RMB Ultra-Trail Cape Town: The People We Run With

 "I get to see the very best of people at their very lowest of moments." Sean Robson

RMB Sponsorship Lead Michael Edwards, Liv2Run founder Lindi Meyer, Volunteer Coordinator Leigh Goldschmidt, and Aid Station MC Sean Robson discuss the human force behind the finish line. They explore the event as a celebration of community, a catalyst for transformation, a labor of love, and a testament to the human spirit. 

 Host Dean Horwitz guides the conversation to uncover the soul behind the spectacle. In this next chapter of the RMB UTCT series, we look beyond the "living stadium" of the mountain to the community that breathes life into it. 

🎯 In this episode, you’ll hear: 

✅ Mike Edwards on the misconception that trail running is an "individual sport" and the vital role of aid stations as "satellites of hope"

✅ Lindi Meyer on how "Liv2Run" uses the discipline of the trails to build a sense of belonging, the "cyclical" nature of mentorship and how exposure to major races helps athletes break the "limitations of their minds."

✅ Sean Robson on creating a "comforting oasis" at the final aid station and the high-stakes emotion of the "Golden Hour"

✅ Leigh Goldschmidt on the "Ground Control" logistics of race week and the unique commitment required from the volunteer team. 

Whether you're toeing the line for the 100-miler or cheering from the sidelines, this episode will remind you that on these trails, you are never truly alone.

This Special Edition of the Trail Chasers Podcast is proudly sponsored by RMB.

Enjoying the season? Subscribe, leave a review, and tag @trailchaserspod to share your biggest takeaway from this conversation on the human force behind the finish line.

Transcript

Dean: Every race is built on people—the ones who show up, who believe, who give their time, and who carry others forward. Behind every medal, every finish line, and every breakthrough moment, there's a network of hearts and hands making it possible.

In this episode of the RMB Ultra-Trail Cape Town series, we look beyond the trails to the people who make them come alive: the volunteers, the voices, the mentors, and the dreamers.

You'll hear from Mike Edwards, Head of Sponsorship at RMB, who sees running as a story of talent and transformation; from Leigh Goldschmidt, the volunteer coordinator whose quiet leadership keeps the race moving; from Lindi Meyer, the founder of Liv2Run, whose program changes lives one stride at a time; and from Sean Robson, the man behind the mic at the RMB aid station. It is the last stop before the finish line, and often the place where courage finds its second wind. This race isn't just run on Table Mountain; it's run on the spirit of the people.

Every great race is powered by people—the ones who give their time, their passion, and their belief. For RMB, this partnership has always been about more than banners or branding. It's about co-creation, about standing shoulder to shoulder with those who make this event what it is. Here's Mike Edwards on how the spirit of community drives everything they do.

Mike: The people really make the race, whether that's the actual people that run the race, the supporters, or the volunteers. That is one of the cornerstones of UTCT: this incredible community of people that's formed around it.

Dean: How does UTCT fit into your philosophy of backing the arts, culture, and sport with a greater consideration for the people?

Mike: Great question. You mentioned the word 'community,' which is at risk of becoming a cliché these days, especially in this sport. But I can guarantee you, and you'll know it if you've run RMB Ultra-Trail Cape Town, you feel it on a very different level at this event.

That community aspect of the race is critical. Frankly, it's also a huge part of the success because we have and work with like-minded partners together with the race organizers. So the partnership ecosystem that they pulled together is absolutely part of that community. We have a shared sense of vision, belief, and goals that we want to achieve with this event.

Taking it a step back to RMB’s sponsorship portfolio, you're absolutely right. It's a golden thread that runs through all our sponsorship properties: the idea of talent. RMB has long been associated with and driven by talent both within the business and, broadly speaking, the South African talent that we know we have.

So whether you're talking the arts, rowing, trail running—whatever it is in our portfolio—we celebrate that talent. Very often, we underestimate the incredible people and the incredible skills we have in this country. RMB Ultra-Trail Cape Town is a platform to highlight some of that talent on one of the world's greatest trail running stages against the very best. And we do; we compete, we hold our own against the best of the best in the world. Our portfolio is built around properties and spaces where we can make a meaningful impact, and the people component of that is absolutely core to our belief and our purpose.

Dean: When you say building community through sport, what comes to mind? How does that all come together for you?

Mike: For us, it means from the grassroots to the very top, we want to make sure that we are, as far as possible, supporting the full spectrum of that talent development. When it comes specifically to a race like RMB Ultra-Trail Cape Town, you've got people who are starting their journey in trail running—which is why the 16-kilometer was such a great addition to the race series—as well as people who are at the very pinnacle of the sport running the 100 Miler, 100K, or running a flat-out 55KM.

That attracts both domestic and international talent from that perspective. But a layer down from that, as you well know, we also have an incredible partnership with Liv2Run. That is about supporting development, trail running, and giving kids access to this platform to potentially make a career of trail running. The community that's built all around that, which I'm sure we'll touch on just now, is equally special because frankly, you can't do these things without that support. You cannot achieve these goals without a really solid support structure.

Dean: What I find fascinating is that you have this really deep relationship with Liv2Run, where you not only support them through UTCT, but you support them in your own capacity as well. How did that relationship start, and why is it so important to RMB?

Mike: I find myself pinching myself. I followed and supported Liv2Run from a distance prior to even joining RMB. When I arrived, there was this opportunity and this ongoing conversation around a partnership with Liv2Run.

For us, I've spoken about impact and transformation before. It's about us as RMB, as a brand centred on that pillar of talent, giving back. We can do that at scale with Liv2Run, Lindi, and the team. It seems crazy for me to sit here talking about Liv2Run—they are the most incredible organization. Lindi herself has built something that I will forever admire. She, as well as her coached athletes, has just got the most incredible hearts. They're incredibly talented and intelligent, and it's a privilege for us to be in partnership with them.

