The Trail Chasers Podcast

The Trail Chasers Podcast Trail tales, running insights & adventure awaits! Join Dean Horwitz & friends as they uncover the heart of South African Trail Running Community.

New Episodes every week!

27/09/2025

🎙 S3E19 IS LIVE! 🔗 Link in bio

: From Setback to Startup — Transforming Pain Into Purpose for Athletes Everywhere

💭 “If you can, you must. If you're physically able, do it.” — William Dyer, Founder of

What does it take to turn a painful rugby injury into a business that’s now fueling athletes across South Africa and beyond?

In this episode, Dean Horwitz sits down with William — trail runner, community builder with the , and entrepreneur behind Collagen for Athletes — to explore how setbacks can spark startups, and how passion fuels both business and running.

From building a trail community in KZN to growing a brand that supports athletes nationwide, William’s story is one of resilience, recovery, and relentless purpose.

✨ What you’ll learn:
✅ How a rugby injury became the catalyst for a thriving business
✅ Why community runs like Trail Snakes matter for every runner
✅ The link between resilience in training and entrepreneurship
✅ William’s bucket-list races and what keeps him chasing goals
✅ Why “If you can, you must” is more than a mantra — it’s a way of life

🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple & all platforms

🔥 Drop a 💪 if you’re inspired by William’s story of turning pain into purpose.

Season 3 is proudly sponsored by:
🧦
🕶

💪 What’s the one recovery hack you swear by after a tough run?Is it an ice bath? A slow jog? Stretching? Pizza and a nap...
23/09/2025

💪 What’s the one recovery hack you swear by after a tough run?

Is it an ice bath? A slow jog? Stretching? Pizza and a nap? Or maybe something completely unconventional that only you believe in?

Drop your best-kept recovery secrets in the comments 👇

We want to know what helps you bounce back, stay strong, and keep chasing the trails.

This week on Trail Chasers, we’re joined by , founder of , who shares how a rugby injury and a long road to recovery sparked a business that’s now helping athletes everywhere.

🎙️ William Dyer: From Setback to Startup—Transforming Pain Into Purpose for Athletes Everywhere
Episode drops tomorrow!

S3 of the Trail Chasers is sponsored by
🧦
👓

They said it was a bad idea. said, “Hold my gel.” 🍫🏃‍♀️🎙️ Have you tuned into this week’s episode?Marissa Groenewald: B...
21/09/2025

They said it was a bad idea. said, “Hold my gel.” 🍫🏃‍♀️

🎙️ Have you tuned into this week’s episode?
Marissa Groenewald: Beyond the Rope—Running for Change, Courage & Connection
👉 Link in BIO. LISTEN NOW!

What’s the craziest run challenge you’ve ever signed up for?

S3 powered by
🧦| 🕶

16/09/2025

And just when we thought this year’s women’s line-up couldn’t get any fiercer… enter South Africa’s Golden Girl: Toni McCann. 🇿🇦

The Retto record-holder etched her name into Otter history when she stormed to victory (and the course record) in 2022, proving she knows how to dance 💃 with the Otter’s technical terrain. While Bianca Tarboton reigns supreme on the Classic, 👑 Toni’s brilliance belongs to the Retto. Now, as both record-holders meet on the same course, the stage is set for a clash of queens. Can Toni bring her magic to the Classic and challenge for the crown?

Toni returns almost unbeaten on the international stage, and boasting a 2024 CCC victory. But after a nasty fall forced her withdrawal this season, she comes back with unfinished business. 👀 And in the trail world, they say: the comeback is always bigger than the setback. So, just how big will October be? 📈

Grail of Trail
presented by EasyEquities

15/09/2025

🔥 S3E18 IS LIVE! 🎧 Link in bio
🎙️ Marissa Groenewald: Beyond the Rope — Running for Change, Courage & Connection

💭 “Discipline takes you places where motivation can’t.” — Marissa Groenewald, the Rope Runner

What does it take to invent an entirely new running discipline — rope running — while balancing motherhood, business, and a mission to fight human trafficking?

In this episode, I sit down with Marissa Groenewald — trail runner, road runner, business owner, and the world’s first rope runner — for a powerful conversation about courage, innovation, and using running as a platform for change.

From training in secret with a skipping rope to taking on Comrades, UTCT, and launching the Upper Highway Trail Marathon, Marissa shares how she turned a spark of boredom into a global vision — and why discipline matters more than motivation when chasing the impossible.

✨ What you’ll learn:
✅ How rope running was born — and why she kept it secret at first
✅ The challenges (and triumphs) of running races with a rope
✅ How running fuels her fight against human trafficking
✅ The story behind founding the Upper Highway Trail Marathon
✅ Why discipline beats motivation every time

🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple & all platforms
🔗 Listen via the link in bio

👇 Drop a 🪢 if you’re inspired by Marissa’s courage to carve a new path.

