The first episode of Trial Talk SA for the year sees us chat about a brand new race on the South African Trail Running Calendar for 2014, we take a look at a website that specialises in minimalist shoes and we also chat about the latest Modern Athlete. On this week’s trail running podcast:Graham Bird from Mountain Runner Events joins us to tell us about a new race that they’ve added to the 2014 South African Trail Running Calendar called the Whale of Trail. Dave tells us about the race, how you can enter and what to expect. You can find out more and enter online here. Dave also recently competed at the World Adventure Racing world champs in Costa Rica and he tells us a little bit about that experience.We chat about minimalist running on the trails with barefoot Dave Els. Dave has a website called The Barefoot Runner where you can buy the latest minimalist trail shoes.Also touch base with Robin Hide from Modern Athlete to find out what is in the January edition from a trail running perspective. You can read the mag online here.If you would like to subscribe to our weekly podcast on iTunes here or on RSS feed by clicking here.You can also be in touch via email or following us on Twitter or Like Trail Talk SA on Facebook. Read More

Another brand new episode of Trail Talk SA this week sees Brad catch up with Deon Braun, the founder of GO Multi and Trail Magazine. Deon and Brad talk about the recent decision that Deon has made to pull the plug on the print version of GO Multi and the decision to keep the website going. Deon also spoke about the growth of trail running in South Africa and described how the sport is where mountain biking was a few years ago. Deon also ran the recent Sky Run and spoke about his experience on the mountain. Check out GO Multi and Trail Magazine online.If you would like to subscribe to our weekly podcast on iTunes here or on RSS feed by clicking here.You can also be in touch via email or following us on Twitter or Like Trail Talk SA on Facebook. Read more

Photo Credit: Kelvin TrautmanBy all accounts last week’s 2014 Salomon Sky Run turned out to be an epic experience. We thought on this week’s episode of Trail Talk SA we would speak to some of the people involved, behind the scenes and as athletes. On Episode 16:Brad spoke to one of the race organisers Adrian Saffy about what went into the decision to call the race off midway through the event. The pair discussed the events leading up to the call being made and how difficult it was to get the athletes off the mountain.Andrew Mckay described to Brad what it was like to be on the mountain in the midst of the storm. Andrew told Brad about a stretch of the race where the winds really created havoc for him and his fellow athletes.Brad caught up with Nathalie Romeo about her experience. As you will hear Nathalie has already forgotten the hardships endured and is ready for the 2014 Sky Run.As mentioned on this week’s show, if you want to start running or know someone who wants to start running check out Brad’s webinar here.If you would like to subscribe to our weekly podcast on iTunes here or on RSS feed by clicking here.You can also be in touch via email or following us on Twitter or Like Trail Talk SA on Facebook. Read more

This week on Trail Talk SA we chat to the winner of one of South Africa’s unique trail running events and we catch up with a race organiser that is well known for putting on spectacular events. On Episode 15 we:Caught up with AJ Calitz following his win at the 2013 Redbull Lionheart this past weekend. AJ tells us what the competition was like this weekend in Cape Town as well as why he was disappointed in his Otter African Trail run performance in 2013. We also touched base on what is next for AJ. Brad asked AJ if he could give three tips that could help inexperienced trail runners get better and AJ shared a few absolute gems, in particularly about climbing.Spoke to Owen Middleton about the Richtersveld Wild Run, which is due to be run for the first time in June 2014. Owen told us about the four stages and what you can expect as well as their philosophy as a race organiser. Owen and Brad also spoke about the Lesotho Wildrun and what you can expect if you are planning on running that. To find out more about those two events or to enter them click here.If you would like to subscribe to our weekly podcast on iTunes here or on RSS feed by clicking here.You can also be in touch via email or following us on Twitter or Like Trail Talk SA on Facebook.Nick Muzik/Red Bull Content Pool Read more

Cape Town is synonymous for trail running and this weekend sees a race take place that will be run for the second time, the Redbull Lionheart. On Trail Talk SA this week:We caught up with the founder of the Redbull Lionheart, trail runner extraordinaire Ryan Sandes. Running up and down Lions Head is an impressive feat on any day but taking it on in a knockout race-format elevates the challenge to another level. We chat to Ryan about the race and what you can expect as a spectator. To find out more visit the website here. Brad and Ryan also chat a bit about Ryan’s recent victory in Patagonia.Robin Hide from Modern Athlete tells us what you can expect in the November edition from a trail running perspective. You can read the latest edition of the Modern Athlete here.If you would like to subscribe to our weekly podcast on iTunes here or on RSS feed by clicking here.You can also be in touch via email or following us on Twitter or Like Trail Talk SA on Facebook.

