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The guest in this episode is Ashwini Ganapathi. Ashwini is an ultramarathon runner and endurance coach from Bengaluru, India. After leaving a nine-year IT career, she progressed from her first 10K in 2014 to tackling some of the world’s toughest events, including the Everest Base Camp Ultra, the Asia–Oceania 24-Hour Championship, and Japan’s gruelling 173 km Deep Japan Ultra Trail. In 2025 she set out to race the Lake Sonoma 100-miler; her effort ended when the event was called off. Known for her resilience and community focus, Ashwini advocates for more women in India to explore trail and ultra running.

In this episode, we talk about her run at Deep Japan Ultra, the training, nutrition and the actual race itself. Ashwini talks about how this Ultramarathon has been a culmination of 6 years of work and training.

Links:

Lake Senoma 100miler

Deep Japan Ultra

City of Leh

Endure: Mind, Body and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance by Alex Hutchinson

Harry Potter - JK Rowling

Sherlock Holmes

Friends

Formula 1: The Drive to Survive

Ashwini's Instagram

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In this episode, I sit down with ultra runner and coach Debbie to dive into a topic that’s often left out of the conversation: aging and menopause in women who run long distances. Debbie shares her personal journey as a mature athlete and why she’s passionate about helping women understand what’s really happening in their bodies.

We explore the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, the importance of training smarter—not harder—as we age, and the emotional and physical challenges women face during this phase. Debbie also introduces her upcoming podcast, which will be dedicated to this very conversation.

Whether you’re an ultra runner, a weekend trail enthusiast, or just curious about what lies ahead, this episode brings insight, awareness, and a dose of encouragement for every woman on the run.

Topics We Cover:

• What aging feels like as a female ultra runner
• Key signs and symptoms of perimenopause and menopause
• How to adapt your training as you get older
• Mental shifts and body awareness
• Encouraging community and open conversation around “the change”
• Debbie’s new podcast and why she’s creating this space for women

Guest Bio:
Debbie is an ultra runner and coach who specializes in working with women. With decades of experience on the trails and a passion for lifting up others, Debbie is now shifting her focus to creating more awareness and dialogue around aging and menopause in endurance sports.

Debbie's Instagram

Debbie's Podcast

Mel Robbins Podcast

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson

Ted Lasso

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In this episode, the guest is Michitaro Mizuno. Michitaro is a young Japanese ultra trail runner, podcast host, race director, and community builder in his own right. We talk about his 94 loops at Dead Cow Gully Backyard Ultra — that’s 94 hours of running, or 3 days and 22 hours, covering a total distance of 630.364 km.

Michitaro earned the nickname "Bagman" because he ran with a shopping bag for the entire race. And yes — in this episode, we answer the question: what was in the bag?

Michitaro is part of a thriving trail running community in Tanzawa, Kanagawa, Japan.

If you’re new to it, a Backyard Ultra — also called Last One Standing — is a type of ultramarathon where runners must complete a 6.706 km (4.167 mi) loop every hour. They have to start a new lap on the hour, every hour, and the race continues until only one person finishes a loop. (Wikipedia)

Links

Backyard Ultra Tokyo

Dead Cow Gully Backyard Ultra

Hadano Running

Tanzawa Nature Activity Base

Michitaro's Instagram

As Far As Possible Ultrarunning

Beyond the Despair - A Backyard Ultra Documentary

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In this episode the featured guest is Tomokazu Ihara, Tomo is affectionately known as "Japanese Laz" the world over. Tomo is an accomplished ultrarunner who started running from a 5km challenge at work. Tomo is currently in a quest to complete 100 100-milers and he is at number 78 at the moment. He also completed the Grand Slam.

In trail running, the term “Grand Slam” typically refers to the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning™, a U.S.-based challenge that involves finishing four of five of the most prestigious 100-mile races in a single calendar year. These races are:

• Western States 100 (California)
• Vermont 100 (Vermont)
• Leadville Trail 100 (Colorado)
• Wasatch Front 100 (Utah)
• Old Dominion 100 (Virginia)

In 2023 the Vermont 100 was cancelled and Tomo Ran the Devil’s Gulch 100 which was an acceptable replacement race. Tomo went above and beyond by completing  five in 2023: Old Dominion 100, Western States 100, Devil’s Gulch 100 (in place of the Vermont 100), Leadville 100, and Wasatch Front 100.

In this episode, we talk about the Barkley Marathons 2025 — which is Tomo's 6th attempt. This year, only four people were able to complete two loops, including Tomo. ( with one 3 loop finisher - John Kelly)

We also talk about Tomo’s recent attempt at the grueling Oshigaichi FKT, a roughly 450 km (280 miles) run with over 30,000 meters of elevation gain around the mountainous border of Shiga Prefecture, Japan.

We also discuss the docuseries tracking Tomo's series Main Quest and Japanese trail running culture.

🔗 Links & Mentions:

• Tomokazu Ihara on Instagram
• Grand Slam of Ultrarunning – Official Site
• Barkley Marathons – Wikipedia
• Main Quest Docuseries 
• Ultrarunning Magazine

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This episode features Carlos Rabsiun Aramburu, who recently placed third in the grueling Okumusashi 105 Long Trail ultramarathon. We dive into his race experience, covering everything from his pacing strategy and nutrition plan to the mental and physical demands of ultra-distance trail running.

Carlos, originally from Argentina and now based in Tokyo, shares how a casual invitation from a colleague turned friend sparked his journey into the world of ultrarunning and how that moment led to a deep passion for the sport.