🎙 Season 3 is proudly sponsored by:
🧦
🕶

🤯 Invent your own crazy way to run — what would it be?Would it be rope running? Backwards racing? Trail hopping in fins?...
02/09/2025

🤯 Invent your own crazy way to run — what would it be?

Would it be rope running? Backwards racing? Trail hopping in fins? Running a marathon on your hands? Or something no one’s ever dared to try?

Drop your wildest ideas in the comments 👇

We want to hear how you’d reinvent running, the twists, the challenges, the madness and maybe even inspire the next big thing in the sport.

This week on Trail Chasers, we’re joined by .groenewald, the pioneer of rope running, who shares how curiosity turned into a world-first running discipline (and a movement for change).

🎙️ Marissa Groenewald: Beyond the Rope—Running for Change, Courage & Connection
Episode drops tomorrow!

S3 of the Trail Chasers is sponsored by
🧦
👓

This week on Trail Chasers 🎧Marissa Groenewald: Beyond the Rope—Running for Change, Courage & Connection💬 “Discipline ta...
01/09/2025

This week on Trail Chasers 🎧
Marissa Groenewald: Beyond the Rope—Running for Change, Courage & Connection

💬 “Discipline takes you places where motivation can’t.”

From secret solo sessions to creating an entirely new discipline, Marissa has turned rope running into more than just a challenge — it’s a movement. Alongside chasing records, she’s raising awareness for human trafficking and building community through running.

In this episode, we dive into her journey of courage, the birth of rope running, the Upper Highway Trail Marathon, and why using sport for change matters.

👇 Drop a 🙌 if you think rope running should be a global sport.

📸 Photo by Tantalising Twins Content Creators

31/08/2025

🎧 This week on Trail Chasers, a very special bonus episode!
groenewald : Beyond the Rope — Running for Change, Courage & Connection

Marissa is honestly one of my favourite people, a pioneer who has skipped her way into the hearts and minds of South African runners. From creating an entirely new sport to using it as a platform to fight human trafficking, her story is equal parts courageous, inspiring, and unforgettable.

💬 “I’m not doing this for myself. I’m doing this for the lives of other people.”

This teaser was filmed earlier this year at , who proudly sponsor both the Trail Chasers Podcast and Marissa’s incredible work.

The full conversation drops this Wednesday — don’t miss it.

👇 Drop a 💛 if you believe in running for change.

30/08/2025

Missed last week’s episode? 🎙️
: Running for Life – Balance, Consistency & the Long Game. Listen at LINK in BIO!

“If you told me I was never going to race again, I would still run every day. I’d still train properly—because I love the process of training.” – Kane Reilly

Kane joined us on The Trail Chasers Podcast to talk about longevity in running, finding joy at the start line, and why love for the process matters more than results.

🎧 Catch up now. LINK in BIO!

Do you run because you love it or because of the races? Let us know ⬇️

29/08/2025

🔥 5th Place at TDS! 🔥

This week, proved once again why he’s one of South Africa’s strongest trail athletes, finishing 5th in the 2025 UTMB TDS 👏
An incredible achievement on one of the toughest courses in the world.

As Daniel says: “Anyone who's seen a photo or watched a video of UTMB will realize it is so out of this world, it almost feels like you're representing your community at a world stage.”

Go listen to Daniel’s full story — how he balances work, life, and running while competing at the highest level. 🎧
👉 LINK in the BIO!

📷 by the uber talented

S3 is sponsored by
🧦
🕶

28/08/2025

🔥 S3E17 IS LIVE! 🎧 Link in bio
🎙️ : Balance, Work & Racing on the World Stage

💭 “I try to put my life into different boxes — work, running, social, family — and give each one the time it deserves. Because if everything overlaps, life just becomes chaos.” –

Earlier this year, I sat down with Daniel Claassen , South African trail runner, athlete, and full-time Category Manager — to talk about what it really takes to balance professional running with a demanding career.

From his journey to a sub-12hr finish at UTMB CCC to lessons learned from mistakes, burnout, and recovery, Daniel opens up about how he’s built a system that lets him chase big goals while staying grounded.

⚡ And since we recorded this, Daniel has gone on to finish 5th at UTMB TDS 2025 — proof that his approach to balance is paying off at the highest level.

✨ What you’ll learn:
✅ How to balance full-time work with professional racing
✅ Why consistency beats chasing mileage
✅ Lessons from CCC and the long road to Chamonix
✅ Why balance fuels longevity and joy in the sport

🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple & all platforms
🔗 Listen via the link in bio

👇 Drop a ⚖️ if you’re working on finding your balance.

🎙 Season 3 is proudly sponsored by:
🧦
🕶

Address

Cape Town

Website

http://www.trailchasers.co.za/

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