The Bend Racing Podcast

What happens when passionate and critical AR athletes and Race Directors get together for a coffee? Well the celebrate (and sometimes rant) about all the awesome things going on in the world of adventure racing. And there is a lot going on. So jump into this deep dive on all the good, great and troubling happenings.

Andrea Anderson is a member of Team This Ability and has been on my radar since her she stood at the start line of the first Expedition Oregon back in 2018. Initially it was her timidness that I took notice of, expecting her to not last long at the pointy edge of the sport - where risk, suffering, speed, skill, and tenacity are all required...and she seemed to be lacking several of those things. But her tenacity was fierce, and over the past decade she has transformed into one of the most consistent racers on the continent - from impressive solo performances to multiple expedition podiums. But what has impressed me most is her attitude and thoughtfulness around risk. Legend.

In 2026, the GOATs of expedition adventure (Nathan Fa'avae and Sophie Hart) set their sites (for the second time) on breaking the Yukon 1000 record. They's already won the event in 2024, and had learned a lot in the process that they thought they could improve. So they went back. Could they paddle the 1000 miles of the Yukon faster than ever before? Well if you followed the race, you know the answer. Yes. We talk to Nathan just shortly after his return home and learn about his race, his injuries, his retirement, and his having to "harden up" at the very end .

4 Hour Fuel is slowly making a name for itself in the advenuture racing world, and ultra distance paddling and bike-packing races. But many might not know about the Superfood Smoothies, the high-carb mix, the expedition mash, and the new Daily mix. And how do you make sense of it all - when to use what? We've got you. If you are at all curious about the brand, why it was created, and how it can support your suffering endeavors...we got you right here.

Want to know the one piece of gear that will up your endurance cycling game even more than an actual nice bike? Then you have come to the right place. And yeah - this should be on the Adventure Race Training Podcast - but my co-host and I have both been busy, I lost my computer, and well sometimes it is better just to get stuff out and sort it all out later - and I know you all missed my excited voice. Bonus if you listen to it while on the trainer - it will be like music to your ears.

The Kiwi Sessions Continue: I have the pleasure of talking one on one with greats of Adventure Racing for the past two decades. With 8 world championships to his name, he's been a cornerstone of New Zealand's top team (Seagate and then Avaya). He's humble, open, and still super stoked on the sport. He's just taken back to back wins at both of New Zealand's expedition races - despite his team making one of the worst mistakes you can make in the sport. Lets dive in shall we?

Want to know what to look for when you dotwatch the Magnificent? Check out this course walkthrough that details the challenges and highlights of each stage, and what we expect to see out of the racers. Where will the racers find special challenges, surprise navigation difficulties, weather sensitive stages, and more. Sleep card? 3d printed maps? What's that all about? Dot watching is so much fun whey you know what to look for.

What's it like being a race director out in the wild preparing for one of the most challenging events in the world circuit? And are RD's as nuts as you imagine that they are for doing what they do? Heck Yeah. And we took a microphone along on some route setting to capture the action (and random thoughts) that pop up as we hack through the bush in the rain. It'll add some color to your dot watching of the actual race, and if you are a racer, you may glean a bit of insider info too.

Just when you thought the conversations coming out of New Zealand couldn't be better after hearing from both Fear Youth and Sophie Hart. - we bring you Tide Faavae. Unless you are a total newbie, you've marveled at Nathan Fa'avae's winning career. He won his first major adventure race in 1999, and shortly thereafter started a family with his wife Jodie - a 7x NZ MTB national champion. Suffice it to say that the 3 kids were exposed to a fair amount of athleticism and adventure. Tide Fa'avae is the youngest in the family, just 19, but is the first to tackle a expedition race. But Tide didn't race with her parents as one might expect - she raced with a bunch other "kids" (she was actually the oldest on the team!). We talk about growing up the Fa'avae household, her siblings, her first race, and her wisdom that most veteran teams could learn from.Thanks for listening and if you are inclined, share, subscribe or show some support and buy us a coffee here

Tell me you are a new adventure racer without saying it. Easy. "Sophie Hart? Never heard of her. "Now tell me you are an long time competitive racer that just was granted a wish to add a female racer to your next World Champs bid. Easy."I pick Sophie Hart". But whichever one of those you are - this podcast is worth a listen. Sophie is the most successful female adventure racer on the planet, with multiple world championships, multiple God Zone wins, Coast to Coast wins, won the most recent Eco Challenge, the list goes on. But she's also a doctor, a mum, and just as down to earth and humble as anyone I've ever met. Thanks to Sophie for her time. If you like this podcast - show us some love: Subscribe, share, or become a supporter here