair play. Just uh because I I lost, yes, I lost the possibility to compete with Simon uh shoulder to shoulder in 2023 because I was I was uh injured a little uh and Simon uh went to Ultraman World Championship. Now, as I know uh Simon is not uh isn't planning uh to go Ultraman again, so I try to go to his uh probably almost uh home country, New Zealand, Australia is pretty um the same, yeah. And second one uh is fantastic, but I'm excited about this goal uh to try to think where and how can I um um try to do sub-19. Oh, all right. Because um just um uh ideal calculations um told me that it's uh too hard, too difficult, but possible.

Larry: 12:05

Right. Now would you consider going to the check 515 to do that where they're running the loops and it's a little more contained? Or do you want to do it on a more open course?

Max: 12:17

Uh uh check uh 515 is uh I think best uh place to do this race. But uh as I know is not even not more.

Larry: 12:29

Oh, they're not operational at the moment?

Max: 12:32

Yeah, no more operational, yeah. Oh uh but the um the formula of uh such race is pretty good. Uh I should find some big around 5k loop uh where I can uh do bike, uh where also uh I can run and uh not far uh from from this loop, some um lake or maybe um flat flat flat open water.

Larry: 13:01

Right. So are you considering then doing this as just your own challenge? Like you're gonna come up with your own course to try and get this.

Max: 13:09

Because there will be official time, uh all um um how to say witnesses, right? But many people who uh who will see it and who can prove it. So probably I should find some 515 race. All right, yeah, excellent. Well, but it should be as as flat uh um as possible. Yeah, more flat is better. Obviously, yes, yes.

Larry: 13:38

Now that being said, these are these are some lofty goals for you to achieve coming up. What were your goals going into Hawaii? What were you hoping to achieve there?

Max: 13:49

Well, it was um uh really interesting uh story, and now we can say this is a successful story. Um, and I can tell you a little um for six six months uh before when I went to um double ultra, it's uh EUTA uh um how to say family of uh races, and it was uh world championship uh uh MSD. It's it's Germany double ultra, it's uh double Iron Man distance when you swim uh double uh course in in pool uh then uh right double course in a small loop. It uh there was 4k 250, something like that. So yeah, it's crazy. It's uh around uh uh 82 loops. And uh yeah, and uh run uh running course is uh double marathon, same uh on uh one three hundred. So the 65 loops. Um and I uh there I uh I tried uh to beat world record, uh it's not too too hard, it was really possible, but of course not easy as as I for records. Uh I was first from the water and um tried to push as as much as I as I could uh and uh I fallen down on after 40 just 40 minutes, it was only 25th K, and I uh got injured. Um I I got um how to say uh collabone uh ligament rupture. Oh wow, okay. Yeah. So I was injured, I didn't uh I didn't do nothing uh till uh August, only in August 5th, uh as if I am alright, uh I ran first time. Oh wow. And also that time I started to swim in the pool, it was like uh start from the from the zero level.

Speaker 4: 15:59

Right.

Max: 15:59

But uh yeah, but honestly, I was uh improved uh my bike shape because um if you if you can uh not swim and cannot run, I just ride uh and I did bike a lot. Also, I added uh the coach. Now my coach for bike uh preparation. Okay, uh is yeah, it's Javier Sola, it's uh Tadei Pagacar uh coach. I think every every everyone knows uh Tadei Pagashar. So and uh that makes uh that made our uh bike skills uh on next level. Absolutely, and another level, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And in the August uh 31, in the uh last uh last month of summer, I did a 24-hour challenge. Uh I w uh I rode uh on bike 24 hours, yeah, and the goal was to um collect collect uh elevation of uh K2 mound.

unknown: 17:02

Okay.

Max: 17:02

A little less than uh uh Everest. Everest mount. So after after successful uh that successful challenge, I understood that uh mentally I'm ready for the Ultraman Ultraman race. Only uh were the questions about my swimming and running. Because uh all the time when I start run when I start to run after maybe 30 or 40 minutes, um I feel uh you know, it's like when you stop feeling like numb numbness. Numb, yeah, yeah, yeah, right, right, right. And it was uh real this dism uh unconvenient. Yeah. Because I uh I didn't uh understand uh how it's um uh going on or how to to run uh with such feelings. Um and uh the time times times up. Um and one month before the race, um the countdown uh was started. Yeah and uh I tried to to become stronger mentally because uh uh I I understood the time that uh only this way I can use. Of course, I uh I know about Simon uh course record uh 2057, um, and I counted a lot of time uh when uh how and how I can um um become close to that time.

Speaker 4: 18:30

Right.

Max: 18:31

And my my bet was on bike. Uh but as SBC uh with uh not too bad. With the two bad swimming, uh I lost already around 20 minutes, and uh it was significantly for all next uh stages.

Larry: 18:49

Yeah, yeah. Well let's let's let's look at each of the uh each of the days then a little bit. Uh your swim time was uh uh 303 and Simon's was at Simon's was at 238 um that you were chasing right off the bat. 238.

Max: 19:07

I thought to 43 thought 43, so it's 25 minutes. Yeah, game over already. Game over.

Larry: 19:16

Um and I know that when we met in Arizona, the swim was not your best discipline then. Have you done a lot of work on your swimming uh over the last few years?

