Q&A: From Treadmill to Trail with Kevin Burant

Kevin Burant is co-owner of Shred415 Raleigh, a downtown fitness studio that offers fun, challenging workouts combining strength training and treadmill running for runners and walkers of all paces and abilities. A relatively recent convert to running, he’s taken to the sport in a major way, completing multiple ultramarathons over the last six years--including a 240-mile race in Moab, Utah last October--designing some unique distance challenges to keep himself going during the pandemic, and inspiring others to do the same!

How long have you been a runner? How did you get your start?

I started running here and there in the early 2010s, but I got more into it when I moved to Chicago in 2016 and was able to run the lakefront trail.

What inspired you to start running long distances?

I lived on the Chicago Marathon course and saw that race, plus got to visit Boston for the marathon in the spring of 2016. Once I saw normal people–and not just elite runners–doing the marathon, I thought I'd try it out. I finished my first marathon that October.

How do you train for those 100+ mile races?

I usually set a mileage goal for myself for the month, make a calendar, and then add miles into that calendar. Right now it's around 200-250 miles per month. I fill in the long run weekends first, then fill in the weekdays after that. The biggest thing is to listen to what my body and especially legs and feet are telling me. If I can do more, I do more. Once I'm 3ish weeks out, I start tapering.

What's the most challenging part of the race experience?

I enjoy planning the whole thing. Figuring out what I will need at each aid station, what to eat, what to wear, if I need to change shoes or something else, do I need this or that. Once it's race day, I don't have to worry about those things and I can just enjoy the race, racers, and the course. During the race, I enjoy crossing over the 100k mark. Then I know it's really time…to grin and bear it. 

At Shred415, many of the workouts are shorter, higher-intensity bursts. How does that fit into your training?

I take my classes at more of a steady state during the treadmill portions and really enjoy the incline work as sometimes it's hard to find that consistently here in Raleigh. The weight lifting portions really help for balance, core strength, and lower body mobility/strength, especially when I’m doing trail races where the terrain is so uneven. 

Over the last two years, you've done several ultra-distance races, but you've also set up some of your own challenges. What's been the most memorable?

Moab 240 was an amazing experience from start to finish. My crew was dialed in, and I was able to pull from all of the other races I've done in the past. Like David Goggins says, "put those memories in the cookie jar for when you need it most". My favorite 100-miler was a DIY one that I completed in May 2020 during quarantine on the Neuse River trail. I had a bunch of friends jump in, pace, and bring me food/water, so that was the ultimate team race–and the only time I've gone sub-24 hours in 100 miles, so that was fun!

At Shred415, like at Fleet Feet, there is a strong community aspect to running and working out. Can you talk a little bit about what you've done to grow that community?

This is our lifeblood, as it is at Fleet Feet. I think the biggest thing is to be an advocate for other local businesses and to be an indispensable resource for our members and customers. If you're looking for anything, we should be able to help with that and get you to the right place. Also, we do monthly events and just had our first run crew for the 2021 fall season and are looking forward to the Spring 2022 crew.

For those unfamiliar with Shred415, what can they expect when they come in for their first workout?

#1 is that our workouts are 100% inclusive for all ages, fitness levels, and experience. Our instructors make their workouts, modify everything in class, and bring the energy needed to get through 60 min (30 minutes total on treadmills and 30 minutes total on the floor with weights, bands, slam balls, etc.)

Do you have any tips for runners who would like to start going longer distances and pushing their limits?

You can do whatever distance you want to do. I've seen so many people at Shred415 and in Raleigh cruise past a distance they never dreamt of doing. But the secret is to get out the door and be consistent. "Don't be afraid to be bad at something new" is something we say a lot. You don't need a super extensive plan to get what you want. Just get out the door first and plan second!

What's up next for you?

I’ll be doing the Swammie Shuffle 200 (really about 220 miles) in Virginia Beach in late February, the Black Mountain Monster 24-hour race near Asheville, the Leadville 100 in Colorado, and I’m hoping to do a Last Man Standing Race known as Big's Backyard Ultra sometime in October. Other than that, just get miles in!