The Buzz John Kelly on Barkley, Balance, and the Appalachian Trail FKT
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May 20, 2025 Join John Kelly, an ultrarunner and data scientist known for his impressive Barkley finishes and family life, as he shares his insights on extreme endurance challenges. He discusses the mental resilience required to tackle the Barkley Marathons and the significance of failure in growth. John also shares his strategy and logistical planning for breaking the Appalachian Trail FKT. With a refreshing perspective on flexible training and support systems, listeners will gain a unique understanding of balancing family and intense athletic pursuits.
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Commitment Beyond Doubt
- John Kelly made the decision months before Barkley 2016 to push forward despite struggles.
- He left camp for lap four, took a short nap, then continued, showing deep perseverance.
Maximize Available Training Resources
- Use the best training options available in your life context, even if imperfect.
- John trained on a basement treadmill balancing family, work, and peak Barkley performance.
Barkley Difficulty Approaches Limits
- Barkley course difficulty varies year by year affecting finish rates, sometimes drastically.
- A race without finishers or far fewer beyond two loops shows course and conditions close to human limits.