Best David Fick Podcasts (2025)

1
EP. 116 | Evidence-Based Strategies For Sustainable Weight Loss and Body Composition Change in Athletes ; with Performance Sports Nutritionist (MSc), Annie Bothma. 1:29:35

5d ago1:29:35

1:29:35

In this episode of Making A Runner, host Nic sits down once again with Annie Bothma – IOPN Performance Sports Nutritionist (MSc), Running and Strength coach, and Endurance Athlete – to tackle a topic that’s often misunderstood in the running world: sustainable weight loss and body composition change for athletes. Annie unpacks the science behind we…

1
EP. 115 | Rebuilding The Runner ; Recovering from ITB Injury. How a marathon setback became a comeback - told through the lens of athlete, Chanel Cronje. 57:38

19d ago57:38

57:38

In this inspiring episode of Making A Runner, host Nic sits down with runner and content creator, Chanel Cronje, to talk about one of the most relatable topics in the sport: injury. After building strong momentum in her training, Chanel hit a wall with ITB syndrome during her Cape Town Marathon 2024 campaign — a race she courageously completed desp…

1
EP. 114 | How To Achieve Your True Running Potential ; A blueprint on ‘progressing through your running journey’ with Strength Running Podcast Host and Coach, Jason Fitzgerald. 1:13:09

26d ago1:13:09

1:13:09

In this episode of Making A Runner, Nic sits down with one of the sport’s most respected voices — Jason Fitzgerald, coach and host of the Strength Running Podcast. From his humble beginnings showing up to his first cross-country practice in basketball shoes, to becoming a 2:39 marathoner and leading coach, Jason’s journey is filled with lessons eve…

1
EP. 113 | The Comrades Race Week YOU Need; Nic and Davey use their previous experiences to take you through what to expect from the days leading up to race day and the big day itself. 49:31

1M ago49:31

49:31

Davey is back on the show and with Nic they go over all you need to hear in the build up to the 2025 Comrades Down Run. In this fun and lighthearted episode you can expect to find some golden nuggets of wisdom which are sure to help get you fully prepared for race day along with many laughs from the stories shared. They cover: - Their own Comrades …

1
EP. 112 | Rolling With The Punches, Learning To Overcome ; Irvette Van Zyl’s inspiring journey through multiple setbacks & return to elite level running as she lines up for her first Comrades Marathon 1:04:00

2M ago1:04:00

1:04:00

In this episode of Making a Runner, host Nic Acampora sits down with South African running icon, Irvette Van Zyl, as she prepares for her very first Comrades Marathon. In this inspiring and deeply honest conversation, Irvette opens up about her rollercoaster journey to the start line, navigating serious injuries, relentless setbacks, and the mental…

1
EP. 111 | The Gold Mine for Comrades Down Run Success ; 49 time consecutive finisher & CMA Board Member, Barry Holland, shares the strategy, route & mindset to guide you to your strongest finish yet. 1:14:44

2M ago1:14:44

1:14:44

Ready to make the most of your Comrades Down Run? In this episode of Making A Runner, host Nic Acampora sits down with living legend Barry Holland—the only person to have finished 49 consecutive Comrades Marathons and a current CMA Board Member. Drawing on five decades of experience, Barry unpacks the route like only he can, sharing hard-earned tip…

1
EP. 110 | Two Runners, 6 Stars, One Comrades Dream; Behind the medals with Jade and Dom. An inspirational story of friendship, setbacks and glory as they now prepare for their biggest challenge yet. 1:01:03

2M ago1:01:03

1:01:03

What does it take to chase some of the world’s biggest running dreams—while juggling careers, travel, setbacks, and the everyday demands of life? In this inspiring episode of Making A Runner, host Nic Acampora sits down with Jade De Sousa and Dominique Webb, two South African runners who not only earned the coveted Abbott Six Star Medal, but met on…

1
EP.109 | Carbohydrates and Endurance Performance. Understanding the optimal running fuel source with Coach, Sports Nutritionist and Elite Athlete - Annie Bothma. 1:30:04

