Trail Tales with Tara and Bryce

Amber is one of Tara's research Colleagues who just happens to be an elite trail runner with international experience and phenomenal results. She was born in New Zealand, lived in Chile, the UK and is now based in the USA. At one stage in her life she was sponsored by Adidas and while doing this completed her PHD. Her research is fascinating and she is a delight to chat with.

In this episode Tara takes the opportunity to catch up with her Norwegian colleague Ulrik who is in Australia for work. They chat about the benefits of short intense exercise and how it is really good for brain health. You don't necessarily need a lot of time to gain great outcomes - short bursts of high energy effort will do the trick.In other news, Bryce is a grandad for the first time and Tara's house got flooded. Of course our wonderful running community was fantastic support for us both!

Check out Tara's new Trail Tales themed car!!Tara and Bryce catch up after a few epic challenges. Tara had a crack at the Goggins challenge - 4 miles - every 4 hours for 48 hours and Bryce completed the 50k (Out and back) Noosa Trail Ultra.We are just your average trail running plodders. Tara did not complete the challenge and Bryce came an impressive 386th out of 421 runners. But he did come 7th his age group. (there were only 7 runners🤣)

Not all trail runs end in glory. The reality of a DNF is a very real possibility when you attempt stuff that you are not sure you can do. Dave and Jon share about this, after a brutal Tarewera 100miler plagued with mud and rain. These guys are epic athletes, full of courage and grit and you can do nothing but be filled with admiration and respect as they share in this episode.

In this episode, Tara chats with Kristen about her epic adventure taking on the Tarawera Ultra-Trail 100 km in New Zealand. Battling tough conditions—including around 45 km of thick mud—Kristen pushed through with determination and, in true Kristen style, kept a relentlessly positive attitude all the way to the finish.

Professor Selena Bartlett is a Neuroscientist and author whose research focuses on brain plasticity and mindset. She is also the host of the Thriving Minds Podcast. In this special crossover podcast Selena and Tara chat about trail running, mental health, and the latest research into how exercise promotes brain health.

Nicole is an elite trail runner with multiple podiums in world class events all over the world, notably the GTP 100 miler and Hut to Hut in Australia along with amazing accomplishments in International races such as 1st Australian Female in the World Trail running championships in Canfrank - Spain.Chatting to Nicole was a delight as she is personable and relatable. She loves how trail running allows her to see the world and experience its beauty and challenges up close.

In this episode Tara and Bryce debrief about the Glass House Standing Backyard Ultra they did on New Years Eve. Fantastic community, exhaustion, heat, torrential rain storms and lost property all feature.

Kerryn Bell grew up around elite athletes and has been surrounded by high achievers all her life. So it is no wonder she is a sensational trail runner with a string of impressive global achievements. What we love and am sure you will love too is that she invests brilliantly into the lives of ordinary folks in ways that helps them be the best they can be.

Mick has always been a great runner and was hitting significant achievements when a devastating accident left him with serious leg injuries. But with a determination and a renewed sense of belief and purpose, he has found a way back to the trails and elite levels of accomplishment. His story is inspirational.

Bryce and 4 of his running buddies head off for a runcation to the Sunshine Coast to do a 10 loop backyard ultra. We stayed with the parents of one of our crew and were spoiled rotten with hospitality at their beautiful home and then the next day during the run. Great fun despite blisters, falls and horse fly bites!

Tara and nine of her running buddies go on a weekend Runcation to the Blackall100 Trail race. Tara chats to Kirsty about why this race is so special to her.

After a busy month with Tara getting a promotion at work and Bryce being away in Africa on a Holiday we decided to just have a catch up chat. It highlights again the simple joy and richness of trail running and how terrific it is to have this as part of our lives. We ran together with 18 people this morning and even did a walk of life. Check it out on our instagram page.

Last year we interviewed David after his DNF of the Guzzler 100k. He got gastro off is young daughter and despite training and preparing well he was unable to finish. This year he did it! Never an easy run, so it is wonderful to hear David share about the lessons learned and the ways trail running impacts his life and character.

Katie sees herself as just a normal person who likes to run and enjoy the outdoors. But it could be argued that normal people don't "enjoy" running 50k trail runs and push through 100k trail runs on an annual basis. Katie manages to be delightfully relatable and next level amazing at the same time. You will love listening to her story.

Tara and Bryce have a follow up chat with Mark Stone after he has completed his 160k Western States Ultra marathon. Mark and His wife Julia share beautifully about this experience and the ways it has challenged and enriched their lives.

Sean and his delightful daughter Lucinda share about their wonderful experience at the Dead Cow Gully Ultra. Lucinda is a sheer joy as she shares about her 7 loops and the sense of achievement she felt. Sean did 28 loops which is no mean feat too so all up - a terrific chat with some inspiring people.

Brett is the founder of Run Queensland which hosts such iconic trail run events such as the Yandina 50 and the Blackhall 100. He is an accomplished trail runner himself having completed the famed Wester States ultra in America. We chat with Brett about his running journey and his passion for the trails that keeps him taking responsibility to make sure others get to experience them too.

