Welcome to Episode 55 of Peak Pursuits, your ultimate podcast for everything trail running in Australia. In this episode Jess Jason and Brodie Nankervis are joined by Billy Curtis to catch up on his adventures in Asia, including a win at the Korean Golden Trail National Series on the weekend!

Hear about Billy’s experiences of living in Japan and racing both in Japan and across Asia, Brodie’s orienteering races over Easter and Jess’s training between Buffalo Stampede and UTA, including a hectic course recce in the Blue Mountains last weekend.

We dive into the results from this week, including some aussies racing overseas in Malaysia and the USA, trail runners running some speedy road times and a very fast race in Brisbane with some people to watch for UTA!

Lastly we preview the big week of racing coming up, including Ueda Skyrace in Japan, and some fun trail races happening across the country!

***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!

Jess: Instagram | Strava

Brodie: Instagram | Strava

Billy: Instagram | Strava

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter

License code: K08PMQ3RATCE215R

Episode 4 of Targeting the Ticket is hosted by Sim and we hear from Toby, Bridget and Nathan after the most recent race of the series, Kunanyi Mountain Run. Toby gives a recap of his 2nd place, Bridget recaps her win at Buffalo Stampede 20km which she ran instead of Kunanyi, and Nathan recaps his training after also giving Kunanyi a miss to prepare for Coastal Ascent in June.

The crew then talk through the current points standings and their thoughts as they prapre for the last of the normal season races at Coastal Ascent on June 8th.

Thanks for joining us on Peak Pursuits! Connect with us on Instagram @peakpursuits.pod and share your thoughts, questions, or your own trail stories. Until next time, keep hitting the trails and chasing those peak pursuits!

Nathan: @nathanpearce_

Bridget: @bridget_lunn

Toby: @lang.toby

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/moire/new-life

License code: VJ9EPZM2AQUSWRXL

Welcome to Episode 54 of Peak Pursuits, your ultimate podcast for everything trail running in Australia. This episode is hosted by Sim Brick and Vlad Ixel in the days leading up to Sim’s first SkyRace of the season in Malaysia!

Hear about a missed result last week by Olympic Triathlete Sophie Linn, Vlads recovery from Five Peaks, and Sim’s taper, travel and course check for Penang SkyRace! Vlad and Sim then briefly discuss the field for this weekend's race with three Aussies in the running for top spots.

Our listener question this week is a follow on from last week asking for more detail on how we fuel the many hours of training and how much to take in during runs. We deep dive into our own days of food and give some of what we have found works for us.

Lastly we preview the big week of racing coming up, including GTWS, SkyRunning, and our very own Mikey Dimuantes going for a golden ticket to Western States in Canyons Endurance Runs - make sure you follow along!

***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!

Vlad: Instagram | Strava

Sim: Instagram | Strava

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter

License code: K08PMQ3RATCE215R

Ben Burgess joins James fresh off the back of a course-record win at the Kunanyi Mountain Run 66K — a race that felt like the culmination of a two-month journey through the trails, the community, and the soul of Tassie trail running.

But this conversation is so much more than just a race recap. We talk about what it really means to go all-in on running, giving yourself the space to chase it without letting it consume you.

Ben shares the mindset shift that helped him ditch the pressure, trust the process, and run with joy. He opens up about leaving his job, embracing a year of “fun-employment,” and why it’s not just about results — it’s about presence, place, and people.

We dig into:

– Pre-race prep and trusting your energy more than your training block
– The moment he knew it was his race to lose
– Nutrition breakthroughs and dialing in recovery
– The tension between being a competitor and staying grounded in joy
– Why community-run races and nature-first values matter to him
– Big goals, World Champs ambitions, and keeping it playful even at the pointy end

If you care about racing hard without losing why you started, this episode is going to hit deep.

Bob Brown Foundation

***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!

Follow Ben: Instagram | Strava

Follow James: Instagram | Strava

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter

License code: K08PMQ3RATCE215R

Welcome to Episode 53 of Peak Pursuits, your ultimate podcast for everything trail running in Australia. This episode is hosted by Sim Brick, Jess Jason and Vlad Ixel fresh off his win at the Australian Short Trail Championships in South Australia!

