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, a...
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 from Ryan’s latest book Run Risk Reward—including brushes with danger and profound personal reflections.💡 Tips on balancing high-performance sports with giving back to the community.🏞️ Inspiration to explore the great outdoors and embrace new challenges in life.🎥 Chapter Markers:00:00 - Welcome to 2025 Season 2 kicks off with Ryan Sandes02:00 - Lockdown Memories: Running 100 miles indoors06:00 - Hometown Trails: Why Cape Town remains special11:30 - The Early Years: From rugby dreams to trail running18:40 - 100-Mile Races: Ryan’s journey to Leadville and Western States28:00 - Mental Toughness: Strategies for overcoming the "pain cave"36:00 - Visualizing Success: How Ryan prepares for ultramarathons44:00 - Cocodona 250: Goals for 202552:00 - Danger and Adventure: Stories from the Himalayas and Skeleton Coast1:05:00 - Giving Back: 13 Peaks Challenge and community impact1:10:00 - Words of Encouragement: Advice for chasing your dreams1:16:00 - Outro: What’s next for Ryan in 2025🌄 Whether you’re a seasoned ultrarunner or simply love incredible stories of human endurance, this episode is packed with inspiration, practical advice, and captivating adventures. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes featuring extraordinary guests like Ryan Sandes. 🙌🔗 Links & Resources:- Trail Culture Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trailcultureza/- Trail Culture Coaching: https://www.trailculture.co.za/- Ryan Sandes Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryansandes/- Ryan Sandes website: https://ryansandes.com/- Carbon Endurance Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carbon_endurance/- Carbon Endurance: https://www.carbonendurance.co🔔 Subscribe for more inspiring trail stories, running tips, and epic adventures!
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1:15:07
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.Keep up to date with all things Trail Culture: https://www.trailculture.co.za/ Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trailcultureza/ // SHARE AND RATE THE PODCAST!iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/trail-culture/id1709631577Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4eLM3gAMxZBOjUHAaGcBeu
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1:30:52
An adventure racing odyssey | S2E10: Robert Le Brun
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/trail-culture/id1709631577Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4eLM3gAMxZBOjUHAaGcBeu// TOPICS COVERED(0:00) Welcome!(03:48) A passion for sport(07:40) Conservation & a career(10:05) Adventure racing and Expedition Africa(14:10) Navigation errors(18:29) AR & the team dynamics(26:10) A sprint finish after 6 days(30:26) Adventure racing strategy(29:20) Adventure Racing World Champs - Namibia(45:30) No Frills No Fuss(51:54) Life lessons from the team(59:30) Brundles events & the reward(1:06:00) Reading & inspiration// RESOURCES MENTIONED- NoFrillsNoFuss Instagram: @nofrills.nofuss- NoFrillsNoFuss website: https://www.nfnf.co.za/- Trail Culture Instagram: @trailcultureza -Trail Culture Coaching: https://www.trailculture.co.za/- Precision Hydration: https://www.carbonendurance.co/precision-hydration-2- Precision Hydration Instagram: @precisionfandh
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1:10:13
The well balanced approach | S2E9: Toni McCann, Erin van Eyssen, Brendan Lombard
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 date with all things Trail Culture: https://www.trailculture.co.za/ Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trailcultureza/// TOPICS COVERED(0:00) Welcome!(05:06) The strengths of each coach(08:30) The coaching structure(12:14) The great April Fools joke(17:54) Trail culture in the UK (23:00) Athlete health(24:56) The learning curve for new athletes (27:10) Toni on hard truths & managing expectations(29:20) Brendan: building the athlete's house(30:45) Erin: When to compromise and trust the plan(33:10) Toni on moving to the ultra distances(37:40) Erin: different distances and and their value(39:40) Brendan: The cost of running Ultras(41:10) Mistakes and learnings from the coaching journey(50:48) Capacity and finding the balance in a program(52:58) The future of trail running(1:03:02) Dreams in the pipeline// SHARE AND RATE THE PODCAST!iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/trail-culture/id1709631577Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4eLM3gAMxZBOjUHAaGcBeu
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1:09:27
Fit but unhealthy? | Trail Science S2E8: Simon de Waal
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(0:00) Welcome!(07:06) Snow in the Karkloof(09:15) Lessons in chafe on the trails(13:42) Trail research & participation(16:55) Female participation and health challenges(25:32) LEA & RED-s: What coaches should know?(30:18) The female athlete triad (37:41) Signs & symptoms of RED-s(42:15) Hormonal imbalances & early detection(47:16) Reducing the risk of RED-s(53:11) Injuries & illness related to RED-s(56:10) The good conversationKeep up to date with all things Trail Culture: https://www.trailculture.co.za/ Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trailcultureza/// SHARE AND RATE THE PODCAST!iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/trail-culture/id1709631577Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4eLM3gAMxZBOjUHAaGcBeu
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 enthusiast, or simply curious about the world of outdoor sports, "Trail Culture" has something for you.So, come along as we venture through the Jonkershoek Valley and beyond, guided by the stories we find along the way. Lace up your shoes, tune in, and embark on a journey of inspiration and exploration.
South Africa