Afleveringen
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Billy Curtis returns to the pod for a deeper conversation with James on the path that has taken him from rugby league and hiking in Tassie to becoming one of Australia’s most exciting trail runners.
We talk through Billy’s early sporting background, how he found trail running almost by accident, and why he chose to learn the sport through shorter, competitive races before stepping further into the longer mountain events.
Billy also opens up about his World Championships experience, the bee/wasp incident that derailed his race, and the lessons that shaped his approach to training, travel, recovery and decision-making after that. From there, we dive into his time living and racing across Europe, how he made it work on a tight budget, and the training blocks that led to his standout second place at Madeira.
This is a conversation about patience, durability, low-ego racing, cheap travel, high-volume training, and finding a way to chase big goals without overcomplicating the process.
***Don’t forget, use code PEAK at Bix’s website for 20% off Bix products, exclusive to PPP listeners!***
Thanks for tuning in to Peak Pursuits! Connect with us on Instagram @peakpursuits.pod to share your thoughts, questions, and trail stories. Until next time, keep hitting the trails and chasing those peak pursuits!
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In this episode of Peak Pursuits Jess and Brodie sit down with Mikey Dimuantes to talk through his recent move to Turkey, his races so far in Europe, and his big goals for CCC.
Jess and Brodie then talk through the wild events that went down at Western States including Holly Ransons incredible 15th place, before recapping the Aussie results of the week.
Results: World Masters Mountain Champs Laverado 120k: Marathon du Mont Blanc 23km Byron Rainforest Run (NSW) Newcastle Cross Country: King of the Mountain (NSW) Lofty's Revenge Ultra Marathon (SA) Wondai Country Running Festival (QLD) King of the Mountain (WA) Sri Chinmoy Canberra Trail Series: Ainslie Amble (ACT)***Don’t forget, use code PEAK at https://bix-hydration.myshopify.com/en-au for 20% off Bix products, exclusive to PPP listeners!***
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Connect with us on Instagram @peakpursuits.pod to share your thoughts, questions, and your own trail stories. Until next time, keep hitting the trails and chasing those peak pursuits!
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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In this episode of Peak Pursuits Sim, Brodie and James sit down to deep dive their current training, discussing the phase, mindsets, and sessions that they are doing right now.
Then hear some WSER predictions and Broken Arrow results before we recap some awesome racing around Aus over the weekend!
Results: Broken Arrow Skyrace Surf Coast Trail Marathon (VIC) Mt Baranduda Trail Run: RTRS Round 3 (VIC) Kowen Winter Trails (NSW) Kiama Coastal Classic (NSW) Freycinet Circuits Trail Run (TAS) Kunanyi Trail Series: Knockers Solstice (TAS) Curtis Island Trail Run (QLD) Snakes N Ladders (WA)***Don’t forget, use code PEAK at https://bix-hydration.myshopify.com/en-au for 20% off Bix products, exclusive to PPP listeners!***
Join us on Patreon HERE
Connect with us on Instagram @peakpursuits.pod to share your thoughts, questions, and your own trail stories. Until next time, keep hitting the trails and chasing those peak pursuits!
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In this episode Jess and Sime sit down with Holly Ranson to walk through her journey towards Western States which is now just two weeks away. They talk through her approach to training and racing, her incredible 3rd place finish at UTA50k in the lead up, and how Holly feels being in America preparing among some of trail running's greatest athletes.
News items include a brief preview of Broken Arrow SkyRace this weekend as well as the AUTRA Uniform Sponsorship tender announced HERE.
Then stay tuned for the results from the week and some updates from Jess and Sim!
Results: Wild Boar Trail Run (VIC) Tower Trail Run (SA) Yandina Five ‘O’ (QLD) Four Corners Trail Run (NT)***Don’t forget, use code PEAK at https://bix-hydration.myshopify.com/en-au for 20% off Bix products, exclusive to PPP listeners!***
Join us on Patreon HERE
Connect with us on Instagram @peakpursuits.pod to share your thoughts, questions, and your own trail stories. Until next time, keep hitting the trails and chasing those peak pursuits!
