PODCAST

Strides: A Trail Running Podcast

Mason Hickok

A trail running podcast exploring the sport in San Antonio, Texas, and beyond.

sports running

All Episodes

9:04

Cale Williams | Pre Sky Island Trail Race Interview

Strides: A Trail Running Podcast ·

2025/09/15

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. Follow Cale on Instagram Follow Strides on Instagram ...

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16:50

Roy Gallegos | Pre Sky Island Trail Race Interview

Strides: A Trail Running Podcast ·

2025/09/08

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. Follow Roy on Instagram Follow Strides on Instagram and Subtstac...

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12:52

Joe Sierra | Pre Sky Island Trail Race Interview

Strides: A Trail Running Podcast ·

2025/09/01

West Texas has come calling again for Joe Sierra, who is looking for the finish in his second trail race of the year at Sky Island. Joe Sierra is coming off a Big Bend Ultra 50-mile finish from earlier this year, though he is also battling a bad shin splint. Despite that, however, Joe describes how prioritizing recovery and cross-training on the bike has prepared him for the longevity of the Sky Island 50k. Low and slow is Joe's mindset, especially to tackle the elevation gains in the r...

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9:07

Will Rocha | Pre Sky Island Trail Race Interview

Strides: A Trail Running Podcast ·

2025/08/25

In his first trail race, Will Rocha is going to fuck around and find out in his home away from home. There is a beauty in coming into an endurance feat with the intent to find out one's limits. For Will Rocha, the Sky Island 25k will be a test of mental fortitude. Listen to find out how Will is coping with injury, approaching the start with patience, and how he landed racing at Sky Island. Follow Will on Instagram Follow Strides on Instagram and Subtstack Check out Strides on Apple Podcast a...

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9:06

Madison Ortega | Pre Sky Island Trail Race Interview

Strides: A Trail Running Podcast ·

2025/08/20

Running with her dad and husband by her side, Madison Ortega is ready for the magic of Sky Island and West Texas. In this episode, Madison Ortega describes her mentality coming into her second trail race. Fitting that it is another West Texas race, as she did the 20k at the Big Bend Ultra earlier this year. Trading frigid temperatures for the blazing sun, Madison discusses her training post-injury, the importance of nutrition and hydration, and how she feels running the race alongside her da...

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52:45

A Lesson in Discipline and the Blessing of Movement...

Strides: A Trail Running Podcast ·

2025/08/19

The heart of the athlete shines with Javian Quinones, a faithful devotee to the endurance chase. Quinones, who is rehabbing and rebuilding from his third knee surgery, has chased endurance on two wheels and two feet. A seeker of the ultra distance, Quinones has big goals and bigger miles. We chat about what brought him into running and how that evolved to cycling, the importance of optimism when dealing with injury, and what it means to chase the miles. Follow Javian on Instagram Follow...

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12:23

Santiago Ortega | Pre Sky Island Trail Race Interview

Strides: A Trail Running Podcast ·

2025/08/18

Santiago Ortega is eyeing the finish line on his first 50k and preparing to fill that experience with joy. In this episode, hear how Santiago is mentally preparing for the effort, what fuel sources he plans to utilize–including the underrated (gluten-free) peanut butter and jelly sandwich—and how a trip to Mexico City earlier this year is affecting his mindset going into the race. Follow Santiago on Instagram Follow Strides on Instagram and Subtstack Check out Strides on Apple Podcast and Sp...

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5:10

Introduction: Interviewing nine runners from San...

Strides: A Trail Running Podcast ·

2025/08/17

Hey everybody! I’m happy to introduce this project: Strides’ pre-race coverage of the Sky Island trail race. The race, one of West Texas’ finest, is in its ninth year. Boasting views of Fort Davis, the McDonald Observatories, and the skies of Texas, the race is much-loved — and it's calling the name of some badass runners. For this coverage, I sat down with nine runners from San Antonio who are running the 25k and 50k races. While Borderlands’ Western States interviews inspired this, th...

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53:17

Running As A Lens to the Natural World with Shaun Jones

Strides: A Trail Running Podcast ·

2025/07/28

There is an air of calm and creativity to Shaun Jones’ view on running, much of which is often evoked through the camera lens of his phone. Influenced by his interests in street photography, Jones sometimes dedicates runs to finding striking images, all while covering miles on the trails or parts of the San Antonio River Walk from the steps of his front door. In this conversation, we discuss how photography plays into Jones' running, building up his mileage for races, and running as exp...

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52:19

The Runner's Church with Roy Gallegos

Strides: A Trail Running Podcast ·

2025/07/22

Roy Gallegos is inspiring, both for his view on running and his commitment to bettering the craft. When not doubling the Babcock power lines on the weekend or battling hill repeats, Gallegos uplifts his small business and spends his life as a husband and a father. We cover running as a spiritual practice, how Gallegos discovered brands such as Satisfy and Alex Zono, and what his race plans look like for the rest of the year. Follow Roy on Instagram Follow Strides on Instagram and Subtst...