Max: 19:25

Or yeah, I done a lot of uh work on swimming and uh 7.6k on uh double ultra. Uh I swam uh with uh one thirty one thirty minutes per per hundred. Oh yeah, great. So yeah, it was great. Uh I um I um I improved my swim swim level um I think uh enough to be not even no to be uh to be not sucked in the swimming. So um but uh after inju after injury I lost it all.

Larry: 20:06

Yeah yeah that that makes sense. Yeah it's difficult to swim when you got the the collarbone problem for sure. Yeah.

Max: 20:14

So just I was just happy that I uh um I did a swim course and I feel felt the time at that moment myself.

Larry: 20:23

Yeah, excellent. Yeah and Canadian Dave Matheson came out of the water a little bit ahead of you and six sixteen minutes too much. So so you had somebody to chase on day one. Um did that change your strategy in day one? Were you were you hoping to be in front? Were you hoping to have somebody do the chase? What what you got that big climb coming out of the water? What were you hoping to do as far as your your power on the bike on day one? And then what changed based on the racing conditions?

Max: 21:00

I saw Dave uh only uh just after start after after uh uh start signal and uh I was uh I asked myself who is that guy? Why he why he's swimming too much fast? And then uh I lost him, so I didn't see I didn't see him uh during the during the swimming. Sometime I thought maybe he is already gone, or sometime I I thought maybe I'm uh already past uh him. And I scared, I I tell you honestly, that I scared to ask my crew team uh uh am I first or somebody uh already on the bike.

Speaker 4: 21:43

Right.

Max: 21:44

Uh and I started my bike. Uh uh I did uh full uh full test for day one. So I I know all um all heels, all um downhills, so I was I was pretty calm. Uh I know my watts, all um uphills, uphills here, yeah. Uphills, all uphills. Uh I tried to keep uh 350 400 uh watts uh and uh downhill uh um I was um I just push as as har uh as fast as uh possible to be in um um in good safe control, yeah. In good control. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. And um Bob Babit uh was on some one point and he um screamed? Screamed screamed, yeah. Yelled at you, yeah. Something uh five, yeah, something five thirty-six. Uh but what what's what kind of num what kind of numbers? What uh uh what uh did he tell me? Uh uh and uh then uh I pushed too much, probably two or twenty or thirty watts uh more than uh than was uh uh by my plan. Yeah uh and uh after some time uh yes I remember it was 40 or 45k. Uh I saw his uh real red light. Oh yeah. And uh I understood that if um ah before before that uh my team sent me 16 uh minutes. So I understood if I catched uh him uh 60 minute uh gap only on 45k, so he's not too strong, uh and I gone from him immediately. Um and the day um probably um uh I waited from me from my legs uh a little more at uh on day first, but I did. Yes, I did.

Larry: 23:50

Yeah, yeah, you sure did. Can can I ask you, Max? Like you're a super healthy guy. People watching on YouTube can see your your body, your you're you're you're well defined. Um, what's your heart rate when you're pushing 400 watts?

Max: 24:06

Oh, it's interesting. When I uh uh tell um my heart rate, uh people really surprised. Um for first day, I can't say uh my heart rate because I I didn't uh take on my belt. Yeah, um, but I think it's something same as day two. Uh it probably it should be around 120. Because second day was 118. Oh my goodness. Yeah.

Larry: 24:37

How are you putting out that effort at that heart rate? Oh my goodness. That's incredible.

Max: 24:43

I think it's depends on um the size of my uh heart camera. Uh it's pretty big heart uh and uh when I sleep. Um I saw in the days when I on the peak uh my heart rate was uh at night, the minimum level was uh around 33, 32, 33.

Larry: 25:02

That's an incredible resting heart rate, yeah.

Max: 25:05

And um, can you predict what m uh what was uh my heart rate on running?

Larry: 25:13

Um uh based on that. Um based on that, yeah. Geez, I don't know. 120?

Max: 25:21

Um a little more, 126 and 127. So yes, it's um but you know it's uh it's that's um that fact proves uh to me and for all who follows who follow me that's uh um you know um I am an ultra athlete because uh my heart works uh um especially uh some specifically uh and good for ultra because if for example try me to compete in spring triathlon or Olympic triathlon, uh I will lose too much because their uh heart rates um as I know because I'm a coach and work with the national team, uh they can run uh on 190 or 195 sometimes. Yeah. Yeah. So my my heart is not for us for space, not for not about speaker.

Larry: 26:15

No, but it'll keep you going at that rate. That's amazing.

Max: 26:18

Oh, yeah, yeah.

Larry: 26:19

And and what about your nutrition when you're racing? What what's your what's your favorite nutrition? What do you take in your bottles? Do you do solid food? What kind of stuff?

Max: 26:28

I explained your your own. This year uh found uh that uh how uh important uh to find uh your own nutrition and how important to prepare your stomach. Yep. Uh your stomach to um to be ready uh for uh to to consume uh so much uh uh uh carbs. Yeah. Um just imagine Cameron Wolf uh on uh Iron Man, Texas, uh ate uh 200 carbs per hour.

Speaker 4: 27:05

Okay.

