Send us a text

💭 “I used to feel so embarrassed being the slow one. Now? I just embrace it. Trail on one sock, snail on the other.” — Ally Sieff

What does your first year of trail running really look like? The nerves. The falls. The group runs where you get dropped. The slow, quiet wins that no one sees.

In this episode of Trail Chasers, host Dean Horwitz is joined by Ally Sieff—a strength coach, trail runner, and ASICS FrontRunner—to share an honest reflection on what it’s like to start trail running from zero.

Ally didn’t grow up running. She didn’t think she was an endurance athlete. But over the past year, she’s fallen in love with the trails, one solo mission, group run, and muddy race at a time.

🎯 In this episode, you’ll learn:

 ✅ What no one tells you about starting slow and staying consistent
 ✅ How Ally trained for her first trail race and dealt with injury setbacks
 ✅ Why road running helped build a base for mountain trails
 ✅ The emotional rollercoaster of group runs and getting dropped
 ✅ How strength training can support your trail running journey
 ✅ What to expect when joining a trail running community
 ✅ Tips for overcoming self-doubt and imposter syndrome

💬 New to trail running? This episode is for you—or that friend who keeps saying “I could never do that.” Share it, and help someone take their first step.

🎙 Trail Chasers Season 3 is proudly sponsored by:
Gilnokie Socks 🧦 – gilnokie.com | Use code TRAILCHASERS for 20% off
Boonies Sunglasses 🕶 – boonies.co.za | Adventure-ready eyewear for every runner

📩 Enjoying the season? Subscribe, review, and tag us on Instagram @trailchaserspod to share what keeps you chasing the trail.

Send us a text

💭 “Fasted training. That’s the one that gets me. If you want to raise my blood pressure, bring up fasted training.” — Mariella Sawyer

What if your low energy, cramping, or mental fog on the trails isn’t a fitness issue… but a fuelling one?

In this episode of Trail Chasers, we’re joined by Mariella Sawyer—professional triathlete, registered dietitian, and new mom—to break down trail running nutrition into simple, actionable tips that actually work.

From early-morning runs and race-day strategies to hydration, electrolytes, and the truth about fasted training, Mariella busts common myths and gives you tools to fuel smarter, run stronger, and recover better—without overthinking it.

Whether you’re training for a 5K, a 100-miler, or just trying to find consistency, this episode is packed with real-world advice for runners at every level.

🎯 In this episode, you’ll learn:

 ✅ Why fasted training may be slowing you down—not helping
 ✅ How to tell if you’re a “salty sweater” (and why it matters)
 ✅ Pre-run breakfast tips for early starters
 ✅ How much water and electrolytes your body actually needs
 ✅ When to use caffeine—and when it can backfire
 ✅ The essential carbs-per-hour formula for long runs
 ✅ How to balance real food with sports nutrition products

💬 Know a runner who’s confused about what to eat? Share this episode—they’ll thank you at their next aid station.

🎙 Season 3 is proudly sponsored by:
Gilnokie Socks 🧦 – Visit gilnokie.com and use code TRAILCHASERS for 20% off your first order
Boonies Sunglasses 🕶 – Visit boonies.co.za to grab your next pair of adventure-ready sunnies

📩 Enjoying the season? Subscribe, review, and tag us @trailchaserspod—we’d love to hear what’s fuelling your next run.

Send us a text

💭 "We just wanted to bring people together to experience the beauty of Montagu's trails." – Robert Le Brun

What happens when a trail runner with a dream sets out to showcase one of South Africa’s hidden gems? If you're Robert Le Brun AKA Brundle, you create the Cogmans Trail Run—a community-driven race through the rugged, beautiful trails of Montagu that’s become a beloved winter trail running classic.

In this episode of Trail Chasers, we sit down with Brundle to talk about how the Cogmans Trail Run started, how it grew into one of South Africa’s must-do winter trail races, and why it continues to capture the hearts of runners from across the country.

🏔 What You’ll Learn:

✅ The origin story of the Cogmans Trail Run and how it became a winter favourite
✅ Why Montagu’s trails offer the perfect mix of challenge and beauty
✅ How a trail race can grow a strong, connected community
✅ Behind-the-scenes of organizing a race in remote, technical terrain
✅ What makes the Cogmans Trail Run uniquely “wild and free”

📍 Whether you’ve run it before or it’s still on your bucket list, this episode is for anyone who loves trail running in South Africa and the stories behind the races we return to year after year.

🥾 Got a Cogmans Trail Run story? Tag us @trailchaserspod or send us a DM—we’d love to share it.

🎙 Behind the Trails is proudly brought to you by Trail Chasers. 

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen—and chase the stories behind the trails.

Send us a text

💭 “I just fell in love with it—and now I can’t stop.”

Hans Troyer is only 10 races into his trail running journey, but he’s already bringing serious energy, heart, and chaos to the sport. Known as The Destroyer, Hans is the kind of runner you notice—not because of podiums, but because of pure passion.

