Making A Runner Nic Acampora & David Fick

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 performance, but your perception of satisfaction too.
It all starts with deciding what kind of runner you want to be…
That’s where our guest today comes in, Giovanni Bianco, Mental Performance Coach and All-American Triathlete, helps us master our mental game. We chat:
Dealing with discomfort, failure and self doubt.The power of deciding what kind of runner you want to BE and how this can transform your running experience good/bad.Mental strength: having it vs developing it. Creating the “perfect race conditions” vs waiting got everything to line up.
Give Giovanni a follow on Social Media @giovannimentalperformance and feel free to reach out to him if you are in need of a mental coach that knows how to get the best out of his athletes.
We hope you enjoyed the show!

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 things, they go hand in hand in finding hormonal homeostasis - balance - which is reflected back to us in our ability to maintain or improve our performance.
Today's episode takes a closer look at the effect that fuelling has on hormones and as a result our training. Our guest, Annie Bothma, a certified Master Sports Nutritionist, Running Coach and Professional Athlete helps unpack:
Hormones, what they are and why they matter.Cortisol, stress and recovery.Sex hormones and issues with energy availability; REDS, LEA.The impact of fasting and calorie restriction.How good nutrition and adequate fuelling can support hormonal health.The difference between training for weight loss and training for performance and why it's vital to differentiate between the two.And more...
This is the kind of episode that you can return to time and time again and learn something new every time.
As Annie mentions, if you suspect that a loved one or training buddy is suffering the consequences of poor nutrition or any of the concepts discussed in this episode, please encourage them to seek professional help! We cannot do this sport without taking care of our health.
If you'd like to reach out to Annie, find her at: https://www.anniesathletes.org/ and to learn more about her journey as an athlete and professional, we encourage you to follow her blog too - https://www.anniebothma.com/
Feel free to reach out to us at anytime on socials: https://www.instagram.com/makingarunner?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

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. Not only is he mega-smart, he also has an extensive running CV to boast.
Today we chat strictly to problems surrounding the knee, one of the most commonly injured areas for runners.
We talk through some unconventional theories about why people present with maladies in the first place and how the body tells a story through its biomechanical patterns…if we’re able to tune in and read the signs, we may be able to interpret and prevent some of the injuries that otherwise take us by surprise.
Our conversation addresses:
The anatomical structure of the knee.3 common knee conditions, their symptoms and treatment options including: Patella Tendon pain, ITB issues and Patella Tracking issues.How running can expose weaknesses that otherwise wouldn’t have been discovered.Trail running as an alternative to road running and in which conditions it may be helpful/harmful.
We hope that today's episode gave you the insight you need to tackle any current and future knee injuries. If you have any questions feel free to reach out on info@makingarunner.com or give us a follow on our socials @makingarunner and don't forget to review and share with your running buddy.

"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 asked: what are the limits of endurance?
Today is a deep dive and exploration into the human body and how it responds to endurance training with a special focus on HORMONES!
Thanks to Jordy's personal experience in covering ultra-distances and his medical training as a doctor, he is able to break down and help us understand how to tread the fine line between exercise being a helpful tool in the pursuit of health and longevity and when we may be short changing ourself and pushing boundaries at the potential risk of, serious and irreparable damage...
Today we learn about:
What are hormones and why are humans ultimately "hormone puppets" governed by them.How hormones are created and how body fat, digestive health and nutrition are all intimately linked.The 'exercise paradox' and using exercise as a form of medicine/drug.The dark-side of training/or not being able to train and how it relates to our mental health.Training, ageing and longevity in the sport.Learning how to appreciate the plateaus and shifting the goal post when performance-based goals are no longer an option.
As you'll hear, Jordy is a master of his craft, both on 'the field' and in the office, he is also a fantastic story teller and will have you rethinking your 'why' when it comes to running - which is always a great idea to revisit and realign with.
We hope that today's conversation leaves you feeling both inspired and empowered about your running and your health.
Let us know if you enjoyed this 2 part conversation and make sure to share with a running buddy so that we can ensure that we are all able to run stronger for longer.
Enjoy!

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 date (our apologies for all of the audio blips) - we hear about the past two years of injuries, and challenges that she's faced in her fight back up to the top.
With her incredible CV of experience in road running and the insights gained within the period of struggle, she was our top pick for a single episode on the TTOM and why it remains Africa's finest ultra-marathon.
We chat:
Race day planning and what to expect from the next 2 weeksNutrition and race day fuelling The route and what to expect from the dayPro tips including the best seconding spots and choosing the racing line to avoid the ITB_biting camberAlternative training and staying fit recovering while recovering from injuryInspiring sentiments and words of inspiration to get you psyched up to run your best TTOM
Need more info? Remember that in Season 2 (2023) we covered a 6 episode series on the Total Sports Two Oceans - feel free to go back and re listen to the magic from all our previous Two Oceans experts.
All the best for this years race!
Want to connect with us? Feel free to pop us an email on info@makingarunner.com or follow us on social media @makingarunner on Instagram or Facebook.

"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 asked: what are the limits of endurance?
Today is a deep dive and exploration into the human body and how it responds to endurance training. Thanks to Jordy's personal experience in covering ultra-distances and his medical training as a doctor, he is able to break down and help us understand how to tread the fine line between exercise being a helpful tool in the pursuit of health and longevity and when we may be short changing ourself and pushing boundaries at the potential risk of, serious and irreparable damage...
Today we learn about:
The cardiovascular and pulmonary systems - in short, what happens to your heart and lungs when you train to get fitter and faster.The process of pre-race screening, why it matters and how it is evolving to benefit our sport and its participants.'Earning the right to train hard' and how to get there, safely and sustainably!The problem with thinking that 'better' is the only goal.The 101 on falling ill and managing sickness + why we tend to get sick in a taper period and what we can do to avoid it.
As you'll hear, Jordy is a master of his craft, both on 'the field' and in the office, he is also a fantastic story teller and will have you rethinking your 'why' when it comes to running - which is always a great idea to revisit and realign with.
We hope that today's conversation leaves you feeling both inspired and empowered about your running and your health.
Look out for Part 2 coming soon...(date tbc).