Once you give them that platform—and it's a beautiful cyclical model which Lindi describes so eloquently—talent becomes coach, athlete becomes talent, becomes elite athlete, becomes coach, gives back to talent. That constantly flows. There's constantly a generation of young talent that's inspired by the Liv2Run athletes, and RMB’s partnership is there to support them in whatever way we can.

Dean: Do you think it was a happy coincidence that the partnership came about as it did? Why is it so important that there's not only this development happening, but also the opportunity to race in a world-class race like UTCT?

Mike: Happy accident, maybe, but you make your own luck. In the case of RMB’s sponsorship portfolio, we ensure that our sponsorship properties have a broad spectrum of impact and transformation across the board: from development to the very top, to the event, to the community. We want to get involved in as many facets of the sponsorship property as we can.

From that perspective, once you've aligned yourself to RMB Ultra-Trail Cape Town, you say, "Well, where does the talent come from and how do we ensure that South African talent can get to this platform?" The obvious answer is Liv2Run because they are leaders in this space. They are leaders in creating opportunities for children and communities to access the sport. I can't say it enough times: if you give our talent in this country an opportunity to shine, they will. That's a point of pride of our partnership with Liv2Run—making that happen.

To the second part of your question regarding the senior elite athletes at Liv2Run: two things. Them running RMB Ultra-Trail Cape Town is beyond inspirational to their teams that they coach and to their junior athletes back home. They're seeing them on a pedestal and a spotlight to which they can aspire. They can see their life changing through those athletes' eyes. From an athletic perspective, those senior athletes are able to put themselves shoulder to shoulder with the best international talent in the world and hold their own. That does a number of things for them. It exposes them, it grows them, and ultimately makes them attractive for future careers, future sponsors, and future brands. With the right time and investment, they are able to totally accelerate their journey by being able to participate in races such as RMB Ultra-Trail Cape Town.

Dean: Let's hear from Lindi, who really is the power force behind Liv2Run, and her journey. Every great story has someone who changes lives quietly, one run at a time. Lindi Meyer, the force behind Liv2Run, has built a community where running isn't just a sport; it's a way to rebuild confidence, purpose, and belonging. This is her story.

Lindi, welcome back to the Trail Chasers.

Lindi: Thank you.

Dean: When did your relationship with UTCT start, and how did that connect to Liv2Run?

Lindi: I was thinking about that, actually. We've been at Ultra-Trail Cape Town for a couple of years now, and our first year was actually 2021. James Montgomery, our senior team coach, had just started coaching the senior team. We had moved into a more serious space as a team. Obviously, when you pioneer something, things start off quite loose. But by that stage, we had become a team of senior athletes. We really wanted to aim at something, a big race in South Africa. We identified Ultra-Trail Cape Town as our big goal for the year. So 2021 was our first year at the race.

Dean: How did the relationship with RMB come about, and how did that take you to the next level and amplify really what you are building?

Lindi: In our second year at Ultra-Trail Cape Town in 2022, James Montgomery was coaching John Kornfield from RMB. We decided to meet the RMB marketing team. I remember we arranged to meet at the pub across the road at the start/finish. I put together a presentation with our vision, what we were aiming for, and some objectives. We met for the first time with the RMB marketing team at the 2022 event after our race.

Dean: How has that relationship evolved over the last three years?

Lindi: RMB has just been incredible. We have found a group of people who really believe that we can transform lives through running. It's really important when you partner with an organization that you share the same heart. They've really given wind to our sails to be able to scale up, build, and increase the impact and number of people we can bring into the space. The heart is to lower the bar to entry for development trail runners and to give them opportunities that they wouldn't otherwise have. That's where we share the heart: to be able to unlock talent, to provide access to opportunity, and to transform lives through running.

Dean: In the Liv2Run community, what does running for something that's bigger than just yourself mean to the guys and girls?

Lindi: It's a very deep question, but the athletes that come through the Liv2Run program really are spearheading and running ahead of everyone coming behind them. That is really to break the limitations, not only in running but in their personal lives as well. It's to use running as a space to break those limitations in their minds, which then transfers into the personal space.

It's been incredible to watch the athletes who have been in Liv2Run the longest come and make the Top 10 at Ultra-Trail Cape Town. Tsielo actually came second at the 23KM in 2023. He's got a whole team of junior athletes that he's coaching, and they see that. It's really being a forerunner, frontrunner, and a role model. That's the bigger picture.

Dean: I find it really interesting that RMB sponsors you, and they sponsor the race as well. I was thinking about the synergy and closing the loop. Why would you say it's important? You've got an incredible thing you're doing in KZN, teaching people to run and life skills, but why is it so important to bring them to races like UTCT? How are RMB and UTCT facilitating that beyond obviously financial assistance?

Lindi: You can imagine—you've been to KZN, you know how different it is there. If someone is growing up in a rural village, in Ndwedwe, for instance, that's all you get to see. When you get to travel, go to other provinces in South Africa—eventually, we are looking at going overseas next year—it really facilitates that breaking of limitations of your mind. It opens up your world, and so much happens in that space. You grow not only as a runner but as a person. When you're exposed to different spaces, different people, and different levels of competition, those are all catalysts for growth.

RMB has really put that on the table for us. When you pioneer something, consistent financial support is vital. You can pioneer and wing it up to a stage, but eventually, you need to get to a space where you are financially stable so that you can have that foundation and build from there.

Dean: Are there any particular moments over the last few years at UTCT that stick out as "this is why I do it"?

Lindi: There are two spaces. As a team, we spend a lot of time together, so I get to know the athletes really well. To see that moment where that athlete clicks that "I've done this"—when Tsielo, for instance, ran down the finishing chute of Ultra-Trail Cape Town in 2022 and came second at the 23 kilometres. That moment as they come over the finish line is incredibly special. You don't ever get used to it.

