Kia ora e te whānau! This episode of the pod finds Matt returning to The Blue Mountains for the UTA running festival. With 7000 athletes over 4 days this is a one-of-a-kind spectacle in one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Down to one wing, the ever dependable Ali Pottinger of SQUADRUN fame jumped into the fray, along with Ben Berriman and Dave Stewart to recap each day’s event. Ali and Matt also handled the elite Q&A, with Lucy Bartholomew, Charlie Hamilton, and Michael Dimunates. Matt and Ali discussed the Women in Trail Panel and the topic of equality and equity in the elite field. Best Enjoyed Running.Ultra Trail Australia Ultra Trail Australia Facebook SQUADRUNNickrunsAustralia.org.nz Inia Raumati Kia Mau Kia Ora CurranzJulbo Eyewear UltrAspireIrunfarDirt Church Radio on InstagramDirt Church Radio on Twitter Dirt Church Radio on Facebook Further Faster New ZealandEnjoy!Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake

Kia ora e te whānau! This week, Eugene and Matt have got the band back together! We have the distinct pleasure of being joined by the brains behind SQUADRUN, Ali Pottinger and Kerry Suter to preview the 2024 edition of  Ultra Trail Australia. Ali and Kerry are two people who know this race intimately, they share their favourite parts of the course and memories with us before giving us an incredible run down of the elite list across the 100km and 50 km distances for what is sure to be some very tasty racing. Best Enjoyed Running.Ultra Trail Australia Ultra Trail Australia Facebook SQUADRUNChris Martin GRE Spotify Link NickrunsAustralia.org.nz Inia Raumati Kia Mau Kia Ora CurranzJulbo Eyewear UltrAspireIrunfarDirt Church Radio on InstagramDirt Church Radio on Twitter Dirt Church Radio on Facebook Further Faster New ZealandEnjoy!Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake

Kia ora e te whānau! This week we’ve got something different for you. Eugene and Matt take a trip to Ōtautahi/Christchurch for our first ever live show at Further Faster. We were joined by the epic Jess Campbell and Michael Mitchell as we ran through some stories from the past six years. We rounded the evening off by challenging the audience to a rousing round of Rock, Paper, Scissors for a Crater Rim entry and finally found the answer to the oft-asked question, “What is worse, being bitten by a shark or doing The Revenant?”. Then, our heroes travelled to Island Hills in North Canterbury for the Skedaddle Trail Race, which is bound to become a litmus test in terms of toughness over the marathon distance, and Matt certainly found that out in spades. Episode links:Her International NGO (courtesy of Jess Campbell)NickrunsAustralia.org.nz Inia Raumati Kia Mau Kia Ora CurranzSCOTT Running Julbo Eyewear UltrAspireIrunfarDirt Church Radio on InstagramDirt Church Radio on Twitter Dirt Church Radio on Facebook CieleFurther Faster New ZealandEnjoy!Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake

Kia ora e te whānau! This episode we catch up with Jenny and Jeff Vierling, the founders of Tailwind. They were in Aotearoa for the Faultline Ultra on the weekend, and right about now they’ll be riding the Old Ghost Road. They live in the mountain town of Durango, Colorado, where they have made a deliberate decision to grow and keep their business. We talk about life in a small town and why it’s important to them to be part of the community,  the origins of Tailwind, which is a bit of a famous story about Jeff having a bad time at the Leadville Trail 100 MTB race. We also talk about the science of race nutrition, the best and worst flavours, and that time Jeff almost had the whole of Chicago Airport shut down because of the bunch of white powder he was carrying. They were delightful and sweet – not too sweet, just right, like a chocolate-flavoured Tailwind Recovery. Subscribe to the DCR Newsletter and DCR AidStation podcastTailwind NutritionZeroTwenty2 SportsCoNickrunsAustralia.org.nz Inia Raumati Kia Mau Kia Ora CurranzSCOTT Running Julbo Eyewear UltrAspireIrunfarDirt Church Radio on InstagramDirt Church Radio on Twitter Dirt Church Radio on Facebook CieleFurther Faster New ZealandEnjoy!Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake

