ORDINARY PEOPLE. EXTRAORDINARY THINGS
RUN FOR LONGEVITY
Performance and healthspan, powered by Human Intelligence. We use science-backed data to build durability for the runners we support, regardless of age
15 YEARS · TRAIL & ULTRA
The Record
MUT Miler by UTMB, 2024: first man and first woman.
Same race. Same day. Both Mindful Runner athletes.
Both in their forties. Both holding down high-pressure careers.
Not full-time athletes — people like you, coached to the top step.
WINNING
Champions in their forties, with demanding day jobs.
Our athletes have won the UTCT, UTD and MUT 100-milers, and taken first woman at Addo (twice) and the Mac Mac 100.
RANGE
From the podium to closing the show.
The day one of our athletes won UTCT, another of ours was the last runner to cross the line. Whether you are racing for the win or racing the cut-off, you get the same care.
PROGRESSION
Better next year than this one.
A runner of 30 years joined us, hesitant about having a coach at all. Within 18 months she went from 4th woman at UTCT to first woman at the MUT Miler.
DURABILITY
Still racing, years later.
Our own coach Marius van Rensburg ran seven 100-mile-plus races in 2023 alone, including the Diagonale des Fous, and has won the Tankwa and Mac Mac 200-milers. He coaches what he lives.
THIS SEASON · 2026Wins at the Karkloof 50-miler (26 September), Umgeni 50 km, Jonkershoek Mountain Challenge and Table Mountain Challenge 42 km · a new course record at the Mont-aux-Sources Trail Challenge · first woman at the MUT Miler.
RACE WINS · Addo 100 · UTCT 100 · UTD 160 · MUT Miler · Mac Mac 100 · Mac Mac 200 · Tankwa 200 · SkyRun · AMUK Challenge · Karkloof 50-miler · Umgeni 50 · Jonkershoek · Table Mountain Challenge
Multiple AMUK Challenge winners · podiums from mountain races to 50 km · age-group podiums across the country · scores of 100-mile and 200-mile finishers · scores of Two Oceans and Comrades runners
Coached by humans. Powered by Sigwren.
EVERY PLAN: THE FIELD AND THE LAB
Every plan runs on Sigwren. In the field: a readiness call every morning, every run read, mind and breath training, and a quick form check every week. In the lab: metabolic, threshold, trail and full form testing scheduled into your plan, with your zones reset after every test. What you choose is how much of your coach you get.
Managed Coaching
R 950
- Everything in Mentorship, plus: a coach in your training every week.
- Weekly Coach Review: Your coach reviews your week, your effort ratings and how you feel, and shapes what comes next.
- Your Lab, Acted On: Your coach reads every test and form analysis and adjusts your training to match.
- Accountability: A coach on WhatsApp to keep you on track when life gets busy.
- Ideal For: Runners who want steady progress and someone checking in every week.
R 1,350
- Everything in Momentum, plus: your season and your races, coach-led.
- Twice-Weekly Coach Reviews: In-depth reviews of your training, fatigue and progress, twice a week.
- Your Season, Coach-Built: Your coach builds your full season around your A-races and steers it as it unfolds.
- Race Campaigns: Your coach takes Sigwren’s course analysis, finish-time prediction, pacing and fuelling for two A-races a year, makes the plan yours, and debriefs the race with you.
- Ideal For: Ultra runners building towards their A-races.
R 2,450
- Everything in Ascent, plus: your coach in your training every day.
- Coached Every Day: Your coach reads your HRV, sleep and resting heart rate daily and adjusts your plan in real time.
- The Whole Picture: Work stress, travel, hormonal health and recovery, managed together.
- Race Mastery: Your metabolic profile turned into race-day fuelling and pacing, with course strategy and complete race-day logistics.
- Every Lab, Debriefed: Your coach takes you through every test and form analysis.
- Ideal For: Athletes racing for an outcome — a podium, an age-group win, an international start — or balancing a high-pressure career.
MENTORSHIP: STRATEGIC OVERSIGHT
Strategic oversight for the autonomous
athlete. Master-level blueprints meet professional mentorship.
STRATEGIC MENTORSHIP
R 750 / mo
- Your Roadmap: Your coach builds your season and sets the direction for every 4-week block around your goal.
- Expert Mentorship: WhatsApp access to your coach for strategy and gut checks, whenever you need them.
- Your Lab, Explained: Ask your coach about any test or form result and what it means for you.
- Built to Last: Our signature strength and mobility routines.
- Ideal For: Experienced, autonomous athletes who want a professional roadmap.
Not sure which plan fits? Talk it through with a coach first. It’s free and there’s no obligation.