Then just our times as a team. Last year, we crewed Vuyo at the 55KM. Just as a team being able to be there for him, encourage him at each of the crew stations, and get him over the finish line—there's a really special space there. Some of our juniors have come into the senior team; just to see them come in under the mentorship of their senior athlete coaches, we call them. To see them come into a space where they don't have to fight as hard to get an opportunity as the others have. There's a really beautiful full-circle space that we're trying to create.

Dean: What role do those senior athletes play in imparting that knowledge and experience on the guys coming up?

Lindi: Massive. You need an example, right? If someone says you can go compete at Ultra-Trail Cape Town, it's just a theory until you've seen your coach do it. That is the power of that mentorship, that role model, that frontrunner, so to speak. That's something that's actually quite rare on the ground these days: male role models.

Dean: What do the runners get from the volunteers and the supporters at UTCT that really helps them and solidifies that experience?

Lindi: Liv2Run does host trail running clinics. We go into the local community, taking trail running to the grassroots. Our senior team athletes, as well as our junior team athletes, serve and volunteer at those clinics. When you go to other spaces and you see other people serving, it really becomes a mirror. The trail running community for me is incredible like that. It really is a beautiful space. Often, when we get to races, people will recognize us and greet us. It's just a beautiful space for us as a team with the trail running community in general.

Dean: On a personal level, what do you take away from RMB UTCT, from the weekends? Being on the support side, what does that give to you as opposed to what running gives to you?

Lindi: Just incredible joy. I love to see people go through that journey of training, daring to believe in themselves, and then putting it out there at the race. I was actually joking around with Coach James at some point, and he said to me, "Lin, you don't see anyone else on race day." Because I remember he was actually racing once and running quite close to one of the Liv2Run athletes, and I didn't even see him. I get a bit like a lioness watching her pack when it comes to race day. So yeah, it's just incredible joy. I love it. I love running. I'm passionate about running not only for myself but for seeing other people doing what they love.

Dean: How do you and the runners deal with the hardships or the failures that inevitably come with doing these races?

Lindi: There isn't really a blanket solution to that. Relationships and trust in a team are particularly important. We don't only look after the athlete; we also look after the person. Each athlete knows that; it's not something that they question. If they do badly, often people just need space to process that, and then we move on and look at the next goal. It depends on the athletes. Some athletes need to talk, some don't. But we seem to have moved through those types of times quite well.

Dean: On a practical level, how does something like UTCT work in terms of Liv2Run? In terms of who gets selected, which races you take part in, and practically how that process works?

Lindi: We are still figuring it out. But we have developed tiers of athletes. Even with our sponsorship with Salomon, there's a senior, more elite space—there are two athletes there. Then we have a more ambassador space where we have one athlete, and then we have the young guns coming up.

We're still trying to figure it out, but I err on the side of trying to give someone an opportunity if I can. When a budget for a race is limited, you'll go from the most senior athlete down, basically.

Dean: Have you finalized your team for this year?

Lindi: Yes, we have. We've got eight athletes coming this year. I, as team manager. We have Sinovuyo and Tsielo, who are the senior elite athletes. We've got our first female athlete on the team this year, who is Nolwazi. And then this year we've got three Matric boys that are also finishing and flying to Cape Town for the first time straight off Matric to compete in the 16.

Dean: Incredible.

Lindi: We are not going to put pressure on them to get on the podium. They've just written Matric, but it's really an exposure event. We want that event that's gonna captivate them and be like, "Wow, trail running is all of this." That's what Ultra-Trail Cape Town has done for us as well.

Dean: Amazing. Thank you so much. You're welcome as always. It's really special what you're doing.

Lindi: Thanks so much.

Dean: Thinking back to Liv2Run and the journey that you've been on with them, do you have any moments that you really were like, "This is exactly why we sponsor them or we work with them"?

Mike: Plenty. It happens again at the elite level when you watch them and they have numerous podiums and wins to their name, which is just a credit to the journey that they've been on and the foundation that they've been given to grow their talent and to showcase their talent. From the elite level, absolutely. Every time we know they're running, if I'm not at the race, I'm on my phone tracking their progress and just crossing fingers and toes that they do well. More often than not, they don't let you down. They are remarkable.

But a couple of steps back, I've been fortunate enough to go to LIV Village for one of their trail running clinics. That is really eye-opening because you see the scale of the project and you see the impact that it has at scale, but you just see the meaning that it holds for some of these kids. You can see it in their eyes. They're put through the ringer at some of these clinics, which is great, and they're physically exerting themselves beyond where they previously may have. This is everything, right? You're talking about some naturally talented runners as well as those who wouldn't have identified running as a sport that they want to participate in, but everyone is giving it their full go at these clinics.

In some of the kids, you can literally see the mind shift of, "If I'm able to push myself here, what more can I do with my life? How can I push myself in my life further?" That's an important distinction to make; they're running, yes, but they're learning life skills. That's a critical component of what Lindi has built. Those are special moments always. I urge you, if you do ever get an opportunity to visit LIV Village or to volunteer at one of the clinics, it's very special.

Dean: One of the things that stood out for me whenever I chat to Lindi is the personal element of Liv2Run. She often says that it'll be quite difficult for Liv2Run without her. Talk me through what about her personally was so attractive to invest in?

Mike: I think she's unbelievably driven, and she's got a purpose that is completely unmatched. Her North Star is her North Star; nothing's gonna get in the way. To her credit, that's reaped rewards. She is also deeply invested in her athletes, both the senior elite and the coaches that she works with, all the partners, as well as every single one of those kids that shows up to a trail running clinic at LIV Village. She is so deeply invested in the process, and she's demonstrated that it works.

I've had the privilege of meeting many of the guys along the way—Tsielo, Mthobisi, and Nolwazi—and each one of them has an inspiring story. Each one of them actively gives a lot of thanks and credit to Lindi. From the outside in, that's a measure of just how strong she is: the people who are close to her acknowledge her as the driving force that she is. Besides all of that, both her and the team, the guys and girls, are just an absolute pleasure to work with. They make work incredibly rewarding.