Steve is the founder of Intraining - a highly popular and successful run club and is a specialist run coach and sports podiatrist.  His daughter Zoe is a champion runner with multiple wins under her belt such as the recent Noosa Ultra Trail 50km and the Boyne Valley 50. She was also recently awarded 2024 Young Female Ultra Runner of the Year for her outstanding performance at the Asian Pacific Trail Running Championships in Korea.Great people to chat with as we wander around the oval at UQ before an Intraining run session. https://intraining.com.au/

Tara and Kristen chat through what was a record breaking event out at Nanago.  Kristen chatted with the likes of Harvey Lewis and did an amazing 13 laps herself, covering over 88 kilometers.  When this interview was recorded Tara and Kristen had no idea the world record would be broken.  

Raimundo is a Research Fellow at the School of Health Sciences at UQ where Tara works and is a keen trail runner.  His research delves into how to accurately measure trail running courses so they are as close to apples for apples in the races that qualify you for events.  This is especially relevant as we try to make trail running an Olympic sport in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.  He has also done a study personality types of trail runners.  He is fascinating and delightful person and we loved chatting with him.  

Jon is an accomplished trail runner and has the added advantage of being very tall.  He has been running since he was a child and loves it.  We chat about night running, head lamps, sweat tests, knee injuries and how trail running helps, mentally, phsycially and emotionally.  Jon's dad and immediate family are all great runners, so he has a wealth of insights and experience to share.

Mark Stone is about to run in the coveted Western States Ultra Marathon in California. We chat about this iconic race and how he managed to get a ticket. Mark is philosophical about running and success and is in the process of writing his first book "The average runners guide to ultra Marathons" A more humble and likeable guy would be hard to find. Listening to this chat will do you good!

Madison joins us at Whites Hill for a terrific chat about all things pregnancy and trail running. Madison is a midwife and a trail runner and so has wonderful insights into both. Bryce even gets a hug as practical example of how oxytocin works.

Bryce and Tara participated in the Gotcha Backyard Ultra at Rocks River Park the other weekend.  Tara ran just over 7 "yards" which is 50ks and Bryce ran 6 loops which is 40ks.  Our buddies Dominique and Kristen both completed 10 "yards" which is 67k and it was fun to share this day together as a team.  We all chat about the day and what we learned and then we catch up with our friend Lisa who was volunteering.

If you have entered a trail running event in Queensland like the Guzzler, Ross Barton has probably taken a photo of you - not in a creepy way - but as the official photography team that captures your finish line magic moments. Ross chats with Bryce and Tara at Whites Hill and shares about his running journey, his photography experiences and the many wonderful insights he has into trail events and life in general. He's a terrific fellow.

Nichole McKilliam - better known as Nic Nok is a seasoned ultra marathon runner and recently completed a Spartan obstacle race which is nothing short of extreme!  Her journey has not been without it's challenges as she suffered a rare and scary spinal stroke which left her unable to walk and in extreme pain.  She is a inspiring and delightful human and I'm sure you will enjoy hearing her story.  She is raising funds for stroke research so if you want to donate here are the links.  "I’ve called the fundraiser run for resilience" https://www.facebook.com/share/1BPAni5xPD/?mibextid=wwXIfr Then the donations page is: https://www.fundraise4stroke.org.au/fundraisers/nicholemckilliam/nichole?

Tara and Bryce wander through Whites Hill while waiting for Cyclone Alfred to hit and catch up with each other and share what about our first year of podcasting together and the events we are planning for the next few months.  The Noosa trail event, Backyard Ultras, Bryce's 61st birthday run, a Multi day ultra and even a Goggins challenge are all on the radar.   This podcast survives because of our friendship, our love of trail running and the continued interest and support of our listeners.    We are always looking for new ideas on who to interview and love hearing your feedback and encouragement.  Drop us a comment or like us on Spotify or Apple podcasts, but more importantly, tell your friends to follow along.  

Heather Hawkins is a woman of two lives - from an everyday mother battling Ovarian Cancer with an unknown future to conquering the world of extreme marathons and adventures.  Heather chats with Bryce and Tara about her extraordinary life and the minset and courage that has enabled her to achive what most of us consider to be impossible.  She is humble, personable and inspiring.  It will do you good to listen in, but be warned, her Adventurous Spirit is contagious and you may find yourself signing up for something that rockets you out of your comfort zone! Order Adventurous Spirit from Heather direct Adventurous Spirit - Audible Adventurous Spirit. Amazon

Kelly is an absolute energiser bunny - a pocket rocket of joy, zest for life and one of the best ultra-Marathon runners around.  Her achievements include 3rd placed female recently in the Dusk till Dawn 12 hr ultra and Completing the gruelling 100k Blackall trail.  She has a slew of 21k and 50k events under her belt and is a gym instructor, fitness and running coach specialist and one of the most delightful humans you could meet. But it wasn’t always this way.  In this episode, she shares her journey from bad habits, being overweight and unmotivated to the powerhouse she is today.

