James and Brodie are joined by guest host Sophie Broome to preview this weekend’s Roller Coaster Run in the Dandenongs. With Sophie returning to the 23km start line, we break down the course, the key climbs and the men’s and women’s fields across the 23km and 46km races.

Can Mike Carroll and Kate Avery lower their own course records? We discuss the stacked young men’s 23km field, the final climb that could decide the podiums, and the athletes using Roller Coaster to prepare for the Asia-Pacific Trail Running Championships.

Plus, why hasn’t this race grown bigger given its location, trails and atmosphere?

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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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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 and Trail Running Championships athlete support applications close 18 October.

Finally plenty of results to get to before we launch into a post show patreon bonus, talking about how to prepare your legs for downhills and what the few weeks after a big race should look like for training if you want access join us on Patreon HERE .

We hope you enjoy!

• Mount Bold Trail Run / SA Trail Championships (SA)
• Hume + Hovell Ultra (NSW):
• Sydney Trail Spring Series 2: St Ives (NSW)
• Budj Bim Lava Blast (VIC)
• SEQ Trail Series Round 1: Enoggera Reservoir (QLD)

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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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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!

• Barkin Mad Ultra (VIC)
• Beechworth Beer Run (VIC)
• Macedon Trail Run (VIC)
• Sydney Trail Marathon (NSW)

***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 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 week at our domestic events - we hope you enjoy!

• Kunanyi Trail Series: Ridgy Didge (TAS)
• Lamington Classic (QLD)
• Lonely Mountain Ultra (NSW)

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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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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 how much thought goes into everything from aid station food to the finish village. There’s also plenty on growing the WA trail scene, attracting competitive fields, and giving East Coast runners a reason to head west.

If you’ve ever wondered where your entry fee goes, or what makes a race worth coming back to, there’s plenty in this one.

Find out more about Transcend: https://transcendtrails.com/

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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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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 month in the trail running community as we mourn the losses of both Kalie McCrystal and Ida Amalie Robsham. A sad reminder that the mountains that give us so much joy and life have also taken a lot of beautiful souls along the way. Our thoughts with their families, friends, teammates and anyone who knew them.

Keep listening for a listener questions about the supplements we use, before Brodie covers the results from the week!

***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 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 about the sustainability of UTMB in it's current format, and talk through Salomon's move into triathlon as the major global partner of Ironman.

Then hear a review of the new ASICS MetaFuji 2 before we dive into results from the weekend - particularly at Hownslow where Julia Anderson set a 13minute course record!

• Hounslow (NSW)
• Surf Coast Century (VIC)
• Sydney Trail Spring Series 1: St Ives (NSW)
• Mighty Jarrah Trail Run (WA)

Join us on Patreon HERE

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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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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 that genuinely excite him matters more than chasing the biggest start lines.

We then break down his win at the Transcend 40K, the emotional rollercoaster of the race, and the relief of finally feeling like he might be finding his way back.

Ben also shares what’s next, including Five Peaks in South Korea, Old Ghost 80K and his growing interest in FKTs and bigger mountain adventures.

***Don’t forget, use code PPP 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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