Dean: Because we are talking about people, and when you look broadly at RMB’s sponsorship of UTCT, it's very much about people more than it is about the race. Was that also looking at it from a personal point of view—the people that you're actually investing in that run these events?

Mike: Definitely. And on two fronts. There are the athletes that take part in the races who are, regardless of your goal or your time that you achieve or the race distance that you run, just incredibly driven people. People with attributes that we, as a brand and RMB, would like to associate with, which we identify in ourselves: grit, resilience, commitment, discipline, and talent.

The other part: before a single start line goes off, you feel the community. That's not just attributable to the runners; that's attributable to the people that support the runners, the people that love the sport, and the people that give back to the sport. For us as a brand, you feel it the moment you set foot on Gardens Rugby Club and the RMB UTCT Race Village. Frankly, I don't believe there's another sport out there quite like it that has the sense of community.

I'll take the opportunity just to say I think it's a misconception that it's an individual sport only. It's absolutely your responsibility to get from that start line to the finish line. But frankly, in my own experience and from observation, you cannot get to that finish line without support, be that the support of the aid station volunteers or support closer to home—your mother, your father, your uncle, your friend, whoever it is. Those are the people who sacrifice a lot for you to get to the start line and then sacrifice even more to get you over the finish line. That is uncommon in many other sports.

Dean: Every great race depends on people. You rarely see the ones behind the numbers, the plans, the calm in the chaos. Leigh Goldschmidt is one of those people. She doesn't chase finish lines; she builds them. And for her, the joy isn't in the spotlight; it's watching thousands cross the line she helped create.

Welcome to the Trail Chasers. When I say UTCT volunteer or volunteer in general, what comes to mind for you?

Leigh: Well, I automatically think about the wonderful outdoor community of trail running. The passion is very different out there.

Dean: If you had a business card for the job that you do at UTCT, what would it say underneath your name?

Leigh: I've often thought about that. Last night I thought "Ground Control to Major Tom."

Dean: That's very good. How did you get involved with UTCT?

Leigh: I was approached. My husband was involved with Nick and Stu when they were talking about the original event. A couple of months later, Sue Ullyett approached me to come on board and help with setting up registration. We very quickly set the process up, gathered the volunteers from various avenues. In those days we didn't use the signup form. It used to be very much word of mouth and we'd get emails. Then within a couple of years, we created a smarter system where we have the online signup, which works very well.

Dean: In terms of the volunteers at UTCT, what are the roles that people get assigned to?

Leigh: We start off with Tuesday and Wednesday, where we do the pre-event. All the medals have to have ribbons attached to them. We have goodie bags to be packed. We have accreditation to be assembled. We have registration tables to set up. So that pretty much takes two days. Thereafter, we have our standard registration on Thursday and Friday, which includes the startup of gear check, registration tables, and counters for each distance. We have the T-shirt area.

Then on Friday, whilst all of that is happening, we have two races up and running. So part of our team will be down at Cape Town High from 2:30, dispatching runners off to Alphen and Llandudno. At the same time, we'll have a team up at Race Village where we are receiving drop bags. We then have another team working on the medals, so they're already preparing the finish line with medals. We have quite a lot of hours before people actually arrive at the race village, where our teams have been working. And that continues throughout the weekend with more and more.

Dean: What makes the experience so special for the volunteers?

Leigh: The characters and personalities of the trail runners are very different. They're very polite, very grateful. At the end, seeing them come over the finish line where we've met them at registration makes a massive difference. We sort of travel the journey with them, but we stay at Race Village.

Dean: From your perspective, how does the weekend feel? Is it a blur?

Leigh: It's probably like a hamster on a wheel, but we just keep going. It's high energy, very frenetic, positive vibes. There are a lot of fires we put out along the way. Very few people see those. And that's at the Race Village, so not on the mountains, fortunately. But it's positive energy throughout. We have to think on our feet because there are a lot of changes required that we hadn't planned for.

Dean: How has the race in terms of volunteers evolved over the last 10 years?

Leigh: Traditionally, with an event, every year when we have a debrief, we take our notes, and when we start off planning, we try to aim to be smarter and swifter. For example, this year the change we are making is: whilst the organizers very often would like us to have a very laid-back, relaxed sort of atmosphere, we know that people don't want to spend a lot of time in a queue. Gear check has become quite an onerous aspect of it, and we are trying to take away that long, slower process. The emphasis is going to be on the waterproof jackets and also the appropriate gear for the hundreds. We'll focus a lot more on that.

Dean: Are there any particular highlights that stand out in your mind?

Leigh: There was a highlight about half an hour before registration closed last year. A man arrived looking terribly anxious. He had come from Sweden, I think, and he was doing the 100 Miler. His luggage hadn't come with him. Unfortunately, he had everything in his main luggage. I realized that Stu wasn't around, a couple of people weren't around, and I had to think on my feet.

I started with everybody we knew and I said, "Don't worry, we'll help you." He was very emotional. We talked to various runners who could lend items but were concerned that we wouldn't be able to provide him with the right shoes and all of that sort of thing. So I spoke to Heather of RMB and to Adidas. Between the two of them, within probably 45 minutes, he had his full gear sponsored by RMB and Adidas. He walked out with absolutely every item from A to Z: shoes, buffs, jackets, waterproof kit. It was quite an emotional goosebump moment. He was in tears. We were all in tears. And he said he'll be back. By the way, during the course, he shared the story with many people, and he reckons it wouldn't have happened in any other country.

Dean: That's amazing. It might encourage people to forget their bags and run the wonderful gear! Did you see him when he crossed the finish line?

Leigh: Very much so. We were there supporting his wife during the wait for him. It was another emotional moment. It was really great.