Peter Hallahan did a Geography degree late in life and is currrently working on his PHD on the topic of running and place. Tara and Bryce Chat with Peter at Whites Hill about how running is so much more than the big events and the medals. It's about the land we run on, the people we run with, the health benefits and the way we feel inside our bodies when we move.

Tara chats with her colleague and friend Associate Professor Saul Villeda from the University of California San Francisco about his groundbreaking work on exercise and brain rejuvenation.

Tara and Bryce chat with Yana McBride about her amazing year of ultra running, focusing on the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) series.

Tara has a before and after chat with Bryce about his 800k Camino De Santiago adventure in Spain.

Today Kristen and Tara get their VO2Max measured by exercise physiologist Professor Jeff Coombs. We chat with Jeff about this metric and what we can do to increase it.

In this episode we chat about our runcation to the stunning Blue Mountains, where Kristen, Rowena and I headed down for a cheeky girls weekend away to check out the UTA50 course.

In this episode we delve into the world of multi-day ultra running with Rowena Fraser. Rowena is passionate about this race format and has so far completed 5 of these grueling events! She is an absolute legend who is very generous with her time and advice and inspires others to achieve their running goals.

In this episode we chat to Travis Ireland, founder of Run the World. Run the World is an incredible initiative that has the goal of uniting runners and walker from all walks of life, creating a global community that embraces diversity and inclusivity. To read more about Run the World: https://www.runsoftheworld.com/ #TrailRunning, #Trails, #Fitness, #Health, #Exercise, #Community

Tara interviews Professor Jeff Coombes, Exercise Physiologist from the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences at the University of Queensland. His research focus on determining the optimal exercise prescription for improving health. To read more about Jeff's research: https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/908

Toohey Forest is home to the Brisbane Trail Runners Toohey trotters, a weekly trail run every Wednesday morning at 5:45am.  Today we chat about the what being part of this amazing, supportive group means to us and the history of the reserve. To learn more about the history of Toohey Forest Reserve: https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/clean-and-green/natural-environment-and-water/bushland-reserves/toohey-forest-park

We all know that exercise is good for us, but most of us do not understand how it can change our brains! Tara and Bryce discuss how exercise affects the brain. Tara also interviews Dr Daniel Blackmore, a research scientist from The Queensland Brain Institute, about his fascinating research into how exercise affects cognition during ageing. To read more about Dan's research: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39012673/ #TrailRunning, #Trails, #Fitness, #Health, #Exercise, #Community

After repeated assaults on women at Mt Cootha - the Reclaim the Trails event was organised to show solidarity and support. Tara Chats with Virginia after the event, but was on a flight home from the USA at the time it took place, so Bryce went along and had a chat with some of the organisers and participants who attended.  

In this episode we discuss all things Guzzler. The Guzzler is an annual SE Queensland trail race (10km, 21km, 50km or 100km). Tara and Bryce chat about the race with Jayme who completed the 50km and David who had a very tough day out on the 100km course.

In this episode we discuss Backyard Ultras and interview the amazing Sean Lyons. Sean is a big fan of this unusual race format and has had a lot of success in the last few years. His PB is 37 laps (hours) which is a mind-boggling 248km!!.

We have a chat with Geoff Russell, current president of TRAQ as we wander the paths at Whites Hill. He is a mate who runs with us both regularly and who takes the lead on great trail running initiatives like Safety for Women and a bid to make trail running an Olympic sport.

Tara and Kristen chat about their 50 mile adventure along the stunning Brisbane Valley Rail Trail in the BVRT100s race by AAA Racing. As Kristen says.... "86 kilometers is a really long way..."

Tara and I love running at Whites Hill reserve in Camp Hill. So much so that we have established a regular Friday morning run with Brisbane Trail Runners. Today we chat about the reserve, its history and then we catch up with Koala rescue expert - John Knight. If you see an injured Koala in this area call John on 0438075156 To learn more about the history of Whites Hill. https://www.ozatwar.com/locations/whiteshillsignalsswitchboardroom.htm Whites Hill Qld Save the Koalas and Wallabies action group https://www.facebook.com/groups/889023952377217

Ulrik is an exercise physiologist and scientist who is on sabbatical from Norway and currently based at UQ here in Brisbane. He specialises in how exercise influences both our heart and our brain. Tara and I chat with him about interval training, smart watches and how his investigations into cardiac health means pushing your heart to high intensity is actually safe and very good for you!

Bryce created an event to help celebrate his 60th year, a 60 kilometer run through his favourite runs, trails and walks across Brisbane. He invited friends from all the communities he is a part of and got his family involved in organising it and being the support crew. It went really well and this podcast is a debrief from Bryce and others who took part about the day.

Dr Cora Lau is a seriously impressive human being. Super smart, super fit and lovely to chat with. Her insight into the way we get to know our bodies and consequently manage pain is part of what makes her a great ultra marathon runner. Her work as a scientist and her history with the leadership of the BTU ultra marathon event in Brisbane makes her a very interesting person to chat with.