Max: 27:06

Uh he did uh he uh on bike, on bike, uh uh he he rode uh less than four hours. Yeah, okay, multiply two hundred uh to four, yeah, and it will be uh eight hundred uh carbs. Yeah. Uh transform its uh to sugar equivalent, and just imagine how many sugar you should eat. Yeah, and where and uh and just tell me where you can run after that. Uh that's why I I all this year uh I tried uh different uh um types um like different formula formulas of carbs and I found my wrong. It's uh Vitargo brand, yeah. Sweden uh special uh unique uh formula uh the without any sugars. So it's uh really good, yeah. So for stomach, it's pretty good. And uh I tried uh um it was not so risky. I was uh sure that I can uh consume uh 120 per hour, uh, but in fact I uh consumed 135 maybe a little plus per hour. 135 is uh too much, yeah. And also I um asked uh Javier Sola uh how procyclists uh can eat uh can eat successfully, we can say this this way uh uh and be okay. Uh how they train it. And uh Javier said me uh the top secret many years of training. So you can uh train uh not only your body, only your mentality, and uh nowadays also you can uh train your stomach too.

Larry: 28:57

Right, yeah.

Max: 28:58

Yeah, that's why uh it doesn't matter how long if my training session just swimming, just one hour swimming, after 45 uh minutes, I eat some gel. Um because um you know stomach uh during the training, during the intensity, and stomach uh when you just sit, uh it's uh it's different stomach because uh uh when you train all blood go uh uh goes goes to your muscles, right? So yeah, you you should train your stomach uh to be effective uh um in some um deblooding, yeah, yeah.

Larry: 29:37

Yeah, to draw some blood to the stomach to do the digesting while you're doing your exercise.

Max: 29:41

That it doesn't it's a really key key thing. For example, maybe no, just tell uh just talk about you. You probably can uh um push and hold the um 250 watts uh um all three hours, but after one hour you you will meet uh uh slow down factor, like stop factor, you need more energy than you uh consume. Right, and when you try to consume more, your stomach uh can you can say you I could I couldn't do this.

Larry: 30:13

Right, right. So the the stomach is not prepared to digest that, but through training the stomach by being on top of it all the time training every 45 minutes you're putting more in, yeah, you're getting the stomach used to doing that digestive.

Max: 30:29

Yeah, and you can probably you can remember such uh rule that uh you should train without gels and only on race you will eat gels. It's uh old uh old rule, not uh not not correct, not correct because my uh my real advice to eat uh your sport nutrition uh while all your training because it's uh preparing your stomach. Right, yeah, yeah.

Larry: 30:57

Hello, listener. I love getting your feedback and suggestions for the podcast. Keep them coming at 515ultraman at gmail.com. For those that want to help me promote the show, I suggest that you're too. Word of mouth is a great way for podcasts to get to the code. And if you don't mind publishing your phone, a free way to support the show is by leaving a five-star rating and review on your podcast. And it helps others to support. If you're so inclined, you can show your appreciation for my work by clicking the support button at the bottom of the show notes. To go to my Find Me a COP page. Thanks for all of your feedback and support. We kind of sidetracked off of talking the day-to-day races here. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Let's let's jump back into day two then. So on day two, you were able to set a new course record. Uh your day two time was a 709-12. Uh, that was previously held by another Canadian, Mike Coglin. Um, he had a 7106, so you you edged him out by by a minute. Um less than a minute. Less than a minute. Okay, I was rounding. Uh yeah. So were you were you really gunning for that day two record when you when you were on the course?

Max: 32:32

Um I it was too fun uh funny too. Um, because I thought that Simon's time of day two was 7.15. Okay, but it was not. His time was uh 7:32. 732, yeah, yeah. I I don't know why I I find somewhere 7.15. Maybe it was day first or with with swimming.

Larry: 32:58

His total time on day one was there you go.

Max: 33:03

And uh I set uh the goal to myself uh to beat uh 7.15.

Speaker 4: 33:09

Okay.

Max: 33:09

Uh I started from the start uh with a huge and long uh descent. Uh uh my speed was there, probably close, or maybe a little more than 80k per hour.

Larry: 33:21

That's coming that's coming down off the volcano at the beginning of day two.

Max: 33:24

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, it was uh nice, uh it was nice flying. Um and uh um sometimes um I was um um close to um to become uh some scared. Oh, yeah, but I tried uh yeah, but I try to feel myself in moment and um uh I repeated uh to myself that uh if I feel that I'm flying, it's okay, uh leave it. Right. Yeah, and uh it's uh my average speed uh on first 30 30k was close to 60. So crazy. Oh wow, yeah, yeah. And uh and after after we started some um up and down, up and down, um and um you know um I don't know what for, but uh I think it's I it thought the time that's uh can be funny to me. I switch uh I swipe, I swipe, I swipe my bike to computer to map. So I didn't see all metrics like speed, like distance, like uh um every speed and power. So uh I wrote uh just uh as I feel that. And first time when I uh swiped back uh to um to list when uh all distance uh and all uh all metrics was uh at 148k. Okay. I was so glad that I did uh already uh uh a little more than that more than half. Yeah, and uh after I just um I and now and that time I started to count uh so 136 uh was remaining. I realized that I I can do sub seven. Yeah. And I try to push. I forget, uh I forgot about um um, you know, by rules, I should uh ride on shoulder uh when it's safety and uh um as much as possible. So for me in that time, uh more safety was to be on the road. Yeah, I choose uh the better asphalt, uh the most um um speed uh um the more fast uh conditions, and uh uh some traffic was behind me. Yeah, and uh one yeah, yeah, and one staff car uh catch me and uh uh said to my crew crew crew crew team that I should go on the shelter or we give you disqualification. That's more that's what that was not bad news for me. I just moved. Yeah, sometimes I also any way back uh to them to the road. Uh and I was uh in in timing. I was uh in timing, I was I um was pretty happy about this, but one turn, it was maybe 175 or close to 180k. Um I got a problem, I got a mechanic mechanical issue. Uh my rear durator uh is ramp system yeah uh goes down, and I uh couldn't do anything uh to up uh the shift it back up, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Uh I stopped, uh I tried uh to continue to go, but same thing, no, not working. And uh my um crew member Billy uh saw that uh the light was uh change uh like green, right, green red, green red, green red, and he tried to push and hold. And the miracle the the problem uh was uh fixed.