Dean: What is the interaction like with the locals, who obviously a lot of the volunteers know, versus the foreign people who are coming here for the first time?

Leigh: Quite a lot of top trail runners work on our event. The interaction is fantastic. It's always positive and helpful. We often find volunteers drifting off, taking somebody to a particular area, especially if there's a language barrier.

Dean: What has been the most challenging thing that you've had to deal with?

Leigh: We haven't had any negative situation. The challenge comes in something like where a drop bag—obviously, you're sitting in Hout Bay or another area—and a runner bails. He comes to the finish, and he wants his bag, so obviously we can't help with that. But I don't see that as a big challenge because invariably we'll offer him a coffee and something to eat. We've actually turned that around and we've encouraged every 100 Miler and 100K person to bring a tog bag as well so that if for any reason their drop bag at the two destinations hasn't come back in time, they can actually have a shower or change. We try to overcome every obstacle. But nothing else really at the village. We just overcome the obstacle as it happens, and we forget it by the time of the weekend.

Dean: Are there moments every year that you look forward to?

Leigh: Although it's absolutely wonderful seeing the winners, for me, it's getting to know a lot of the families who are sitting on the sidelines. Their runners have come in quite a lot slower than anticipated. The cutoffs are coming, and they've travelled from far, and the emotions are huge.

Dean: What is it that volunteers say about why they get involved in UTCT?

Leigh: I think they all just say it's so worth it. That's a common comment. Seeing people finish the event, the months and months of training that's put in. They share the stories because very often at registration, people will be sharing their stories and asking a lot of questions: "It's my first time, what do I do?" And invariably, we'll point them to an appropriate person from whom to get a little more insight.

Dean: What does it feel like when you see people crossing the finish line?

Leigh: It's very emotional. A hell of a lot of us are very tearful. I think it's also bigger for us because we are tired. We've been going at it since Tuesday. It took us about seven years to learn, particularly when the 100 Miler came in, that we actually have to go and sleep even if it's for three or four hours—the four of us—somewhere between, because we start on 2:30 on Saturday morning and we can't go right through to Sunday. So we are tired, and we see them come over the line. It's very emotional. Lots of tears of joy.

Dean: I think a lot of people think that this race starts in November. When does the actual race start for you for the next year in terms of preparation?

Leigh: I can just backtrack for this year. Around about May, June, July, we had already identified changes that we would make following on our debriefs and then we start creating the roster slots. Time slots. You think people start at seven and they finish at nine. We have people who start at 2:30 in the morning at Alphen and at Llandudno or at the buses and finish there at five or six or seven, but then they continue on to Race Village. So we have about six different time slots during the day, and we've improved on that. I've been working on that for the last couple of months.

Dean: How important is that to making the race successful?

Leigh: Very important. We say to the volunteers, "If you can't explain to someone how to get to Alphen Trail, where they're going to park—there's limited parking—just direct them to the following people." It's a lot easier that way. So we have actually become quite creative now. We have little laminated notes that we keep at each registration desk: these are the bus times; don't park there; there is no parking at Constantia Nek for the start at Beau Constantia. We give them a lot of information, and it makes a difference.

We've had a lot of positive feedback. Our volunteers all have a name tag, and I'm very often complimented on the final day just to say, "Michael was great, Julie was great, etc. They told us where to go and how to do it." Particularly in emergency cases where families are waiting and they're worried and concerned. We have to remain calm. So we've got someone who's working on the finish line who isn't necessarily experienced with this; they would direct it to us. We would speak to the VOC or the JOC and identify where the runner is if we can.

Dean: Does having the volunteers run the race and then maybe coming back to volunteer provide useful insight? Does that change the way that they volunteer?

Leigh: Very much so. Because I think a lot of people who have done it either way—either run or volunteered first—have a totally different perspective. You just get a medal when you cross the finish line; you haven't given any thought to who put the ribbon on the medal, who hung them, who carried them, who made sure they were there, and what it takes to pack T-shirts and sort them and count them. So definitely a lot of... we have Nicholas Rapa. I always say he's my Finish Line King. People love it, and he loves it because he knows what goes into the rest.

Dean: If you could give one word to describe a UTCT volunteer, what would that be?

Leigh: Lots of words come to mind, but I just think "committed." It's a different commitment. I haven't really seen it, and I've worked on lots of events, trail, and road, but it's a different commitment.

Dean: If someone's on the fence about signing up for UTCT as a volunteer, what do you say to them?

Leigh: Try it one year. Just try it one year and you'll be back.

Dean: Amazing. Thank you very much. Good luck.

Leigh: Thank you very much.

Dean: I guess it's getting to crunch time now. What does that feel like as a runner to have that kind of support from the race itself, from the volunteers, but also from the spectators and family and friends?

Mike: It's unbelievable. The sport doesn't exist without that community. That community comes in a number of forms. It comes in close and immediate family members who are there to support you and have sacrificed in your trail running journey. But when you're there, you just feel like everyone's on your side. That's remarkable.

The uniqueness of trail running and RMB Ultra-Trail Cape Town specifically is that the front of the race is just as interesting as the back of the race. You're invested in the elites and who's gonna win and is there a record time on course. But you also become deeply invested in the everyday human beings who have eight-to-five jobs, who are giving absolutely everything they have out on that course and out on that trail. The community is what makes all those success stories happen.

Random passersby on the street, people around the Race Village, your immediate community. But I think especially in a unique aspect of trail running: this idea of aid stations. On a 160-kilometer course, you have give or take 12 aid stations. Every single one of those is a satellite of hope. Because for the longer distances, you're running through the night—sometimes two nights when you're talking about the back of the pack for the 100 Milers—and it is lonely out there. It can be incredibly lonely, daunting, and scary. But knowing that you have these aid stations and a trail running community to welcome you into those aid stations with open arms is incredibly special and very reassuring. It can feel incredibly isolating as a sport, but you also know you are never ever alone. Just everything about it and all the people that give so much to the sport, be it volunteers or partners and family members that support the runners, is very unique, very rewarding, and a very proud aspect of the race that RMB is proud to be associated with.

