Rodney Fuentes: Filming The Monarch Ultra for butterfly conservation
In Episode 22 of the Running Tales Podcast, part of the Everyday Athlete Podcast Network, we interviewed filmmaker and conservationist Rodney Fuentes
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Rodney Fuentes’ films are powered by his love of the environment.
It made him the perfect fit for his latest production, a feature length deep dive into the world of The Monarch Ultra.
An epic relay run from Canada to Mexico, The Monarch Ultra took place in 2019 and followed the migratory route of the under-threat Monarch butterfly.
It has since morphed into a running festival in Peterborough, Ontario - where the run started, but organisers hope to bring the full length version back in the future.
In his film of the same name, Rodney tracks the origins of the ultra race, why the future of the Monarch butterfly is so important, and how runners took on huge distances to track their path through America and beyond.
The butterfly currently sits on the endangered species list, with habitat loss due to development, shifting weather patterns, and the use of harmful pesticides and herbicides bearing responsibility.
Much like bees, Monarchs position as pollinators mean they have are vital to the survival of nature’s ecosystems and to plant diversity.
By bringing his background in tourism and conservation to story-telling, Rodney has been producing compelling films for the last eight years.
A very active person, with an interest in running, cycling, skiing, and paddling, Rodney has previously competed in running and triathlon events but these days prefers to run simply as a way of seeing the outdoors. He loves trail running and discovering new trails while connecting with nature.
His running proved helpful during the production of The Monarch Ultra when he often took to putting his camera on a gimbal to run behind participants in the event.
As a runner and environmentalist, Rodney’s unique perspective allowed him to craft a story that links conservation with long distance running, and study how running can create a positive environmental movement.
On the podcast, we spoke to Rodney about:
The reasons behind The Monarch Ultra and how the event was organised
Why the conservation of Monarch butterflies is so important
The challenges of filming runners taking on such a huge journey
How The Monarch Ultra has effected conversation about the environment
Plans for the future of the event
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Key points:
Start local if you want to help save the planet
Rodney Fuentes believes there is power in addressing climate change and environmental causes on an individual basis and in local communities.
He said while it may be hard for people to address geo-political or even national issues, they can “do a whole lot to change what is happening in your own neighbourhood, in your community, your city, your town”.
One of the key messages championed by the documentary, and by The Monarch Ultra in general, is about how individuals can inspire groups of people to start doing what is best for their community.
Rodney said: “You have a voice. Everybody has a voice in their own community. I think that’s a really good way to start and we have been seeing a movement of so many community members that I know of not just here in Peterborough but across Canada.
“They are taking very strong initiatives to have pollinator gardens, to have better habitat for local wildlife.”
Return of The Monarch Ultra?
Organising a relay ultra across more than 4,000km proved to be, unsurprisingly, a mammoth task - meaning The Monarch Ultra has not been held again in its full length version since 2019.
However, the event has continued in some form or other since then and this year the Monarch Festival will take place at Millennium Park in Peterborough, Ontario on September 20, 2025.
This will be the third annual festival of its kind and is set to feature a 10km race and a 1km Kids Fun Run. Proceeds from the event will go to Camp Kawartha, a not-for-profit organisation which offers summer camps and education in some of Canada’s most sustainable facilities.
The funds will go towards building pollinator gardens at various schools in Peterborough and nearby Curve Lake.
But Monarch Ultra organisers haven’t given up on the idea of holding another run following the migratory route of the butterflies.
Rodney said conversations are already in place for 2026, with early plans including using the run to raise further awareness of the causes of wildfires such as in Los Angeles.
This Substack blog will be updating readers on the progress of plans for The Monarch Ultra 2026, so keep an eye out here for the latest news on the event and how you can get involved
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