John Kelly on Barkley, Balance, and the Appalachian Trail FKT

What does it take to finish the Barkley Marathons—not once, but three times? And what kind of person dreams of spending 40 straight days trying to break the Appalachian Trail FKT? This week on The Buzz, Buzz Burrell sits down with ultrarunner, data scientist, and father of four John Kelly. Known for his legendary Barkley finishes, the self-invented "Grand Round" in the UK, and a marathon PR under 2:30, John blends scientific rigor with deep grit. He's not just a top-tier athlete—he's a methodical thinker applying systems-level thinking to some of the hardest challenges in endurance sport.

They discuss:

• What went wrong (and right) at Barkley 2025

• Why failing early on matters—and how to keep showing up

• His nuanced take on Jasmine Paris' historic Barkley finish

• The logistics, strategy, and mindset behind his upcoming Appalachian Trail FKT attempt

• Why training on a treadmill isn't a dealbreaker for mountain dreams

• The case for "flexible consistency"—and why the best support crews are full-on teams.

If you're curious how someone balances family, big goals, and brutal sleep deprivation while still pushing the sport forward, this one's for you. 

📍Links:

• John's blog: randomforestrunner.com 

• Start tracking John's Appalachian Trail FKT on May 25th 

Thanks to Wahoo Kickr for supporting The Buzz!