Dean: One of those people that really knows exactly what goes into all of this is Sean Robson, who spends a lot of time giving back to the community, spends a lot of time at races. His big job for the UTCT weekend is at the UCT aid station, which is the last aid station of the race. I spoke to him about his experiences and we're gonna hear from him now.

If runners are the heartbeat of the race, the aid stations are its lungs—the places where people breathe, regroup, and keep going. At the very last one, just 10 kilometres from the finish, is a familiar voice that every runner knows. Sean Robson is the MC at the RMB aid station, a man whose words have lifted hundreds of tired legs back to life.

Sean, welcome to the Trail Chasers. Welcome to this special edition UTCT episode with RMB. I want to start off with... You can say what your job title is at UTCT if they actually assign that. But what do you see as your official or unofficial role at UTCT?

Sean: I suppose job title MC, but I was pondering this. I think, especially at UTCT, at that aid station, my job is predominantly to create an oasis. Wherever, whatever distance you've run, you've got 10 more K to go. Mostly, you're pretty much smashed. You're exhausted. You look up and you've got to go up to the Blockhouse, up towards Devil's. My job is to make that as welcoming and comforting a place as possible for you.

Dean: For someone who's never experienced that, take us a little bit through what that space sounds and feels like, and also the different patterns throughout the weekend.

Sean: It's an interesting space. The space is quite vibey, to use a Cape Town term, at various points of the event; otherwise, it can be quite a solitary place. If you're rolling at three in the morning and you're a 100KM athlete or a 100 Miler, it's a pretty dark and quiet spot to gather your thoughts and figure out if you're gonna continue. During the day or big parts of the night—11, 12 o'clock when you've got big masses coming through—it's a bit of a party. That beautiful RMB arch, the light show gets going. It's a heck of a thing. And you've got all the people coming up. I'm always astounded by not just the friends and family who come to watch, but I'll talk to spectators, and they say, "Oh no, I ran this morning. I've decided to come through. I wouldn't want to support people the way I was supported." I always find that quite a cool thing.

Dean: How do you put yourself in the runner's position, and how do you assess what a runner needs when they run past you?

Sean: I've done the 35 back in the day. It was easily a hard day for me. When I got to that aid station, I needed something and fortunately I got it. Someone sorted me out with a handful of chips and filled my water bottles. I try to still create that same sort of experience, a one-on-one moment. It's a bit of a guessing game, but you've got to kind of feel each runner. Trying to see if they need the hand on the shoulder or the hug, or sometimes they just need a “get outta here.” Everyone's different.

Dean: How do you experience that supporter's point of view, and how is that different from what the runners are experiencing in the same place?

Sean: If you watch the supporters' faces, you can often see when people are glancing at that watch going, "Oh, but Dean said he'd be at 12. It's now one o'clock." And the nerves start sitting in. "Is he okay? Isn't he okay?" My job at that time is to be reassuring; to explain to them maybe things haven't gone the way that their runner wanted, but we've got people out on the course. We're gonna get them there.

The spectators are quite an interesting part of it. It's not just about the run. If you've done any sort of running, you know that it takes a village. But it does take the spouse, the partner, the mom, and the dad when you roll in to be there for you. They've sacrificed just as much, arguably, as the runners have to be there on the day.

Dean: What would you say that you see that most people would never get to experience? What makes it unique for you that your runners or supporters don't actually get to experience?

Sean: I see that moment where the runner thinks to themselves, "I don't have to do this anymore. I'm done. I'm out." And then the next moment, where they take that moment to go, "You know what, I'll just put another foot in front of the other and we'll see. We'll climb out of this horrific climb of Plum Pudding to the Blockhouse." Those are the moments that I feel very privileged to be a part of, even if they don't quite realize I'm there. Which is also part of the game in some ways. I don't want to ever be bigger than this aid station. I am a small part of that. So just putting a hand on someone's shoulder and saying, "I see you and I believe in you."

Dean: What do those moments teach you about people? About the runners, but then also about the supporters and volunteers?

Sean: That we can do more than we realize we're capable of. Across the board, you can give another 10 minutes, or you can give another 50 minutes of clapping for the runners who come through that aren't your runners. It's always remarkable to me the number of people who come to see their runner come through, and then they'll stay to support a few more. They'll put their arm around someone. Oftentimes, you'll have a runner come in who doesn't have fans or spectators, so to speak. But someone from outside will shout their name. It's one of those wonderful things about having the bib with your name on and your flag. If you don't know how to speak the person's language, they always seem to find something to say. That’s really cool.

Dean: Do you see that transformation when a person comes in broken and deflated and then they go through the station and leave the other side picked up, ready to go? What is that experience like for you?

Sean: That's moving every time. I get to see the very best of people. In a world that we're constantly exposed to all the worst, I get to see the very best of people at their very lowest of moments. I often say to runners, I try to have a little moment with them and say, "You know what, you're gonna do this. You're about to do this remarkable thing, and then you're gonna go out into the world and the world's gonna tell you that's this and this and this. But you did this remarkable thing that you can now carry forward with you." That is everything in some ways.

Dean: What keeps you coming back to this role every year?

Sean: The people. Those moments. Watching a family hug their runner, and everyone gets down really quiet and low. Or watching a child. I'm always very moved by the moms and dads who run through there with their kids on their shoulders or holding hands. And even though they're exhausted and deflated, they find a moment, and they inspire their children. The people keep me enthused. I often say I would do this as long as they have me. Until the day that someone just wanders over and takes the mic out of my hand. You'll find me at UTCT, and then I'll come back and be a spectator.

Dean: You're obviously quite familiar with the community. What difference does that make in your role and in the job that you're doing?