4M ago1:30:04

1:30:04

In this episode of Making A Runner, host Nic welcomes back Annie Bothma, a frequent guest with profound expertise in nutrition, especially in the context of running. Annie dives into the intricacies of carbohydrate consumption and its pivotal role in endurance sports. Having previously covered pre race Carbo-Loading strategies as a topic as well as…

1
EP. 108 | Understanding your sweat - a Key to Mastering Hydration for Ultramarathon Success ; with Coach and Fueling Expert, Andy Brodziak. 1:07:02

4M ago1:07:02

1:07:02

In this conversation, Host Nic and Andy Brodziak delve into the critical aspects of hydration and sodium intake for ultra marathon runners. They discuss the importance of understanding individual sweat rates, the role of sodium in performance, and practical strategies for maintaining optimal hydration levels during training and races. The conversat…

1
EP. 107 | Understanding Heat and Altitude training ; with Physiologist, Coach and Endurance Specialist - Dr. Philip Batterson. 1:10:07

5M ago1:10:07

1:10:07

In todays conversation your host, Nic, chats to Dr. Philip Batterson, a Physiologist, Coach and Endurance specialist from Oregon, USA. Phil holds extensive knowledge in the field of exercise physiology and it's application when it comes to endurance sports. Today we chat in detail about heat and altitude training for endurance runners. We focus on:…

1
EP. 106 | The 'Down Run' Masterclass; A Comrades Training Roadmap with Coach Lindsey Parry 1:02:21

5M ago1:02:21

1:02:21

In this conversation, Nic chats to the official Comrades Coach, Lindsey Parry, as they look to unpack the essential preparations for runners gearing up for the upcoming 'Down Run' Comrades Marathon. We explore the different types of runners (from novice to sub elite), the importance of training habits, the risks of overtraining, and the significanc…

1
EP. 105 | The Two Oceans Marathon Masterclass; with Sports Scientist and Coach, Devlin Eyden from Coach Parry. 1:09:09

5M ago1:09:09

1:09:09

Like any good training program - the off-season is the key part of returning hungry and ready for more! This is the start of a the new year for us and we are planning for big things in 2025! After a 6 week break 'Making A Runner' returns with a conversation surrounding one of the most beautiful and challenging races in the world - The Total Sports …

1
EP. 104 | Rising to the Desert Challenge; Kim Sonntag's Ultra Journey Balancing Running, Medicine and Charity. 55:10

7M ago55:10

55:10

Today we're diving into the inspiring journey of Dr. Kim Sonntag, a dedicated Runner and Obstetrician & Gynecologist from Cape Town. Kim has not only conquered the grueling Two Oceans and Comrades marathons this year, but she recently took on the extraordinary challenge of a 250 km self-supported race through the Namibian desert ; The Desert Ultra.…

1
EP. 103 | Return to Running Postpartum; Professional Triathlete and Dietitian , Mariella Sawyer, and her intuitive journey of self discovery a year on from the birth of her first child. 48:55

8M ago48:55

48:55

Today, we have the privilege of hosting Mariella Sawyer, Professional Triathlete, Dietitian and new mother, days after she took the win at the Mossel Bay Ironman 70.3, to discuss her transformative journey of returning to competition a year postpartum. Join hosts Nic and Leah in this episode of Making HER Runner, as they delve into Mariella's exper…

1
Ep. 102 | Dreamers Keep Trying; Kamo's motivational journey to his first sub 3 hour marathon. 1:09:33

8M ago1:09:33

1:09:33

Today, we're thrilled to have Kamo (you may know him as @Kamo.runs on social media) a passionate runner and finance professional, share his incredible journey from a gym enthusiast to achieving a sub-3-hour marathon at Cape Town this year after running over hours in the 2023 version of the race ( a massive 1 hour+ improvement). We'll delve into his…