Larry: 37:22

Like all electronics, you just have to turn it off and turn it back on again. That's Billy Rick's right who was accruing.

Max: 37:29

Yeah, I lost uh around maybe six, maybe uh five, maybe seven, something like this, uh uh minutes. Uh um and um and now to be to beat sub-seven uh was um much harder. Yeah. I I pushed uh pedals uh honestly I imagined uh that I'm uh Tadei Pagaccher who uh who usually and uh that this year and last year he can uh uh go one uh uh at hundred and eighty-five K. So I I thought what uh Tade uh probably felt in the in in that moment, in such moments. Yeah, and I and I try uh to do a little same. And um on the last downhill was so windy, and we um go down to um to ocean, to ocean coast, yeah, and uh to the last uh segment uh to Javi, Javi Village. Yeah, it was uh interesting that my team uh go went uh behind behind me and uh they can't uh write uh same same speed as as I did.

Larry: 38:45

Oh you're going faster.

Max: 38:47

Yeah, I'm going faster. And um they saw all my angles, uh all my turns, and um um after after that uh they explained to me that it was uh uh absolutely silenced in the car.

Larry: 39:03

I think they all prayed that you were gonna make it to the bottom, yeah.

Max: 39:08

And um last stage around 10 miles or 15-16 uh K. Um I was counted by seconds, and I know that uh sub seven not uh sub uh 705 uh not, sub uh 10, uh yes, for 100%. But you if you remember, I keep uh I kept I kept uh in my mind 715, right? And I was so glad that I uh 100% um uh will do this. And after finish, uh when I just crossed the arc, uh I saw something 709 and some seconds, yeah. And why I was um I was happy and uh a little sad that not too much, not too much. I beat Simon Stein. Yeah, and when uh Uh organizers uh come came came to me and uh uh informed that I beat uh some record. I asked what record? What kind of record? Michael Cogland. Yeah, Michael Cogland. Wow, Michael Cogland, I know him, he's legend.

Larry: 40:16

Yeah, and um was it was it Steve that told you that, or was it Cheryl and Dave who who who let you know?

Max: 40:23

I think it was Steve King and uh Bob Babbitt and Bob Babbitt, okay, yeah. Yeah, because Steve uh came to me and uh uh said me that uh for course record for to beat Simon's uh 2057, yeah, uh I should I have to run uh uh 601.

Larry: 40:43

Six, yeah, six, yeah, it was right on six.

Max: 40:45

I said uh I said thank you. I it's it's good information for me, but probably it's too far from uh reality.

Larry: 40:53

Yeah, well I posted myself that I was hoping you were gonna run a sub-six. So uh sub-6 that would have been anything.

Max: 41:01

And you know, now um I'm um I'm sure I'm sure that it's possible, and um it's not next year, but uh 2027. Yeah, uh we will tell uh we will talk about uh my 2026 um plans. Uh but in Australia uh I definitely should run sub sub-six because uh if uh I want to beat uh world record uh should uh um which is sub 20. Yeah, so uh it's definitely should be sub-six for running course because nobody nobody nobody nobody done this before. Yeah, nobody's done it.

Larry: 41:42

Yeah, yeah. Um I I would like to talk a little bit about your bike because I was watching I was following you on Instagram, like leading up to the race, and I saw this this bike that you have is just beautiful in this new arrow setup that you got with the handlebars and the and the the arrow system and even putting the water bottles in the back to make sure that you didn't have the the weight.

Max: 42:07

Uh I did it uh in uh in Iron Man Casimin uh the bottom bottle, but uh this time not.

Speaker 4: 42:13

No.

Max: 42:14

I fought I fed uh all stuff uh um between my my mat my arms. Yeah, it's like front front bottle, uh Ira bottle, uh some bottle in frame bottle, uh which repeats um frame frame shape, yeah. Frame form form uh to be more IRA and um um I think is uh the most uh uh hype trend uh this year to set uh rear bottles uh horizontal and uh uh on uh the level of your uh back uh up up from uh seat.

Larry: 42:54

Right, yeah, that's what that's what I was referring to, so that you don't catch any air swirling around on the back.

Max: 43:01

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Yeah to catch uh low pressure steam. Yeah, yeah.

Larry: 43:06

So can you can you tell us a little bit more about your bike? Because I I know you had it like well fitted and you know all decked up.