Sean: It's rad because the community becomes your friends. I love cheering all of the people through, but it is really cool to see someone you know, from Tuesday Trails or Ellie Shakeout or wherever you are running, and to be able to say, "I've seen you put the work in. I've seen her doing those hill repeats when no one else was watching on a Tuesday. And now you get to have that moment with your friend." That's gold.

Dean: What are the basic rules that you talk yourself through in terms of greeting people, even when you don't know them?

Sean: I try to remember that this is not about me. I am just a vehicle, a very fortunate vehicle for the event. I try to remember that runners don't always want to be shouted at or shouted for. So I work very hard at making eye contact with everyone who comes through, even if it's just letting them know I am there and I've seen them. And then trying to feel where they are in that moment. Maybe they need a high five or a handshake, or I think I've become relatively well known for hugging people. That's also okay, but sometimes, mostly dudes just want you to nod at them, and off they'll go. Just keep in mind that this is not your moment. It's their moment.

Dean: You can see that you're clearly passionate about it, but do you get that sense from everyone that's in that aid station? That it's a lot more than what it seems on the outside?

Sean: Very definitely. They have a wonderful volunteer crew there that has been there year on year, and they bring new volunteers every year. Through my other life, I'll meet parents of some of the children I teach, and I'll say, "Oh, is this..." and it's oftentimes their first time. I will see them at school a week later, and they say to me, "I'm there next year. I can't wait to do it again. You said it was gonna be great, but you didn't say it was gonna be this great." That is so cool. You get the repeaters who've been doing this 7, 8, 9 years. We'll start to look at some of those hardcore volunteers, but it's very difficult to keep yourself away once you've experienced it once.

Dean: What is the different feeling that you get from the elites versus the back-of-packers, and different races as well?

Sean: I don't think the elite need me, quote-unquote, as much as a dude who's just done seven and a half hours for 45Ks. Cause I know what that's like. I've been in that cave. I know what it's like to be thinking, "Geez, where's the cutoff? Is the cutoff coming? Where are the sweepers?" The elites, it's rare to see them like that. Also, because I have some relationships there, it's rare to see people doing well and having a go. I try to give them a nod, maybe a high five, even a joke, because at that point they're also still able to breathe.

When we start moving through the pack, it changes what they require from the station. The pit crews become a little longer. It's a granny and an auntie who've been able to take Friday off. The distances change things as well. On a Friday with your 55 or your shorter events, guys are charging through. It's a race. Even your mid-packers are quite speedy. Even your backpackers.

As we get to the longer distances, or on the Sunday when we have the shorter distances where people are trying trail running for the first time, it starts to change what people require. The weather plays a huge role in that. Last year the Sunday was incredibly hot. I think you can attest to that. Guys need ice. They need water. They need to be sent into the shade. They don't need you to be cheering every moment. It's more of a bigger party vibe because we're celebrating almost the entire weekend. The unicorns come out. Everyone's favourite thing. The DJ's making great music. DJ Phil's rocking on those decks. Every moment, every day is different. Every night is different. And you'll be different as well, which also keeps you coming back. You never know what incredible thing you're about to see.

Dean: You mentioned the cutoffs and the sweepers. Talk to me a little bit about those moments and what the people in those moments need or don't need.

Sean: It's hard to watch. If you grew up in South Africa, you've watched the Comrades cutoff, and that's heartbreaking. But knowing that there are cutoffs at the station, you yourself start watching the watch. You're thinking, "I haven't seen so-and-so come through yet. My mate, I know he's training really hard. He's not here yet." Or you see people coming through just cutting it off. You wonder where the sweeps are.

Sometimes you get lucky, and most people are through, or the sweeps get people through. Sweepers are incredible humans to offer that much time up. Again, I've known the sweeps for years. It's the same people year on year. They grow up from 14 years old. We've got Reuben, who's now an 18-year-old who's grown to love trail running and grown to love sweeping. It's rad.

Dean: What do you think that this whole process, this race, this aid station says about the human spirit individually, but also as a collective?

Sean: It says the best things. Individually, it says people are brave, people are courageous. But as a collective, it says that people want the best for other people. They want to see you get through the aid station. A friend of mine always jokes that if you run a long race, you shouldn't phone your mom at any point in the race because your mom's always gonna say, "Oh my boy, you're amazing. You just stop the race. Just don't hurt yourself anymore." But at aid stations, people will tell you that, but then they also tell you, "Get your ass up and go. If you can just get through the next kilometre, you can get through the next nine." And I think that's cool.

Dean: If you could sum it up in a moment that you've experienced, or a word, what would that be?

Sean: I was thinking about this. I'm not sure there are single moments. There are just too many of them. I've had too many incredible moments over the last eight or nine years at that station where I've just been able to witness things. There's this idea that MCs don't always have to fill the space with sound. I think as you get more experienced, you learn that. There are times when I just sit down and have a little quiet cry to myself in the happiest of ways, watching people do incredible things. I'm hopeful that this year, and I know it'll happen, I'm gonna end up sitting somewhere and crying again because they're all there.

Dean: If you were telling someone why they should enter the race as a runner, but then also enter the race as a volunteer, what would those messages be?

Sean: Because it'll change you. You will get to meet the coolest, bravest, and most courageous people. You'll get to help those people. Yes, you get the burger, and you get the T-shirt, and you might get a discounted entry down the line. But I've never met anyone who said to me, "Ah, that's why I'm doing this." They do it because what they get back in terms of emotion and experience is just incredible. As a runner and as a volunteer, I couldn't encourage you more to get involved. I've got a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old, and I want them to come and watch every moment of it because you can't help but be changed.

Dean: What is the moment like after everything's done, last runners have come through, events finished? What is that decompression feeling?

