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 fi…

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 …

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-leadin…

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 Mai…

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 Mo…

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 f…

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 …

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 in…

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…

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 Or…

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 wit…

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, Roby…

Looking for your new favourite politics pod? Look no further! Tova is back for 2024. In this weeks episode, Tova brings you the full story of one of the most significant Waitangi weekends for many years. Like what you're hearing? Follow on Apple or Spotify to make sure you don't miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/…

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 t…

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…

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) Da…

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,…

Kia ora e te whānau. Gosh, it’s been a year, right? Do they get shorter and longer as we get older or is that just us. Fresh from Coviduszko, Thredbro, and Taipei, our heroes reunite with man-about-town Andrew McDowall to bring you the annual DCR Christmas Special!! Except this time, we head along to the Fridge and Flagon and the Beer Jerk Running …

Kia ora e te whānau. *We acknowledge the Monero Ngarigo people, the traditional custodians of the land that this podcast was recorded on, and pay respect to their elders past, present, and emerging*. STONE THE FLAMING CROWS! No, literally. They are terrifying. Join Eugene and Matt on this very special episode of DCR when our heroes travel to Thredb…

Kia ora e te whānau. Running is often seen as a solitary endevour, however we are always buoyed up by those around us. For those of us who attempt feats that many would consider impossible, or at best improbable, family are essential. Which leads us to our tale about the Appalachian Trail and the Captain. The Captain, ably abetted by Gun Section an…

Kia ora e te whānau. Some of running’s biggest truisms are also the most tried and tested clichēs. And if you think about it, they are cliche for a reason. Because they are true. What’s your why? Have you thought about it? Like, really thought about why you run? Carly Webber and her husband Lee spent three years travelling in a camper-van with thei…

Kia ora e te whānau. The phrase “from out of nowhere” is overused, and largely inaccurate in the sense that everyone, and indeed everything,came from somewhere. Everything (and indeed everyone) has a beginning, a middle, and an end. If this most pummeled term of art was applied to any individual correctly in the context of the Aotearoa trail and ul…

If you've loved The Commune, here's a recommendation for another Stuff podcast we think you'll love. It's called The Trial. It’s about a fascinating murder case which went to trial even though there was no weapon or body. After a hung jury, finding ourselves in the middle of our own legal challenge and then a retrial... The Trial podcast is finally…

Kia ora e te whānau. Amy Whitehead’s Auntie Joan had dementia. And it killed her. Like most illnesses that effect the brain and function, the seriousness of dementia is little understood and often mischaracterised. Grateful for the support that Dementia Canterbury gave her family, Amy (who may blame others for the idea) decided that she would take …

Kia ora e te whānau. Sarah Pendergrass has changed. I mean, we all do, right? But Sarah’s journey has taken her from being a self-confessed “pom at bondi” to being an ultramarathon runner, podcaster, bike-packer, successful illustrator and all round adventurer. Sarah joined Eugene and Matt to discuss her epic run across Scotland, her history with r…

Kia ora e te whānau. This year, Matt was back at it at the Blue Lake for (what was supposed to be) 24 hours of challenge and excitement in the best worst kept secret on the Aotearoa trail running calendar. Toe’ing the line in the 100km distance, and amongst 700 other hardy souls across multiple levels of challenge from “Casual” to “The Claw” this e…

Kia ora e te whānau. Cath Wallis lost herself in the midst of a career and the focus of raising family. Standing at the threshold of middle age, Cath honestly didn’t know who she was anymore, and felt “invisible”. Growing up not-sporty, Cath felt that her foray into the world of ultra endurance events may be short lived, but six years, 9 ultramarat…

Kia ora e te whānau. This week we feature the great, the good, and the not so good from the Great Naseby Water Race. This event has been an Aotearoa trail running institution and has been on the bucket list for us for ages, so it was a privilege to get down to Central Otago and experience the trails and community of this special event. We catch up …

Introducing Newsable: Stuff's daily news podcast all about what everyone’s talking about! The Lauren Dickason trial highlighted some issues we don’t discuss much in New Zealand - the mental health of mothers, for example. Today, Kristina Grace, founder of the Mothers Helpers support group, urges people to be kinder to mums who might need help. And …

Kia ora e te whānau. This week Matt has the pleasure of speaking to Andy Carruthers, Wellington adventure lover, runner, and creator of the Tararua S-K movie. The S-K, or Schorman- Kaitoki, is a tramping route in the Tararua Range with a distance of approximately 80km and with 6800m of elevation gain. Conceived as a weekend challenge in the 1960’s …

Kia ora e te whānau. This week by popular demand Eugene and Matt speak to Ash Bartholomew, who triggered a worldwide explosion of “it’s suddenly being very dusty in here” as he rolled into the Placer Track at the end of the Western States Endurance Run two minutes over the 30 hour cut off accompanied by his daughter, Lucy (yes, that Lucy). Ash had …

Kia ora e te whānau. This week Eugene and Matt have the extreme pleasure of speaking to returning champion Dan Jones about his incredible 5th place finish at the 2023 Western States Endurance Run. When last we spoke to Dan on DCR he’d journeyed to Kenya to hone his craft with the hope of representing New Zealand at the marathon. What was supposed t…