Max: 43:12

Um basic, yeah, sure. Basically, I use uh Kalnaga T T1. Uh um it's a pretty good frame uh nowadays, uh even though that it's for UCI. I did good uh bike fit uh for my for my proportion. So factor I think is uh cockpit. Uh it is three 3D printed uh uh absolutely uh individual for for my um arm length length uh for my um shape and the special angle. Uh the uh I think only only me can uh only one for me it fit. It fitted. Um also I have uh two iron pedals. It's uh wahoo wahoo pedals. They form uh it's like uh golf golf bowl. Uh uh rear uh rear setup for two bottles. Um I used uh from Easy Game, it's uh uh good uh um manufacturer. Lots of uh pros uh in Iron Man use same. Uh and um the I think the key in uh bike fit and in IRO position uh should be not only about um comfortable and also about uh aggressive. So uh and uh I understood that uh um to to make more open of my um quadriceps, I should use uh uh shorter crank. Shorter cranks. Okay, yeah, yeah. That's why I used uh one uh 65, then uh one uh 72.5 uh S uh S I originally I used. And um this uh is um this is real, it's uh it real works. Uh but you have some time to um to make it uh useful.

Larry: 45:22

You you had to train to to use that. Yeah, yeah, get used to that. Did you use the same bike when you did the 24 hour challenge?

Max: 45:30

Uh no, no, no. 24 hours uh I I did on a road bike. Okay, just simple regular road bike. Uh it's an interesting question because uh I have uh some future points uh as uh big goal is um to ride uh more than uh thousand K uh for 24 hours uh on TT bike.

Larry: 45:52

Oh wow, okay.

Max: 45:53

Yeah, it's it's an interesting challenge because the average speed is more than uh 42 for for this distance. Yeah, I I think it's it's possible. Um I I like uh um to check uh to make some uh funny exercises for my brain uh to imagine something crazy, um to imagine some ideal conditions when it can be possible and try to find it, or just uh just to do as uh as much as possible to be close to this goal, yeah. To this crazy goal.

Larry: 46:27

Yeah, yeah, to have something that strive for and just like see how close you can get, if not actually get it. Yeah, that's awesome. That's great. Yeah. Um let's jump back into day three then. So for day three, you you've been told, oh, if you go 601, you can you can break the record. And at the beginning of the day, uh Japanese athlete uh Tira Masu uh goes flying out. He looks like he's gonna try and go under six hours.

Max: 46:57

Um yeah, I said I said bye-bye uh to him uh after first 100 meters. He uh ran uh as probably my I thought maybe he forgot that he runs 84k. Maybe he thought that he ran 10k. So sub for uh in info minute pace he he ran. It's it's uh it's too fast, of course, for me. Uh but I I'm very experienced uh in this distance, and uh I I know that the race, the real race, uh start from last uh one third, right? From last uh 30k, maybe um uh 30 to 25k. So I just wait uh firstly one half uh half, one marathon. Right. Uh then I checked uh what was what was the gap. That moment was around uh six or maybe seven minutes. Seven seven minutes, yeah. Yeah, seven minutes. Uh and um just uh simple cal calculation. I should uh uh catch and uh uh as my team said me that uh the gap stopped to grow. That that means uh that uh teruma uh teruma uh teromasa uh pace uh uh became equal to mine. Yeah, but uh I ran uh uh stable. Yes. So that means teromasa slowing down slowing down, slowing down. That's what the first signal. After I uh make made um simple cal calculations, uh like uh seven minutes uh I should uh and I have 40 40k. Um if I will catch him uh for one and a half minutes every 5k, right? I will catch him uh probably at uh third at last 10, last 10 or last 15. Uh and I uh started uh uh hunting hunting him. Yeah I smell uh I catch a smell of the blood, it's like uh like a shark. No, no, no, not really like Joe. And uh I need only to see uh his back. It's like a visual uh stroke uh like a visual catching. Yes, and uh when when uh somebody see her back, uh that's uh you can uh um you can pull him in. Yeah, right, you can pull him. Yeah, and uh it was uh probably 65, 67k, close to seven, close to seventh here. Yeah, yeah. And um my my legs was close to to say me stop it all. Um cramps, but not too serious, also um general timeliness. So but but but I push and try to hold my uh uh pace uh between um um for 30 and 440 40 per k. Yeah, yeah, that's and um yeah and but it's you know it's was not uh too hard for me, so that's why I'm I'm sure that I can run sub six, yeah. Sub six sub-six or between that 420, 425 pace per K for sure. Before uh in preparation period from August uh till uh November, I didn't run more than 15k because my arm, my injury um didn't allow me to do to do more. Right, and um and uh long uh uphill. Uh I prepared my last attack to Tirumasa, and uh when I passed him, I say I said him, good job, man, and shave his hand. It's a mental trick because after that uh you show you show to your rival in that moment that I'm uh still fresh. Um at least I'm still fresher than you, yeah, because I can say you something, uh shake and uh say, Come on, come on. Um, it was like a trick because I wasn't maybe one percent charge in that moment. Yeah, I suffered. I uh to that moment I already suffered uh maybe two hours. Right. I was uh I was on the edge. And uh but Romasa is a good guy because he uh didn't stop, he tried to run as fast as he as he can at that moment. Yeah, it was cool, it was a real battle. I have a video when I shake uh his hand. Uh yeah uh uh official photographer make made uh the video from from Copter.

Larry: 51:54

Yeah. Okay, cool.

Max: 51:55

So that's nice. We'll post maybe today, maybe tomorrow.

Larry: 51:58

All right, yeah, that's be great. Yeah, I see that. Um so when you went through the through the halfway mark, he was uh a 305, you were a 312. You also had Chamba, Ultra Chamba behind you. He was 316, so only a few behind.