Sixty three brave trail runners made their way across the Kalahari desert this past week as part of the Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon. We followed their progress and are pleased to report that of the 63 that started 59 were able to complete the 250km journey. On Trail Talk SA this week:We chat to the 2013 champion Daniel Rowland about his race. We also chatted about the route as well as how his Dad, Jonathan, and brother, Brian, went. Brad also,  finds out what is next on Daniel’s radar.Edward Chapman also joins us to chat about the KAEM. Edward has now completed seven KAEM’s  more than anyone else.We caught up with Clive Smart from Ilanga Trails. Clive told Brad about some of the amazing trails on offer in Mpumalanga as well as the Trail Safari’s that they offer to trail runners on trails such as the Fanie Botha, Kaapschehoop and Magoebaskloof. You can find out more about Ilanga Trails by visiting their website or follow them on Twitter.If you would like to subscribe to our weekly podcast on iTunes here or on RSS feed by clicking here.You can also be in touch via email or following us on Twitter or Like Trail Talk SA on Facebook.Daniel Rowland winning the 2013 KAEM with his brother Brian also completing the race Read more

Into a brand new week of Trail Talk SA and we look at another race. This week Brad Brown:Caught up with Daniel Rowland who is in South Africa ahead of the Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon. 250km over 6 days through the searing Northern Cape. Daniel is no stranger to Trail Talk SA, we caught up with him following his win in the Atacama crossing, and we touch base with him again ahead of this weekend’s race. You can follow Daniel’s progress through the desert on his webiste or follow him on Twitter here.Spoke about a really cool adventure that Jacques von Wielligh has embarked on, the 9 Peaks Challenge. Jacques is in the process of running up the highest peak in each province in South Africa. If you want to follow Jacques journey you can by visiting his website or following him on Twitter.If you would like to subscribe to our weekly podcast on iTunes here or on RSS feed by clicking here. You can also be in touch via email or following us on Twitter or Like Run Talk SA on Facebook. Read more

It has been another busy week at Talk Media HQ and on Trail Talk SA week:We caught up with Michael Bailey who finished 7th at the recent Otter African Trail Run. Schooled in the Eastern Cape and a pretty decent tennis player Michael moved to Cape Town where he discovered trail running. Brad spoke to Michael about his childhood, love for trail running as well as his year this year and what he has planned going forward. Michael is fairly active on Twitter and you can follow him here or check out his blog.Brad managed to interview one of the leading photographers in South Africa, Jacques Marais. Jacques has shot many iconic races including the Otter. Brad chatted to Jacques about what he does and how he captures some of the amazing images that he does. You can follow Jacques on Twitter, visit his website or pop onto Facebook to see some of his amazing work.If you would like to subscribe to our weekly podcast on iTunes here or on RSS feed by clicking here. You can also be in touch via email or following us on Twitter or Like Run Talk SA on Facebook. Read more

We are into double figures here on Trail Talk SA and this week we talk about two really cool races. On this week’s show:Brad caught up with Mike Stopforth, who recently completed the Otter African Trail Run. Mike is the CEO of Cerebra and only recently got into the sport of trail running. Mike published an article on his blog called “6 Tips For Making The Most Of Your Otter Trail Race Or Challenge” and Brad thought it would be cool to chat to Mike about a few of the tips he wrote about. You can also follow Mike on Twitter here.We also talk about a brand new race on the South African trail running calendar, the 2014 Molweni Trail Run. Race Director Graham Daniel joins us to talk about the race as well as how you can enter and what to expect. As discussed the promo video is below and you can visit the website to enter or get more information here.If you would like to subscribe to our weekly podcast on iTunes here or on RSS feed by clicking here. You can also be in touch via email or following us on Twitter or Like Run Talk SA on Facebook. courtesy www.jacquesmarais.co.za Read more

Last weekend saw a seriously impressive performance from Ricky Lightfoot to claim the 2013 Otter African Trail Run title. This week on episode 9 of Tail Talk SA:Brad managed to catch up with the 2013 Trail Running World Champion Ricky Lightfoot following his win at the Otter. Ricky spoke about how close he came to not actually running because a missed flight. The pair also spoke at length about Ricky’s thoughts on the Otter as well as South Africa as a whole. Brad also touched on Ricky’s World title that he won in Wales as well as what he hopes to achieve in the future and then finally Brad asked Ricky if he was going to return to defend his title in 2014 and if he thought he could go faster.Gavin Grobbelaar, the organiser of the Highveld Summer Trail Challenge joins us to chat about the upcoming race on 6 October. As discussed on the show if you would like to enter or find out more about the series you can visit the Multisport Basement on line here.If you would like to subscribe to our weekly podcast on iTunes here or on RSS feed by clicking here. You can also be in touch via email or following us on Twitter or Like Run Talk SA on Facebook.   Read more