Welcome to Peak Pursuits , where we chase dirt-packed trails, soaring ridgelines and the thrill of a finish line like no other. Hosted by trail obsessives and elite runners Simone Brick, Brodie Nankervis, Vlad Ixel and Jess Jason — plus deep-dives with James Sieber — we bring you candid chats with
This week Sim and Vlad sit down with Toby right after he has completed this years Inward Bound 100km to chat through that adventure and how he is now shifting into the build towards APTRC. Her about Toby's year so far, what Inward Bound entails, and how Toby will prepare to race with the awesome Junior team we have headed to China in November! You will then hear a brief update from Vlad before we get into some chats about the growth of the junior side of the sport and answer your questions about preparing for 100km and some of the Melb Mara chatter. Also don't forget 2027 Australian Mountain…
In this episode sim and James sit down with Lara Hamilton after she surprised everyone to not just complete but also win the Ultra Trail Sud Pyrenees 120k, her longest race by 70km! Hear about her decision making behind doing the event and how Lara mentally and physically tackled going further than she had ever gone before. Then hear an update from James about some recent back challenges before Sim details her next big adventure at a last one standing event! Results * Barkin Mad Ultra [https://tomatotiming.racetecresults.com/results.aspx?CId=16&RId=29925&EId=11&dt=0] (VIC) * Beechworth Beer…
In this episode Jess and Brodie sit down with Kellie Angel to talk through her recent races, her impressive longevity in the sport, and what it means to be competing in her 8th Australian team as Co-Captain. Hear about Kel's recent coaching change, how her year has been so far, and what her prep for APTRC will look like. In news the crew discuss the athlete support and state team competitions announced for the Aus champs at KMR 2027, as well as changes to the UTMB Age Group Qualifying structure ad some insane prize money at Run Rabbit Run in USA. Finally listen in for the speedsters of the…
This week, James welcomes Shane Johnstone back to the podcast to chat about the story behind Transcend and what goes into building a trail event in WA's Avon Valley. After joining this year's live broadcast, James wanted to hear more about why Shane and his business partner Mitch do things the way they do. From experiences racing overseas to finding a way through the valley, Shane shares how Transcend came about and the details they've put into making it special for everyone in the field. We get into the realities of running an independent event, why they keep investing in live coverage, and…
We hope you enjoy this ep as Brodie and Sim sit down with Billy Curtis after his recent races at Transcend Ultra and Vietnam Mountain Marathon 50km to hear what he has been up to. Billy details the change in pace as he switched into full time work mode and the training changes he made around that, his strategies going in to each race, and what is coming up both on the trails and off. Then we cover the exciting news of the Aus team being announced for APTRC! We will be sending a super strong team to China in November and we couldn't be more excited to follow along. It has also been a rough…
In this episode brought to you by ASICS, Sim, Vlad and Jess are all back in Aus and sit down to recap where they are at. Hear about Vlad's last VK race in Europe, Jess' weekend at Hownslow and trip to Perth, and Sim's Trofeo Kima and Euro trip recap. The team then discuss an interview with the Mayor of Chamonix [https://www.trailrunnermag.com/people/culture-people/utmb-has-become-unbearable-says-chamonix-mayor/?scope=initial] about the sustainability of UTMB in it's current format, and talk through Salomon's move into triathlon…
Ben Burgess returns to the podcast nearly a year after producing the biggest performance of his career at the World Championships. But what came next wasn't straightforward. Ben talks openly about the pressure and attention that followed Worlds, losing some of the drive that had taken him there, and the challenge of rebuilding his fitness and confidence while adjusting to life as a sponsored athlete with NNormal. We get into his difficult day at UTA, learning to trust a lower-volume approach with a new coach, the missed opportunity to join the NNormal team in Mallorca, and why choosing races…
