Dirt Nerds Do Forecasting: 2026 Hot Takes | Sean Robson
2026/02/27 | 1h 13 mins.
.Dirt Nerds Do Forecasting ⛰️💭 The 2025 season had some highlights. From the Reillys family podium at MUT to Nicolette redefining what’s possible in the miler space to Ryan Sandes making us proud at Cocdona 250. The list goes on & we only scratched the surface 💭 It’s always good chatting to Sean Robson 🎙️ tune in for an hour and a bit of celebrating past performances, dreaming about what’s next & some comments on areas where we’d love for the sport to do better 💯 Chapter Markers: 00:00 - Welcome & no more seasons 01:09 - Hi Sean: On athlete & global explorer 04:37- The coaches of CT - kick a bush and one will fall out 06:23 - The previous season - reflections & the rise of womens sport 13:23 - The social media space - ‘influencing’ eclipsing performance? 22:10 - Evolution of running - are the explosions real? 34:10 - A graceful win & great poentialt - Sam Reillys Journey 38:15 - Cocodona - Ryan Sandes taking on the ultra milers 41:05 - The Ultra debut - the rise of Rebecca Kone 45:10 - The family champion - Doug Pickard and the UTCT masterclass 55:37 - Womens sport - growing support and the space 01:03:20 - Closing remarks
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trailcultureza/ Trail Culture Coaching: https://www.trailculture.co.za/ Support those who support us: Carbon Endurance Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carbon_endurance/ Carben Endurance Wesbite: https://www.carbonendurance.co/precision-hydration-2 📩 Follow Sean Robson Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/sean.l.robson?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== #TrailCulture
Finding our way | Nora Serres
2026/02/21 | 1h 9 mins.
Finding our way - Nora Serres This week we welcome a guest from one of the most beautiful places in the world 🌎 🇳🇴 Nora Serres is a PhD fellow with a green thumb, musical ear & love for the outdoors. In the episode we talk about her research, life in Norway, her journey as an athlete & more. Noras story speaks to the idea that each of us is in the process of finding our way. Our paths and experiences look different and she shares some moments that form a key part of her story and her process of finding her way in the sport, in research and in friendship. Her kindness and warmth as a person are two distinct things that stand out for me from this conversation. She advocates for connection, thought and people. I can't wait to see how her trail running season unfolds and what she grows next in her garden. Chapter Markers: 00:00 - Welcome to Season 3! 01:09 - Meet Nora Serres: Terrex athlete with musical talent 02:46- UTCT - impressions of South Africa 08:52 - Finding our way - finding the outdoors through music 12:30 - The playlist sessions - the early days of running 18:18 - Family history - activity vs training 19:41 - Research - the intersection of running and music 24:36 - The work informed - personal experiences and her work 29:32 - Divided focus - growing into space, running and research 36:28 - Team Terrex- what did it change ? 41:24 - Mentorship - women in sport & working together 45:18 - Winter training - the benefits of skiing and rest 52:49 - The planning - how does Nora structure her year 01:05:20 - Closing remarks
🌍 Connect with Trail Culture: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trailcultureza/ Trail Culture Coaching: https://www.trailculture.co.za/ Support those who support us: Carbon Endurance Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carbon_endurance/ Carben Endurance Wesbite: https://www.carbonendurance.co/precision-hydration-2 📩 Follow Nora Serres Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/noraserres?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
The PhD Recap | Simon de Waal : Trail Science
2026/02/09 | 58 mins.
