Trail Culture

This one is special. A handful of the brave humans who tackled the miler share some of their stories just a few hours after finishing their epic journeys.

The debrief starts with Nicolette Griffioen. Two milers, two wins, four weeks apart - we’re inspired. She talks about her decision making process & where her mind was at going into this stretch of training and racing 🏅

Pierre Jordaan is up next. @the.flying.runner had an incredibly consistent run that put him in 3rd. He humbly talks about how his race unfolded & his approach to the train...

The MUT locker room | E03🎙️🔓

Its been an eventful day at George MUT by UTMB ⛰️ war stories shared from a handful of trail legends.

@monique_agenbag08 starts us off with some training reflections & her race strategy for tomorrows 25km ⚡️

The power of salt & vinegar chips to the joy of racing on home trails. @shaunyd_8 & @rebeccakohne share stories from the MUT marathon 👟

& @adie_athlete talks about the personal battle to fight for his position in the miler 🛠️

Inspired is an understatement. 💭

#TrailCulture

In the second locker room episode, we catch up with some of the sports favourite athletes. Toeing the line at the marathon & 60km races tomorrow, we chat through:

Race director, Zane Schmahl, gives us a race report ahead of the MUT by UTMB weekend. 2025 is set to be the biggest event yet with 2100 runners toeing the start line over the 6 distances.

Welcome Brendan Lombard! From racing across the globe to coaching runners of all levels, Brandon shares his expert insights on purpose-driven training, strength & conditioning for runners, and overcoming injuries.

🎙️ In this episode, you'll discover:

🔥 How to build strength for trail running – Key exercises, common mistakes, and how to integrate strength into your routine without overloading yourself.

🏃‍♂️ Brendan's journey from South Africa to Spain – Why he made the move and how it’s shaped his training and coaching philosophy.

🏋️ Strength training myths & best practices – Why “leg day” isn’t enough and how periodization can change your perfor...

You asked & we listened. This weeks episode with @dewaal.simon is a hot topic. We unpack some of need to knows around super shoes. We talk about advanced footwear technology (AFT), what we learn from road runners, what research on super shoes tells us & more 💥

What you’ll gain from this episode:

🌟 Insights into the research on super shoes for both trail & road

💡 Tips on what to consider when getting a pair of super shoes

🏞️ Inspiration to follow the research on super shoes in the trail running space

🎥 Chapter Mark...

This week I’m stoked to welcome an expert to the podcast. She is all knowing when it comes to physiology & sports nutrition 🍎🍰🥤

The founder of @fuel_form, Louise joins us this week to talk about piecing together the fuelling puzzle. Where to start, what to avoid & the origin story behind some classic nutrition myths 💭

What you’ll gain from this episode:

🌟 Insights into fuelling for Ultra running & how to get started .

💡 Tips on the types of things to eat & when to fuel when training and racing

🏞️ Inspiration to put the fuelling puzzle pie...

This week I’m stoked to welcome Skye Clark to the podcast. He’s the perfect guy to chat to about consistency & finding sustainable training rhythms.

His hard work over the last few years is paying off & he’s quickly becoming a household name for the SA trail scene. In this episode we talk about Skyes history with the sport, how he’s chipped away at his race performances, what consistency in training will do for you & more. From strava banter with Petrus de Klerk, to training runs with Flat Rock Endurance - community & support is definitely a common...

Marz van der Merwe: A commitment to adventure

Join us this week as we chat to a local favorite, a tremendous talent & a well rounded athlete. So stoked to have @marz_merwe on the podcast this week 🎙️

We’ll be talking about everything from her sports journey to her professional development. 🤙🏼

🎥 Chapter Markers:

00:00 - Welcome to 2025: Season 2 continues

02:36 - Goal orientation: Finding trail running

04:37 - Early days: Racing & early mistakes

08:05 - The Coaster: Race directing & the Canada adventure

16:37 - International Events: Navigating UTMB & Western States <...