1
Ep. 101 | Pharmacological approaches to running-related pain and alternative solutions to pain management with Dr Martin Khoury. 1:14:38

8M ago1:14:38

1:14:38

In today's episode Nic chats to one of our all time favourite deep dive guests, Dr Martin Khoury, as we shift our focus to understanding pharmacology and how it relates to managing running related pain. We'll explore everything from the efficacy of analgesics and the placebo effect to the challenges and ethics of chronic pain management. Whether yo…

1
100 Episodes of Making Memories with your hosts; Nic , Davey and Leah. 58:09

8M ago58:09

58:09

Tune into todays episode for a walk down memory lane as we reminisce over the last 100 episodes of Making a Runner spanning the last 2 and a half years. We chat about some of our favourite guests, go into details and learning outcomes from episodes gone by and dive into how our own personal running journey has been influenced by what we have learne…

1
S3|E30 - Mental Strategies for Race Day Success with Mental Performance Coach and 2:23 Marathoner, Giovanni Bianco. 1:00:44

9M ago1:00:44

1:00:44

An often overlooked or underestimated element of training is mental strength. We delve into the depths of our STRAVA stats and are pretty clued up about nutrition, right down to grams of crabs per hour, but how do we deal with negative thoughts? Those nagging mental niggles that creep up when we're on the verge of doing something epic. As Giovanni …

1
MHR- Beating Burnout with Co-Host, Leah; learning from our setbacks and the importance of mindful nutrition. 1:02:59

10M ago1:02:59

1:02:59

It's been a good few months since our last 'Making Her Runner' episode but we are excited to be back sharing in Leah's running journey over the last year. A journey that started with low energy availability prior to Cape Town Marathon in 2023 along with hormonal issues and ended in a completely different runner crossing the finish line of the Karkl…

1
The South African Trail Running Scene; prepare for the upcoming local Races plus the latest training updates from the world of Ultra Trail with Coach and Trail Running Legend, Linda Doke 1:07:51

10M ago1:07:51

1:07:51

We’re thrilled to have the legendary Trail Runner and Coach, Linda Doke, back on the pod. In this episode, Linda shares her profound insights into the ultra-running world, diving into specific race strategies, challenges, and the personal impact of trail running. We chat about the latest news coming from UTMB, David Roche's Leadville 100miler recor…

1
The Cape Town Marathon Round Up 52:37

10M ago52:37

52:37

In this episode we welcome Davey back onto the pod as we catch up with how life as a parent is treating him whilst touching onto both Nic and Davey's training for the Cape Town Marathon. We focus on: providing our listeners with insights and tips on what to expect from the last 6 weeks of training the route changes and what to expect come race day …

1
S3|E26 - What You Can Learn From Your Feet; a masterclass in foot biomechanics with Podiatrist, Nelfrie Kemp 1:01:25

11M ago1:01:25

1:01:25

In this second part of our conversation Nic and Nelfrie Kemp go into the details of foot anatomy, biomechanics, common injuries and answer some of the questions from our listeners. Nelfrie discusses the importance of everyday shoe wear, the complexity of foot biomechanics, and the significant impact it has on running mechanics. From addressing comm…

1
S3|E25 - Pre Race Carbo-Loading 101; all you need to know with Sports Nutrition Expert, Annie Bothma 1:03:10

11M ago1:03:10

1:03:10

In this episode, Nic sits down with sports nutrition expert Annie Bothma to delve deep into the world of carb loading for runners. Together, they explore the essential role carbohydrates play in endurance exercise, tracing the history and evolution of carb loading as a strategy for athletes. Topics Discussed: Why Carb Loading Matters: Annie explain…

1
S3|E24 The Right Shoe for the Right Occasion - A masterclass in running shoewear with Podiatrist, Nelfrie Kemp 1:07:22

11M ago1:07:22

1:07:22

What is the right shoe for me? This is the most commonly asked question by runners all around the world and yet the answer to this simple question is far from straight forward. In today's conversation we chat to Nelfrie Kemp, Podiatrist and long time friend of the podcast as we dive deep into the topic of helping runners find the right shoe. We ask…