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In this episode, James sits down with Nigel Preston from Singletrack Events for a rare behind-the-scenes look at what it actually takes to build, grow, and deliver some of Australia’s biggest trail running events.
Nigel shares his journey from growing up in Bendigo’s cross-country scene, to working in events and sponsorship, before helping launch Singletrack Events out of the chaos of COVID. From the early days of taking over Buffalo Stampede and Roller Coaster, through to the growth of GPT100, Hounslow, Running Wild, Wonderland and the World Trail Majors, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the business, logistics, risk, and passion behind modern trail events.
James and Nigel also dive into some of the bigger questions facing the sport: whether the Australian trail calendar is becoming saturated, how we bring more young runners into trail running, why shorter distances matter, what role prize money should play, and how events can better support both elite athletes and the back of the pack.
They also cover the importance of volunteers, the Singletrack Trail Team, live streaming, national championships, international athletes, and why creating a great event experience is about far more than just putting flags in the ground.
A big conversation on race directing, community, growth, and the future of trail running in Australia.
***Don’t forget, use code PEAK at Bix’s website for 20% off Bix products, exclusive to PPP listeners!***
Thanks for tuning in to Peak Pursuits! Connect with us on Instagram @peakpursuits.pod to share your thoughts, questions, and trail stories. Until next time, keep hitting the trails and chasing those peak pursuits!
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This week on Peak Pursuits, Vlad and Jess are joined by WA trail runner Ben for a big episode covering training updates, national champs news, European racing, and what is happening in the West.
We chat through AUTRA’s announcement of the EOI for the 2027 National Championships, with trail, long course, mountain running and 100-mile racing all potentially coming together for the first time in one all-distance event. We also unpack the European Off-Road Running Championships in Slovenia, including wins from Frédéric Tranchand, Judith Wyder, Hanna Gröber and Jan Torrella.
Ben gives us a look into the WA trail scene: the rising stars, must-do events, best training spots and what the broader trail running community might be missing from the West.
We also cover recent results from Biwako Valley Skyrun, Run Forrest, Red Hill Ramble, Unbreakable, Cape2Cape and more, plus a look ahead to upcoming races around the country.
In our Patreon-only show, Ben answers a listener question from Jeremy Rankin on how to approach steep fire trail climbs on race day, when hiking becomes more efficient, and how mid-packers can learn to make those decisions in training and racing.
***Don’t forget, use code PPP at https://bix-hydration.myshopify.com/en-au for 20% off Bix products, exclusive to PPP listeners!***
Thanks for tuning in to Peak Pursuits! Connect with us on Instagram @peakpursuits.pod to share your thoughts, questions, and your own trail stories. Until next time, keep hitting the trails and chasing those peak pursuits!
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In this episode brought to you by Erniold, Brodie and James sit down with Bridget Lunn to cover her amazing 2026 season so far, including representing Australia at the World University Cross Country Championships, 2nd at Buffalo 20km and 1st at the recent UTA 22!
The group then discuss a recent instagram post from Ruth Croft, diving into the topic of junior/youth participation in ultras, before Brodie and James review the Erniold Melbourne Trail Tee. We finish by covering results from across Australia and the Oceania athletes in action at the Maxi Race in France.
Results:
Charlie Hamilton racing Maxxi Race in France
Rapid Ascent Trail Series Rd 1: Blackwood (VIC)
Myponga Loop (SA)
Jolly Jumbuck Trail Run (WA)
Off The Beaten Track Series Rd 3: Eungella - Rainforest Run (QLD)
In The Raw Trail Run (QLD)
Dead Cow Gully BYU (QLD)Introducing the 'MELBOURNE Trail Tee'
Key features; Anti-piling technical fabric, an oversize-cropped fit, made in Melbourne.
