Strides: A Trail Running Podcast

Though Mother Nature cut short Shamzi Alkaff’s Moab 240 run this year, he wouldn’t trade the experience, especially since he ran the same trails that made him fall in love with trail running.

Anyone who follows the trail running scene has likely seen the images and videos that came out of Utah last week during the Moab 240. More than 100 started the run, but none finished after severe storms and winds washed away aid stations and stranded runners.

Shamzi was part of the group that ran this year’s race, including several chasing Triple Crown records.

I met Shamzi earlier this summer during a training run at San Antonio’s Babcock Powerlines hosted by the Extra Credit run community. I believe that when you run the powerlines, you’re bound to find someone training for something; in this case, I was right.

Shamzi came to San Antonio by way of Fort Collins, Colorado. A college swimmer, some IRONMAN efforts eventually led him to trail running, and he gradually checked off 100K and 100-mile attempts. Naturally, the road led Shamzi to the 200-mile distance.

We chat about how he found trail running, what volunteering at the Leadville 100 taught him, and his “unfinished business” with the 200-mile distance. Plus, is he planning to complete Moab next year?

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It’s safe to say a love for West Texas flows through Joe Sierra. It’s where he has spent considerable time on trails—at races like Sky Island and the Big Bend Ultra—and the place that helped inspire the design of his run group’s hat.

Joe has appeared on two previous pre-race interviews on Strides, but our conversation comes after Joe finished the 46K at the Broken Arrow Skyrace in June; a race that draws the elites, and for Joe, pushed him to newer limits. We chat about what drew him to the California race, its connection to the famed Western States course, and how his friendship with friend of the show, Javian Quinones, helped Joe reach the starting line.

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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.

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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.

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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

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Aimee Warnke's ultrarunning resume, this year alone, is impressive: First place at the HURT100 and first place two-peat at the Prickly Pear 50K.

That does not account for all of her accomplishments in 2025, including a finish at the Leadville 100.

The 2025 Prickly Pear was the event that put Aimee on my radar, not long before Strides dropped its first episode. Aimee's commitment to the sport is infectious, and it shows in the work she puts in.

In this conversation, we discuss Aimee's appreciation for trail running in Hawaii, what the San Antonio running culture means to her, and how she plans to seek adventure in her pursuit of the Triple Crown of 200s.

Also, it feels appropriate to say this, but Strides is written, produced, and edited 100% free of AI. We care about human-focused projects here.

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Jimmy Segura's mindset for running is rooted in routine, with a sprinkle of zeal.

Jimmy sat down with me not long after completing a 100-miler at Rocky Raccoon in January—his first completion at the coveted distance.

However, Jimmy is always looking for bigger challenges. In this conversation, we discuss how he was first introduced to running and how proximity to his favorite trail spot in San Antonio influenced his training. Then, we dive into the special nuances of how Jimmy trains for his races.

We cap off the conversation with an ode to the San Antonio running community.

As always, I hope you enjoy.

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Less than a year ago, on this podcast, Edgar Navarrete made up his mind: He was going to run the Black Canyon 100K.

Edgar and 1,000 other runners will tee off on Black Canyon's point-to-point course through the Arizona desert this weekend. I've wanted to return to this part of our July 2025 conversation since Edgar laid the groundwork.

Edgar is coming off a finish in the 55K at the Big Bend Ultra last month, a "midterm race," as he described.

From creative runs in San Antonio to recover forgotten keys, and a portfolio of success, Edgar is looking to have fun in Arizona.

Black Canyon is an esteemed race, and Edgar is sure to make San Antonio proud.

I hope you enjoy our conversation.

Note: This interview was recorded in late January.

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A face behind Southwest Elixirs and the Extra Credit crew, Madison Ortega is shaping her running journey surrounded by community.

You could say running "runs in the family," as the sport dots the lives of many of Madison's family figures. Now, alongside her husband and friend of the show, Santiago, Madison channels that history into her running.

In this conversation, we discuss how unexpected injuries last year affected her race calendar, how nutrition affects movement, and her race plans for 2026.

