Tarawera Ultramarathon 2023 Special: If this isn’t nice, we don’t know what is.

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!