Nicole Paton joins the show to talk about her journey from country Victoria to representing Australia at the Trail World Championships.

We cover how she discovered trail running through adventure and travel, the challenges of balancing elite performance with parenting and work, and the lessons she’s learned from injury and resilience along the way. It’s an honest look at what it takes to stay consistent and competitive in the sport while keeping life in balance.

Tune in to hear the full story.

***Don’t forget, use code PPP at Bix’s website [https://www.bixvitamins.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 [https://www.instagram.com/peakpursuits.pod/] to share your thoughts, questions, and trail stories. Until next time, keep hitting the trails and chasing those peak pursuits!

Follow Nicole Paton: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nicolepaton22/] | Strava [https://www.strava.com/athletes/18926691]

Follow James: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/coachjamessieber/] | Strava [https://www.strava.com/athletes/48288519]  | Website [https://www.coachjamessieber.com/]

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

License code: K08PMQ3RATCE215R

Nicole Paton: Balancing Family, Work, and the Mountains to Worlds

This episode is hosted by James and Jess, joined by the one and only Sarah Ludowici! Ludo is on the comeback trail post-baby and absolutely tore it up at the Roller Coaster Trail Run. She gives us an update on life, training, and how things have changed since welcoming baby Aurora.

Jess is fresh back from Europe and reflects on her World Champs experience, while James shares some positive news from his injury rehab with a hopeful return to running on the horizon.

We also dive into all the latest race action: Roller Coaster, Blackall 100, Big’s Backyard Ultra, Fully VK, and the 24-Hour World Championships, where Holly Ranson delivered a phenomenal 2nd-place finish, breaking both the Australian and World records!

To wrap things up, we tackle a listener question on overcoming jet lag when travelling for training or races.

Results:

Rollercoaster Run:

https://www.multisportaustralia.com.au/races/roller-coaster-run-2025

Blackall 100:

https://results.sportseventservices.com.au/results.aspx?CId=16287&RId=6488&EId=2

BIG’s BYU Currently On:

https://my.raceresult.com/364272/#0_B3DC1F

World 24 hour Championship

https://live.breizhchrono.com/external/live5/classements.jsp?reference=1384568432549-14

Fully VK

https://www.mso.swiss/events/2363-kilometre-vertical-de-fully/results?type=SCRATCH&typeId=14682

***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!

Ludo: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/sarahludo] | Strava    [https://www.strava.com/athletes/23066779?oq=ludo]

James: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/coachjamessieber] | Strava [https://www.strava.com/athletes/48288519?oq=james]

Jess: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jessjason/] | Strava [https://www.strava.com/athletes/54364834]

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter License code: K08PMQ3RATCE215R

Episode 80: Ludo’s Comeback! Roller Coaster Results & New 24hr World Record

The dynamic duo of Nath and Fraser are back on the mics to give us a run down of how their World Champs went - with Nathan coming out top Aussie in their races and  Fraser throwing in an extra bonus race of coming third at Melb Mara since world champs!  Always wild times. 

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!

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/tropicana License code: MFJHTO0ZMVHA84WI

Fraser: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/fraser.darcy94/] | Website [https://fraserdarcy.com/]

Nath: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nathanpearce_/?hl=en] | Strava [https://www.strava.com/athletes/1305884]

Nath and Fraser WMTRC Takeover Part 2!

Welcome to Episode 79 of Peak Pursuits, your ultimate podcast for everything trail running in Australia. This episode is hosted by Sim Brick and Vlad Ixel, with a brief update from Brodie before his internet drops out. The team covers training updates, a listener question on how to stay safe and find people to run with while travelling, and results from the GTWS final, Moab 240 and the TRSA Trail Championship.

Results:

Moab240: https://trackleaders.com/moab240-25

GTWS Final: https://results.stopandgo.pro/1783/ranking/individual/1/1

TRSA Trail Champs: https://eventstrategies.racetecresults.com/results.aspx?CId=90&RId=620&EId=8&dt=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 [https://www.instagram.com/vladixel/?hl=en] | Strava    [https://www.strava.com/athletes/3232281?oq=vlad]

Sim: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/theflyingbrick_/?hl=en] | Strava [https://www.strava.com/athletes/18643506]

Brodie: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/brodie_nank/] | Strava [https://www.strava.com/athletes/3232281?oq=vlad]

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter License code: K08PMQ3RATCE215R

Episode 79: GTWS Final, Moab240, and Running Safety While Travelling. 

The Roller Coaster Run is back this weekend, and James and Brodie are here to break down everything you need to know ahead of the 23k and 46k events in the Dandenongs.

From course strategy to weather forecasts, they unpack how to approach the climbs, what makes this course deceptively tough, and why pacing will make or break your day. The pair run through the men’s and women’s elite fields — featuring names like Lucy Bartholomew, Demi Caldwell, Mike Carroll, and Tyla Windham — sharing their insights and predictions for who might take the wins. Tune in for an in-depth, coach’s-eye look at one of Victoria’s most anticipated trail races.

***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!

Follow Brodie: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/brodie_nank/] | Strava [https://www.strava.com/athletes/5321505]

Follow James: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/coachjamessieber/] | Strava [https://www.strava.com/athletes/48288519] | Website [https://www.coachjamessieber.com/]

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/tropicana License code: MFJHTO0ZMVHA84WI

Roller Coaster Run 2025: Race Preview and Predictions

Welcome to Episode 78 of Peak Pursuits, your ultimate podcast for everything trail running in Australia. This episode is hosted by Sim Brick and Vlad Ixel and covers a deeper discussion on the World Champs including where trail running is at as a sport in Australia compared to other areas of the world and some of the areas we see as athletes where improvements could be made. Tied into this is a listener question around why some athletes choose world champs vs UTMB or vice versa, before finishing off with some results from the week!