Kia ora e te whānau! This week, Eugene and Matt have the distinct pleasure to speak to Greig Hamilton and let us tell you this has been a long time coming! In case you don’t know, Greig Hamilton became the first Kiwi finisher of the Barkley Marathons. It was his third crack, having knocked off fun runs in 2019 and 2022. This year there were five finishers, including the first female finisher, Jasmine Paris. Barkley is a five-loop course in the Frozen Head National Park in Tennessee. Greig is from Christchurch, he’s a two-time world champion in the Rogaine, and, by all accounts, one of the most self-effacing human beings around. However with the help of our sources we managed to crack the nut for a wonderful conversation – five years after we first asked him. We talk about Greig’s beginnings in sport, how he was “abysmal” at running (then got better), adventure racing, the burden of an endeavour like Barkley on loved ones, the difference between suffering and enjoyment, and some details about the race itself. This one was worth the wait. - Best Enjoyed Running.Subscribe to the DCR Newsletter and DCR AidStation podcastHorleys Intelligent Sports  Nutrition NickrunsAustralia.org.nz Inia Raumati Kia Mau Kia Ora CurranzSCOTT Running Julbo Eyewear UltrAspireIrunfarDirt Church Radio on InstagramDirt Church Radio on Twitter Dirt Church Radio on Facebook CieleFurther Faster New ZealandEnjoy!Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake

The Furber Steps are an iconic part of the UTA course in the Blue Mountains, more than 900 stairs that make up the only path to the finish line. This year, NSW Firefighters are going to climb it for 24 hours raising money for Motor Neuron Disease. And everyone is invited along, so Matt and Eugene and going to be there. We speak with the brainchild of this quad-shredding challenge, Gavin Clifton, about the event, the special nature of the steps, and how he came up with the idea. We also catch up with him about how the UTA course is holding up after recent torrential rain. Best enjoyed running!Firies Climb for MNDCurranzSCOTT Running Julbo Eyewear UltrAspireIrunfarDirt Church Radio on InstagramDirt Church Radio on Twitter Dirt Church Radio on Facebook CieleFurther Faster New ZealandSit Back and Enjoy!Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake

Kia ora e te whānau! This week on the podcast Eugene speaks to returning champion and one of the most impressive human beings we’ve had the pleasure of speaking with, the one and only Roger Robinson. Roger is an age group world champion runner, an emeritus professor at Victoria University where he was in the English Department, he is a world-leading writer on running, a delightful, engaging teller of stories and commentator, and shares his time between Wellington and New York, with his wife, the celebrated women’s running pioneer, Kathrine Switzer. He has a new book out titled “Running Throughout Time: The Greatest Running Stories Ever Told”. The book is full of fascinating research and discoveries, from chapters about Atlanta, the heroic woman runner of ancient Greece, to Allison Roe, the New Zealander who won the New York Marathon. In his research, Roger arguably discovered the true roots of trail running in a ditch, and most definitely busts some myths about some of our sport’s most famous stories. Roger was a guest on DCR episode 37 which you should have a listen to if you missed it, with Kathrine on DCR episode 45. Also on show, we celebrate Riverhead Rampage’s 10th year, catch up with Dr Inia Raumati about his quest to run 8 ultras on 8 continents, and bring you a Kiwi for Greatest Run Ever – as in, an actual Kiwi, Best Enjoyed Running.Roger Robinson Home Running Through Time: The Greatest Running Stories Ever Told NickrunsAustralia.org.nz Inia Raumati Kia Mau Kia Ora CurranzSCOTT Running Julbo Eyewear UltrAspireIrunfarDirt Church Radio on InstagramDirt Church Radio on Twitter Dirt Church Radio on Facebook CieleFurther Faster New ZealandSit Back and Enjoy!Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake

Kia ora e te whānau! Enjoy this cheeky little bijou podcastette from this year’s Northburn 100. Llaingholm’s favourite son, Episode 33 alumni, and Commonwealth Games Medallist Gareth Morris went to Northburn to document the action (okay, so he was supposed to be running, but he was injured so we asked him for a favour …). Acting as our intrepid Mainland Correspondent Gareth captured conversations with Race Director Terry Davis, six-time winner Jean Beaumont, and 11 time finisher and ultrarunning legend Glenn Sutton. Don’t forget to click the link below to get a ticket to our live show in Christchurch on April 25th!!!  Best Enjoyed Running.Episode Links Subscribe to the DCR newsletter and DCR AidStation podcastDirt Church Radio Further Faster Live Show!!! Gareth Morris’ (Westie Runner) on YoutubeNorthburn 100CurranzSCOTT Running Julbo Eyewear UltrAspireirunfarDirt Church Radio on InstagramDirt Church Radio on Twitter Dirt Church Radio on Facebook CieleFurther Faster New ZealandMusic by Andrew McDowall, Digicake