1
S3|E23 - Discover Your Full Running Potential with Nick Bester, 2:20 Marathoner, Running Coach and Founder of Best Athletics. 52:39

11M ago52:39

52:39

Today's conversation is one of those chicken and egg scenario's, what came first? Where some runners lace up and strike gold on their first try, others spend years in the single pursuit of a goal. So is it potential that requires hard work or hard work that unlocks potential? Nick Bester, running coach and founder of Best Athletics, helps us naviga…

1
S3|E22 - World Class Trail Racing in South Africa with Professional Trail Runner Admire Muzopambwa 1:06:10

12M ago1:06:10

1:06:10

In this conversation Hosts Nic and Davey chat to one of the best Ultra Trail Runners in the country right now - Admire Muzopambwa. Coming from a road running background Adie discovered his ability on trail and has never looked back winning and podiuming at many of the country's biggest trail running events such as UTD, Karkloof, MUT and Skyrun to n…

1
S3|E21 - Exploring Road VS Trail Running with Ultramarathon Runner and Coach, Jo Keppler 55:07

12M ago55:07

55:07

Jo Keppler is a familiar voice on the show and with this episode we welcome her back to help us unpack some core differences between Road and Trail Running - Jo being an accomplished ultra-distance trail runner herself, who trained for her very first Comrades Marathon this year. We cover some interesting ground including the difference in intensity…

1
Unlocking the Hip Joint, a Deep Dive with Dr Martin Khoury, Chiropractor and Pain Management Specialist 1:16:02

12M ago1:16:02

1:16:02

Dr Martin Khoury is no stranger to the podcast and his expertise have already been shared in previous deep dive episodes on the lower leg and knee but as he will tell you: "The hip joint is his favourite joint of the body". His enthusiasm and knowledge of the subject matter is unmatched. We had a fantastic conversation covering: Hip Joint Anatomy a…

1
S3|E19 - What It Takes To Win The Comrades Marathon with 2024 Male Winner, Piet Wiersma 1:20:20

1y ago1:20:20

1:20:20

We are back after a small production break with one of the most anticipated conversations of the year - The 2024 Comrades Marathon Winner, Piet Wiersma. After narrowly missing out on the win in 2023 by 2 seconds the 'Unknown' Dutchman was the talk of the South African and global running community. We had the pleasure of chatting to him back then (S…

1
S3|E18 - The Advice You Need For Comrades Race Week, with your Hosts, Nic & Davey 1:15:58

1y ago1:15:58

1:15:58

Making it to the start of Comrades Marathon is as much an achievement as is completing the gruelling 85.9km journey from Durban to Pietermaritzburg. This episode is for those of you competing in this years version of the Comrades Marathon or those of you hoping to support on the road during the day. This episode is even for those of you watching fr…

1
S3|E17 - Running the 'Toughest Footrace on Earth' with up and coming Trail Runner James Miller 1:11:14

1y ago1:11:14

1:11:14

The Marathon Des Sables (MDS) is notorious for being one of the toughest trail races in the world. If this is news to you then picture this for a minute: Running 250km in the middle of the Sahara desert spread over 6 days where participants have to be able to fully self support themselves and work with strict daily water rations. Your days can rang…

1
S3|E16 - Hydration for Endurance Running with Coach and Fueling Specialist, Andy Brodziak. 1:23:35

1y ago1:23:35

1:23:35

Are you willing to reconsider everything you think you know about hydration? This episode had us diving into the deep waters of hydration for endurance sports, with multiple Kona Ironman World Championship contender, Sport Scientist and Coach, Andy Brodziak, who is a representative of Precision Hydration - an industry leader in all things, you gues…

