We are back after a small production break with one of the most anticipated conversations of the year - The 2024 Comrades Marathon Winner, Piet Wiersma. After narrowly missing out on the win in 2023 by 2 seconds the 'Unknown' Dutchman was the talk of the South African and global running community. We had the pleasure of chatting to him back then (See S2|E17) where he pledged he would make a comeback this year and go one step higher on the podium. A commitment that he was able to fulfill on the 9th of June with a time of 5h:25min earning him the Crown of Comrades Champion. In this conversation ..read more

"We have to learn to bend before we break,"... What started out as a finish line conversation after a particularly gruelling marathon (in one of Durban's finest displays of humidity), resulted in what you'll hear today. With those words, Jordy nudged us towards a reality that few are prepared to acknowledge, and ultimately forced the question to be asked: what are the limits of endurance? Today is a deep dive and exploration into the human body and how it responds to endurance training. Thanks to Jordy's personal experience in covering ultra-distances and his medical training as a doctor, he i ..read more

Today, we have the privilege of hosting Mariella Sawyer, Professional Triathlete, Dietitian and new mother, days after she took the win at the Mossel Bay Ironman 70.3, to discuss her transformative journey of returning to competition a year postpartum. Join hosts Nic and Leah in this episode of Making HER Runner, as they delve into Mariella's experiences balancing motherhood and her athletic ambitions. In this episode, Mariella opens up about the unique hormonal changes after childbirth, the realities of managing a newborn, and the pressures of bouncing back physically. She candidly shares ins ..read more

Today, we're thrilled to have Kamo (you may know him as @Kamo.runs on social media) a passionate runner and finance professional, share his incredible journey from a gym enthusiast to achieving a sub-3-hour marathon at Cape Town this year after running over hours in the 2023 version of the race ( a massive 1 hour+ improvement). We'll delve into his unique story of perseverance, motivation, and personal growth, fueled by the motto "dreamers keep trying." From his beginnings in running during the COVID-19 pandemic to navigating diets and overcoming injuries, Kamo's journey showcases the resilien ..read more

In today's episode Nic chats to one of our all time favourite deep dive guests, Dr Martin Khoury, as we shift our focus to understanding pharmacology and how it relates to managing running related pain. We'll explore everything from the efficacy of analgesics and the placebo effect to the challenges and ethics of chronic pain management. Whether you're curious about why a simple painkiller could pose risks or how to handle discomfort during a run, Martin provides key insights into making informed decisions. Plus, we'll touch on the risks of over-the-counter meds and the surprising effectivenes ..read more

Tune into todays episode for a walk down memory lane as we reminisce over the last 100 episodes of Making a Runner spanning the last 2 and a half years. We chat about some of our favourite guests, go into details and learning outcomes from episodes gone by and dive into how our own personal running journey has been influenced by what we have learned since April 2022. Whether you are a die hard fan from day one, have a couple of episodes to catch up on or have 99 to go, we want to thank you for your support and encouragement. The show wouldn't be what it is today without YOU. In the words of Ca ..read more

An often overlooked or underestimated element of training is mental strength. We delve into the depths of our STRAVA stats and are pretty clued up about nutrition, right down to grams of crabs per hour, but how do we deal with negative thoughts? Those nagging mental niggles that creep up when we're on the verge of doing something epic. As Giovanni explains, the easiest thing to do in those moments is try and detach and get as much space between us and the little dream-crushing critters, but what's actually required is to tune in... As the title of this episode suggests, today's conversation ta ..read more

You've heard it said time and time again, "runners should be doing strength training". We know you've heard it from us in just about every episode, but we've never given you an in-depth explanation for WHY and HOW, well not until now... Welcome to the official DEEP DIVE into Strength Training, a discussion topic long overdue and we couldn't think of a better guest to guide us through this relatively simple but often misunderstood and much overlooked element of Making GREAT Runners. In this episode, Ant Clark, a dear friend, respected ex-colleague and current Sport Science and High Performance ..read more

It's been a good few months since our last 'Making Her Runner' episode but we are excited to be back sharing in Leah's running journey over the last year. A journey that started with low energy availability prior to Cape Town Marathon in 2023 along with hormonal issues and ended in a completely different runner crossing the finish line of the Karkloof 20 Mile Trail race this past weekend. Through her personal journey we will look to share insights and knowledge behind some of the tough decisions that had to be made, the setbacks in the running goals to prioritise her health goals and how one c ..read more

We’re thrilled to have the legendary Trail Runner and Coach, Linda Doke, back on the pod. In this episode, Linda shares her profound insights into the ultra-running world, diving into specific race strategies, challenges, and the personal impact of trail running. We chat about the latest news coming from UTMB, David Roche's Leadville 100miler record breaking run and look to provide listeners with training / racing insights into the upcoming local races such as Karkloof, Otter and UTCT. Listeners will gain valuable insights into nutrition strategies, the significance of specialized training rou ..read more