Max: 52:14

I about about Chamba Shane, uh my crew member said me on um 30 on 30k that uh Chamba is coming. Yeah, but uh your your pace, your graphic is pretty good. Uh Chamba um was uh Chamba had um one six one forty-six uh how say gap is uh I have, but Chamber has one one one one hour and 46 minutes, yeah. Is it too much? So um I um and Shane said me if Chamba pest you, let him go. Uh no not run uh to him, not try to pest him. Um right.

Larry: 52:55

There was no way he was gonna win the race, yeah.

Max: 52:57

Yeah, yeah. But you you know, it's um I I I don't know what uh I probably um could say to my followers, to all guys, uh to organizers, to my crew crew, crew team, if I uh let uh uh if if I did this. Right. If and um I tried to um I started uh to hold my pace uh at um um and downhill it was uh for 420, 425 uh sometimes, and uphill uh uh I hold 440, 445. Oh wow. Sometimes for 450, 450. Um and uh I think that uh Tirumasa and Chamba um got uh more much more slower slower on the climbs.

Larry: 53:51

Right.

Max: 53:52

Because yeah, yeah, yeah.

Larry: 53:53

That's where that's where you were that's where you were closing the gap and creating the gap. Yes, right, right. You were able to keep it.

Max: 54:00

And I think uh uh on this uh on this um only that's why this was the reason why I catched uh Tirumasa and why uh Chamba didn't catch me.

Larry: 54:12

And you still had Dave Matheson not too far behind you, too, the guy who beat you out of the water pushing you on day three.

Max: 54:18

So uh you know, all these three guys, uh Tirumasa, Chamba and uh Dave, yeah, they they battled uh between themselves. Yeah because they uh they fight for second and third place.

Larry: 54:33

Yeah, I was just uh somewhere you were just cruising to first place with your big lead from day two, yeah.

Max: 54:40

And you know, uh I have uh some thoughts uh um to let uh Tirumasa win this day because I already win day one, already uh won one, I oh uh uh won day two, and um I'm hundred percent if now uh if after second half uh I will um I I started uh to run uh um six uh minutes per K. I still uh uh you still win the race overall. Yeah, I still win the race. Yeah, but it's not funny, it's not a real uh race, it's not uh about to touch a little your limits. Yeah, so that's why I decided now.

Larry: 55:27

You're too competitive to to to just allow that to happen.

Max: 55:30

You have the keep the race going, yeah. Yeah, and uh in in the final uh turmasa did uh his strategy he star uh because he uh move he moved uh Dave to fourth position and uh he became uh third. So bronze medal on Ultraman uh championship is really a good result.

Larry: 55:54

Absolutely because yeah, yeah. Um, you know, one of the other things that people want to know about that are trying to learn how to race you know, these hot climates, race Hawaii, um, as far as what people at your your level are doing is salt intake. Um, you know, keeping keeping that working for you, not not getting too dehydrated, not getting too much salt. Um what was your plan going in? How did you balance that? What did you take?

Max: 56:26

How much I consumed uh two pills of salt every uh one uh one point half uh um hour and a half hours. And yeah, and also I have uh magnesium stick on running uh on the second part. I started uh uh to eat one stick uh when I I felt that I needed. Yeah, and uh you know magnesium uh it's not a um magic button because uh you can you you can get uh problem with your stomach.

Larry: 57:02

Yes.

Max: 57:03

Yes, and uh this like a very thin balance uh to prevent uh cramps and uh not to get uh uh and to stay before stomach problems. Yeah. Um I can uh give some advice to prepare your body uh before the race. So one maybe not uh one week, uh four or three days before this day. Um you should start to eat more salty food, you uh start to already uh consume salt pills, or maybe drink some salty liquid. Right. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, it's it's easier to find it.

Larry: 57:49

You do you do that in your final couple days of prep to to get the body in tune to having that, yeah. Excellent, yeah. Good too.

Max: 57:58

And um uh second uh second uh thing about uh nutrition, uh not nutrition, it's uh about ice. I use too much ice on the bike. Uh we use the uh socks, uh how to say a little sleeve with the ice in it. Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah. And uh I uh it's will be um easy to catch it, yeah. Uh and uh put uh inside my uh suit, inside my suit. Yeah, on uh running I used uh some ice uh um uh under my cap. Yeah.

Larry: 58:34

Yeah yeah. Yeah, there's yeah, there's been lots of different techniques on that from holding the ice to putting it in the cap and down the shirt and yeah, yeah, yeah.

Max: 58:44

And the third uh third uh advice for especially for running, uh to be um very careful and uh very serious about running shoes. Because my my shoes uh was good as you know, as you already know, that I didn't run more than 15k. So for for 15k, the best shoes. Yeah, but after uh 35, probably maybe uh even uh 30 uh K my um couple of uh blisters uh no no blue blisters. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. Was uh already bloody. Yeah.

Larry: 59:30

So did you do a shoe switch during the race then? Did you have another pair?

Max: 59:34

I just uh changed uh uh socks, okay, but not shoes. Oh yeah. Because the shoes was um uh with spy.

Larry: 59:43

Oh yeah, they have a thick sole for for cushioning.

Max: 59:45

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. And uh when I uh ran uh downhill, uh it was better for my knees and for muscles. Right. Because the second pair uh of shoes was uh thin, pretty thin, just for just for training.