Hear about how Vlad’s race went down, with everything from managing the heat and pacing, shoe choices, and his newly found love of Adelaide trails. Then Jess updates us on how her Buffalo recovery has been, Sim runs through her last bit of SkyRunning race prep for her trip to Asia, and the team answer a listener question about daily nutrition and snack choices.

Enjoy!

Five Peaks Results: https://eventstrategies.racetecresults.com/results.aspx?CId=90&RId=592

Mount Solitary Ultra Results: https://tempus.racetecresults.com/results.aspx?CId=16516&RId=414

***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!

Vlad: Instagram | Strava

Sim: Instagram | Strava

Jess: Instagram | Strava

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter

License code: K08PMQ3RATCE215R

In this episode of the Peak Pursuits Podcast, James catches up with Tyla Windham, an elite trail runner with an inspiring journey that’s anything but ordinary.

From tearing it up on dirt bikes to mastering mountain bikes, Ironman triathlons, and now ultra-running, Tyla’s athletic journey is one of resilience, passion, and relentless evolution. Fresh from an impressive race at the Buffalo Stampede 100K, Tyla shares candid insights into the highs, lows, and gritty realities of competing at an elite level while balancing his roles as a carpenter, father, and husband.

We unpack his strategies for managing intense training schedules alongside demanding physical work, the transformative power of strength training, and the mindset shifts that have elevated his race performance and life balance.

If you’re curious about optimising performance, overcoming adversity, and finding harmony between professional ambitions and personal life, this deep-dive with Tyla Windham is essential listening.

Vlad’s Strength For Trail Runners

***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!

Follow Tyla: Instagram | Strava

Follow James: Instagram | Strava

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter

License code: K08PMQ3RATCE215R

Welcome to Episode 52 of Peak Pursuits, your ultimate podcast for everything trail running in Australia. This episode is hosted by Sim Brick, Vlad Ixel, and Brodie Nankervis as we celebrate one year of sharing our journeys and chatting all things trail running in Aus!

In this episode hear how Vlad is feeling ahead of his first ultra in a few years at the Aus Short Trail Championships at Five Peaks this weekend, before Brodie updates us on his return to running and the ever changing plan for the year that comes with a return from injury. Sim then details how she is preparing for the start of her Sky Running season in Asia, and with some gnarly races coming up in 3 and 4 weeks it’s all about the Vert!

The team then answer listener questions about watch faces, the current stats of trail running worldwide and their favourite workouts before diving into a bit of a different type of questioning where you will get to hear about Vlad’s 80s music habit, Brodie's love of Fantasy books and who everyone would want to have dinner with.

Finishing up back on some of the usual with results from Jabulani Challenge and a well timed update from Billy Curtis in Japan!

Jabulani Challenge Results: https://www.racetecresults.com/results.aspx?CId=16253&RId=6257&EId=2

*** 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!

Vlad: Instagram | Strava

Sim: Instagram | Strava

Brodie: Instagram | Strava

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter

License code: K08PMQ3RATCE215R

In this episode of the Peak Pursuits Podcast, James sits down with Patricia McKibbin—trail runner, physiotherapist, and all-around powerhouse.

If you’ve followed the Australian trail scene, you already know Patricia has put down some seriously impressive performances, including a standout run at the Asia Pacific Championships. But what makes her story even more inspiring is how she balances elite-level training with her work as a pediatric physiotherapist, being a mum, and tackling the unpredictable challenges that come with both.

In this episode, we’ll dive into her journey—her breakthrough races, the battles she’s faced with nutrition and gut issues, and how she manages to keep pushing forward despite all the curveballs life throws her way. Plus, we’ll chat about what drives her to keep competing at such a high level while juggling so many roles.

If you’re a runner looking for insight into the highs and lows of competitive racing, or just someone who loves hearing inspiring stories of resilience, this episode is for you.

***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!

Follow Patricia: Instagram

Follow James: Instagram | Strava

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter

License code: K08PMQ3RATCE215R