Trail Culture

This one is special. A handful of the brave humans who tackled the miler share some of their stories just a few hours after finishing their epic journeys. The debrief starts with Nicolette Griffioen. Two milers, two wins, four weeks apart - we’re inspired. She talks about her decision making process & where her mind was at going into this stretch of training and racing 🏅 Pierre Jordaan is up next. @the.flying.runner [https://www.instagram.com/the.flying.runner/] had an incredibly consistent run that put him in 3rd. He humbly talks about how his race unfolded & his approach to the training ‘required’ for these big dances. The story continues as we heard from two well loved George locals. Lodelia Kombrink claimed second place after an exciting switch up in the last 7kms of the race. Thembinkosi Sojola made an incredible come back after a challenging start & ran into the top 10. 🏆 the George community came out in full force to welcome these two home.

The MUT locker room | E03🎙️🔓 Its been an eventful day at George MUT by UTMB ⛰️ war stories shared from a handful of trail legends. @monique_agenbag08 [https://www.instagram.com/monique_agenbag08?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] starts us off with some training reflections & her race strategy for tomorrows 25km ⚡️ The power of salt & vinegar chips to the joy of racing on home trails. @shaunyd_8 [https://www.instagram.com/shaunyd_8?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] & @rebeccakohne [https://www.instagram.com/rebeccakohne?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] share stories from the MUT marathon 👟 & @adie_athlete [https://www.instagram.com/adie_athlete?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] talks about the personal battle to fight for his position in the miler 🛠️ Inspired is an understatement. 💭 #TrailCulture

In the second locker room episode, we catch up with some of the sports favourite athletes. Toeing the line at the marathon & 60km races tomorrow, we chat through: * The build up to MUT * Injuries & setbacks * Sibling rivalry * History with the event * Working with the race day rubik's cube * & more!

Race director, Zane Schmahl, gives us a race report ahead of the MUT by UTMB weekend. 2025 is set to be the biggest event yet with 2100 runners toeing the start line over the 6 distances.

Welcome Brendan Lombard! From racing across the globe to coaching runners of all levels, Brandon shares his expert insights on purpose-driven training, strength & conditioning for runners, and overcoming injuries. 🎙️ In this episode, you'll discover: 🔥 How to build strength for trail running – Key exercises, common mistakes, and how to integrate strength into your routine without overloading yourself. 🏃‍♂️ Brendan's journey from South Africa to Spain – Why he made the move and how it’s shaped his training and coaching philosophy. 🏋️ Strength training myths & best practices – Why “leg day” isn’t enough and how periodization can change your performance. 🤕 Injury prevention & recovery – Lessons from his Achilles injury and the breakthrough method that got him back to running. ⛰️ Racing in Europe vs. South Africa – Insights on courses, competition, and what it takes to perform on the world stage. Chapter Markers: 00:00 - Welcome to Season 2! 01 :38 - Meet Brendan Lombard: Sports Scientist, Coach & Trail Runner 04:30 - Why Brendan moved to Spain & how it’s impacted his training 08:00 - Brendan’s running journey – From swimming to world championships 13:20 - First trail race reality check – How road speed doesn’t always translate to the mountains 18:30 - Full-time coaching & digital nomad life 23:00 - Brendon’s Achilles injury & breakthrough recovery technique 27:50 - Mental battle of injury & staying motivated 31:40 - Brendan’s 2025 race goals – Tenerife, Eiger Ultra, UTCT & more 36:00 - The importance of training with purpose 9:00 - Biggest mistakes runners make with strength training 45:20 - How to structure strength workouts around your running 51:10 - Beginner’s guide: Strength training for trail runners 56:40 - How long does it take to see strength training results? 01:03:00 - Final advice: Brendan’s favorite training philosophy 🌍 Connect with Trail Culture: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trailcultureza/ [https://www.instagram.com/trailcultureza/] Trail Culture Coaching: https://www.trailculture.co.za/ [https://www.trailculture.co.za/] Support those who support us: Carbon Endurance Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/carbon_endurance/] Carbon Endurance Wesbite [https://www.carbonendurance.co/precision-hydration-2] 📩 Follow Brendan Lombard (Instagram) [https://www.instagram.com/brendan_lombard/%20Coaching%20Services:%20https://brendanthecoach.komi.io/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZl28C34__24a-vufJVOXhqVuw1cOXMkmFuEA6wi7_GsMn6-G6dujmXrxA_aem_I684ITnihlD4a09zEkuUMA] 🔔 Subscribe & Follow for More Trail Running Insights! Don’t forget to hit LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more epic trail running and strength training content! Let us know your biggest strength training struggles in the comments below!👇