Larry: 1:00:00

Yeah, training shoot. Yeah, yeah.

Max: 1:00:01

Yeah.

Larry: 1:00:02

Um before we were talking about Cyberman. Um, I was trying to look up the results, and tell me if I got this right. You you've raced there two times, is that correct? Or more?

Max: 1:00:13

Uh Cybermen? Yeah. Uh actually three times. 18. Um, when I was uh not even rookie, I was like uh green trial. I eat uh pasta uh on the race. I stop too much time, and uh I wanted to go out to finish my race. Uh maybe from 100k day two.

Larry: 1:00:45

No.

unknown: 1:00:46

Okay.

Larry: 1:00:47

But you went back in 2020 and 23, and you were the winner at both of those races.

Max: 1:00:52

Yeah, 2020, it was um probably my best uh year in my in my life. It was uh also pandemic year, and then uh was um the moment uh when I changed all my life uh because it was uh pandemic, yeah, uh and uh all everybody should stay at home. Uh I moved to my um to my parents uh in uh village in a small Russia town, and then I can run on fields. Oh yeah. I don't know, maybe it's uh uh uh both also uh uh prohibited, uh, but nobody nobody saw me. And I ran I ran too much. Uh and then when I went to Cybermen that that year, 2020, there there are there were there were uh so many strong uh athletes, uh Russian athletes, uh they all um maybe five of them uh already were uh were at Connor on Connor race, corner world championship. Yeah uh uh me uh only dreamed about Connor at the time. Okay, yeah. Uh and when I saw start list, uh um I thought that probably top 10 will be really good result for me. And um finally, as you know, I won uh there and uh time was very nice. It was uh record time and was um 28 minutes slower than uh world record uh 515 by uh Petr Babrusik that time. Right, yeah, yeah. And I decided to change my life and to become um triathlet.

Larry: 1:02:44

The ultra tri-athlete.

Max: 1:02:46

Yeah, yeah, ultra triathlete. Iron Max is really ultra max. Oh yeah, ultra max. And now I'm sitting here uh just uh after one one week uh after after Ultraman. And uh interesting thing, uh interesting fact that uh I studied about Ultraman World Championship uh before my first uh Iron Man race. It was Iron Man, half Iron Man in Estonia. I read uh the book uh uh Rich Roll, uh Rich Roll. Finding Ultra Yeah, find finding ultra. Yeah, find finding ultra.

Larry: 1:03:25

Yeah, that's the way a lot of people find ultras through Rich Roll.

Max: 1:03:29

Yeah, yeah. It was my like uh bump of motivation.

Larry: 1:03:36

Yeah, yeah. No, now Max, have you given any thought to going pro? Or do you think you're ultra more than iron?

Max: 1:03:45

Yes, uh I I have uh some thoughts and maybe some plans, but you know, uh when I moved uh back to Russia, uh I can become uh pro pro as Russian because Russia now uh under sanctions. Yes, so I can uh compete only as uh amateur, right? But um I find uh some Siri uh uh or some franchise Franchise franchise Siri uh who where I can uh compete with pro but stay as amateur is Xtreme, X3 uh Siri. You know, uh Norseman like yo oh the extreme, yes.

Larry: 1:04:27

Okay, yes. Okay, yeah.

Max: 1:04:29

So next year I um uh I will just set uh on pause my uh ultra races uh and will be 100% focused on uh x3 race. I will race in I have planned to race in one, two, in three, in three uh x3 x3 races. Okay, excellent. Yeah, and finally next year, uh I mean next 2027, yeah. Uh uh going to Northman uh not as um uh uh Northman ha uh has two divisions like for everyone uh and uh uh like championship. Yeah.

Larry: 1:05:23

Okay, yeah, yeah.

Max: 1:05:24

So that's my plan. And then also I um uh the mechanic uh of uh X3 races, same as Ultra because you uh need the crew staff who will uh service uh you um but uh you need uh um the running guy, run guy for some part of uh running course. Yeah, that's interesting. I like be part of team, so it's uh make me excited uh and some people who in my in my team and the X3 race uh is uh absolutely about uh not only single triad triad, yes, not only single. Yeah, yeah.

Larry: 1:06:09

Um and and can we talk a little bit about your team in Hawaii? We you we we've talked uh we've we we've mentioned you had your wife, you had Shane Duffy, you had Billy Rickerts, um Jeff Jeff and Jeff Jeff Perrett, who Jeff Perrett, yes, yeah, who was um in Arizona with me that time, yeah.

Max: 1:06:27

Um you know it's uh it looks um as pretty uh big uh team. But but in fact, nobody was uh without some function, without some um responsibility in in that race. Um Billy, he is Hawaiian. Hawaiian, so he's the driver. Uh uh no, no, Jeff is driver. Oh, okay. Yeah, Jeff was driver. Shane uh was um ideal analytics uh analytic. Yeah, he calculated all my carbs. Uh when I when I said you that uh I consumed 135, probably Shane uh can tell you uh accuracy to one. So no no, it was one thirty-three. Oh yeah. Um Billy was um provide okay all communications with uh organizers and uh he knew uh he knew um all island right at all. Yeah, so at uh the start of day two, he already uh said uh in the car that today will be good weather. Probably it's very uh it's luck for us, luck for um for Max. Uh today he will be very fast, yeah. Because uh he checked wind, he um see to the sky, yeah.