As a Melbourne-born brand, producing this garment locally is core to who they are. Supporting local makers and keeping production close to home is part of what makes this range so meaningful. Developed for all runners, the Melbourne range combines premium technical fabrics with functional detailing to elevate the running experience. Explore more at http://erniold.com/Join us on Patreon HERE
***Don’t forget, use code PEAK at https://bix-hydration.myshopify.com/en-au for 20% off Bix products, exclusive to PPP listeners!***
Connect with us on Instagram @peakpursuits.pod to share your thoughts, questions, and your own trail stories. Until next time, keep hitting the trails and chasing those peak pursuits!
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In this episode Sim and Vlad sit down with Beth McKenzie fresh off her second pace at UTA 100 to hear how her last 12 months have been and a recap of how the race went down. Beth also answers a question about balancing training and family, before Vlad gives a brief rundown of his 50k race and poses the question of whether the elite field should be allowed external support.
Keep listening for news about Wonderland Trail Run, results from Aus and around the globe, and what's coming up this weekend.
Results:
Magnetic Island Two Bays Trail Run - QLD
Run the Gap - VIC
Albury Ranges Trail Run - NSW
South Bremer Trails SA
***Don’t forget, use code PEAK at https://bix-hydration.myshopify.com/en-au for 20% off Bix products, exclusive to PPP listeners!***
Join us on Patreon HERE
Connect with us on Instagram @peakpursuits.pod to share your thoughts, questions, and your own trail stories. Until next time, keep hitting the trails and chasing those peak pursuits!
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In this episode Jess and Brodie are joined by Blake Turner to recap all things UTA, including what went into Blake's 3rd place in the 50k and Jess' 4th place in the 22 plus all the other incredible runs of the weekend!!
The crew also recap all the other local results of the weekend plus the wild times run at Zegama.
We hope you enjoy!
Join us on Patreon HERE
Results: UTA (NSW) West Macs Monster (NT) Great Ocean Road Running Festival (VIC) runher Lake Manchester Trail Run (QLD)***Don’t forget, use code PEAK at https://bix-hydration.myshopify.com/en-au for 20% off Bix products, exclusive to PPP listeners!***
Connect with us on Instagram @peakpursuits.pod to share your thoughts, questions, and your own trail stories. Until next time, keep hitting the trails and chasing those peak pursuits!
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In this episode of Peak Pursuits, Sim and James are joined by Nicole Paton to recap her win at Margaret River Ultra and update us on how her season so far has gone.
The chat then turns to the ITRA and UTMB ranking systems as we still try to figure out exactly how it all pieces together, before recapping the very high highs and very low lows of Cocodona 250.
Keep listening for some final UTA chat before the weekend including updates of starting lists, hear how James is feeling before he tackles the 22, and some incredible results from Aussies around the globe!
Results: Transvulcania Margaret River Ultra Marathon (WA) Wandi Cross (VIC) Run Narawntapu (TAS) Springsure Mountain Challenge (QLD) Sri Chinmoy Canberra Trail Series: Tidbinbilla Thriller (ACT)***Don’t forget, use code PEAK at https://bix-hydration.myshopify.com/en-au for 20% off Bix products, exclusive to PPP listeners!***
Join us on Patreon HERE
Connect with us on Instagram @peakpursuits.pod to share your thoughts, questions, and your own trail stories. Until next time, keep hitting the trails and chasing those peak pursuits!
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A race that breaks people — and this year, some new challengers. Lin Chen and Antonina Iushina headline a women's race that is shaping up as a genuine international showdown, with UTA veterans like Steph Austin and Emma Timmis ready to make it a fight. On the men's side, Piotr Babis has Brodie convinced he could win the whole thing. He’s up against Aleksei Beresnev and Aleksei Tolstenko, both having serious 100-mile pedigree. James and Brodie dig into who has the course knowledge, who has the fitness, and who might just be lining up for a ticket to UTMB.
Who are you backing? Let us know in the comments!
