Human Performance Outliers Podcast with Zach Bitter

Allison Mercer joined the show to recap two very different running stories from the past week: the Moab 240 cancellation amid flash flooding, mudslides, and serious safety concerns in a remote area, and the Chicago Marathon with its mix of stories. We dig into the growing risks and responsibilities around 200+ mile events (experience levels, communication, support crews, and protocols), contrast that with Chicago's high-profile narratives involving Emma Grace Hurley, Vinny Mauri, Clayton Young, and Galen Rupp, and touch on treadmill training accuracy, super-shoe competition, and race overcrowding.
Allison: @onewomandanceparty | Strava: strava.com/athletes/18552474
Episode Sponsors:
LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (25% Off)
TrainingPeaks: trainingpeaks.com (free account)
Podcast Details:
Support HPO: zachbitter.com/hposponsors
HPO Website: zachbitter.com/hpo 
Zach's Coaching: zachbitter.com/coaching
Zach's Journal: substack.com/@zachbitter
Find Zach: zachbitter.com | IG: @zachbitter | X: @zbitter | FB: Zach Bitter | Strava: Zach Bitter

Allison Mercer is an ultramarathon athlete who has competed at both 50km and 100km World Championships, Tunnel Hill, and Strolling Jim. She joined me to unpack why the World 100 KM deserves more attention, and what ingredients make ultramarathons grow.
Allison: @onewomandanceparty | Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/18552474
Episode Sponsors:
LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (25% Off)
Podcast Details:
Support HPO: zachbitter.com/hposponsors
HPO Website: zachbitter.com/hpo 
Zach's Coaching: zachbitter.com/coaching
Zach's Journal: substack.com/@zachbitter
Find Zach: zachbitter.com | IG: @zachbitter | X: @zbitter | FB: Zach Bitter | Strava: Zach Bitter

Kim Gottwald is a German ultra runner and content creator who went from law student to backyard-ultra standout by documenting extreme projects in public, including a co-win at Go One More in Texas, and a 449 km Last Soul Ultra victory at home. He co-founded the running brand Rappid, became BPN's first German athlete, and now hosts Germany's Last Soul Ultra. He has big plans for expanding Last Soul Ultra into multiple locations, including the US.
Kim: kimgottwald.info | IG: @kim.gottwald | YT: @Kim.gottwald
Episode Sponsors:
LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (25% Off)
Podcast Details:
Support HPO: zachbitter.com/hposponsors
HPO Website: zachbitter.com/hpo 
Zach's Coaching: zachbitter.com/coaching
Zach's Journal: substack.com/@zachbitter
Find Zach: zachbitter.com | IG: @zachbitter | X: @zbitter | FB: Zach Bitter | Strava: Zach Bitter

Phil Gore holds the World Best mark for the Backyard format, completing 119 "yards" for a total of 495.83miles. He recently completed a personal project, called Project 168, where he aimed to see if he would be able to last 168 yards (700 miles). He ended up tapping out at 152 yards (633.75 miles). We discussed this project, what the limiters were, how they have created a longer recovery, and what direction the Backyard Ultra World is going, and how his event raised nearly $300,000 for Telethon, a Western Australian appeal that supports sick, vulnerable, and disadvantaged kids and their families. You can contribute here: philgore.com.au
Phil: philgore.com.au | IG: @phil.gore.ultrarunner
Episode Sponsors:
LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (20% Off)
Podcast Details:
Support HPO: zachbitter.com/hposponsors
HPO Website: zachbitter.com/hpo 
Zach's Coaching: zachbitter.com/coaching
Zach's Journal: substack.com/@zachbitter
Find Zach: zachbitter.com | IG: @zachbitter | X: @zbitter | FB: Zach Bitter | Strava: Zach Bitter

Brian Reynolds is a Brooks-sponsored double below-knee amputee runner who, in 2026, became the first athlete in that category to finish the Leadville Trail 100 — on his fourth try, in 28 hours 55 minutes. He lost both legs at age four to meningococcemia, a rare bacterial infection with grim survival odds. For years he hid the amputation and stayed off the trails. A Grand Canyon hike cracked that open. He went from powerlifting to a 2:58 marathon, multiple classification records from 5K to the marathon, and Team USA para-athletics.
Brian: IG: @brianreynoldsrunner
Episode Sponsors:
LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO (free sample pack with purchase)
deltaG: deltagketones.com Code: BITTER20 (20% Off)
Podcast Details:
Support HPO: zachbitter.com/hposponsors
HPO Website: zachbitter.com/hpo 
Zach's Coaching: zachbitter.com/coaching
Zach's Journal: substack.com/@zachbitter
Find Zach: zachbitter.com | IG: @zachbitter | X: @zbitter | FB: Zach Bitter | Strava: Zach Bitter