Mindful Runner
Welcome to The Mindful Runner Podcast – the trusted voice for trail runners who want clear, actionable answers to their running challenges.
The Mindful Runner Podcast delivers clear, actionable answers to trail runners’ toughest questions. Hosted by coach and ultra-runner Fred Richardson, each short episode tackles real training challenges with practical insight.
✨ New: The Quiet Run – weekly 5–8 min reflections on the inner journey of running. Tune in every Wednesday to reconnect with your breath, your stride, and the trail.
- Update frequency
- every 5 days
- Average duration
- 25 minutes
- Episodes
- 53
- Years Active
- 2021 - 2025
Whales, Cliffs & Endless Joy on the Trail
Join Debbie and Fred as they dive into Fred’s first Whale of Trail experience—epic cliffs, beach miles, falls, whales, and all. From boutique race vibes to testing limits after Mac Mac, this honest c…
Walter’s Journey: Resilience, Grit, and Ultra Running Glory
Walter Moldenhauer’s ultra running journey is nothing short of inspiring. In this conversation, Walter opens up about the health challenges, mental battles, and personal setbacks he’s faced — and how…
The Quiet Run : Beyond the Grind
Weekly Reflections from the Mindful Runner
Not every challenge needs to be fought.
In this first episode, we explore what happens when we stop trying to conquer the mountain — and start moving with it.
…
Post-Race Recovery: How to Return to Training the Right Way
You crossed the finish line. Now what?
In this Mindful Runner Podcast episode, Fred and Debbie share how to return to training after your big goal race—whether it was 20km or 200 miles.
🧭 What we cover…
Leaning into the pain | Mac Mac 200
Three starts. Three DNFs. And still… not done.In this raw and honest episode, Fred shares the emotional weight of his third attempt — and third DNF — at the Mac Mac 200 mile trail race. But this isn’…
Marius van Rensburg: The 200-Mile Mindset
Join Fred Richardson on The Mindful Runner Podcast for an insightful interview with ultra runner Marius van Rensburg. Part of our Mac Mac 200 Miler series, Marius shares his vast experience, discussi…
Nicky Booyens : 200 Mile Ultra Queen
In this episode, Fred interviews Nicky Booyens, the only woman to have successfully completed the MacMac 200-mile race. Nicky shares her experiences, challenges, and the evolution of her approach to …
Gideon Kahl : A 200 Mile Reset
After quitting at 200km in 2024, Gideon Kahl is stepping up to the Mac Mac 200 for the second time. In this candid interview, we explore what it means to line up at one of the toughest trail races in…
Eben van Wyk : Learning to Let Go
In 2022, Eben van Wyk DNF’d the Mac Mac 200. In 2023, he came back and won it. And in 2024, he stepped off the course at 55 km—not defeated, but deliberate.In this episode of The Mindful Runner Podca…
John Carter : Stepping into the Arena
In this episode of The Mindful Runner Podcast, we speak with John-Carter, a seasoned runner making the leap from crewing to competing at the Mac Mac 200.
He’s stood on the sidelines supporting others …
Jamie Fensham : Embracing the challenge
In this episode of The Mindful Runner Podcast, we speak with Jamie Fensham, who’s preparing to take on his first 200-mile race at the 2024 Mac Mac Ultra.
We explore the mindset of stepping into a dist…
Jarryd James : Stepping into the Uknown
n this episode of the Mindful Runner podcast, host Fred interviews Jarryd James, a novice runner preparing for the challenging Mac Mac 200 Miler.
Jared shares his inspiring journey from battling addi…
Damien Kuhn: Winning the Long Game
In this episode of The Mindful Runner Podcast, we sit down with Damien Kuhn, the 2024 winner of the Mac Mac 200.
Just a year earlier, Damien led the race for over 200 kilometers—only to fall short of …
Mac Mac 200: Third Attempt, Final Word
I'd love to hear from you. Send me a text
Fred Richardson returns to the Mac Mac 200 for his third—and most grounded—attempt yet. In this deeply honest episode, Fred reflects on what it means to come …
Fueling for the Long Haul: Ultra Nutrition with Mari
I'd love to hear from you. Send me a text
In this full-length episode of Mindful Runner, Fred hosts a live webinar with ultra-runner and Precision Nutrition athlete Mari Marincowitz to unpack one of t…
Overcoming Adversity : Lodelia's MUT Miler
I'd love to hear from you. Send me a text
In this episode, Lodelia Kombrink shares her incredible journey of running the George Mutt 100-mile race, where she faced significant challenges, including a …
Ultimate Addo : Handling the heat - Part 2
I'd love to hear from you. Send me a text
Recorded live during a webinar with race director Sian O'Keefe we cover all aspects of what to expect from the race and how to prepare for it.
In this episode …
Ultimate Addo : Trail Race breakdown - Part 1
I'd love to hear from you. Send me a text
Recorded during a live webinar with race director Sian O'Keefe. This is part One of what can only be described as the ultimate Addo trail race preparation gui…
Breaking Down Running Metrics: Heart Rate, Pace, Power, and RPE
I'd love to hear from you. Send me a text
Running is more than just putting one foot in front of the other—it’s about understanding how to train smarter, not harder. In this episode, we dive deep into…
Finding Meaning Beyond the Miles
I'd love to hear from you. Send me a text
Finding Meaning Beyond the Miles
The deeper “why” of running: exploring personal motivations and goals.
The connection between running, mindfulness, and spiritu…