Trail Culture
Welcome to Trail Culture, the podcast set against the stunning backdrop of the mountains in the Jonkershoek Valley. The mission is to share stories, research, and insights sourced from the wealth of knowledge within the trail running community, spanning both South Africa and the wider world.Trail Culture explores the heart of trail running and outdoor adventure. From interviews with coaches, athletes, and researchers to discussions on training tips, gear recommendations, and tales of triumph, our podcast covers all aspects of this great sport.Every trail has a unique story to tell. Whether you're a seasoned trail runner, a nature...
A commitment to adventure | S2E15: Marz van der Merwe

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 ๐๏ธ
Weโll be talking about everything from her sports journey to her professional development. ๐ค๐ผ
๐ฅ 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 <...
Chaotic strava, a PhD update & 2025 vision | S2E14: Simon de Waal

Back like we never left ๐๐ผ
For those who are new here, once a month Trail Culture releases a more scientific episode, recorded with @dewaal.simon from the legendary @rootedindirt ๐ค๐ผ 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 & weโre 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...
Story telling & human connection | S2E13: Simon Pocock

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.
๐ฅ 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...
A lifetime of running | S2E12: Ryan Sandes

Join us on this epic episode of Chill Culture as we kick off 2025 with a legendary guest: Ryan Sandes! ๐โโ๏ธ๐ 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. ๐ชโจ
What youโll gain from this episode:
๐ฅ Motivation to conquer your own goals, whether you're a runner or not.
๐ Insights into the mental and physical preparation behind ultramarathons and multi-day challenges. ๐
Behind-the-scenes stories...
The Trail Running Recap '24 | Sean Robson: S2E11

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.<...
An adventure racing odyssey | S2E10: Robert Le Brun

This week itโs 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, heโs 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.
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The well balanced approach | S2E9: Toni McCann, Erin van Eyssen, Brendan Lombard

This week, weโre 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, weโve 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...
Fit but unhealthy? | Trail Science S2E8: Simon de Waal

For our nerdy fans out there, the Trail Science episodes are back! ๐ฅ๐๏ธ
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. ๐
Iโm excited to continue the scientific journey alongside Simon de Waal from Rooted in Dirt. In this season weโll 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.
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Ultra running, risk and disappointment | S2E7: Naomi Brand

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...
Nutrition, Adaptation and Sweat Testing. What are we losing? S2E6 | John Middlewick

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.
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(0:00) Welcome!
(02:36) Enjoying sport...