John Kelly on Nutrition, Barkley Marathons, and Balancing It All

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Welcome to Episode 60 of the Eat for Endurance podcast! Today, I’m joined by John Kelly, an elite ultrarunner, engineer, and father of four, who somehow finds time to push the limits of human endurance while balancing work and family life.

John is perhaps best known as one of the few finishers of the infamous Barkley Marathons. In 2017, he became only the 15th person in history to complete all five loops of this brutal race. Fast forward to this week’s 2023 Barkley Marathons, where John made history once again by becoming the third athlete ever to finish the race twice. (And in case you’re wondering, we recorded this episode on February 23rd - pure coincidence that it’s dropping right after this year’s race!)

But John’s achievements go far beyond Barkley. His endurance resume is staggering:

• Ironman & Road Racing: Two-time Ironman Age Group Champion, multiple Kona finishes, and a blazing-fast 2:26 marathon at CIM.
• UK Adventures: 2020 Spine Race winner, holder of a legendary Pennine Way FKT, and the first to complete The Grand Round (linking the UK’s three big fell running rounds, with biking in between).
• Mountain Ultras: 10th place at the 2022 Hardrock 100 and countless other grueling races.

Oh, and did I mention he has a full-time job and four kids? So, you know... not busy at all!

In this episode, we dive into all things nutrition, from how John fuels for insane endurance feats to his favorite go-to foods (spoiler: Little Debbie cakes may or may not make an appearance). Whether you’re a die-hard Barkley Marathons fan or just love hearing how top athletes eat, you won’t want to miss this conversation.

Thanks, John, for sharing your story, and a huge congrats on your second Barkley finish! Now, time for some well-earned rest (or as much as you can get with four kids) and plenty of post-race treats. 

Links & Resources:

• John's Website: https://www.randomforestrunner.com/
• Follow on Instagram
• A documentary on John's completion of "The Grand Round"

Announcements:

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• Music Credit: Joseph McDade; Photo credit: Howie Stern
• Disclaimer – all information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is in no way meant to replace individual medical and nutrition recommendations. If you'd like to work with me for individualized nutrition support, please reach out!

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