Bike Run Tri Stoke

Some call climbing over 8000m the ultimate adventure, others say it's a gamble with death. Our various endurance magazine readers are incredibly passionate about active life outside, so we spent time with 3 of the country's most successful high altitude climbers to find out why, and if so how. Listen to our conversation Remy Kloos, the first ever South African to scale both Mount Everest and Lhotse within 24 hours, and John Black & Warren Eva who just became the first Saffas to scale the daunting K2. We ask them why and how they achieved the unthinkable, whether anyone can, and what it would take for you to experience the unique view from on top of the world, at least once in your life.

Most conversations about competitive cycling that go on long enough will sooner or later get to the controversial subject of performance enhancing drugs. In the midst of the Tour de France you have likely very recently had one just like it. The times Pogacar and Vingegaard posted up the Col de la Croix on stage 13 were faster than Lance rode it, almost as fast as Pantani, once again raising speculation. Doping has been synonymous with professional bike riding for decades, with several documented cases of riders and teams being bust, some even dying in races, loaded with dangerous substances. Cynics would argue that racing for 3 weeks, nearly 200km per day, at 40km/h, let alone winning, isn't humanly possible without drugs. In the last 20 years there have also been numerous cases of amateurs being caught out and banned, and this is not unique to cycling. 7 of the 8 sprinters in the crazy fast Seoul Olympics 100m were caught and banned. Even ball sports have been affected. Sport is too competitive and lucrative to expect athletes not to seek marginal gains, especially if like so many they believe their competitors are doing the same. There was a time when those who accused flamboyant, seemingly insanely driven and talented riders like Pantani or the American hero Armstrong of being dopers, were branded as negative cynics. Then, after the most sensational sporting drama in history, that played out over a decade, even the most committed sports fans realized that doping was very real and in need of policing. Runners, rugby players, swimmers and all forms of sports people were caught and banned in an era where even teams from entire nations like Russia were denied access from competing in the Olympics by the IOC. It's been a decade since Lance finally confessed to his disgraceful career on the Oprah show. He lost all 7 of his TDF winner jerseys. The fact that nobody else was awarded any of those wins says a lot about how widespread drug abuse was in the pro peloton. Raw emotional stories shared by high profile riders in the aftermath gave us all deeper insight into the dark underbelly of sport that was almost impossible to escape for anyone with career aspirations. It's hard to imagine how anyone clean could have competed successfully in those times. Sponsors dropped teams for fear of repercussions and still today aspiring pro's and amateurs struggle to secure endorsements. Blood passports and out of competition testing has been ramped up in efforts to reduce the influence of drugs in all forms of sport. Wada (world anti doping association) and the likes have far greater insight on steroids, human growth hormone, testosterone, blood rinsing and EPO among the many scientific formulations they knew too little about. In recent years cycling has in fact led the way among sporting codes for cracking down on cheating. Let's not even Let's not even start with concealed engines. So where are we now we wonder? Riders are still climbing the legendary alpine ascents at the mind boggling speeds they were back then, and world records continue to fall despite stricter controls than ever. Sporting teams and individuals earn millions making untraceable doping affordable and a lucrative gamble for those who dare to venture into the grey space.

Kirsty Weir is no longer a household name, but we think she will be again by Paris 2024. The Knysna local was one of SA's most promising up and comers in the running world who fell victim to anorexia in a time when mental and medical illness was far less understood. Through sheer will, Kirsty pulled herself out of a very dark place to focus on her wellness and athletic career, only to be dealt another bad hand in the form of partial paralysis which she has gutsed out for a decade. What most would see as a career-ending diagnosis, Kirst saw as an opportunity and now has her eyes set on 2024 Paris Paralympics. Take a listen to this gripping, emotional chat with Kirsty Weir. We're sure you'll want to support and follow her journey.

It's not often that us Saffa mega fans gets the opportunity to ride and shoot the breeze with the greatest mountain biker of all time. We ditched the studio and headed to the UCI World Cup track in Stellies to hang out with the undisputed king of MTB. Sit back and soak up the wise words of none other than Nino Shurter as we discuss his love of SA, what gets him up in the morning, who he's watching and how he keeps performing at the highest level, plus much more in the latest episode of the BikeRunTri Stoke podcast, powered by Zwift.

With a rollercoaster build up plagued by injuries and some bad luck, Flora Duffy is right up there with the Wellington, Newby Frasers and Ryfs of ladies tri. WTS titles, Xterra World Champ, 70.3 wins, and winning Bermuda's first ever ladies Olympic Gold Medal - earning a Bermudan public holiday in her name! The accolades keep rolling in for Dame Flora Duffy after years and years of elite levels of commitment. Poster boy Dan Hugo's hero and wife took some time out to chat with us about her at times rocky journey, some of the greatest athletes of all time, who's on the rise in tri, and much more for this bumper episode of BikeRunTri Stoke. Plug in and get ready for an hour of entertainment, inspiration, and insight!

The growth of trail running has been explosive, so fresh after the insane UTCT trail bomb we chatted to the cream of SA's trail runners. Trail nomad Meg Mackenzie dominated the local scene, including 4 African X titles, before heading for the French Alps where she is currently based. Girl next door with a big engine Toni McCann, who discovered running later on in life, has fallen in love while with off-road collecting titles and course records around the country. Johardt Van Heerden, of the freakish Van Heerden clan carries the family athletics mantle and is fast on the rise, recently going back 2 back a week apart at Otter and the Cape Town Trail Marathon. Last but definitely not least, the bearded bush bomber Kane Reilly is a household name within the trail community, who embodies everything that is trail running. Plug in and enjoy these mountain goats sharing their stories of how they got into trail running, the advancements in tech, their love of the outdoors, and much more.

