Strides: A Trail Running Podcast

Mason Hickok

A trail running podcast exploring the sport in San Antonio, Texas, and beyond.

  1. Moonrise Kingdom Meets the Texas Hill Country: Endurance CAMP with Javian Quinones & U:LTRA EQUIPMENTS

    3d ago

    Moonrise Kingdom Meets the Texas Hill Country: Endurance CAMP with Javian Quinones & U:LTRA EQUIPMENTS

    Boy Scouts meets endurance sports with a touch of Wes Anderson and Rocky; that is what nearly 30 athletes will experience next month in the Texas Hill Country, courtesy of Javian Quinones and U:LTRA EQUIPMENTS. For weeks, Javian has been teasing bits and pieces of what campers can expect—from sponsors such as LMNT electrolytes and Rayo Energy—over Instagram. Javian is carving a unique experience with U:EQ and CAMP, rooted in nature. Part of the experience for campers is not just on the bike or on the trails; guests include an actual Boy Scout, a Master Naturalist, a Media Director prepared to capture unique CAMP content, and more. Campers will even get their own custom-made Field Notes pamphlet to capture their observations and collect badges. Javian plans to put together a zine with copies of all of the participants’ notebooks after CAMP. We discuss what campers can expect across the weekend, what inspires Javian to pursue this project, and what he has learned along the way.  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Javian on Instagram Follow U:LTRA EQUIPMENTS on Instagram To check out some of the U:EQ products, click here. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Strides on Instagram and Substack Check out Strides on Apple Podcasts and Spotify Got a topic idea? Feel free to leave a review and email any feedback to stridestrailpod@gmail.com.

    20 min
  2. Braiding, Trail Running, and Movement as Mediation with Amos Lozano

    Jun 4

    Braiding, Trail Running, and Movement as Mediation with Amos Lozano

    Amos Lozano goes by many names. From Coach Famous Amos to The Juiced Up Ninja, and, perhaps unofficially, the back-to-back 53K champion at the San Antonio Road Runners’ Rocky Horror Trail Run.  But at the center of all the monikers—all of the accolades—is a devout student of movement; a curious student of routine. Amos is generous with his wisdom and knowledge, as evidenced by his commitment to helping other athletes improve and by the principles that guide his coaching practice. While we chat about ultrarunning’s distance climb past 250 to 300 miles, Amos said he is comfortable with distances of 100 miles and under, but that has not stopped him from supporting others. After pacing at this year’s Arizona Monsterr 300, later this year, Amos will provide pacing duties at the Moab 240. We close out the interview talking about Amos’ Native American heritage and the respect for running as a spiritual practice. Even down to the braiding of his hair before a race, Amos will tell you it is about the process of getting to the finish line, even sometimes alongside the ancestors who ran before him.  Before our conversation, Amos chatted about his running essentials on the ULTRA EQUIPMENTS PODCAST from good friend of the show, Javian Quinones. Show U:EQ all of the love. Javian is doing wonderful work in this space, particularly in branding and activations—more from him on Strides in the near future. Follow Amos on Instagram and Strava Follow Strides on Instagram and Subtstack Check out Strides on Apple Podcast and Spotify Got a topic idea? Feel free to leave a review and email any feedback to stridestrailpod@gmail.com.

    1h 2m
  3. Desert Lessons from The Speed Project & 80 miles on the Mingus Traverse with Shaun Jones

    May 28

    Desert Lessons from The Speed Project & 80 miles on the Mingus Traverse with Shaun Jones

    From Los Angeles to Las Vegas and the desert of Arizona on part of the Cocodona course, Shaun Jones needs no introduction. He is a friend of the show and a vital part of the San Antonio scene. Shaun last chatted with me on January 2, speaking candidly of being “thrown off” due to a change in course during a 50-mile attempt at Cactus Rose. He would eventually DNF the race due to subsequent ankle issues.  Shaun’s 2026 calendar began with the Bandera 100K in January, where he finished the race in just under 17 hours. As for his strategy at that race: It was not to look at the end. Did that same mindset carry forward with The Speed Project and the Mingus Traverse?  What came from his experiences earlier this year and into last year was the development of a strategy—a process, if you will—for his running. The process is certainly rooted in repetition and familiarity; one look at Shaun’s Strava profile can speak for itself.  As runners, we gravitate toward the brands and products we love; the ones that can pick us up when we're in a rut or keep us dry in a pinch. One of Shaun’s go-to brands is Janji. Running, movement, is as much a spiritual exercise as it is a physical and mental one—that I am certain of.  For Shaun and most runners, I would gather, running is the vehicle through which we experience community and our world. Haven’t taken the jump yet? I hope this conversation helps. Peace, Mason Follow Shaun on Instagram and Strava Follow Strides on Instagram and Subtstack Check out Strides on Apple Podcast and Spotify Got a topic idea? Feel free to leave a review and email any feedback to stridestrailpod@gmail.com.

    27 min

About

A trail running podcast exploring the sport in San Antonio, Texas, and beyond.