Topics Covered:

 Okumusashi 105 race breakdown
Training and racing strategy
Nutrition tips for ultramarathons
Carlos's journey into trail running

Links

The Premodernist – YouTube Channel
Ranto Japan – YouTube Channel

Into Their Labours by John Berger 

Okumusashi 105 Long Trail

Japan Trail Running

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In this inspiring episode, I chat with Kwame Terra, CEO of bEHR Health Systems. We explore Kwame’s running journey, how a childhood sports injury sparked his passion for public health, and how that led to a lifetime of advocacy and leadership.

Kwame shares the story behind his world record: walking an incredible 2,007,178 steps in a single month! We talk about:

* What drove him to attempt the record
* The physical and mental challenges he faced
* How walking—one of the simplest forms of movement—can transform your health

We also touch on the connection between movement, mindfulness, and community empowerment.

📚 Books Mentioned in This Episode

 Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products  by Nir Eyal
A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose* by Eckhart Tolle


🌐 Connect with Kwame Terra

* Instagram: @kwameterra
* Twitter: @kwameterra
* Website: bEHR Health Systems

App name: dacadoo

Access code for the app: RUNNINGVOYAGER

🔔 Don’t forget to **follow or subscribe** on your favorite podcast platform, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs a little motivation to start moving!

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In this episode, we’re joined by Marissa Groenewald, better known as The Rope Runner—an unstoppable force blending endurance sport with powerful advocacy.

Marissa recently made history by becoming the first person to complete a marathon while skipping, and she didn’t stop there. She’s already conquered the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon (56km)—also on a skipping rope—and is now preparing for her biggest challenge yet: the legendary Comrades Marathon (89km).

Her mission? To raise R500,000 for Love Justice International, an organization that fights human trafficking by intercepting victims before they’re lost across borders. Every skip she takes is a step toward saving lives.

Marissa’s passion is personal. Inspired by her mother’s work helping trafficking survivors in Asia, she’s using her platform, strength, and story to protect those who need it most.

💛 Join us as Marissa shares how she’s turning an unconventional sport into a movement for justice—and why she believes every jump can change a life.

Links:

👉 Support her campaign: BackaBuddy – The Rope Runner’s Race for Humanity

Marissa's Instagram page

Marissa's Facebook

Comrades Marathon 

Ryan Sandes: Run. Risk. Reward.: My Epic Trail-Running Adventures

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In this episode, the podcast guest is Angela Tomusange, a British-born runner of Ugandan heritage, who shares her experiences in trail running. Angela has run races all over the world from 5km to ultra marathons.

Angela talks about how she got started with running, her perspective on diversity within the UK trail running community, and her experience participating in the Rwanda Ultra Marathon. She also explains what motivated her to choose Rwanda and reflects on the significance of that journey. We also talk about her experience tackling the Speed Project.

Topics discussed:
* Angela’s introduction to trail running
* Representation in the UK trail running landscape
* Her experience at the Rwanda Ultra Marathon
* Her experience running The Speed Project

This episode explores the connections between running, identity, and place.

Links: 

The speed project

Black trail Runners

Rwanda Ultra Marathon

Maverick Race Organisers

Black Sheep - by Sabrina Pace Humphreys

Running While Black - Alison Mariella Désir

Berlin Half Marathon

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Welcome to a bonus episode of Mt Fuji 100, your trail-running scoop straight from the source!

This time, we’re diving into the Ultra-Trail Mt. Fuji 2025 weekend—what to expect, who to watch, and why it’s such a massive deal on the trail calendar.

🗓️ Race Dates: April 25–27, 2025
🌍 Part of the World Trail Majors
👟 3 Race Formats:

• 🏔️ UTMF 100 Miler – 168km | 6,254m vert | 2,400 runners
• 🐉 KAI 70K – 3,052m vert | 1,000 runners
• 🌲 ASAGIRI 40K – 1,445m vert | 200 runners (new for 2025!)

🎯 Featured:

• Elite runners to keep an eye on
• My top 5 picks in both men's and women's fields
• Insider race notes & how the weekend is shaping up
• A shoutout to all you amazing trail folk running, crewing, or cheering

🎤 I’ll be there on the ground—if you spot me, say hi or come chat on the pod!

*Correction I have a press pass this year so I have a list of the elite list

100 Miler this year started at 5:00pm on Friday tthe 25th contrary to midnight last year

Claudia TREMPS (Spain)

Anna LI (China) 

Yukari SEIMIYA (Japan)

Kanako EDAMOTO ( Japan)

ManYee CHEUNG (HKG),

Arika ITO (JPN) 

Reika ITABASHI (JPN),

 Junko YANO (JPN)

 Men

 Guomin DENG (China)

 Ji DUO (China),

 Joaquin Lopez (Ecuador)

Tyler Green (USA)

 Yuya KAWASAKI (Japan) 

Yamato YOSHINO (Japan)

Kento TAMURA (Japan)

Hayato NISHIKATA (Japan)

Takashi DOI (Japan)

Masatoshi OBARA (Japan)

Tomonori ONITSUKA (Japan)

Nagisa ITAGAKI (Japan)

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What happens when a doctor, shaped by the weight of a global pandemic, decides to cycle across an entire continent? After COVID, Sam — a Korean-British doctor — made a quiet promise to himself: he would ride across Africa. From the rolling landscapes of Kenya to the windswept Cape of Good Hope, his journey became more than a physical challenge — it became a pilgrimage of purpose and personal reckoning.

In this episode, Sam shares what pushed him to finally make the trip, the moments that tested him, and the deep clarity that came from life on the road. We also explore how his storytelling — both in this conversation and through his Instagram videos — offers an honest, unfiltered look at Africa: its beauty, its people, its complexity. This isn’t just a story about cycling — it’s about choosing movement when the world stood still, and what it means to truly see a place, not just pass through it.

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