In this special bonus episode Imogen Wells and Emile Donovan take a peek behind the scenes of The Commune in their conversation with Adam Dudding and Eugene Bingham. This interview originally appeared on Newsable, Stuff's daily news podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Kia ora e te whānau. This week Eugene and Matt sit down to speak with Sam Harvey fresh off his return from Dead Cow Gully. Sam was competing at the Australian Backyard Masters and managed a world record equalling 101 laps over four days and 677-odd kilometres. We talk to Sam about being (in his words) unreasonable, and what he felt going in, versus…

Kia ora e te whānau. This week Eugene and Matt speak to UTA 100 Champion George Murray. Originally from the South Island town of Blenheim, George has taken a circuitous journey to be at the beginning of an amazing journey, from his first love of mountain biking, pivoting through to road marathons, then onto the trails. George’s approach to training…

Kia ora e te whānau.This week Eugene and Matt speak with Alex Bezzina who has completed the FKT for the northbound Te Araroa Trail – 3000km in 60 days travelling from Bluff to Cape Reinga. Alex fell in love with running during lockdown and was Inspired by hearing the story of Brooke Thomas’ Te Araroa Southbound FKT. The added impetus for Alex was t…

Kia ora e te whānau. This week Eugene speaks with Sophie Power. Sophie is an ultrarunner who has recently been announced in the Great Britain team for the world 24 hour champs, after setting a lifetime best of 235.739 km. Sophie shot to global fame after the 2018 UTMB when she was photographed breastfeeding her 3 month old at an aid station. The ph…

Kia ora e te whānau. *We acknowledge the Gundungarra people, the traditional custodians of the land that this podcast was recorded on, and pay respect to their elders past, present, and emerging*. Stop what you are doing and go run in the Blue Mountains … it’s really just that good … and what follows is a blast of a podcast detailing the epicness o…

Kia ora e te whānau. Running a marathon is difficult, be it a PR, a grind, a failure, or in training, 42.2km is a distance the demands respect. Imagine running one, then another, then another, then another 147 back-to-back, mainly off road, in some of the wildest country in one of the wildest places on earth. This is what we talk to Guiness world r…

Kia ora e te whānau. Mal Law is one of the best known names in the Aotearoa trail running. Mal has raised just shy of a million dollars for charity with his many multi-day adventures. Mal and his wife Sally are also known as the founders of Wild Things, the on-line trail running community beloved to many. Inspired by a fastpacking mission around th…

Kia ora e te whānau. Out the gate with a bonus episode recorded with Lazarus Lake and Shaun Collins on the last night of Laz’s stay. Gary ‘Lazarus Lake’ Cantrell is a self described “Hillbilly from Tennessee” who for the better part of 40 years has been quietly putting on the most difficult foot races on the planet. On good form and ready to wax ly…

Kia ora e te whānau.Majell Backhausen is many things to many people. To Eugene and Matt Maj is, was, and always will be the 13th person ever to come on Dirt Church Radio. Speaking to Majell is always such a pleasure, like that time we bumped into him just below Wentworth Falls at UTA, all suffused in golden light, or that time we ran into him and M…

Kia ora e te whānau. You can learn a bit about a person from standing on a finish line with them through the night, and we were super lucky to have had that experience at TUM with Martin Gaffuri. We are so unbelievably stoked to bring you this conversation. It’s been a minute in the making and is well worth the wait. We spoke to Martin on the shore…

Kia ora e te whānau. Not to gush, but if Eugene and Matt did ever start a DCR book club, the first book in the curriculum would be Feet In The Clouds by Richard Askwith. For years we discussed inviting Richard on, but never had the courage to do so, until by happy chance we were prompted by a DCR listener. As well as being an author, Richard is a r…

Kia ora e te whānau. Last time Eugene and Matt spoke to Nancy Jiang was way back in 2018 on DCR #16. Way back then Nancy was beginning her trail running story, having just carved it up at the CCC and coming 15th at the world mountain running champs. Fast forward five years and we find the 2023 Tarawera 102km champion finally in a place where she’s …

Kia ora e te whānau. Eugene and Matt had the privilege of speaking with Ryan Montgomery from Park City, Utah, whilst he was at the Tarawera Ultramarathon by UTMB 102km. Born and raised in the misty Pacific Northwest, Ryan is a lover of outdoor spaces. Ryan ran his first marathon at 15 years old and was immediately inspired by long-distance running.…

Kia ora e te whānau. HOLY HECKA we’ve got a stacked show for you this week. From the shores of Lake Okataina (literally) to the village green where we interviewed a galaxy of this sport’s brightest stars, Tarawera Ultramarathon by UTMB always brings the goods and this year was no different. Eugene and Matt were on MC duties from Saturday evening un…

Kia ora e te whānau. An elite mindset is transferable across all ventures. Just ask Daniele Danesin. This week, Eugene and Matt sit down to talk with the five-time world champion rower and Olympian about his transition to running trails, his love of endurance, his background growing up in Italy, and what drove him to put down his football boots and…

This is a DCR special bonus repeat episode. Back in Episode 126 we caught up with Dr Tom Reynolds, part of the medical team at the Tarawera Ultra. Now, in that episode, as well as talking to him about his own incredible endurance feats, we spoke to him about the top tips he has for athletes undertaking trail races of all distances - the things to d…

Kia ora e te whānau. It’s fair to say that Eugene and Matt are getting super excited about Tarawera coming up. And this week, they are super grateful to be able to catch up with their MC amigos Ali Pottinger and Kerry Suter. Two absolute legends and the folk behind Squadrun, the coaching and running community phenomena. Ali and Kerry are the chief …