In this Episode Brodie and Jess are joined by Sophie Linn to get to know Sophie and recap OCC. Hear about Sophie's transition from elite triathlon to trail, her approach to training and racing, and how both Sophie's and Jess' races went. In news topics the crew discuss the release of the 2027 WMTRC criteria on AA, and touch on the upcoming World SkyRunning champs. Then listen in to some awesome results around the global and domestically - with even more to come next weekend at Hownslow! Join us on Patreon for ad-free early releases and bonus episodes HERE…
James and Brodie are back to preview the Hounslow 17km and Marathon, and there's plenty to get excited about as racing ramps up in the Blue Mountains. The men's 17km has us questioning whether this is one of the strongest short-distance fields we've seen this year, while Bridget Lunn returns with a chance to go one better. In the marathon, can Julia Anderson turn two second places into a win, and how will the battle between Mike Carroll and Piotr Babis play out? We get into the contenders, local favourites and a few names who could surprise, alongside the technical descents, big climbs and…
What a week! In this episode James and Vlad sit down with Matt Dunn to get to know more about Matt first before diving into all things UTMB, including Matt's own 22:39i:26 run. With many other great aussie performances and some crazy tight racing there is plenty to chat about! Join us on Patreon for ad-free early releases and bonus shows HERE [https://patreon.com/PeakPursuitsPodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink] RESULTS: International: * UTMB AUS [https://live.utmb.world/utmb/2026/utmb?country=AU&limit=50] * CCC AUS…
In this episode Brodie and Vlad are joined by Charlie Hamilton after his win over the weekend at Transcend Ultra. They chat through his year so far including Tarawera, Buffalo Stampede, Maxi Race, and Monte Rosa befire diving into his battle with Billy Curtis at Transcend. The crew then dive into UTMB week, as the races have already begun with Milly and Charlie Young out amongst the front runners at PTL! Hear their thoughts on the fields, the last minute drop outs, and what it is like on the ground from Vlad. Plenty of other domestic results to talk through to finish - we hope you enjoy!…
In this episode brought to you by ASICS, James is joined by Sim to talk to Holly Ranson about all things Western States; from her eye troubles during, recovery afterwards, and answering a listener question about pacers. We also get top hear about Holly's plans for Coast to Kosci this year and her approach to it, which includes a huge backup from winning Baradorf 125km over the weekend to tackling Transcend 65km this coming weekend! Sim then gives a brief update as she approaches Trofeo Kima this weekend (apologies for the Italian mountain internet/less than ideal audio though!) before James…
For the first time, we're heading west for our full preview of the 2026 Transcend Ultra. James and Brodie break down the deceptively tough 65km course, from its short, punchy climbs and rough footing to the relentless sawtooth section that could decide the race late. In the women's field, Holly Ranson, Anna McKenna, Kellie Angel and local favourite Christie Lori shape up for a fascinating battle. On the men's side, Charlie Hamilton returns to race on Australian soil, Billy Curtis arrives in career-best form, and local legends could show just how strong the Western Australian trail scene…
In this episode Brodie and James sit down with Iain best to talk about his european race season including his most recent run at Sierre Zinal. The trio do a deep dive before getting an update on James own Euro adventures and Brodies very big new life adventure! James and Iain then stay on to discuss some talkin points of the week, including mid-race support systems for elites after Nienke Brinkeman was disadvantaged at Sierre Zinal, as well as the ongoing conversations about the impacts of a race as big as UTMB. We hope you enjoy! Results: * Kwat Kwat Trail Run (VIC)…
In this episode Jess and Vlad are joined by Christie Lori to chat about the recent Mixed Team Stirling Range Ridge FKT Christie was part of. Hear about Christie's journey into running, her impressive results so far, and the wild adventure the FKT was. The team also discuss the AUTRA survey (Found here) [https://www.autra.asn.au/help-shape-the-future-of-trail-mountain-and-ultra-running-in-australia]on shaping the future of the sport and what they would love to see progress, before plenty of results from a big weekend! ***Don't forget, use code PEAK at https://bix-hydration.myshopify.com/en-au…