1
S3|E15 - Your Comrades Up Run Raceday Strategy and final preparation with Coach Lindsey Parry 1:25:33

1y ago1:25:33

1:25:33

Overview: In this episode Nic and Davey are back and chatting to Official Comrades Coach, Lindsey Parry, discussing race day strategy and final preparation for the Ultimate Human Race. In the conversation Lindsey emphasises the importance of getting to race day feeling fresh and pain-free advising runners to embrace the fatigue and understand that …

1
S3|E14 - Master your Mental Game with Mental Performance Coach, Giovanni Bianco 1:11:46

1y ago1:11:46

1:11:46

Every experienced runner knows that when the going gets tough you better be on top of your mental game! But mental strength is often only something that comes along with years of experience and some tough lessons learnt. But mental gains can be trained and with developing the right habits, it could be the key to unlocking not only your best perform…

1
S3|E13 - Finding Homeostasis: Running, Nutrition and Your Hormones with Annie Bothma, Professional Athlete, Nutritionist and Coach. 1:23:12

1y ago1:23:12

1:23:12

In a modern society that thrives on comfort, choosing to run and push the boundaries on performance is inherently uncomfortable. It's going beyond what's normal and as athletes, our nutrition should reflect that... Unfortunately this is often not the case and nutrition is an afterthought, second to training. But they are not actually separate thing…

1
S3|E12 - DEEP DIVE - Understanding Running Knee Injuries with Dr Martin Khoury 1:13:35

1+ y ago1:13:35

1:13:35

We bring to you another deep dive with one of our favourite guests on the show, Dr Martin Khoury is not your average Chiropractor. His inquisitive nature and steadfast pursuit for answers make for an excellent combination in solving the puzzling problems that people present with - and give us the opportunity to bring you an even better conversation…

1
S3|E11 - DEEP DIVE - The Balancing Act of Endurance Running with Dr Jordan Leppan 55:41

1+ y ago55:41

55:41

"We have to learn to bend before we break,"... What started out as a finish line conversation after a particularly gruelling marathon (in one of Durban's finest displays of humidity), resulted in what you'll hear today. With those words, Jordy nudged us towards a reality that few are prepared to acknowledge, and ultimately forced the question to be…

1
S3|E10 - The TTOM Special Edition with Irvette van Zyl 1:01:18

1+ y ago1:01:18

1:01:18

Returning to the start line of The Total Sports Two Ocean Marathon this year we have Irvette van Zyl "aka The other South African in the ladies elite field", as Irvette jokingly recalls the 2022 race and how Gerda pipped her in the last 3km to take the win and break the course record. In today's conversation - our most candid and authentic one to d…

1
S3|E9 - DEEP DIVE - The Balancing Act of Endurance Running with Dr Jordan Leppan 1:09:59

1+ y ago1:09:59

1:09:59

"We have to learn to bend before we break,"... What started out as a finish line conversation after a particularly gruelling marathon (in one of Durban's finest displays of humidity), resulted in what you'll hear today. With those words, Jordy nudged us towards a reality that few are prepared to acknowledge, and ultimately forced the question to be…

1
S3|E8 - The Shoe Doctor Will See You Now…with Nicholas Rupanga, 2:18 Marathoner and Running Shoe Expert Adviser. 51:04

1+ y ago51:04

51:04

To take a quote directly from today's conversation, "Shoes shoes shoes shoes shoeees! And then you need to pick one?". How? And where do you even start? It comes as no surprise to you that the running shoe market is flooded with options and with the latest technological improvements; carbon plates, foam on foam on foam, stack height, heel drops and…

1
S3|E7 - Get Your Speed Work On Track with Erin Groll, Co-Founder of Community Track Club 1:07:20

1+ y ago1:07:20

1:07:20

In the Jan/Feb 2024 issue of the Runners World Magazine, Community Track Club was officially dubbed the 'Coolest Running Club in South Africa', which is quite the statement! As we've discussed many times on the pod in the past, the social running scene has swept the country by storm, but there is one club that puts on a show like no other. If you g…