Kia ora e te whānau! WOOOOO some weekends in the calendar just stack up don’t they? This weekend certainly didn’t disappoint with the fourth running of Aotearoa’s original Backyard Ultramarathon, the Riverhead Backyard ReLaps Ultra, the Northburn 100 mile, one of the  most challenging 100 mile events in the country, and the Barkley Marathons, the Monster of Frozen Head State Park in Tennessee. This week, Eugene and Matt do their best to pinball between all three places, with Matt enjoying the delights of the ReLaps and fifth Beatle Andrew McDowall taking on the Northburn 100, we’ve looped in a gaggle of guests for your listening pleasure, with Shaun Collins, Madeleine Collins, Chris Macdonald from Runners With Beards, Lola Rayment, Andrew McDowall, and some field recording of one half of a podcasting duo being put through a wringer. The post-race weekend blues are going to be epic. Best Enjoyed Running.Riverhead ReLaps Northburn 100 Gareth Morris Westie Runner on YouTubeCurranzSCOTT Running Julbo Eyewear UltrAspireirunfarDirt Church Radio on InstagramDirt Church Radio on Twitter Dirt Church Radio on Facebook CieleFurther Faster New ZealandSit Back and Enjoy!Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake

Kiwi Sandy Barwick ran 549 miles in six days back in 1990, establishing a world record that stood for 34 years, until Camille Herron broke it, running 560 miles last week. How did Sandy do it, and what does she think of Camille’s run? Lockerroom founding editor Suzanne McFadden interviewed Sandy to find out. We caught up with Suzanne in this chat first released in our DCR AidStation podcast for paid subscribers released on Wednesday. If you want to hear the rest of the episode, or our other episodes, sign up via the link below!Sign up to the DCR AidStationLockerroom interview with Sandy Barwick

Kia ora e te whānau! Our friend, fellow MC, and DCR away game co-host Ali Pottinger sent us a message wanting to talk about what the trail running community could do better (and is doing better) to support women in trail running. When Ali talks, we listen. So please enjoy this thought-provoking and engaging discussion with Ali Pottinger around the good, the bad, and the way forward for our trail running sisters, from one of our trail running sisters. Also, Eve (of the dolphin-rescue Greatest Run Ever fame) comes through with ANOTHER animal encounter GRE, would you believe it! Best Enjoyed Running.Subscribe to the DCR newsletter and DCR AidStation podcastAli Pottinger on Instagram ITRA SQUADRUN For The Gals RC CurranzSCOTT Running Julbo Eyewear UltrAspireirunfarDirt Church Radio on InstagramDirt Church Radio on Twitter Dirt Church Radio on Facebook CieleFurther Faster New ZealandSit Back and Enjoy!Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake

Just before Tarawera we caught up with Kerry Suter and Ali Pottinger from Squadrun for our annual pre-race preview. Days later, as he told us, he was going in for surgery to help get some mobility back after his big crash two years ago.We knew you'd all be keen to hear how it went, and to get his views on the racing at Tarawera, since he's been involved since day one - so, here you go!This is part of our DCR AidStation podcast for paid subscribers that was released on Wednesday. If you're keen to listen to the whole episode each and every fortnight, sign up! Nau mai, haere mai!Sign up to the DCR AidStation

Kia ora e te whānau! She’s 90 lbs soaking wet and with a personality 150 feet tall: Polly Taylor is a force to be reckoned with. A  guide in the Marlborough Sounds, past Northburn 100 mile winner, and someone who could talk the iron legs off a stove, Polly is someone who exemplifies that maximum growth occurs on the cusp of support  and challenge. In 2019, with her ultramarathon dreams about to come true, she was hit by a car. What follows is a tale of heart ache, tragedy, loss, gratitude, triumph and redemption. Eugene and Matt spoke to Polly as she toe’d the line at the Tarawera Ultra Trail 100 miler in the hopes of making her way back to Chamonix to have the chance to compete at UTMB after being run down on a pedestrian crossing cruelly robbed her of the chance four years ago.  What unfolds will leave you cheering loudly – for her, and for your own best life. Also in this episode – a rundown of the race we missed out on, Old Ghost Ultra, including a report on the ground from special correspondent Conrad Langridge. Best Enjoyed Running.Episode Links Subscribe to the DCR newsletter and DCR AidStation podcastPolly Taylor on Instagram La Sportiva NZ James Kuegler Coaching Tarawera Ultra Trail CurranzSCOTT Running Julbo Eyewear UltrAspireirunfarDirt Church Radio on InstagramDirt Church Radio on Twitter Dirt Church Radio on Facebook CieleFurther Faster New ZealandSit Back and Enjoy!Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake

We went to Tarawera Ultra-Trail in 2024 and it was incredible. Moments so surreal you question reality. Simple pleasures, mundanity, joy, filth, pride, and noble stupidity (and this was just the car trip down). Please enjoy this episode of the DCR AidStation, recorded at some aid stations, among other places, and featuring Sam Harvey, Coach Eric Orton, Jenny Hirst, Ben Fraser and others, our reflections on the event, and a plethora of special guests and incredible conversations. Sign up to the DCR AidStation CrewTarawera Ultra Trail CurranzSCOTT Running Julbo Eyewear UltrAspireirunfarDirt Church Radio on InstagramDirt Church Radio on Twitter Dirt Church Radio on Facebook CieleFurther Faster New ZealandMusic by Andrew McDowall, Digicake.

Kia ora e te whānau!! Holy Hecka ... the four-day three-ring circus that is Tarawera Ultra-Trail has rolled into town for 2024, and we couldn’t wait to get this out to you all as a wee bonus treat. First off, for your entertainment we have the 2024 Elite Q & A live show, featuring Ruth Croft, Daniel Jones, Kate Avery and an amazing conversation with Tim Day, the Tarawera Ultra-Trail Course Director. Next up we have a truly uplifting conversation with Troy Sachs and Zach Friedley, both adaptive athletes, both alumni of DCR, and both competing at Tarawera. Troy, who, not content with being a member of the Australian Sports Hall of Fame, and Paralympian, was setting out to set an adaptive record in the 50km. Zach Friedley, professional trail runner for On running, and founder of Born to Adapt, was in the 21km, supporting his friend Matt Bryson, an adaptive athlete also completing the 21km.  Best Enjoyed Running.Episode Links Subscribe to the DCR newsletter and DCR AidStation podcastRuth Croft on InstagramDaniel Jones Lessons from the Long Run  Kate Avery on Instagram Tarawera Ultra Trail CurranzSCOTT Running Julbo Eyewear UltrAspireirunfarDirt Church Radio on InstagramDirt Church Radio on Twitter Dirt Church Radio on Facebook CieleFurther Faster New ZealandSit Back and Enjoy!

Kia ora e te whānau. Throughout this episode, Robyn Lesh talks about puzzles. From working out how not to drop a single point in her community college maths class, to graduating MIT whilst figuring out the ideal point of balance on her Olympic class foiling sailboat, to the ideal weight distribution for America’s Cup challenger American Magic, Robyn approaches life as a series of problems (in the truest sense of the word) to be solved. Trading her feet in the water for her feet in the dirt, Robyn set her sights on a life on the trails and in the mountains. For someone who was convinced that they couldn't run, to qualifying as the second-fastest woman in North America on the Golden Trail Series, Robyn continues to put the puzzle pieces into place as a professional trail runner for Vibram, whilst being a capo in the South Island-based  Katie Wright Mafia. Eugene and Matt talk to Robyn about all this, lining up at the Tarawera Ultra-Trail 50km, and more on this episode of Dirt Church Radio.  Best Enjoyed Running.Episode Links Subscribe to the DCR newsletter and DCR AidStation podcastRobyn Lesh on Instagram Robyn Lesh BlogModel Sailboat BusinessRobyn Run Coach ProfileMark Ford - Stroke Foundation of NZ CurranzSCOTT Running Julbo Eyewear UltrAspireirunfarDirt Church Radio on InstagramDirt Church Radio on Twitter Dirt Church Radio on Facebook CieleFurther Faster New ZealandSit Back and Enjoy!