Anriette Schoeman has won more bike races than any woman in South African history. Her career wins exceed an unfathomable 400, that's more than most people will ever participate in. She has been winning races since she was at school and has continued to do so over nearly 30 years. She has raced, Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, World Champs among races for teams in Europe and road and mtb races on all continents. Cycling was her salvation from a tough childhood and has given her an incredible life travelling all over the world, spending time with people she enjoys. The ever smiley, diminutive 'pocket rocket' is a sprint ace with grit - she loves to race hard and wishes women could still race among the men like the good old days. She wisely points out that gender bias stems from treating people differently from birth, a lesson that transcends cycling. Her healthy appetite to train consistently and continue to race is a reason why, at 44, she's still racing and looks half her age. On the other side of the generation gap is another South African road cycling champion who's half her age. Hayley Preen is only 22 and rocketed into the South African team at Worlds after a stellar season. The multi talented, effervescent youngster has performed at a national level in both show jumping and triathlon. She very recently crashed out of the Cape Epic with a broken wrist while lying 3rd overall, yet despite a cast on her arm when we met to record this podcast, she was revving to get doctors clearance to race 947 Ride Joburg just 3 weeks later. Women's cycling is on a high in 2021. The inaugural action packed Paris Roubaix then the launch Zwift Tour de France Femme in 2022 just happened on the back of the most exciting ladies World Cup XCO mountain bike series ever. There has never been a better time to be a pro lady cyclist, they are finally close to on par with men's cycling. Hayley is relishing a potentially much more lucrative career with less obstacles and far greater incentives than Anriette had. We found our timely discussion, witnessing the changing of the guard as Anriette passes the baton over, highly entertaining, interesting and insightful. We hope you do too.

Incredible Paralympians Pieter Du Preez and Louzaane Coetzee earned South Africa a Gold, a Silver and a Bronze medal in Tokyo at the games a few weeks ago. In this episode of Bike Run Tri Stoke Podcasts we had the privilege of sitting down with these two truly inspirational humans to discuss the challenges they overcome everyday, their interesting views on para sports, and so much more. Piet, or Supa Piet as he's affectionately known, was an aspiring pro cyclist before he was hit by a car while on his bike in 2003 becoming a tetraplegic. Since then Piet has won numerous world championships, completed a full Ironman and inspired everyone he's crossed paths with. Louzanne, on the other hand, was born just about blind and only got into running by chance at a first-year varsity athletics day. She's flown under the radar since then but truly blossomed at Tokyo winning Silver and Bronze medals. This podcast is especially relevant right now in stressful times. It provides perspective, especially to those struggling with obstacles in their lives, whatever size and nature. It provides hard earned advice on how to look at life and make the most of every gift you have.

Donovan Geldenhuys, aka 'Donovan Dutch', 'Frank the tank' or the 'Wattbazooka!', is probably the most intimidating amateur athlete in South Africa. He's the reigning Ironman World Champion, he's a Chartered Accountant, he runs 3 businesses, and he has a wife and 2 kids. The 40 year old's publicly available training regimen is enough to scare off opponents before the start gun. He trains harder, longer and more consistently than some pro athletes half his age. 10 years ago Donovan was a 125kg, plain cigarette smoking, nightclub bouncer. Today he's a global endurance sports world champion. Fair to say the tattoo'd giant of a personality is an overachiever. He never races to win his Age Group, he aims to wind-chime overall, always. Now into mid-life crisis stage, Don is facing his childhood demons. Introspection and reflection have led him to decide to speak up on a deep and frightening truth. He had extreme body dysmorphia, a mental illness which we are learning is far more prevalent among sports people, especially in modern times. He's chosen to share that very dark period of his life, 24 years later. He decided to open up on this deeply suppressed life experience with us. We're grateful for the enormous bravery this very personal and traumatic revelation required. We have no doubt that people of all ages, genders and cultures will benefit from hearing his story. Coming from this guy it's an even greater shock and thus no doubt a reflection on society which suppresses mental illness among other historically frowned upon conditions. Try to find an hour or more to switch off the world and tune into this moving story. It may help you, or someone close to you, deal with their demons.

Ashleigh Moolman Pasio is a poster girl for consistency. From the moment she decided to pursue a career in cycling, nothing could stop her. On Bike Run Tri Stoke we had the chance to peel back the layers and find out what drives Ashleigh and how the heartache in London and Rio, a year delay for Tokyo, 10 000 hours, and a new team have set her up for success in Japan. If you're looking for some proper insight into the future of ladies cycling, South African cycling, and an unrelenting drive to achieve your goals, look no further. Plug in, sit back and be inspired!

The crew at BikeRunTri.co.za scored some precious time chewing the cud with 2 of South Africa's Olympic stars. Comrades and SA marathon record holder Gerda Steyn and multiple SA mountain bike champion Candice Lill are just weeks away from racing in green and gold at the biggest sporting event on the planet. They are both in their prime and currently in high altitude training camps before flying to Japan for a battle with the world's best. Hear these amazing SA brand ambassadors talk frankly about their preparations, their strategies, the courses, concerns and excitement about the greatest race of their lives.

What happens when athletes at the top of their field hit rock bottom? SA triathlon royalty Matt Trautman and Annah Watkinson talk us through their near-death accidents, the dark unseen road to recovery, and what it takes emotionally and physically to claw your way back to the top again. The pilot episode of the Bike Run Tri podcast kicks the series off with a bang. Triathlon SBR mag editor Paul Ingpen, Matt and Annah talk openly about the amateur turned pro's lowest points, what motivates someone to get back up, and where they're going from here. This bumper episode is an honest look into the lives of professional triathletes and one not to be missed. Pour a glass, set your IDT or shift your car into cruise mode and soak it up. We can all learn from their potent stories. Podcast powered by Zwift.