Hein Viljoen: Beyond the Run—Why Strength & Conditioning is a Game-Changer
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💭 “It’s not flashy. It’s not gonna win you awards. You’re not putting it on Strava. But it impacts your runs tremendously.”
What if the most important training you do doesn’t happen on the trails—but in the quiet, consistent work no one sees?
In this episode of Trail Chasers, we sit down with Hein Viljoen—physiotherapist, movement specialist, and passionate voice for smarter, stronger trail running. From injury prevention and performance prep to myths about core work and the reality of staying in the game, Hein breaks down why strength & conditioning is a game-changer for runners of all levels.
Whether you're a total beginner or finally learning the hard way, this one will change how you think about long-term trail fitness.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
✅ Why strength training is the foundation every trail runner needs 🧱
✅ The most overlooked muscles that take the biggest impact 🦵
✅ How to balance running and strength without burning out 🔁
✅ What “brushing your teeth” has to do with staying injury-free 🦷
✅ The danger of going too hard—or doing nothing at all ⚠️
✅ How to actually spot your weak links (and what to do about them) 🧠
✅ Why building resilience starts with showing up—off the trail 💪
🥾 Got a strength or recovery routine that changed your running?
DM us or tag @trailchaserspod—we want to know what’s keeping you in the game.
🎙 Season 3 is sponsored by Gilnokie Socks 🧦
Visit gilnokie.com and use code TRAILCHASERS for 20% off your first order.
📩 If this episode helped reframe your training, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who still skips strength day. Let's build better runners, together.
60 episodes