Sean: It's a little bit like that. I oftentimes finish at UCT and then I will race through to the finish, and then I do Golden Hour. I do literally the last of the runners through, and then I'm almost bereft. Because there's no more. UTCT is renowned for its after-party and its celebration, and I'll try and attend, but oftentimes I'll just sit there and be quiet for an hour and a half. People will think that something has gone wrong, that there's been a glitch in my brain as the kids at my school would say, but really, it's just because there's nothing more. It's been almost perfect, and there's nothing more to say or do in that moment.

Dean: You mentioned the Golden Hour. What is the magic of that moment?

Sean: So Golden Hour is the last hour before all the races are cut off. That's on the Sunday. Whether it's a short course race or the 100 Milers, this is it. If you end up at the bottom of the field at Gardens Rugby Club and the flares are lit, it's over for you. You've missed out. You've done 150, 60 point something, and you don't finish. You're a DNF, unfortunately.

And that brings jeopardy. We live in a world where often there's no consequence to things, but there's jeopardy in running. You and I both know what it's like to be chasing cutoffs. We know that if we don't get there, no one's going to give us a medal at the end. You get a high five, but you have to live with that for another year.

It's incredible to watch the people line up and wait and cheer for people coming around that corner. You get to see humans that don't look like they should be able to run 160 kilometres. They may have looked like athletes at the start, but they're shambling messes at the end. And you get to bring that home and watch a husband fall into his wife's arms, or a wife fall into a husband's arms, friends around. If you're Robbie Rorich type, you've got 20 friends cheering you at the end. Those moments are incredible. With the flares and with the music, it's a place you want to be on the Sunday.

Dean: Incredible. I've got goosebumps just listening to that. Thank you very much. This is amazing and thank you for everything you do for the community. I'm looking forward to seeing you at UTCT this year. I'll probably also be there in a volunteer capacity, so I will come and join you.

Sean: No worries. Cheers, Dean. Thanks.

Dean: Thank you. One of the things that Sean really touches on is the power of the back of the pack. Those stories of those people who are right at the back who need all the hope and all the push that they can to make that finish line. When you stand at an aid station like UCT and you see those individuals, what feeling do you get?

Mike: Sean is certainly a voice that's become synonymous with RMB Ultra-Trail Cape Town, synonymous with trail running more generally, but specifically synonymous with RMB’s aid station. His voice and seeing this both from behind the curtain as well as in front of the curtain, running the race, is a very reassuring voice. He gives a lot of hope to athletes coming through our aid station. He's very encouraging. He knows so much of the community, and that's a big power of Sean's—he's calling most people in by their first name. He knows what they do. He knows where they come from. He knows the ringer that they've been put through and the training that they've gone through to get to this point.

As a person, as a symbol of our RMB aid station—and everyone's very familiar with our light tunnel—you come into that space and regardless of how you're feeling upon arrival, you're gonna feel a very different person when you leave. That's attributable to the investment and time that we've put into that aid station to make it that space. But also to his credit, Sean, who just can take people up off the ground, lift them up, and get them out of there as quickly as possible in the best way as possible. That aid station specifically, you've got 10 kilometres to go. Every single race except the 16K goes through there and it's your final stretch.

Dean: When you look at the race, what does that tell you about the power of community, the power of connection, and ultimately about the power of people and the way that they respond to the race and to the people in the race?

Mike: People get you through this race. Whether it's 16 kilometres or 100 miles, they are the fuel that gets you from A to B. It's a race that's very often run aid station to aid station because it can be so daunting to look at it in its entirety. Regardless of how you're feeling or what kind of headspace you're in, your goal should only ever be to get to the next aid station and know the community's gonna be there to welcome you in and send you on your way to the next one.

It's incredibly special to be in such a vast stadium that is the Cape Town Trail Network, but to feel so connected to the community. Every year, as part of our partnership, we've produced numerous trail cowbells, which are synonymous with the sport. It's become a noise that can lift you out of the darkest hole. Across the breadth of those 167 kilometres, you've got people with trail bells and signs just wishing you well, whether they know you or not. I think that's very special. It's a showcase of the best humanity has to offer.

Dean: When the focus is beyond the profits and the money, and in this case, the goal is building community and the power of people, how does that change RMB’s mindset in terms of the sponsorship?

Mike: Broadly speaking, and over a longer term, what we're doing here is building our brand, and we're building a brand against a sport that shares so much of our culture, shares so much of our values. There's a lot of power in that. The more people involved, the better, quite frankly, as it's a sport that's rapidly growing.

The other uniqueness of RMB Ultra-Trail Cape Town specifically, but also more broadly trail running and running in general, is it's unique in that it's both a very strong participatory sport but also an audience viewership sport. Whether you like trail running or not, you can watch it on the broadcast and be hooked. If you are a trail runner, you can be part of that hook. You can be on the same start line as the greatest athletes in the world in that sport. That's unique to running.

RMB’s involvement is so much more than just the reach, awareness, and money, and all those things. It's about building our brand, supporting a sport, and supporting an event that we can co-create together in partnership. It's very difficult to finish this race and not want to come back. It's very difficult to finish, let it simmer, and not be Googling the race entry opening times for 2026. You kind of want to bottle that feeling for as long as possible because you get there and the community is so inspiring, and it's a celebration of everything good about South Africa and its people. You want to bottle that feeling and hold onto it for as long as you can and also carry it into your daily life and into your work.

Importantly, what we also hope that a lot of people walk away with—and certainly from a volunteer perspective, I know Stuart and team also hope the same—is that you finish this race, and you feel the sense of wanting to give back. Even if you don't race the following year, you're there as a volunteer or you're putting your hand up to say, "Can I sweep? Can I pace? Where can I support? Can I go to an aid station?" Because I've been on both sides of the fence, racing and supporting. If it's someone close to you, or even if it's not someone close to you, if it's someone in the community or just broadly speaking the community, it can very well be just as rewarding to support as it is to race. You feel a sense of joint accomplishment when the people you're supporting are achieving their big, lofty, ambitious goals.