What Our Runners Say
Master Mentors of the Mindful Runner Method
We Are Passionate
Fred,
The Strategic Architect
Ideal For: Athletes who value engineering-led structures,
precision data, and the high-level strategy required to
map out complex ultra-campaigns.
Debbie ,
The Holistic Mentor
Ideal For: Athletes seeking a balanced, science-backed
approach that prioritizes structural health, resilience,
and a nuanced understanding of biological and
hormonal cycles.
Marius,
The Endurance Sage
Ideal For: Ultra-athletes going deep (100m–200m+) who need
calm wisdom, psychological durability, and the grit to
survive extreme mountain environments.
Anja,
The Performance Energizer
Ideal For: Competitive spirits who love data-driven gains,
tech-driven performance, and high-energy adventure.
Perfect for those looking to unlock their next level of
intensity.
Jo,
The Grounded Guide
Ideal For: Masters and later-life athletes building a
body that lasts on the trails. Functional strength,
foot resilience, and durability for long, healthy
adventures — at your own pace.
Diana,
The Relatable Visionary
Ideal For: Ultra runners stepping up in distance, from a
first 50-miler to a first 100. This season her athletes
took a 50-mile podium and a first 100-mile finish. She
builds the mental architecture of grit, one long run at a time.
The Mindful Runner Method
Standard Science is the Floor. Our Method is the Ceiling
Intent
We define the specific physiological and psychological ‘why’ behind every
mile. You never run “just because.
focus
We train the mind to remain present, turning endurance into a moving
meditation and developing mental composure under load.
Practice
Centered on breath as a master regulator of effort and the nervous system
state, Practice is the ritualized development of skill, movement quality, and structural
durability.
reflection
We close the loop between objective data and human reality. By
integrating your perceived effort and post-activity wellness metrics, we ensure your
plan remains as dynamic as your life.
We don’t just coach you to the finish line; we coach you for the long game
At Mindful Runner, we believe the pursuit of endurance is the ultimate vehicle for a life
well-lived. We operate in the space where the textbooks end, using our proprietary
methodology to bridge the gap between your data and your human experience.
Technology is the Tool.Humans are the Strategy.
Coaching for 2050
Coaching That Moves You
We are here for You!
Store
Featured Products
courses
Courses for your 2027 season
True mastery of the trail begins not with the feet, but with the mind. It’s about transforming your run into a moving meditation, where every element—from your breath to your gear—works in perfect harmony. Our programs are crafted to guide you through the essential arts of fueling for endurance, moving with fluid efficiency, and preparing for any challenge the path presents. Learn to listen to your body, trust your instincts, and run not just farther, but with greater purpose and joy.
Fuel Your Ultra: Practical Strategies for Peak Performance & Gut Health
Live cohort with Fred · starts Tue 2 Mar 2027 · 12 places · R1,650
Trail Confidence: Master Movement & Flow on Any Terrain
Live cohort with Fred · starts Tue 19 Jan 2027 · 12 places · R1,650
Race Smarter: Pacing, Strategy, Transitions & Kit
Live cohort with Fred · starts Tue 13 Apr 2027 · 4 weeks · 12 places · R1,250
Menopause & Motion: Your 6-Week Running Reset for Energy & Joy
Live cohort with Debbie · starts Wed 14 Oct · 12 places · R1,650
EVENTS
TRAINING CAMP
These weekends are designed to introduce you to the skills needed to get the most from your time running on mountain trails. The activities are packed with practical knowledge.
TRAIL SKILLS CLINIC
This clinic will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to become a successful trail runner.
SEASONAL CHALLENGES
Take part in themed challenges throughout the year that motivate you to push your limits while having fun.
Guest Speaker Series
These sessions provide unique perspectives on training strategies, mental resilience, and nutrition that can help you on your running journey.
Trail Skills Clinics and Running Training Camps
From the journal
Our Channels at a Glance
Mindful Runner Podcast
Available on Spotify + YouTube (Mindful Trails)
The flagship channel featuring broad, trail-focused content for all types of runners. Expect engaging podcasts, practical training advice, mental coaching and race reflections, all delivered in a friendly, conversational format.
Perfect for:
*Trail runners and road runners
*Those seeking community, insight and motivation
*Listeners wanting a blend of technical tips and personal stories
Second Gear with Debbie
Available on YouTube + Spotify
This channel is your essential guide for women navigating perimenopause and postmenopause, especially if you're an active runner or want to stay fit in midlife. As an ultra-runner, coach, and nutritionist who's been there, I share science-backed strategies on hormone health, midlife fitness, running, nutrition, and mindset. Learn to manage menopause symptoms, boost your energy, build strength, and keep running strong through your unstoppable Second Gear!