In this international debut of The People I Meet, we catch up with Hans about how it all started, what keeps him coming back, and why trail running has become more than just a hobby—it’s a full-blown obsession.

He’s loud. He’s real. He’s got big dreams. And most of all, Hans is proof that showing up with joy and grit is more powerful than perfection.

What you’ll take away from this episode:
✅ Why energy and enthusiasm matter more than experience ⚡
✅ What it’s like being the new kid on the trail—and loving it 🏔
✅ The importance of mindset, especially when things go sideways 🧠
✅ Why you don’t need to be “ready” to start showing up 💥
✅ That every runner has a story—even just 10 races in 📖

🥾 Got a story like Hans’? We want to hear it.
 Tag @trailchaserspod or DM us—because the people we meet matter.

🎙 The People I Meet is proudly supported by Gilnokie Socks 🧦
Visit gilnokie.com and use the code TRAILCHASERS for 20% off your first order.

📩 If this episode brought a smile—or fired you up—subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone just getting started. Let’s keep chasing the people who inspire us, one trail at a time.

Send us a text

💭 “If there’s a fizz of possibility, I’m there.” – Janet Steer

What if your greatest endurance strength wasn’t speed but the willingness to start?

In this episode of Trail Chasers, we meet Janet Steer: mom of three, late starter, and now a back-of-the-pack ultrarunner who’s taken on the Gobi Desert March, the UTCT 100-miler and most recently the George Ultra Mountain Trail 100km.From doubting her own stamina to standing on podiums in the dark,  Janet shows us that bravery isn’t about being fearless it’s about moving forward, even when the outcome is uncertain. 

We unpack what it’s like to start trail running later in life, juggle long runs with family life, and learn by doing the “impossible” one step at a time. Janet’s story is a powerful reminder that you don’t need to be fast—you just need to begin.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

✅ Why the hardest part is getting to the start line
✅ The difference between quitting and knowing when to withdraw
✅ Why long races are more peaceful than short ones
✅ How to raise kids with stamina and curiosity
✅ What pacing looks like when your pacer is limping behind you
✅ Why age might be your trail running superpower
✅ The power of saying “maybe I can do this” (and then doing it)

💬 Know someone who started trail running “late”? Send them this episode—they might just see themselves in Janet.

🎙 Season 3 is proudly sponsored by:

Gilnokie Socks 🧦 – Visit gilnokie.com and use code TRAILCHASERS for 20% off your first order
Boonies Sunglasses 🕶 – Visit boonies.co.za to grab your next pair of adventure-ready sunnies

📩 Inspired by Janet’s journey? Subscribe, review, and tag us @trailchaserspod—we’d love to hear your story.

Send us a text

💭 “The most important thing you can do as a coach is respect that you don’t know everything.”

What if unlocking your trail running potential wasn’t about running harder—but about learning to do less, better?

In this episode of Trail Chasers, we sit down with James Montgomery—trail running coach, performance strategist, and co-founder of The Run Project. From helping beginners build consistency to working with elite athletes chasing podiums, James shares what truly makes a good coach (hint: it’s not just running fast yourself).

We explore the realities of balancing training with life, when and why to hire a coach, and how to build a training plan that actually works for you—not just what you see on Strava.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

✅ Why consistency is the real key to progress
 ✅ When it’s time to hire a coach—and when it’s not
 ✅ How to spot a great coach (and red flags to avoid)
 ✅ Why your training plan should evolve with your life
 ✅ The difference between discomfort and injury
 ✅ Why chasing someone else’s plan might be slowing you down
 ✅ How coaching is really about curiosity, not control

💬 Have a coaching question or trail running story to share?
 Tag us @trailchaserspod or send us a message—we’d love to hear your journey.

🎙 Season 3 is proudly sponsored by:

• Gilnokie Socks 🧦 – Visit gilnokie.com and use code TRAILCHASERS for 20% off your first order.
• Boonies Sunglasses 🕶 – Visit boonies.co.za to grab your next pair of adventure-ready sunnies.

📩 If this episode changed the way you think about training, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who thinks a coach just tells you to “run more.”

Send us a text

💭 "It does what it says on the tin. We are running—for rivers."

What happens when a race is built with intention—not just to challenge runners, but to protect the places we run?

If you're Michael Edwards from RMB, you partner up with Plaisir Wine Estate and the Banhoek Conservancy to create a trail event where every step supports conservation. Enter Run4Rivers—an experience rooted in purpose, powered by community, and filled with a little trail magic (and bubbles) along the way.

In this episode of Behind the Races, we sit down with Michael Edwards, sponsorship lead at RMB, to unpack their growing involvement in South Africa’s trail running scene—this time, with a purpose-driven event like no other: Run4Rivers.

