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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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Derin is an American ultra-runner living in Tokyo. After developing a world-class dad bod due to years of health negligence, he took up running in 2017 at age 38 to master a sport he’d always disdained. A former competitive swimmer and avid hiker, he rebuilt his fitness in true rookie fashion, learning hard lessons from successive mistakes. In 2024, he became the first foreign athlete ever selected to participate in the grueling 415km Trans Japan Alps Race (TJAR).

Brian is an American living in Japan, raised near the Sierra Nevadas. Coming from a unique lineage of mountaineers (father’s side) and donut artisans (mother’s side), he is currently combining these two genetic impulses by attempting to eat a Mister Donut on the summit of all 100 of Japan’s Famous Mountains. An accomplished ultra-runner, Brian enjoys spending long days in the mountains, embracing both the adventure and the challenge.

Both runners are passionate about pushing their limits and exploring Japan’s rugged landscapes, one summit (and one donut) at a time.

Links

Mt Ontake

Tor des Géants

The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolano

2666 by Roberto Bolano

The push: A Climber's Journey of Endurance, Risk and Going Beyond Limits by Tommy Caldwell

The Sopranos

The Wire

It's always sunny in Philadelphia

Squid Game

Severance

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With the Addo Elephant Trail Run happening this weekend, I’m republishing my conversation with race directors Sheena and Sian to help new runners feel prepared and confident. Addo is no ordinary race—it takes you through rugged trails, remote landscapes, and breathtaking scenery in the heart of Addo Elephant National Park.

In this episode, we talk about the race itself, what first-time runners should know, and what makes Addo such a unique challenge. If you're feeling a bit nervous ahead of race day, this episode is for you!

Topics Covered in This Episode:

• The history of the Addo Elephant Trail Run and how Sheena & Shaun became race directors
• What makes this event so unique compared to other ultras
• A breakdown of the course and what runners can expect on race day
• Key challenges, terrain, and weather conditions to be prepared for
• Tips for first-time participants to stay strong physically and mentally

Why You Should Listen:

If you’re running Addo for the first time, this episode will give you valuable insights to help you feel more prepared. Even experienced runners will enjoy hearing about the behind-the-scenes of organizing such a remote and challenging race.

Resources & Links:

• Addo Elephant Trail Run Official Website
• Follow the Race on Social Media

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If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow us on Instagram @therunningvoyager we’d love to share your story next. You can DM us or send an email to [email protected] to get in touch.

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This episode covers various tips and personal experiences on how to get motivated for running. From participating in unique running events to finding the right running group, the speaker shares different strategies and personal anecdotes to help runners get out of a rut and back on track.

 Introduction
 Runner Event in Hadano
 Group Running Experience
 Why This Episode
 Tips for Getting Unstuck
 Conclusion

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The guest in episode 108 is Wye-Khe Kwok. Wye-Khe is an Australian transplant in Japan, whose life has been an exploration of trails, mountains and pushing the boundaries of endurance. From transitioning from hiking to trail running, to navigating the delicate balance between carrying too much gear and running too far, Wye-Khe shares his unique perspectie on living life to the fullest. With a passion for mountains, a love for doggos and an understanding nod to cattos and an appetite for unconventional endurance challenges. Wye-Khe's journey is sure to inspire and captivate.

Naoki Shimizu

Semi Rad - Brandon Leonard

How to Run 100 Miles

Backyard Ultra

AJR 100 bad days make 100 good stories

Hachioji Castle Ruins

Yamanote Line

Can't Hurt me - David Goggins

The Comfort Crisis - Mark Easter

Yamanote Line

Interstellar

Momento

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In this episode, Linda interviews Bennie, a seasoned ultra-endurance runner with an impressive track record. Having conquered grueling races like the 400km Ultra Gobi in China/Mongolia, The Munga, Skyrun, Mac Mac, and Moab 240, to name a few, Bennie is no stranger to pushing his physical and mental limits. 

This conversation focuses on his experience running the **Ultra Gobi**, diving into the extreme challenges of the 400km race, his training and nutrition strategies, and the gear that carried him through. Bennie also shares insights on cultural differences in endurance racing and the relentless mental resilience required to take on some of the toughest ultras in the world. 

Notably, Bennie placed 3rd overall at the Moab 240 in 2019, one of the toughest foot races in the world run in the Moab Desert. He also secured 1st place at the Karkloof 100-miler in 2017, 1st place at The Munga 400km in 2017, and 1st place at the Addo 100-miler in 2016.  

Links:

Karkloof 100 miler

Moab 240

Addo 100 Miler

Finding Gobi by Dion Leonard

Ultra Gobi

Bennie's Facebook Page

Bennie's instagram

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