Robyn Lesh – Putting the Puzzle Together: Life as a Pro Trail Runner

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