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45:07

Edgar Navarrete: A Balance of Movement, Experience,...

Strides: A Trail Running Podcast ·

2025/07/01

Edgar Navarrete brings a special kind of humility and warmth to his story, one of resiliency and centered in the history of two places. In this episode, Edgar and I discuss how his immigration story has impacted his running journey, the importance of movement in that journey, and what coveted race he is eyeing for his 100K debut. Follow Edgar on Instagram Follow Strides on Instagram and Subtstack Check out Strides on Apple Podcast and Spotify Love it or hate it? Got a topic idea? Please leave...

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34:37

Amy Hermes of In The Loop Run Crew: Inclusivity,...

Strides: A Trail Running Podcast ·

2025/06/26

Howdy, everyone. Back from a brief hiatus, but ready to get back on track. Let’s hop in. This week, we had Amy Hermes of In The Loop Run Crew on to discuss her journey into running and how she started the group. We also touched on their recent flagship race: the Y’all Means All 5K Pride race. Registration for next year's Y'all Means All race is open Follow In The Loop Run Crew on Instagram Follow Strides on Instagram and Subtstack Check out Strides on Apple Podcast and Spotify Love it or hate...

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52:13

Organizing and Executing Race Logistics with Kirsten...

Strides: A Trail Running Podcast ·

2025/06/10

Kirsten Mengden is busy in the best way. She and many others built, made way, and put on my most recent trail race, making it a memorable experience that I look forward to next year. In this episode, we discuss her history with running, getting involved with a local running store in San Antonio, and what's to come with an excellent course in the Texas Hill Country. Follow Kirsten on Instagram Follow iRun on Instagram and check out their website Follow Strides on Instagram and Subt...

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87:56

Finding Balance in Movement and Meditation with...

Strides: A Trail Running Podcast ·

2025/06/03

In this episode, I sit down with Santiago Ortega, a San Antonio runner, run club coordinator, and small business owner. Ortega is doing some great stuff in these spaces, providing a refreshing take on running's art form in the process. I'm stoked this conversation is hitting your ears. We cover the gamut in this podcast. Follow Santiago on Instagram Follow his run club, Extra Credit, on Instagram Follow Strides on Instagram and Subtstack Check out Strides on Apple Podcast and Spotify Love it ...

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55:03

The Comeback Tour: Garrett Philbrick’s ultra...

Strides: A Trail Running Podcast ·

2025/05/27

Garrett Philbrick is more than just a teacher, a dad, and a husband: He’s an ultrarunner on a mission, a comeback tour of his own. With nine ultras under his belt, Philbrick is building out his mileage and time to prepare for a packed calendar of races to close out the year. He sat down with me to discuss his running journey, landing his first sponsorship, and why he chooses to run to heavy metal music. Follow Garrett on Instagram, Strava, and check out his go-to running playlist. Follow the ...

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21:32

Recap: Desperado 20k's technicalities and intricacies

Strides: A Trail Running Podcast ·

2025/05/20

Howdy, and welcome back to Strides! In this episode, I break down my experience running the 20k event this past Saturday during the Desperado Gravel Run & Ruck in Boerne, Texas. This was an incredible event with some gorgeous Hill Country trails, and will surely be a yearly staple for me. Follow the podcast on Instagram and Substack! Love it or hate it? Got a topic idea? Please leave a review and email any feedback to stridestrailpod@gmai.com

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17:22

It's race week: Desperado 20k is on the menu, and...

Strides: A Trail Running Podcast ·

2025/05/15

It’s race week, friends! I’m running the 20K Desperado Run this weekend at the Desperado Resort outside Boerne, Texas. Boerne is about 30ish miles outside of San Antonio. The weather this weekend in the area is beginning to tip into scorching heat. The forecast is looking decent in the morning, with higher temperatures later in the day. I'm excited to hit some brand-new trails and immerse myself in the race world again. Will have an episode out after the race, breaking down how it went....

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21:53

The introduction and my journey with trail running

Strides: A Trail Running Podcast ·

2025/05/08

Howdy, my name is Mason, and welcome to Strides. This is the podcast and Substack amalgamation for me to explore a sport I am loving more and more: trail running. An opportunity to explore what I love, what I want to learn, and what seems daunting But more than that, this venture is a chance to blend some of my other passions—film, urban planning, and storytelling—with a budding interest in trail. I am by no means a professional but rather a devotee of the sport, ready to dive headfirst and n...

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18 results

Strides: A Trail Running Podcast

All Episodes

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