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The marquee race. With a field that matches the hype. Guidu Qin and Guomin Deng headline the international men's field fresh off the Hong Kong 100, but Mike Carroll, Matt Crehan, and Michael Dunstan won’t let them have it easy. On the women's side, can the up-and-coming Meg Sinclair and experienced Beth McKenzie take on international stars Katarzyna Dombrowska and Emily Mann? James and Brodie go deep on who can bridge the gap to the internationals, and why this year feels different.
Who are you backing? Let us know in the comments!
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James said it best — he was tingling. The 50K field this year is on another level, stacked on both the men's and women's sides with incredible international runners. Miao Yao. Ruth Croft. Dan Jones. Add most of the best 50km trail athletes in Australia, Demi Caldwell, Kate Avery, Blake Turner, Vlad Ixel (just to name a few), and almost impossible to pick a top three. If there's one race this weekend where the result could genuinely surprise everyone, it's this one. Strap in.
Who are you backing? Let us know in the comments!
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The rematch is on. Last year's men's race came down to the wire, and the two athletes who made it happen are back. Leo Petterson and Ben Duffus both toe the start line, joined by Nathan Pearce and young guns Patrick Clarke and Elijah Gosby. The women's race is just as compelling, with a three-way showdown between Jess Jason, Bridget Lunn and Katinka Von Elsner-Wellsteed. Throw in Chinese runner Qiong Luo and we have a real race on our hands. James and Brodie break down who's ready, who's a risk, and who could gate-crash the podium on both sides of the race.
Who are you backing? Let us know in the comments!
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This episode of Peak Pursuits starts with an interview with Alice McGushin to get to know Alice and recap the first edition of Diverge SkyRuns that happened over the weekend (Start - 53min).
Then Sim and Vlad catch up on where their training is at and cover some of the news of the week, including Jim Walmsley returning to WSER and Dragons Back + Northern Traverse being bought by Ultra X.
Finishing up with some results and some very cool races to look forward to this weekend, we hope you enjoy!
Results:
Diverge Sky Runs (TAS) Ikara Ultra (SA) Wilsons Prom Running Festival (VIC) Nail Can Hill Run (NSW) Forest Trail Run (NSW) Hamilton Island Hilly Half Marathon (QLD) Hidden Vale Trail Running Festival (QLD) OMFG Trail Running Festival (WA)***Don’t forget, use code PEAK at https://bix-hydration.myshopify.com/en-au for 20% off Bix products, exclusive to PPP listeners!***
Join us on Patreon HERE
Connect with us on Instagram @peakpursuits.pod to share your thoughts, questions, and your own trail stories. Until next time, keep hitting the trails and chasing those peak pursuits!
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Content warning: This episode includes discussion of eating disorders, sexual assault, self-harm, suicide, psychiatric hospitalisation, trauma, and PTSD. Please take care while listening, and skip this episode if it is not the right time for you.
In this deeply personal episode of Peak Pursuits, James sits down with Sim for an open and honest conversation about the story behind the runner many people know today.
Sim shares the experiences that shaped her life long before trail running, including her battles with anorexia, trauma, self-harm, psychiatric hospitalisation, and the long process of understanding her own mind and body. She also reflects on the power of language, the role of therapy, and the motto that has carried her through so much: doing what you can with where you are currently at.
This is a heavy but powerful conversation about survival, recovery, identity, and slowly finding your way back into life, running, and possibility.
***Don’t forget, use code PEAK at Bix’s website for 20% off Bix products, exclusive to PPP listeners!***
Thanks for tuning in to Peak Pursuits! Connect with us on Instagram @peakpursuits.pod to share your thoughts, questions, and trail stories. Until next time, keep hitting the trails and chasing those peak pursuits!
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Check out Bix
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In this episode brought to you by ASICS, Jess and James sit down with young gun James Barnett to talk through his impressive results so far. Get to know James and how he approaches training and racing, with the conversation covering mindset, using the bike in training, maximising the terrain you have around you, and some race recaps from James' recent results.
News/topics covered includes the golden tickets handed out at Canyons, the new UTMB index scoring, and brand sponsorship in Australia. Finishing up with some ripper results from home and overseas, we hope you enjoy!