Back like we never left 👋🏼

For those who are new here, once a month Trail Culture releases a more scientific episode, recorded with @dewaal.simon from the legendary @rootedindirt 🤙🏼 Simon is a runner, a coach & a scientist. We talk about various hot topics in the trail running space & unpack the relevant research surrounding them. We also have some not so relevant banter & we’re so grateful that you all tune in.

This weeks episode brings us an update on Simons PhD. We talk about some of his most recent findings, the progress of his publication journey, the v...

Simon Pocock: The art of story telling and human connection

Join us this week as we chat to a local talent & friend of the trail community, Simon Pocock. A wizard with the camera, this guy has a gift for storytelling and connecting with people. We explore that as well as his entry in the sports media space & some of his creative experiences over the years.

🎥 Chapter Markers:

00:00 - Welcome to 2025: Season 2 continues

01:34 - Raised outdoors: Falling in love with sport

05:49 - Entry to film: Finding filmmaking

13:15 - Tea...

Join us on this epic episode of Chill Culture as we kick off 2025 with a legendary guest: Ryan Sandes! 🏃‍♂️🌍 A trailblazer in ultrarunning, Ryan has conquered terrains across the globe, from the icy stretches of Antarctica to the dunes of the Gobi Desert. This conversation dives into his inspiring journey, his love for adventure, and his relentless pursuit of pushing boundaries. 💪✨

What you’ll gain from this episode:

🔥 Motivation to conquer your own goals, whether you're a runner or not.

🌟 Insights into the mental and physical preparation behind ultramarathons and multi-day challenges. 📖

Behind-the-scenes stories...

Todays episode is going to round off an incredible year of trail running and outdoor adventure.

This week I'm stoked to welcome a legend in the trail running community. A familair voice, a friendly face and honestly one of the greatest humans around, it's a joy to welcome Sean Robson to the podcast today.

An experienced journalist, a runner, TT group leader, an epic MC, a Dad and a friend. This episode we'll be doing our best to share some highlights from the trail space in 2024 & to speculate on what's to come for next year.<...

This week it’s great to welcome an adventure race, race director, conservationist, MC, a Dad and an absolute trail legend, Robert Le Brun ie. Brundle. This guy has welcomed many an athlete over a finish line, he’s completed adventure racing world champs and runs an amazing series of outdoor events through No Frills No Fuss.

This guy loved rugged mountains, is always up for a challenge and has a passion for conservation and making the sport accessible to everyone.

// SHARE AND RATE THE PODCAST!

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/trai...

This week, we’re trying something new with our first round table episode. This week the Flatrock Endurance team joins us to talk about the well-balanced approach. We talk about all things coaching, the process they follow at flatrock, what each coach brings to the table, how they overcome challenges and more.

From Annecy to the UK to Cape Town, we’ve got Tonis race experience and passion for nutrition, Brendans background in S&C and Erins gift of understanding athletes - all of these things make for a great episode and discussion.

Keep up to d...

For our nerdy fans out there, the Trail Science episodes are back! 💥🎙️

Up first is: Fit but Unhealthy? Are we prioritising performance over health & wellness? In this episode we unpack these ideas & talk about some of the early signs of LEA & RED-S. 🍎

I’m excited to continue the scientific journey alongside Simon de Waal from Rooted in Dirt. In this season we’ll continue to dive into the more academic side of trail running, unpacking the latest research and trying to make sense of this amazing sport through a scientific lens.

// TOPICS COVERED<...

Naomi Brand is back on SA soil after spending the summer training and racing in Europe. An Ultra runner, vet, conservationist and an artist, she is a legend in the SA trail community. Naomi can be found on the startline of the most hectic ultras, to adventuring around New Zealand in her mobile home or painting during the short breaks she has after training and work.

Naomi has some amazing insights to share on the ups and downs of ultra running. How to come back from disappointment and to keep the dream alive. She talks about the...

John Middlewick is a triathlete turned business man who started Carbon Endurance, a sports consulting distribution house that brings brands like Precision Fuel & Hydration and Pillar Performance into South Africa to support and fuel our incredible athlete base. He has years of endurance training and racing under his belt, this couple with a keen interest in the science of performance has developed Carbon Endurance into what it is today.