drum roll please not because Trail Science is back but it’s back with Dr Simon de Waal 🧑🎓 He did it folks. The stellies shakeout starting, research loving, half marathon machine successfully defended his PhD & is officially a Dr. Proud is an understatement. We talk about his hand in, the defence, what the practical application of his research looks like, what is next in the research space for Dr de Waal & more. 00:00 - Still in Season 3 01:52 - Welcome back to Dr de Waal 06:13 - Excellence within the ebbs & flows 09:18 - Progress in research within the SA context 11:10 - What are the research take homes? 20:40 - Challenges within the research design 25:37 - The next project: Where will Dr de Waal go next 32:18 - What are we seeing in field and in the lab 36:40 - Feedback from the experts 44:50 - The “so what?”: how to apply the research to our programs 51:47 - The publication pipeline & final thoughts 54:54 - Personal goals & rooted in dirt 🔔 Subscribe for more deep-dive episodes on trail running science! 💬 What research would you like to see next? Let us know in the comments! 🔗 Links & Resources: - Trail Culture Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trailcultureza/ - Trail Culture Coaching: https://www.trailculture.co.za/ - Simon de Waal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dewaal.simon/ - Rooted in Dirt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rootedindirt/ - Carbon Endurance Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carbon_endurance/ - Carbon Endurance Website: https://www.carbonendurance.co/precision-hydration-2 - Alberto Minetti research: - Frederik Sabateur // SHARE AND RATE THE PODCAST! iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/trail-culture/id1709631577 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4eLM3gAMxZBOjUHAaGcBeu
Time to work | Alyssa Clark
2026/01/30 | 1h 16 mins.
“100 miles gives me more time to work” Alyssa Clark is a consistent talent with a quiet focus and man, does she know how to rally. In this weeks episode we talk about her come back at Ultra Trail Cape Town last year, her range of global adventures & what it means to develop durability as an athlete. Meeting Alyssa was a highlight and her wealth of knowledge as both coach, athlete & podcaster comes through in this episode. I love her take on "eggs in the basket" and we get a peek into her thoughts as she holds the tension between leaving a legacy and going all in for running. I can't wait to see her race season unfold. Enjoy! Chapter Markers: 00:00 - Welcome to Season 3! 02:01 - Meet Alyssa Clark: On athlete & global explorer 04:24- Van life - living on the move 10:33 - San Diego - putting down roots 13:45 - Hurt 100 - technicality of Hawaii & the sub 24 hour run 17:20 - Versatility in racing - durability and scrappy racing 22:50 - The story of UTCT - living through 9 lives 27:10 - Unravelling- then a rally 39:36 - Don’t lie to me - Focus and the pacman method 49:41 - The races- recency bias and maintaining perspective 56:45 - Coaching - the eggs in the basket? 01:01:00 - Finding the line - mentoring and mistakes 01:05:36 - Conversations worth having - podcasting and human connection 01:09:48 - What’s next - the offseason and the dream 01:13:17 - Closing remarks
🌍 Connect with Trail Culture: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trailcultureza/ Trail Culture Coaching: https://www.trailculture.co.za/ Support those who support us: Carbon Endurance Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carbon_endurance/ Carben Endurance Wesbite: https://www.carbonendurance.co/precision-hydration-2 📩 Follow Alyssa Clark Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/theory_in_motion?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
Competition, pressure & possibilities | Jeff Mogavero
2025/12/21 | 1h 8 mins.
You can be good at 100 milers and sprint finishes. At least, you can if you’re Jeff Mogavero. Jeff thrives when he’s outside. He enjoys the outdoors on its own & also loves to race hard, measuring himself against a course and the competition. From living in a van before it was cool, to dealing with the pressure of ultra running. Jeffs experience with this sport and the outdoors has a diversity to it that’s super interesting and makes him the great athlete that he is. This chat was honest & fun and I can’t wait to follow Jeffs journey in the years to come. Chapter Markers: 00:00 - Welcome to Season 3 02:08 - Meet Jeff Mogavero: On athlete & outdoor explorer 03:12- Growing up outside - early adventure and hobbies 05:40 - Living in Ginny - van life before it was cool 11:30 - Cape Town - impressions of the trail 15:39 - Running for ON - professionalization & the sponsorship journey 19:15 - The pressure of ultra running - seeing what could be 23:00 - The double - WSER & UTMB 26:25 - UTCT - Cooling strategies and ice water to the face 33:10 - The make or break - the detail of the sprint finish 42:49 - The training - how to be good at 100 milers but also win sprint finishes 48:07 - The hydration puzzle - the most critical win 53:25 - The possibilities - excited about what’s to come 56:22 - What’s next - Chianti, WSER, CCC & the 2026 calendar 59:20 - Emerging runners - new talent & mentorship 1:05:06 - Closing remarks
Support those who support us: Carbon Endurance Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carbon_endurance/ Carbon Endurance Website: https://www.carbonendurance.co/precision-hydration-2
📩 Follow Jeff Mogavero Substack: https://jeffmogavero.substack.com
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