Results: China WMRA Madeira 56km Mt. Fuji 100 mile Canyons 25km Mt Solitary Ultra (NSW) - Mens , Womens Bottlebutt Bash Trail Run (NSW) Bright Fun Run Trail Fest (VIC) Brisbane Trail Marathon (QLD) Sri Chinmoy Canberra Trail Series: Cooleman Clip (ACT)Head to asics.com.au to find out more about the Nature Bathing Pack
Join us on Patreon HERE
***Don’t forget, use code PEAK at https://bix-hydration.myshopify.com/en-au for 20% off Bix products, exclusive to PPP listeners!***
Connect with us on Instagram @peakpursuits.pod to share your thoughts, questions, and your own trail stories. Until next time, keep hitting the trails and chasing those peak pursuits!
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In this special preview episode, Brodie takes the reins alongside James to break down Diverge Sky Runs, a new Tasmanian event bringing steep, exposed, rocky and largely off-track skyrunning-style terrain to the Australian scene.
The team hear from Lincoln about the 25K and 50K courses, then unpack why this race may reward patience, smooth movement and mental composure as much as pure fitness. They also dive into the key names across both fields, including Trish McKibben, Toby Sparks, Sam Woolford, Piotr Babis, Angus Tolson, Emma Cook-Clark, Simone Brick and Alice McGushin.
A different kind of race, a stacked 50K field, and a proper mountain challenge in Queenstown, Tasmania.
Diverge Sky Runs
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Thanks for tuning in to Peak Pursuits! Connect with us on Instagram @peakpursuits.pod to share your thoughts, questions, and trail stories. Until next time, keep hitting the trails and chasing those peak pursuits!
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https://www.instagram.com/katinkav_/In episode 106 of Peak Pursuits sim and Brodie sit down with Katinka Von Elsner-Wellsteed just before she heads off to China to race the second WMRA World Cup race Beijing Changping Yanshou Trail Challenge. Hear about Katinka's last 12 months since we caught up with her after her ripper run at KMR 2025, including her first Euro races, a move to the Blue Mountains, and a coaching change.
We then catch up with Brodie after his unfortunate achilles rupture during the Aus Oritenteering Champs and what that means for his next 12 months, before diving into news from the AUTRA AGM and announcing the new committee. The final bit of news is a sombre reminder to be careful no matter our level of experience as we discuss the devastating passing of David Parrish during his FKT attempt of the Cape Wrath track.
Finish with some incredible results form the week and highlighting a big week ahead, we hop you enjoy!!
Results: Huon Hill - Riverina Trail Running Series Round 1 (VIC) Maroondah Dam (VIC) Five Peaks Trail Running Festival (SA)***Don’t forget, use code PEAK at https://bix-hydration.myshopify.com/en-au for 20% off Bix products, exclusive to PPP listeners!***
Join us on Patreon HERE
Connect with us on Instagram @peakpursuits.pod to share your thoughts, questions, and your own trail stories. Until next time, keep hitting the trails and chasing those peak pursuits!
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In this episode, we sit down with Finn Melanson from Singletrack to talk about where Australian trail running sits in the wider world, why our scene still feels underrated, and what is actually building beneath the surface. From the rise of events like Buffalo, GPT and Kosci, to the athletes starting to break through, this is a conversation about momentum, visibility, and what still needs to happen for Australia to be taken more seriously on the global stage.
We also get into the media side of the sport, including why the US has had such a big head start, what Australia still lacks, how race coverage and livestreams can shape the growth of the scene, and why telling better stories matters if the sport wants to keep moving forward. Along the way, Finn shares plenty on podcasting, building Singletrack, staying curious as a host, and where he thinks trail running is all heading next.
***Don’t forget, use code PEAK at Bix’s website for 20% off Bix products, exclusive to PPP listeners!***
Thanks for tuning in to Peak Pursuits! Connect with us on Instagram @peakpursuits.pod to share your thoughts, questions, and trail stories. Until next time, keep hitting the trails and chasing those peak pursuits!
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