Kia ora e te whānau. The Big Friendly is rushing up again and Eugene and Matt have the privilege of being joined by their fellow MC’s, friends, and the Squadrun brains trust Kerry Suter and Ali Pottinger.  Kerry and Ali continue to be a driving force in coaching in Australasia, as they coach and support thousands. We run down the shiny diamonds in the field, and dig into the weeds in a preview. Kerry and Ali also share their wisdom of the do’s and don’t of the day, and drop some science on the reasons it’s best not to be too scientific. We discuss the UTMB furore and the dopamine rush that binary outrage brings and, more importantly, spend an hour yarning with some of our favourite people. If you are doing the Tarawera Ultra Trail, and are packing it because it’s taper time, you’ve got this. We believe in you, you are going to be fine. Best Enjoyed Running.DCR AidStation podcast and newsletterSCOTT Running Julbo Eyewear UltrAspireirunfarDirt Church Radio on InstagramDirt Church Radio on Twitter Dirt Church Radio on Facebook Dirt Church Radio on PatreonCieleFurther Faster New Zealand

AidStation 001 – Insert Something Cliche About Processes. A special taste for DCR listeners of our new subscriber-only AidStation podcast. We didn’t know this, but the second Friday in January is known as “Quitter’s Day”. This is the day that statistically, most people abandon their New Year’s Resolutions. Are you a resolution person? Or a Goal guy? Or someone who loves a good old intentional process? And why can’t we have all three? On the first episode of our brand-new, subscriber-only AidStation podcast (but free for January), Eugene and Matt sit down to discuss if they are on the resolution bus or not, what goals and processes they have in place for the year, and if, just, maybe, talking about something you are about to do on a podcast makes your more or less likely to achieve that thing. We also tackle the tricky question of what to do when your coaches (Kerry Suter and Ali Pottinger) fight publicly over your training in front of you. Spoiler* Matt went and waited in the car. Sign up to the DCR AidStation

Kia ora e te whānau. When David Haunschmidt was racing his brothers over the beaches of Westray in the Orkney Islands, he never dreamed that his life would one day take him to New Zealand and near to the top of his sport. Starting trail running in 2018 as a means of expediency (I mean, hey you can still see all the things, but just in less time) David has proven himself to be one of the most consistently high performing trail athletes we have, with a slew of wins and podiums to his name. Notably the Tarawera Ultra Trail 50km course record, and being the current European Full Distance Xterra champion.  Most notably though, David is super nice. Engaging, humble, and has a refreshingly simple (which, we note is different from easy) approach to training and wellbeing. David also serves his community as an emergency medicine specialist. Eugene and Matt speak to David about all this, how he manages to juggle a busy work and training life, and the little 1%’ers  on the latest episode of Dirt Church Radio.  Best Enjoyed Running.Episode Links Subscribe to the DCR newsletter and DCR AidStation podcastDavid Haunschmidt on Instagram CurranzRun Wild For Joe Facebook Group On Running SCOTT Running Julbo Eyewear UltrAspireirunfarDirt Church Radio on InstagramDirt Church Radio on Twitter Dirt Church Radio on Facebook Dirt Church Radio on PatreonCieleFurther Faster New Zealand

Kia ora e te whānau. For our first podcast of 2024 Eugene and Matt have the pleasure of speaking with Zachary Friedley and Eric Orton. Zach is a returning Champion on DCR, having spoken to Matt on episode 202, and also being part of our Tarawera live pod in 2023.  Eric Orton is a first time caller but he will be no stranger to many of you. Together, they are coming down to New Zealand with 2 x Leadville Champ Adrian MacDonald to hold a Born to Adapt clinic and trail race in Rotorua on February 9th and 10th.  Born to Adapt was formed by Zach in 2021 to expand awareness around disabilities and foster spaces where everyone can have access to the transformative power of movement. He’s one of the only professional, above-knee blade runners  or “trail bladers”in the world. Zachary currently races as part of the On Trail Team, participating internationally in ultra and sub-ultra races including UTMB MCC, UTMB Tarawera 21k. Zach and Eric met during the creation of Born to Run 2: The Ultimate Training Guide, and have been working together since. Eric of course, best known for his is experience documented in the New York Times best selling book Born to Run and his own book of training philosophy, The Cool Impossible. Eric is the former Director of Fitness at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and lives in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Dirt Church Radio. Best Enjoyed Running.Episode Links Born To Adapt New Zealand RegistrationBorn to Run 2: The Ultimate Training Guide Eric Orton - The Cool Impossible Run Wild For Joe Registration Run Wild For Joe Facebook Group On Running SCOTT Running Julbo Eyewear UltrAspireirunfarDirt Church Radio on InstagramDirt Church Radio on Twitter Dirt Church Radio on Facebook Dirt Church Radio on PatreonCieleFurther Faster New Zealand