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Making A Runner

Nic Acampora
Comrades Marathon
Nutrition
Cape Town Marathon
Running
Running Injuries
Sports Nutrition
Mental Resilience
Biomechanics
Injury Prevention
Trail Running
Carbohydrates
Hydration
Knee Injuries
Two Oceans Marathon
Running Nutrition
Marathon Training
Heat Training
Patellar Tendinopathy
Strength Training
Running Community

Making A Runner is a podcast about the journey of becoming a better runner — physically, mentally, and over the long run. Hosted by Coach and Biokineticist Nic Acampora, the show brings together experts from the running world and everyday runners to unpack the realities of training, racing, injury, and performance. Expect practical insights, honest conversations, and a proudly South African perspe... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes131Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SportsRunning

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Artwork for Making A Runner

Latest Episodes

The training is done. COMRADES 2026 is here.

In the final episode of the Making A Runner Comrades Mini Series, Nic shifts the focus away from training and towards the things that matter most during race week: staying healthy, staying calm, trusting ... more

With just two weeks to go until Comrades, the training is largely done. The focus now shifts towards arriving at the start line healthy, confident, and ready to execute.

In Episode 2 of the Making A Runner Comrades Mini Series, Nic takes a deep dive... more

With Comrades just weeks away, the hard work is largely done — but for many runners, this is when the nerves, doubt, and overthinking really begin.

In this episode of this special Making A Runner Comrades mini-series, Nic dives into the emotional an... more

In this episode of Making A Runner, Nic sits down with one of the most exciting emerging names in South African endurance running — George Kusche.

From competing as an NCAA middle-distance athlete in the United States while studying actuarial scienc... more

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Recent Guests

George Kusche
Promising endurance runner, South Africa
Independent athlete (self-coached)
Episode: EP. 128 | The Road Back: How George Kusche Rebuilt Himself Into One of South Africa’s Most Promising Distance Runners
Shaun Meiklejohn
True legend of South African running; 1995 Comrades Marathon winner
Episode: EP. 127 | How to Run Strong for Decades; Lessons from 1995 Comrades Winner Shaun Meiklejohn.
Mike Roscoe
Endurance coach and SPR Sport owner
SPR Sport
Episode: EP. 126 | Train Smarter, Not Harder: The truth about periodisation and how your training can benefit from it with Endurance Coach Mike Roscoe.
Dr. Matt Silver
Coach, educator, physical therapist, and founder of Alpha Project Physio and Performance.
Alpha Project Physio and Performance
Episode: EP. 117 | Optimising Running Performance for Life ; Reconnecting mind and movement with Author of “Built To Run”, Dr. Matt Silver - Part 1.
Chanel Cronje
A passionate runner, content creator, and athlete.
Episode: EP. 115 | Rebuilding The Runner ; Recovering from ITB Injury. How a marathon setback became a comeback - told through the lens of athlete, Chanel Cronje.
Jason Fitzgerald
Host of the Strength Running Podcast and running coach with nearly three decades of experience.
Strength Running
Episode: EP. 114 | How To Achieve Your True Running Potential ; A blueprint on ‘progressing through your running journey’ with Strength Running Podcast Host and Coach, Jason Fitzgerald.
Irvette Van Zyl
South African running icon gearing up for her first Comrades Marathon
Episode: EP. 112 | Rolling With The Punches, Learning To Overcome ; Irvette Van Zyl’s inspiring journey through multiple setbacks & return to elite level running as she lines up for her first Comrades Marathon
Barry Holland
49-time consecutive finisher of the Comrades Marathon and CMA Board Member
CMA Board
Episode: EP. 111 | The Gold Mine for Comrades Down Run Success ; 49 time consecutive finisher & CMA Board Member, Barry Holland, shares the strategy, route & mindset to guide you to your strongest finish yet.
Jade De Sousa
Runner who has completed the Abbott Six Star journey
Episode: EP. 110 | Two Runners, 6 Stars, One Comrades Dream; Behind the medals with Jade and Dom. An inspirational story of friendship, setbacks and glory as they now prepare for their biggest challenge yet.

Host

Nic Acampora
Host of the show; biokineticist and running coach

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 159 ratings
  • Love this podcast

    Really look forward to each episode every week! They’re so informative and interesting and love how each guest brings their own personal experiences into the show. I learn something from each and every episode! It’s definitely helped my running journey too! Also really love the making her runner episodes! Keep it up guys. It’s so relatable.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Han9306
    South Africa10 months ago
  • Favourite Podcast

    Love how much versatility each episode offers. Nothing is ever repeated and it’s always new, exciting and informative. Each episode is relevant to what is happening around us which helps create such a hype around events.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AlexVH24
    South Africa2 years ago
  • Love this podcast

    Really look forward to each episode every week! They’re so informative and interesting and love how each guest brings their own personal experiences into the show. I learn something from each and every episode! It’s definitely helped my running journey too! Also really love the making her runner episodes! Keep it up guys. It would be really interesting to do an episode that touches a bit more on running nutrition - the different types of gels, gu’s etc that are out there (looking at brands that ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Han9306
    South Africa2 years ago
  • Lekker

    Truly South African running podcast. Enjoying the shows 👌🏼

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AngK83
    South Africa2 years ago
  • These guys keep me motivated to run and then keep me laughing while I run. Thank you both!