We recorded this podcast days before Madison ran the Big Bend Ultra, even shaving time off her previous race.

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Roy Gallegos returns to the race that started it all, and graduates to the 50K distance in the process.

In his second time at Bandera, Roy is preparing to toe the 50K start line, having knocked out a stellar 2025, which included a 50K finish at Sky Island in September. In this conversation, we touch on Roy's processes for the effort and what he hopes to pursue post-Bandera.

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Two is the recurring number for Cait Gomez: It's her second time running at Bandera, and her second 50K.

Cait is coming into this weekend's race having spent physical time on the course alongside her coach and other Bandera runners. Coupled with focused training and some homemade nutrition, Cait is confident in crossing the finish line, even if the effort will be long.

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Erick Rendon is coming into this year's Bandera trail race, nearing his tenth time in some distance at the esteemed Hill Country race.

For his third attempt at the 100K distance, Erick is not scared of the distance; for him, it is more of a mental battle. Erick is confident his cross-training on the bike will help him cross the finish line this weekend.

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Santiago Ortega is coming into this year's Bandera trail race with back-to-back-to-back efforts planned.

Not only is Santiago looking to check the Bandera 25K off his list, but he is also planning to race the 20K at the Big Bend Ultra not long after. He will cap it off with another 50K at the Rocky 50 in February.

Hear how Santiago is planning for all of the efforts, and his plans to stay on top of nutrition and hydration at Bandera.

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Katie Glasheen is coming into her time at Bandera calm, cool, and calculated.

Running the 50K distance for the second time, Katie is confident that her training block and composition of strength training and physio will pay off.

In this conversation, hear how Katie sprinkled in some fun during her 15-week training block and what she plans to pack for nutrition and hydration.

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Shaun Jones is coming into this year's HOKA Bandera trail race with redemption and first-time experiences on his mind.

Despite this being his first attempt at any distance at Bandera, Shaun is eyeing a finish following an unfortunate DNF at Cactus Rose last year. Nonetheless, Shaun is expecting his focused training to help him cross the finish line.

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The Bandera course is something of a homecoming for Courtney Rouse, a local legend in San Antonio's trail scene. It was the first course she ran when she moved to San Antonio, and one she has continually returned to.

Courtney is coming into this year's 50K race looking to have fun and improve on her 5-hour time last year, albeit on a last-minute course change.

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In September, ahead of the Sky Island trail race, Will Rocha famously said he was going to "f**k around and find out." I suppose you could say it paid off—Rocha took the top spot on the 25K, finishing the race in just under two-and-a-half hours.

An impressive finish, especially considering it was Rocha's first trail race. However, Rocha is no stranger to the endurance chase.

In our conversation, we discuss how running came to Rocha by way of an interest in cycling and mobility, his marathon plans, where his next trail race is set to take place, and how that cycling history influenced his team's routing for the UNRTD Austin to San Antonio relay race.

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Jordan Gracey may be an average runner, but his itch for the heart of running and creating is palpable.

Gracey is one of three behind "AVRG," a DIY-zine tailored for all runners.

Check out Issue 001 from AVRG.

We recorded this episode back in September.

While we do touch on running and AVRG in this conversation, Jordan graciously shared in my meanderings about trail shoes, the beauty and complexities of Kogonada’s film Columbus, and Gracey’s roots in the music scene.

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Heading into this year's Sky Island, third time is the charm for Cale Williams.

Cale Williams has stuck to what he knows in his preparation for Sky Island -- hill repeats and long trail runs, especially at the Babcock Powerlines in San Antonio. As for nutrition, Cale is looking toward gummy bears. And some Huma gels, of course. But for Cale, he is eyeing a chill ride on the 25K and looking forward to crushing his enemies at the same time.

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In his first 50k, Roy Gallegos is not letting Sky Island's distance get to his head.

Roy Gallegos' mindset is one rooted in a humble mentality; a devotee to the endurance experience. From 5:00 a.m. training runs to acclimating to the necessary elevation gains, Roy is prepared for the experience of a lifetime. At the end, one thing awaits: finishing as an ultramarathoner. What's next? Bigger and better things, he would say.

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