What happens when you combine young kids, an international move, and one of the toughest endurance races on the planet?

In this episode, Max and Sarah were joined by Josie Kaufmann and Michael Canil — a husband and wife duo who recently relocated from Australia to rural France and took on the legendary Marathon des Sables.

Often called the “toughest footrace on Earth,” MDS is a self-sufficient, multi-stage ultramarathon across the Sahara Desert — testing not just physical endurance, but planning, resilience, and mindset.

But this episode goes far beyond the race itself.

We dive into:

• How they balanced family life and training for an extreme multi-stage ultra
• What it really takes to prepare for Marathon des Sables
• The logistics of racing self-sufficient in the desert

• The highs, the low points, and the moments that nearly broke them

• What it’s like to go through something like this together as a couple

Josie is coached by Max, which adds an extra layer to the conversation as we unpack how training translated into the reality of the Sahara.

With Michael coming from a strong Ironman background and Josie stepping into her first major endurance event, this is a story of two very different journeys meeting at the same start line.

Expect honest reflections, a few laughs, and plenty of insight into resilience, pacing, and mindset when things get seriously tough.

Plus, we’ve got our usual mix of icebreakers, truth-or-lie, and a quickfire round to finish.

Coaching enquiries⁠

Support the show via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and buy us a coffee.

We’re proud to be supported by:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Protein Rebel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — get 15% off with code TTF15

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beta Outdoor Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where you can get 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BV Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ compression and apparel, plus 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Näak Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ products to fuel your adventures using TTF10.

⁠Trailskin⁠ get 20% off with TTFS_20

Don’t forget to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements.

👉 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.

If you enjoy the episode, please leave us a rating and share it with your running buddies.

When a race disappears… do you still show up?

In this episode, we sit down with ultra runner Kirsty Taylor to unpack one of the most unique and unpredictable race experiences you’ll hear this year.

Kirsty recently took on the Sea to Sea — a brutal 300km challenge — but this wasn’t quite the experience she signed up for. Just weeks before the start, Ourea Events ceased trading, throwing plans into chaos and leaving runners facing a completely different reality. What followed was a stripped-back event delivered under Centurion, where Kirsty took on the route fully self-supported, with no crew, no aid station or drop bag, and limited infrastructure.

We dive into what that actually looked like on the ground:

• How her approach changed overnight
• The logistics of racing without aid stations
• Moments where pulling out felt like the logical choice
• And power of community support along the way

We also explore Kirsty’s journey into ultra running — from 100k and 100 mile races to stepping up into the unknown of 300km — and what she’s learned about resilience, preparation, and decision-making when you’re deep in it and on your own.

As always, expect a mix of:
Honest storytelling
Icebreakers
Truth or Lie
Quickfire questions

If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to go self-supported — or how you respond when a race doesn’t go to plan — this one’s for you.

Coaching enquiries

Support the show via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and buy us a coffee.

We’re proud to be supported by:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Protein Rebel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — get 15% off with code TTF15

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beta Outdoor Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where you can get 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BV Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ compression and apparel, plus 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Näak Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ products to fuel your adventures using TTF10.

Trailskin get 20% off with TTFS_20

Don’t forget to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements.

👉 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.

If you enjoy the episode, please leave us a rating and share it with your running buddies.

This episode is about the people you don’t always see… but who make everything possible.

We’re joined by Louise Fraser — a long-time volunteer and familiar face in the Centurion Running community. If you’ve ever run a Centurion race, chances are she’s been there at an aid station — handing you a cup of Coke, filling flasks, offering a bit of calm, and delivering exactly the words you needed at the right moment.

We dive into:

• What really goes on behind the scenes at ultra races
• The humour, and powerful moments of volunteering
• What runners don’t realise (but should)
• Louise’s journey from supporting thousands of runners to taking on Hundred Hills 50k herself
• Why volunteering might be the most meaningful way to be part of this sport

Plus our usual mix of icebreakers, truth-or-lie, and a volunteer-themed quickfire round.

This one’s about community, perspective, and the moments that keep people moving when it matters most.

Support the show via ⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠and buy us a coffee.

We’re proud to be supported by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Protein Rebel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — get 15% off with code TTF15 — and by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beta Outdoor Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where you can get 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BV Sports⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ compression and apparel, plus 10% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Näak Nutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ products to fuel your adventures using TTF10.

For ⁠⁠⁠coaching enquiries⁠⁠⁠.

Don’t forget to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to join our Strava club to connect with fellow trail lovers and celebrate your own achievements.

👉 Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trails, Tales, and Fails Facebook Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to continue the conversation and connect with fellow trail and ultra runners.

If you enjoy the episode, please leave us a rating and share it with your running buddies.