Luke Nelson is back for one of our deepest conversations yet. After the response to his first appearance on the podcast, we wanted to go beyond injury diagnosis and dive into the practical decisions that actually keep runners healthy and get them back to doing what they love. We unpack why injuries are rarely as simple as they first appear, how stress, sleep and life outside of running influence recovery, and why return-to-run programs shouldn't finish the moment you can jog for 30 minutes. Luke also shares how he approaches rebuilding trail runners, including when to reintroduce hills,…
This week on the pod we have a double guest special as Jess is joined by Kate Avery and Nath Pearce. Hear how Kate's recent euro races including her win at Monte Rosa 15km went, and catch up on what Nath has been up to since UTA and his plans for the rest of the season. Also hear some listener questions answered and the usual results for the week - plenty of good chats in this one! RESULTS: Australian Outback Marathon [https://my.raceresult.com/394844/] Sydney Ultra Marathons…
In this ep Sim is joined by Brodie (the day before he is due to become a dad!) and Toby Sparkes to talk through Toby's route into the sport, his journey so far, and how is preparing for OCC this year. Hear about Toby's adventures all over the world and how he combines them with training to get the most out of himself. Then Brodie's update sparks a conversation around mindsets in the return from injury and how our relationship with the sport changes before sim details her peak training week before Europe that ended with a hitout at You Yangs half mara. Results as usual with a massive weekend…
This week, James sits down with your Peak Pursuits co-host Jess Jason for a deeper conversation. We know the 'high-level' Jess from the main show, but this episode goes deeper into her own story. From growing up in the track world, to moving into road marathons, to finding trail running and suddenly being selected for Australian teams, Jess talks through the moments that have shaped how she sees herself as both a runner and a person. They get into the good stuff, but also the harder parts: body image, food, stress fractures, coaching environments, sponsorship pressure, race anxiety, and the…
In this episode of Peak Pursuits Brodie and Jess are joined by race director Lincoln Quilliam to discuss the recent announcement of the first combined Australian Mountain and Trail Championships to be held at Kunanyi Mountain Run 2027. Being a world championships year, this announcement is huge as any athletes vying for a spot on the Australian team for Cape Town will now converge for one big weekend in Hobart, hopefully seeing some of the most competitive fields on Aussie soil across all distances. Lincoln talks through some behind the scenes of making this happen, goes through the new…
In this episode Vlad and Sim sit down with Britt Harriden to get to know her journey into running. Achieving an incredible 3rd at this years short trail champs while conducting research for her PhD and working full time, Britt has plenty of stories to share about her unconventional training pathway into trail running that explain why her endurance is so good now! Also get an update from Vlad on why he didn't end up running GC marathon, and Sim details an adapted endurance week as she prepares for Trofeo Kima! Join us on Patreon HERE…
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,…
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 [https://results2.onlinesystem.cz/ResultsDetail/Index/?id=3469] * Laverado 120k [https://live.utmb.world/lavaredo/2026]: * Marathon du Mont Blanc 23km [https://mbm.v3.livetrail.net/en/2026/races/23km]…
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 [https://my.raceresult.com/401802/live] * Surf Coast Trail Marathon [https://tomatotiming.racetecresults.com/results.aspx?CId=16&RId=30080&EId=1&dt=2&top=10] (VIC) * Mt Baranduda Trail Run: [https://www.alpinetiming.com.au/results/r639/] RTRS Round 3 (VIC) * Kowen…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 [https://www.instagram.com/p/DYt40L6EXkP/] - QLD Run…
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 [https://patreon.com/PeakPursuitsPodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink] Results: * UTA (NSW) [https://www.multisportaustralia.com.au/races/ultra-trail-australia-2026] *…
About Peak Pursuits
Welcome to Peak Pursuits , where we chase dirt-packed trails, soaring ridgelines and the thrill of a finish line like no other. Hosted by trail obsessives and elite runners Simone Brick, Brodie Nankervis, Vlad Ixel and Jess Jason — plus deep-dives with James Sieber — we bring you candid chats with
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