Results:

Beechworth Beer Run: https://results.tomatotiming.com.au/results.aspx?CId=16&RId=29915&EId=1&dt=2

SEQ Trail Running Series: https://www.racetecresults.com/results.aspx?CId=20148&RId=131&EId=1&dt=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 [https://www.instagram.com/vladixel/?hl=en] | Strava    [https://www.strava.com/athletes/3232281?oq=vlad]

Sim: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/theflyingbrick_/?hl=en] | Strava [https://www.strava.com/athletes/18643506]

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter License code: K08PMQ3RATCE215R

Episode 78: Sim and Vlad Chat Trail Running in Aus!

Welcome to Episode 77 of Peak Pursuits, your ultimate podcast for everything trail running in Australia. This episode is hosted by Brodie Nankervis and Vlad Ixel and covers everything World Champs, including Vlad’s race recap in the short trail, their thoughts on the overall winners, our Aussie results and more.

Our Aussie team did us proud!

Results: https://canfrancpirineos2025wmtrc.com/live.html

***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!

Brodie: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/brodie_nank/] | Strava [https://www.strava.com/athletes/3232281?oq=vlad]

Vlad: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/vladixel/?hl=en] | Strava    [https://www.strava.com/athletes/3232281?oq=vlad]

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter License code: K08PMQ3RATCE215R

Episode 77: World Champs Review!

In this episode we give free reign to Nathan Pearce and Fraser Darcy to chat all things Uphill and Mountain Classic at WMTRC, recorded before they arrived in Spain. Hear about their preparations, how they are feeling going into the race and the usual banter you would always expect from these two!

Any questions for their part 2 post race, comment or message them through!

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!

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/tropicana License code: MFJHTO0ZMVHA84WI

Fraser: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/fraser.darcy94/] | Website [https://fraserdarcy.com/]

Nath: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nathanpearce_/?hl=en] | Strava [https://www.strava.com/athletes/1305884]

Nath Pearce and Fraser Darcy Takeover: WMTRC Part 1!

Welcome to Episode 76 of Peak Pursuits, your go-to podcast for trail running in Australia and beyond. World Champs week is upon us! So this week Sim and James sit down with Charlie Hamilton to talk about all things World Champs, after a brief Hownslow 17k recap from Charlie and an update from James and Sim.

Hear their thoughts on who the courses suit, who amongst the favourites of each race they think will win, and some crazy stories of athletes backing up! Make sure you follow along and cheer our Aussie team on - watch out on our instagram for streams/results!

Field Lists  [https://iau-ultramarathon.org/2025%20WMTR%20Champs%20Entry%20Lists%20for%20publication%20120925%20rev.pdf]

FreeTrail Fantasy [https://fantasy.freetrail.com/events]

IRunFar Previews [https://www.irunfar.com/tag/trail-world-championships]

***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!

Charlie: Instagram  [https://www.instagram.com/cowboyhamilton/?hl=en]

Sim: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/theflyingbrick_/?hl=en] | Strava [https://www.strava.com/athletes/18643506]

James: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/coachjamessieber/] | Strava [https://www.strava.com/athletes/48288519] | Website [https://www.coachjamessieber.com/]

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter License code: K08PMQ3RATCE215R

Episode 76 with Charlie Hamilton: Hownslow Recap, POTS, and Our Tips For WMTRC!

Welcome to Episode 75 of Peak Pursuits, your go-to podcast for trail running in Australia and beyond. This week, James is hosting and is joined by Vlad and Blake Turner, both live from Spain as they prepare for the Canfranc World Mountain and Trail Running Championships.

Hear first-hand their impressions of the brutal short-course profile, the art of pacing on European terrain, and how they’re balancing training with life abroad. We also dive into recovery strategies after ultras, the recent doping controversy shaking the sport, and results from the Hounslow Classic and Surf Coast Century. Tune in for a wide-ranging conversation that blends course insights, athlete experiences, and big-picture issues in trail running.

Results:

Hounslow Classic [https://www.multisportaustralia.com.au/races/hounslow-classic-2025] | Surf Coast Century [https://results.tomatotiming.com.au/results.aspx?CId=16&RId=29912&EId=3] | Mighty Jarrah Trail Run [https://bluechipresults.com.au/results.aspx?CId=11&RId=1881&EId=6] | Whitsunday Trail Fest [https://my.raceresult.com/360693/?fbclid=IwY2xjawM0aVhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHnLvhJQwfkyJpt9buB6n3-gzRI3gea9cHkGqfCmkELPkYF2EG3TSUWQQb1MB_aem_iDxSJ1_zLOcvVJx-e-Wl-w]

***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!

Follow Vlad: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/vladixel/] | Strava [https://www.strava.com/athletes/3232281]  [https://www.strava.com/athletes/54364834]

Follow Blake: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/blaketurner_bt/] | Strava [https://www.strava.com/athletes/1858626]

James: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/coachjamessieber/] | Strava [https://www.strava.com/athletes/48288519] | Website [https://www.coachjamessieber.com/]

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter License code: K08PMQ3RATCE215R

Episode 75 with Blake Turner: WMTRC Course Insights, Recovery, and Doping in Trail Running

Welcome to Peak Pursuits, your go-to podcast for all things trail running in Australia. Host Simone Brick is joined by fellow trail enthusiasts Brodie Nankervis, Vlad Ixel, and Jess Jason. Together, we're here to fuel your love for trail running, share insider tips, and update you on the latest events and races. With the help of James Sieber, we will be joined by Australia’s best trail runners, showcasing their journeys and the ups and downs of the sport at the highest level.