    Incredible podcast. Keep it going

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RossBoss86
    Netherlands2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the practical, informative approach and personal storytelling.
Guests bring diverse expertise and real-world insights that translate to better running
High quality production and useful, science-backed strategies uplift ongoing training
Shows keep motivation high and offer relatable, entertaining banter alongside solid coaching advice.
Strong local (South African) perspective resonates with regional listeners and athletes.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#239
United States/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#227
United Kingdom/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#228
Canada/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#213
Australia/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#209
South Africa/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#2
South Africa/Sports/Running

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

EP. 127 | How to Run Strong for Decades; Lessons from 1995 Comrades Winner Shaun Meiklejohn.
Q: What's your approach to pacing in ultras now compared with 1995?
He notes the need for careful pacing, breaking races into pieces, aiming for even splits, and avoiding going out too fast, especially as endurance demands increase with age.
EP. 127 | How to Run Strong for Decades; Lessons from 1995 Comrades Winner Shaun Meiklejohn.
Q: How have you seen training develop over the decades, and is there anything you were doing then that you're still doing now that you retain as a must?
He explains that the core elements—long runs, serious speed work, strength and mobility, nutrition, and recovery—have remained, but the balance shifts with age and lifestyle, emphasizing listening to the body and prioritizing rest.
EP. 127 | How to Run Strong for Decades; Lessons from 1995 Comrades Winner Shaun Meiklejohn.
Q: Maybe there's people that are listening to the show that aren't quite sure why I'm chatting to you. So maybe just starting out with, Shaun has won the Comrades Marathon. You won the Comrades in 1995. So a while ago, you're now currently, how old?
Shaun highlights that his competitive years were built on consistent pillars—long runs, speed work, strength, hills, nutrition, rest—and that the key is working within personal limits, staying patient, and building a program that adapts with age rather than chasing instant peaks.
EP. 126 | Train Smarter, Not Harder: The truth about periodisation and how your training can benefit from it with Endurance Coach Mike Roscoe.
Q: Is there a best model (polarized, pyramidal, Norwegian, etc.) to follow, or should athletes mix approaches?
Athletes should keep training simple and flexible, using elements from multiple models as needed; the best approach is consistency and intuitively adjusting to the individual rather than rigidly following one method.
EP. 126 | Train Smarter, Not Harder: The truth about periodisation and how your training can benefit from it with Endurance Coach Mike Roscoe.
Q: How should an athlete think about levers like volume, intensity, hills, and long runs across a year?
A coach uses a set of levers and adjusts them seasonally and per athlete, pulling back from certain levers as needed and emphasizing others to build a sustainable aerobic base, peak for races, and recover appropriately without overtraining.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Making A Runner

What is Making A Runner about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical, runner-centric show that blends training science with real-world endurance experiences. Episodes frequently feature coaches, nutritionists, and mental-performance experts who dissect periodization, heat adaptation, nutrition, injury rehabilitation, race strategies, and long-term development for runners—from sub-3-hour marathon ambitions to ultra-distance quests. A distinctive South African perspective shapes conversations, with a strong emphasis on consistency, measured progress, and staying motivated through setbacks. The show stands out for its approachable, experience-backed guidance, candid storytelling, and a focus on building lasting running potential rather than chasing quick wins.

Where can I find podcast stats for Making A Runner?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Making A Runner. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Making A Runner and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Making A Runner get?

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What are the audience demographics for Making A Runner?

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How many subscribers and views does Making A Runner have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Making A Runner has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Making A Runner?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Making A Runner:

1. Up - A Comrades Marathon Podcast
2. The Run Cape Town Podcast
3. The Strength Running Podcast
4. Marathon Handbook Podcast
5. Runner's World Podcast

How many episodes of Making A Runner are there?

Making A Runner launched 4 years ago and published 131 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Making A Runner?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Making A Runner?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Making A Runner from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Making A Runner?

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What guests have appeared on Making A Runner?

Recent guests on Making A Runner include:

1. George Kusche
2. Shaun Meiklejohn
3. Mike Roscoe
4. Dr. Matt Silver
5. Chanel Cronje
6. Jason Fitzgerald
7. Irvette Van Zyl
8. Barry Holland

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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