From maintaining and protecting the rivers in the Banhoek Conservancy  to creating entirely new trails, this race is about more than just kilometers—it’s about conservation, community, and connection. Michael shares how RMB is building more than events—they’re building ecosystems.

🎧 What you’ll learn in this episode:

 ✅ The role of conservation and community in race design
 ✅ Why Run4Rivers stands apart from RMB UTCT or RMB UTD
 ✅ What happens when brands invest in purpose, not just presence
 ✅ What to expect on race day (wine walk, summit bubbles, and more!)
 ✅ The big vision for 2026—and how you can be part of it
 ✅ The long game: how this race fits into a bigger ecosystem of change 

🌿 Whether you're chasing time or chasing purpose, this one’s for you.

🥾 Have you ran, supported or volunteered at RMB UTCT or RMB UTD, DM us or tag @trailchaserspod—we’d love to hear how the experience changed your life. 

🎙 Behind the Races is proudly brought to you by Trail Chasers.

Send us a text

💭 “We just wanted to create something that made people feel part of something again.”

What do you do when races are cancelled, trails are empty, and the world has gone quiet?

If you're Hein Boonzaaier, you team up with the legend Mike Obery and build something new.

In this episode of Behind the Trails, we go back a few years to the birth of Full Send Trail—a FKT trail series that helped runners reconnect after a long lockdown. Hein shares how a conversation with Mike Obery sparked a grassroots movement that reimagined what racing could be: accessible, inclusive, and community-first.

✨ What you’ll learn:
 ✅ The origin story of Full Send Trail and how it spread
 ✅ Why challenges—not medals—kept people coming back
 ✅ How virtual FKTs created real connections
 ✅ What it takes to build community around effort and honesty
 ✅ Why sometimes the best trail races don’t need a finish line

🥾 Got a Full Send memory or challenge you loved? DM us or tag @trailchaserspod—we want to hear how it helped you feel part of something bigger.

🎙 Behind the Trails is proudly brought to you by Trail Chasers
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and uncover the stories that shaped the trails we love.

Send us a text

💭 “Strength training is such a powerful tool to change someone’s life—whether it’s for health or performance.”

What if getting better at trail running didn’t mean running more—but building strength where it matters most?

In this episode of Trail Chasers, we sit down with Dr. Shaundre Jacobs—a sports scientist, strength & conditioning coach, passionate trail runner, and beloved community leader. From beginner-friendly strength tips to common training mistakes and injury myths, this one’s packed with real-world insights (and a few hill repeats up to the Stellenbosch Mast).

Dr. Jacobs breaks down why strength is more than just a gym thing—it’s your endurance insurance, injury buffer, and secret trail weapon.

What you’ll learn in this episode:
✅ Why strength training is additive, not optional, for trail runners
✅ The real reason you don’t need to fear getting bulky
✅ How to balance running and strength without overtraining
✅ What to do if you only have 10 minutes to train
✅ How to train power and endurance for technical terrain
✅ The difference between discomfort and pain—and why you need both
✅ How strength helps prevent the most common trail injuries

🏋️‍♀️ Got a strength secret or trail recovery tip?
 Tag @trailchaserspod or message us—we’d love to hear how you stay strong on and off the mountain.

🎙 Season 3 is proudly sponsored by:
Gilnokie Socks 🧦 – Visit gilnokie.com and use code TRAILCHASERS for 20% off your first order.
Boonies Sunglasses 🕶 – Visit www.boonies.co.za to get yourself an epic pair of sunnies.

📩 If this episode gave you a new way to think about training, subscribe, leave a review, and send it to someone who still thinks strength work is just for gym bros.

Send us a text

💭 “Champions assemble!”

Rory Petzer isn’t just funny—he’s thoughtful, real, and surprisingly honest about what running means to him.

In this first episode of our new series The People I Meet, Rory—comedian, radio host, and self-proclaimed non-runner—shares how running became his anchor during tough times, why the running community feels like family, and what it means to celebrate the small wins.

This isn’t a how-to. It’s a why-we-do-it. A reminder that every runner, no matter how fast or far, is a champion in their own way.

What you’ll take away from this episode:
 ✅ Why you don’t need a “serious” reason to start running 🏃
 ✅ The joy of finding humour in hardship—and on the hills 😅
 ✅ Why every runner is a champion (yes, even you) 🏆
 ✅ How community shows up, one small gesture at a time 🤝
 ✅ What happens when you stop waiting to be fast—and just run 🚀

🥾 Got a running story you didn’t expect to tell?
 Tag @trailchaserspod or DM us—because everyone’s reason matters.

🎙 The People I Meet is proudly supported by Gilnokie Socks 🧦
Visit gilnokie.com and use the code TRAILCHASERS for 20% off your first order.

📩 If this episode brought a smile—or made you feel seen—subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s just getting started. Let’s keep celebrating the people we meet, one run at a time.