The Running Voyager

In this episode, we sit down with ultra-runner Donovan Shirley of Pirates Running Club in Johannesburg to discuss an extraordinary challenge that goes far beyond the finish line. Donovan is no stranger to pushing the limits of human endurance. Having competed in the legendary Backyard Ultra format, he has built a reputation for resilience, grit, and perseverance. But his latest challenge is about...

Send us Fan Mail Today’s guest is Junko Kazukawa, an ultra and trail runner based in Denver, Colorado, originally from Japan. She has over 30 years of experience in the health, fitness, and training fields, and currently works as a UESCA-certified running coach, personal trainer, group fitness instructor, and Run Club coordinator at Colorado Athletic Club Tabor. Junko is passionate about helping p...

Send us Fan Mail With the Addo Elephant Trail Run happening this weekend, I’m republishing my conversation with race directors Sheena and Sian to help new runners feel prepared and confident. Addo is no ordinary race—it takes you through rugged trails, remote landscapes, and breathtaking scenery in the heart of Addo Elephant National Park. In this episode, we talk about the race itself, what first...

Send us Fan Mail The guest in this episode is Stuart Gemmill. Stuart is a run coach based in Harare, Zimbabwe. He’s an ultra-runner himself, having completed 28 Comrades marathons, and he’s gearing up for his 29th this year. Last October, he won the Runyanga 100-mile ultra. In this episode, we dive into Stuart’s incredible running journey, spanning decades. We talk about the running culture in Zim...

Send us Fan Mail In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Wayne Hunter to explore his life, career, and remarkable transformation during the COVID-19 pandemic. With a background in engineering, Wayne came to Japan at the age of 23 and has since spent most of his 37 years in the country working in private membership club management. He is married with two daughters and has had the unique experie...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Kiyoshi a Tokyo-based running community organizer and avid runner, discusses his journey with running, the famous Hakone Ekiden relay race, and his involvement in the Doyou (土曜） Club, an open learning and running community. Kiyoshi shares insights into the cultural significance of the Ekiden race in Japan, its impact on university students, and how it fosters c...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I chat with Terence Vrugtman — ultrarunner, photographer, and Race Director of the Karkloof Trail Series . We dig into what makes Karkloof such a standout event in South Africa’s trail running calendar, and Terence gives us a first look at the 2026 course : the terrain, the challenges, and how the route continues to evolve. We also talk about the realities of race...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I speak with South African ultra-runner Kennedy Sekhuthe, who recently won the 2025 Salt Pans Ultra 100kmin Botswana with an impressive time of 12:26:50. We talk about his journey in ultra running, the dedication and discipline behind his rise, and the mindset that carried him through one of Africa’s toughest endurance races.  Key Topics Covered Kennedy’s 2025 Sal...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, I read a personal story that celebrates one full year of running — starting at age 44, with no athletic background, four kids, a full-time job, and zero intention of ever becoming “a runner”. What began as a curious experiment with a Garmin watch slowly turned into a life-changing habit. In this reflective episode, I share the highs, lows, lessons, and honest r...

Send us Fan Mail Warren King’s journey from attorney to private banker to trail running entrepreneur is a story of reinvention and passion. After a 15-year career at Investec Bank in Johannesburg, Warren stepped away from finance to create some of South Africa’s most recognisable trail running events. His transition not only drew on his business expertise but also deepened his understanding of the...

Send us Fan Mail We explore South Africa’s running surge with Stuart Mann —from sold-out ballots and the Cape Town Marathon cancellation to how Comrades has shifted from controversy toward accountability. With 178 unique marathons completed, Stuart shares what resilient races get right and how the sport has evolved since COVID. We discuss participation trends, the impact of social media, and how b...

Send us Fan Mail I recently had the opportunity to be on media duty at the Lake Biwa 100 and this is my impression and race report. Text below from race website: " The Lake Biwa 100 course takes you on a journey through various ecosystems and historical sites in the Kansai region of Japan, skirting Lake Biwa the biggest lake in Japan for most of the course. With only 330 participants and a gen...

Send us Fan Mail Cameron, a Virginia native, ran an astonishing 220 miles as a beginner, driven by an inner voice to transcend mental and physical limits through relentless effort. Cameron embraced running as a crucible to forge his purpose. Each grueling mile reflects his belief that life demands giving your all to bear meaningful fruit. “I’m just like you,” he says, urging others to fearlessly j...