Larry: 1:07:54

Listen to the way the birds are chirping, yeah.

Max: 1:07:56

Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, no rain, uh, probably uh uh no rain today. And uh of course, uh uh Alicia was uh as like uh key key member in uh our team because when I uh went to Emstetten uh when I got the in injury, yeah, uh she was uh she was busy. She was in hospital, uh born in uh Mia. Oh, okay, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yes, giving birth. She was giving birth. She was giving birth, yeah. Uh and um um this uh this race, um she said no, I'm I'm going with you, yeah. Uh and uh will uh to and uh protect you. Um in fact I um I can uh say by words uh how how many things uh I want to say I want to say uh to her because they really protect uh protected me all not all three days, I think all three, all this uh Ultraman uh ultraman uh race trip. She scared uh about um my my speed on the on on downhills. And um she was very nervous about um about teamwork. Uh she said uh she she tried uh that she said me that she tried she tried um to organize uh to reorganize uh say Billy Billy play please stay here. You get you get uh the bottle, uh Shane, you give the bottle. And uh so she she did uh huge work. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Larry: 1:09:40

Yeah, yeah, it is a team effort.

Max: 1:09:42

Yeah, team effort very much. So probably it was my um best effort team comparing with uh with previous previous uh Ultraman uh races.

Larry: 1:09:53

Okay, yeah, good, good, good. You're getting it, you're getting it figured out.

Max: 1:09:57

Oh yeah, yeah.

Larry: 1:09:59

Now I I saw that um you're also on the the wait list, I guess it is for Cyberman. Um they they've a they've admitted some people for 2027 already, and you were at like 143 on the list. Do you do you not get like special privilege as the record holder and the winner two times to like get into this race?

Max: 1:10:25

Uh the Cyberman? Yeah. Yes, yes. Uh I can uh compete anytime. Oh, I can go there yeah, anytime. Just uh ask uh race director, his name Nikolai. Uh Nikolai, I'm ready. Uh do you want some some show? Do you want some new records? And of course, come and do it. But um honestly uh if uh I have to choose in one year, uh current in current moment, I I think in in the future moment, I will choose Ultra Man Australia.

Larry: 1:11:03

Yeah, okay. So are you thinking for 2027? For 2027. Okay.

Max: 1:11:09

Yeah. Yeah. To make some uh rest uh for my body, um to become uh hungry about uh ultra. And um I don't know how to combine it in one year because um um I now I have uh big uh trigger about Ms D Ms Devon, about World Uh Championship on double ultra. Yeah. Yeah. I have uh I have to to to back to back there and uh show that I can I can finish, at least finish.

Larry: 1:11:49

Yeah. And uh one last thing for the people that are watching this one on YouTube, not listening to the audio. Um can you can you tell us what's on your shirt? You got it you got a Russian saying on your shirt there.

Max: 1:12:02

Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. Uh it's mean uh ultra mindset. Ultra mindset. Uh yeah, you know, it's um if I explain what it means for me, it means for me uh ultra mindset is uh about um your passion, about uh your feelings in the current moment. And uh when uh Bob Babbitt asked me um what's mean what is what means to you to be world champion, uh I I answered uh him that uh um to feel myself uh in the right place right now and uh feel myself myself good. Uh also ultra mindset is uh about um uh long distance uh um life goal. Uh it's easier to to set to your short uh short term goal. Short term term goal, yeah. Uh but uh it's much uh better to you um to set uh long-term goal and uh step by step. It's it's in ideal if all steps will be equal, you should be stable. And third thing about ultra mindset is um to understand, to realize that you uh not your body, you is your conscious and uh like uh in inside your mind, and your mind uh controls your body. Uh and uh the body can much more than you may maybe probably know know about your body. So if you stronger as uh mental, yeah, then body will um will follow your mind. Yeah. So just thing uh and uh uh this race ultraman uh uh Hawaii uh shows me that uh I was uh much stronger uh in my in my mind, like um mentally much stronger than uh what my body was uh uh ready. Uh I'm still uh now I'm still have uh uh the plate inside. Oh yeah. Yeah, and now in uh uh December 10th, I will go to hospital and uh uh will extract it. Oh good, good to have some uh how to say operate uh uh in surgery. Surgery.

Larry: 1:14:35

Yeah, yeah, for you. Yeah, yeah, good. Well then, but you won't be Iron Max anymore if they take the steel out of you.

Max: 1:14:43

Oh maybe, yeah. Of course, for sure, I'll take it uh with me because it's uh it's my thing. It's my it's uh that this plate is already mine.

Larry: 1:14:53

Yeah, that's awesome, that's great. All right, well, Max, hey, thanks a lot for taking time out. Uh I know you're still recovering, even though you said you feel great. Uh, so I appreciate you taking the time to uh give us a little catch-up and a little review of what happened for you in Hawaii. So thanks a lot. And uh, you know, get home safe and and and see that new baby.

Max: 1:15:17

Oh thank you. Thank you so much, Larry. I'm so one thing uh now I'm uh uh that I'm thinking and dream about is uh to hug my my little my little daughter and so life here, and so thank you to all who listened and who watched us. Um guys, uh you really can do anything that can you imagine. Just believe it and go.

Larry: 1:15:46

Excellent advice. Thank you.

Max: 1:15:49

Thank you, bye.