Stoked to welcome John to the podcast & for the great partnership between Carbon Endurance and Trail Culture.

// TOPICS COVERED

(0:00) Welcome!

(02:36) Enjoying sport...

Shafeeqah Gordon is a local favorite in the Cape Town trail community. She’s the leader of the legendary shafflers at Tuesday Trails. A pocket rocket with a sense of humor to match. She can be found on the start line of some pretty tough races & you’re always guaranteed a smile if you see her. Stoked to welcome Shaf to the podcast & to get to know her better during this conversation.

// TOPICS COVERED

(0:00) Welcome!

(01:44) Shaf’s entry to trail running

(08:26) Tuesday Trails & leading a group

(19:40) What does the retail...

The second half of the chat with James Montgomery from the Run Project on the Craft of Coaching.

We go deeper into the specifics of working with the person in front of you, how to make training relative to the individual, how to shape & improve your thinking as a coach and more.

This chat really left me inspired to keep learning and to really view each athlete and their goals as separate puzzles to be solved.

Special thank to Carbon Endurance for fuelling Season 2 of Trail Culture.

Carbon Endurance Instagram

The craft of coaching 💭 Part 1

So stoked to have James Montgomery on the podcast to share his extensive experience & talk about what it takes to be a great coach. 🏃🏽‍♂️ 🏃🏼‍♀️📈 We talk about the evolving athlete, the balance between fun and hard training, the structured vs intuitive approach to running & more.

Special thank to Carbon Endurance for fuelling Season 2 of Trail Culture.

Carbon Endurance Instagram

Carbon Endurance Sport Consulting

The Run Project

Fooled by Randomness

The bigger picture & what athletes should consider when thinking of health and movement.

This week we’ve got Dr Hilton Lazar joining us to chat about health, movement & the role of chiropractic. An expert in his craft, we talk about pain management, injury diagnosis, what running does to our spines & the role of adjustment.

The difference | The family | The history 🦦

A magical stretch of coastline, it’s roots run deep with a special history. An incredible story of family, conservation, community and a single race making the greatest difference. Hearing these stories brings both memories & emotions to the surface. It’s a great privilege to share them with you. 🎙️ The Otter episode goes live tonight 💭 #trailculture

FACES AFRICA

THE OTTER TRAIL

A motley crew of friends, 100kms & a skeleton 🏴‍☠️

So stoked to kick off season 2 of Trail Culture with an absolute legend, Petrus de Klerk 🤙🏼 Famed for their presence at Kloof Corner during UTCT, we chat to Petrus about the the Mountain Mxn, tradition, trail culture & more.

An incredible human with a gees crew of friends, a wicked sense of humor & stories to match. We’re back and the stoke is alive, enjoy.

Mountain MXN

Does power have a place in trail running? We’re back with another Trail Science episode. This week, Simon de Waal from Rooted in Dirt joins us to talk about power as a performance metric.

“The best way to learn is by doing” - @michael_bakes

From getting cliffed out on Mnweni, to a solo unsupported DGT, to a wedding at the top of the Amphitheatre. This weeks guest is Michael Baker. An athlete, a coach, an adventurer & captain of group missions. This episode really is one amazing story of adventure. The name speaks for itself & I'll let you find out more.

The Hiking Vikings

The Bakery

The Long Road Part 2! This week, pocket rocket and adventurer, Mari Marincowitz joins us on the podcast to talk about her miler journey and what happened out there on the course. Fresh off a win at the George MUT by UTMB Miler, she shares some of her stories & we experience the Outeniqua once again through her lens.

Taking her time in the day to day, running Milers is perfect for Mari. It's once step at a time with no need to rush in her words.

This episode covers:

This week, pocket rocket and adventurer, Mari Marincowitz joins us on the podcast to talk about her life journey. Running has remained the consistent thing throughout her travels and exploration. Fresh off a win at the @georgemountainultratrail Miler, she shares some of her stories & in part 2 we experience the Outeniqua once again through her lens.

From India, to Shanghai to South Africa. Part 1 of Mari’s interview takes us on a global journey. Running in different spaces, cultures and places, we get to know Mari and her development into the athlete she is today.