Send us Fan Mail Nkosi Nsumbu is a South African model, filmmaker, and passionate runner whose energy extends far beyond the track. Known for his work with Outlaws Model Management and his creative projects in film and storytelling, Nkosi also channels his influence into social activism and community upliftment. In this episode, Nkosi opens up about his training and mental preparation for the Cape...

Send us Fan Mail Ingrid wishes she were a polymath like Leonardo da Vinci, but alas. She is however a German born, South African raised furbaby mom, trail runner, parkrun Regional Ambassador (for Northern Gauteng, South Africa), a bookworm with a newly launched bookstore, a Payroll expert for over 20 countries, multilingual and as of last year a cancer survivor. Does that make her a polymath? Not...

Send us Fan Mail German born, British bred, Eritrean blooded and Spanish based, Alan unwittingly stumbled into thru-hiking after sitting on a plane on his way back from visiting his brother in Japan.  A Maths teacher by profession, he now exclusively tutors privately online, which affords him the time between hikes to work on converting his camper-van and produce videos of his walks for YouTube. L...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with Pris the award-winning blogger behind PrisChew Dot Com . Pris is well known in Singapore’s blogging community, having won Best Health & Wellness Blog at the Singapore Blog Awards. Through her writing and content, she shares authentic stories and practical insights on lifestyle, wellness, and travel. We dive into her passion for running in Singa...

Send us Fan Mail The guest in this episode is Ashwini Ganapathi. Ashwini is an ultramarathon runner and endurance coach from Bengaluru, India. After leaving a nine-year IT career, she progressed from her first 10K in 2014 to tackling some of the world’s toughest events, including the Everest Base Camp Ultra, the Asia–Oceania 24-Hour Championship, and Japan’s gruelling 173 km Deep Japan Ultra Trail...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with ultra runner and coach Debbie to dive into a topic that’s often left out of the conversation: aging and menopause in women who run long distances. Debbie shares her personal journey as a mature athlete and why she’s passionate about helping women understand what’s really happening in their bodies. We explore the symptoms of perimenopause and menopa...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, the guest is Michitaro Mizuno. Michitaro is a young Japanese ultra trail runner, podcast host, race director, and community builder in his own right. We talk about his 94 loops at Dead Cow Gully Backyard Ultra — that’s 94 hours of running , or 3 days and 22 hours , covering a total distance of 630.364 km . Michitaro earned the nickname "Bagman" because he...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode the featured guest is Tomokazu Ihara, Tomo is affectionately known as "Japanese Laz" the world over. Tomo is an accomplished ultrarunner who started running from a 5km challenge at work. Tomo is currently in a quest to complete 100 100-milers and he is at number 78 at the moment. He also completed the Grand Slam. In trail running, the term “Grand Slam” typi...

Send us Fan Mail This episode features Carlos Rabsiun Aramburu, who recently placed third in the grueling Okumusashi 105 Long Trail ultramarathon. We dive into his race experience, covering everything from his pacing strategy and nutrition plan to the mental and physical demands of ultra-distance trail running. Carlos, originally from Argentina and now based in Tokyo, shares how a casual invitatio...

Send us Fan Mail In this inspiring episode, I chat with Kwame Terra, CEO of bEHR Health Systems. We explore Kwame’s running journey, how a childhood sports injury sparked his passion for public health, and how that led to a lifetime of advocacy and leadership. Kwame shares the story behind his world record: walking an incredible 2,007,178 steps in a single month! We talk about: * What drove him to...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we’re joined by Marissa Groenewald , better known as The Rope Runner —an unstoppable force blending endurance sport with powerful advocacy. Marissa recently made history by becoming the first person to complete a marathon while skipping , and she didn’t stop there. She’s already conquered the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon (56km) —also on a skipping rope—and is now pre...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, the podcast guest is Angela Tomusange, a British-born runner of Ugandan heritage, who shares her experiences in trail running. Angela has run races all over the world from 5km to ultra marathons. Angela talks about how she got started with running, her perspective on diversity within the UK trail running community, and her experience participating in the Rwanda Ul...