1
S3|E6 - Watching from the sidelines; a catch up with your hosts as they too deal with setback. 56:40

1+ y ago56:40

56:40

A little look into our lives lately if you will; in this episode we chat about: Davey’s move to the Western Cape. Nic and Davey’s experience at the Cape Peninsula Marathon; personal bests, race day strategies and the big bad thing…Davey broke another bone. Leah’s health journey with functional medicine and how that’s changed her relationship with r…

1
S3|E5 - Why Runners Must Love Hills with Mike Obery, Founder and Captain of MustLoveHills Run Crew. 1:05:55

1+ y ago1:05:55

1:05:55

In this conversation we chat to local running legend, coach and founder of MustLoveHills RunCrew, Michael Obery. Mikey has a larger-than-life infectious energy about him and a deep rooted sense of community which has been instrumental in helping him establish one of the coolest Cape Town-based run clubs to emerge from the 'social' running scene, wh…

1
S3|E4 - Welcoming a New Era of The Comrades Marathon with Chief Jogger Ann Ashworth 58:28

1+ y ago58:28

58:28

Name a road race to hail from the humble African continent that has stood the test of time, a world war and an international outbreak of disease? There is only but one ultra-marathon distance that since it's inception, has captured the hearts of fearless athletes and enthusiastic spectators alike, with its unfailing traditions and numbers that grow…

1
S3|E3 - DEEP DIVE - Strength Training with Sport Scientist and Conditioning specialist , Ant Clark. 1:20:13

1+ y ago1:20:13

1:20:13

You've heard it said time and time again, "runners should be doing strength training". We know you've heard it from us in just about every episode, but we've never given you an in-depth explanation for WHY and HOW, well not until now... Welcome to the official DEEP DIVE into Strength Training, a discussion topic long overdue and we couldn't think o…

1
S3|E2 - Survival of The Fittest with Hollywood Athletics Professional Runner, Nkosikhona Pitbull Mhlakwana 1:11:55

1+ y ago1:11:55

1:11:55

When last did you ask yourself "why do I run"? Maybe it started as a way to lose a few kilo's or meet new people? Or maybe you find it to be the best way to clear your head and manage stress? Now consider for a moment that the reason you run had very little to do with what it does for you, personally, but rather enabled real change, access to resou…

1
S3|E1 - Feet On The Streets: Social Running Redefined with 2:13 Marathoner, Adam Lipschitz 1:05:02

1+ y ago1:05:02

1:05:02

What happens when you find a bunch of lekker people who like to run fast and socialise over coffee or a cold one afterwards? You create a club centred around all of the above and take to the streets! In today's conversation we chat to founder of The Social Runners Club, Adam Lipschitz, who is setting the pace and redefining how we look at the stuff…

1
S2|E33 - MHR - Menopause & Running with Sport Scientist, Shona Hendricks 1:09:15

1+ y ago1:09:15

1:09:15

Let's face it, menopause and menopausal women more specifically, don't have the greatest reputation. Hot, sweaty, grumpy and sometimes "hysteric women", is the first and sometimes the only thing that people know or associate with menopause. This is quite alarming because menopause is as unavoidable as puberty, it is the second drastic hormonal shif…

1
S2|E32 - 2023 Wrapped: a catch up with your hosts. 33:41

1+ y ago33:41

33:41

It's been a while since we had a good old chin wag. This episode is reminiscent of Making a Runners' early days with all of the Nic and Davey banter that you've come to know and love. The conversation covers all of 2023's highlights and forecasts to where MAR is headed in the future. Enjoy the lighter side (wink wink) with this episode.…

1
S2|E31 - DEEP DIVE - Part 2: Breathing for Runners with Dr Lawrence van Lingen 56:41

1+ y ago56:41

56:41

Breathing - a fundamental, automated process that we don't give much thought to until we decide to wade back into the waters of fitness after a period of inactivity or attempt a maximal effort, then we are suddenly reminded by burning lungs and constricted chest. This sensation tends to get the better of us and makes it hard to proceed - let's face…

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