Stay tu...

How should I approach my training load?

The Trail Science episodes are back, this week @dewaal.simon joins us to talk about Training Load Monitoring (TLM). We talk about how TLM has changed over the last few years to accommodate the growth of the sport & how this particular space is being influenced by AI. We discuss it’s history, the metrics that matter, some gaps in the current TLM tools & more

What was it like to grow up with trail culture?

A Stellenbosch local & @salomon_sa athlete. Lijan Burger has grown up in the trail culture of South Africa.

In this episode, we cover:

• The story of her first trail experience with her Dad

• Movement as a family value

• Lijans holistic approach to life & running

• Defining good health in the trail space

• Her upcoming adventure 🌍

& more

An outdoor lifestyle in a comfortable society. One of the more philosophical chats on the podcast so far. Really enjoyed this conversation with Pierre, @the.flying.runner & co-founder of @mountainabandon

We cover:

• The role the Otter trail has played in his life

• Milers as emotional regulators

• Running vs training

• How to live an outdoor lifestyle in the current society

A follow up is already in the pipeline. Pierre has a wealth of knowledge & his love for the outdoors is the common thread throughout this episode.

Hearing from the humans, the final episode of MUT Moments is all about the people. The athletes who’ve had the courage to show up for this event after months of preparation, each with their own story. From running for a cause, to the competition of the podium, to showing up for the first time on a trail start line. These are just a few of the moments captured as we’ve checked in with these amazing humans.

The links:

Donate to Usapho Indlu

A story of sportsmanship: Admire

Liv2Run

What goes on behind the scenes?

The next episode of MUT moments dives into the BTS of putting on a world class event. This episode shares a range of experiences & insights from a handful of incredible humans on the MUT team.

The guests:

The links we all need:

Southern Summits Tours Website

Southern Summits contact: info@southernsummitstrailtours.co.za

The first episode of MUT Moments. Brining you coverage from the MUT by UTMB Race Village where we find out what's been going on behind the scenes, who is running for a cause, are the athletes ready to give it their all & more.

First up on MUT Moments is our chat with the founder of LIV2Run Lindi Meyer, the team manager Thamsanqa Nxumalo & one of the elite athletes Sinovuyo Ngcobo.

These guys have put in the work and they’re ready to race. This episode kicks off with the founder @lindi_elaine sharing what LI...

“What if I can?”

Bianca Tarboton joins us this week with wise advice on positive self talk, working on a positive internal dialogue & balancing her training & work.Winner of the MUT marathon last year, these are her words of encouragement for those lining up at @georgemountainultratrail next week.

In her episode we go through:

Matt Bouch has always wanted to run 100 miles. In this episode we chat about:

• His inspiration

• What keeps him coming back

• His recent performance at UTD

• How he’s developed his nutrition strategy

& more!

Laid back but intentional, Matt’s approach to the sport pulls through in this chat. We’ll be following him as he takes on his next few goals this year.

Are thresholds important or is it just training hype?

This week Colin Fleming, coach, triathlete & physiologist, joins us to talk about metabolic testing. Why is it important, how results should be applied, the difference between our thresholds & more.

We chat through a case study and use test results from a real athlete to show how to practically apply results you get from this sort of testing, to your training.

The North Face athlete, Kyle Herring joins us from the Netherlands to share some epic stories. From some history facts about the Hoefyster to a dive into his different European race experiences. This guy has run every piece of trail in Stellenbosch & has made an appearance on the road scene in the Netherlands, running some blitz times.

We cover:

An advocate for women in sport. Meg Mackenzie shares an athlete & coaches perspective on women in trail running, the challenges, the obstacles & the change she’d like to see.

In this episode we cover:

• Her history with the sport

• Some recent career highlights

• Navigating the sponsorship space & contract negotiations as a female athlete

• Meg’s journey with RED-S & her advice for those working through it

What are the psychological benefits to trail running?

In this episode we focus on:

We get stuck into the research after an anecdotal introduction round what trail running does for our mental well being personally.