Episodes
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Kia ora e te whānau. It’s always a party in the Blue Mountains. From the out-of-this-world scenery, to the amazing people, to the exceptional country that carries you, the Blue Mountains have it all. Add to this mix the atmosphere and celebration of Ultra Trail Australia being a UTMB world major, and you have a recipe for an incredible time. This year’s UTA live special is in three parts. In part one, Ali and Matt speak to UTA miler athletes, Vlad Shatrov, Kellie Angel, and UTA22 guns Ben Duffus and Sara Levett at the first of the DCR live shows. Part two sees Matt head out onto the trails, with the 50km athletes, speaking to Sweep Manager and running legend Jane Trumper, adaptive athlete Mick Marshall, Father and Daughter duo Harry and Jess, and some Fairmont aid station action. We then head to Part 3, where we speak to some of the 50 and 100km runners. We try to crack Dan Jones’ media training, we find out that a gorilla has no chance against 100 Caitlin Fielders, we sizzle in Beth McKenzie’s laser focus, and dig into 2023 UTA100 winner George Murray’s road to redemption in 2025. Dirt Church Radio - Best Enjoyed Running
Ultra Trail Australia Home
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Kia ora e te whānau. This week, Ali Pottinger speaks with Hanny Allston for a special addition to the Aidstation Podcast. Hanny is a returning champion to DCR who was with us for episode 121, all the way back in December 2020. Back then we said Hanny is based in Tasmania and is a high performance coach, owner of Find Your Feet Outdoors, former junior and senior world champion orienteer - elite trail runner and now the author of Finding My Feet, Hanny’s memoir which delves into a lot of topics including body image, mental health, and bullying, which we don’t often talk about in the trail running space, but we definitely should. This conversation focuses on the multitude of identities we have in our lives, and how we can be pigeon-holed into specific ones, and they, in turn, can define what people perceive of us, but not the whole us. Heads up. This conversation deals with topics around perinatal mental health. Ali and Hanny are powerful women, and this is a worthwhile listen for anyone with a running Mum in their lives, or indeed, any Mum in their lives. That means most of us. Mum’s rule. Dirt Church Radio- Best Enjoyed Running
-- --- ---Episode Links
Finding My Feet: My Story
Trail Running Guidebook
Hanny Allston Facebook
Hanny Allston Instagram
Find Your Feet Tours
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Missing episodes?
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Kia ora e te whānau. Bryon Powell is a legend. The founder of iRunFar, an Ultramarathon runner and returning Dirt Church Radio Champion. In this week’s episode of DCR, Bryon speaks with Ali and Andrew about the lessons he learnt and the stories he shared in his lifetime, packed into three days, winning the incredible Ultra Gobi 400km. Dirt Church Radio - Best Enjoyed Running
Bryon Powell on Instagram
iRunFar
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Kia ora e te whānau. Anyone with a passing relationship with Dirt Church Radio will know that Ultra Trail Australia has wormed it’s way firmly into our hearts as one of the must-do events on the planet. That love was deepened when Ali P jumped on board as a co-host in 2024. This week, Matt has the pleasure to speak to Ali and Kerry, the brawn-and-brawn behind Squadrun, about this year's event being one of the three global majors and what to expect both in terms of the courses themselves, with the inclusion of what will be a very challenging 100-mile event. In addition to these course previews, Ali and Kerry bring the executive functioning of a well-stocked spreadsheet to the party in terms of who to watch out for in each distance, whilst Matt impulsively wants what the heart wants. We can’t wait to see you all at the start and finish lines in a couple of weeks, and until then, we hope that this will help fill the UTA-shaped gap. Dirt Church Radio - Best Enjoyed Running
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Kia ora e te whānau. Jean Beaumont is a legend in Aotearoa ultramarathon circles that you’ve probably heard of, or maybe thought you did, because Jean keeps to herself. It’s taken years to get her to come on DCR and we’re so glad she did. Eight Northburn 100 finishes, and six wins from those eight, on top of masses of other feats of endurance that would make a mortal quail, including The Revenant, The Spectacle, and way back in the day, a double Hillary. Ali and Andrew run through Jean’s backstory and what makes this utter legend tick on this excellent episode of Aotearoa’s original trail and ultramarathon podcast. Dirt Church Radio - Best Enjoyed Running
Jean Beaumont Instagram
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Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake
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Kia ora e te whānau. This week, we’re all back in the same country (for the time being) and thought that we would switch it up on this week’s Aidstation with a Lightning Round of questions that are, frankly, all over the place. From mental strategies for ultramarathons to Andrew’s neighbour, who may be the incredible hulk, through to the best races for newbies, specificity, the pros and cons of modern fuelling, Ali’s twenties, to how much you’d pay to poop in a bucket, It’s all on this week in the Aidstation. Dirt Church Radio- Best Enjoyed Running
Northland 100 Ultramarathon
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The Kunanyi Mountain Run Special. Dirt Church Radio 321
Kia ora e te whānau. Lutruwita/Tasmania is legend. A hard place with warm people nestled off the east coast of Australia. Our legend, Ali Pottinger was lucky enough to travel to Nipaluna/Hobart to participate in this year’s Kunanayi Mountain Run. Whilst she was there Ali did what all good podcasters do, which was get some great content, from the race director Lincoln, to hearty participants taking on this incredible challenge, We’d always wanted to go to Hobart to go to MONA and ride singlespeeds, but this race is now firmly on the top of our list. Dirt Church Radio - Best Enjoyed Running
Kunanyi Mountain Run
Phil Rossiter on Dirt Church Radio
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Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake
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Kia ora e te whānau. We get the band back together after ages for this week’s AidStation Podcast. Fresh from Kunyani, Northburn 100, and kicking about at Riverhead Relaps, Ali, Andrew, and Matt discuss their love of the Grassroots event and the challenges and opportunities for amazing experiences that lie within. This week, we've got some bonus audio that Matt recorded at the Relaps Backyard. First, you hear from RD Shaun Collins about the event's history, changes, triumphs, challenges, and where the backyard goes. We’ll speak to Helen Waterworth and Chris Newsome from His&Hers events regarding their brand new ultramarathon, the Northland 100, taking place in Whangarei in July. You’ll hear from returning champion Meg Collins about her new backyard PB and the puzzle of running whilst studying medicine. Finally, Matt speaks to Alex MacDonald, an 18-year-old woman making a name for herself commentating in what has largely been a very middle-aged and male profession. Dirt Church Radio - Best Enjoyed Running
Northland 100 Ultramarathon
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Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake
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Kia ora e te whānau. Originally from Western Australia, growing up surfing and playing footie, Michael Dunstan has turned his hands to many things, including music, photography, and trail running. It turns out Michael is pretty (very) good at this whole trail running thing and has won the inaugural GPT100 mile race, Third place at Ultra Trail Snowdonia in Wales a win at the 2023 Hounslow Classic Marathon. Now based in Katoomba NSW, Michael is working hard at some lofty goals for 2025. This is a beautiful conversation, which covers a variety of topics and is guaranteed stoke inducing. It won't help if you don’t like snakes or thunderstorms, but apart from the Ophidiphobics amongst us, this will be a dead-set winner. Dirt Church Radio - Best Enjoyed Running
Michael Dunstan Music
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Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake
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Kia ora e te whānau. The first clue to Matthew having an inkling that his faculties might be slipping is when he starts announcing every episode of the AidStation as number 25, just like this week. Age is a tyranny that we all face, and this week-old mates Andrew and Matt run down the question of when it is time to accept that you are not 25 anymore and if you should be. or would you want to go back to being 25 again? what keeps you going into middle age and beyond? and what's Matt's obsession with 25 anyway? But look. Despite the perseveration, this is an excellent conversation about strategies to keep your faculties, a tender chat about tender quads and the importance of not starting your races like a dickhead. Which is something that comes with age, I guess. Dirt Church Radio - Best Enjoyed Running
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Kia ora e te whānau. Jasmin Paris was rocketed into the wider consciousness when she became the first woman to finish Barkley Marathons, with 99 seconds to spare. Ironically, for a race that eschewed publicity for so long, the photos of Paris sending the final 100 metres or so to the yellow gate are arguably more famous than the Barkley itself. Whilst this may be Jasmin’s best known achievement, it’s far from her only one. Spine winner, Bob Graham Round holder, fell running champion, senior lecturer in veterinary science, Mother and partner. Jasmin’s life is full. Ali and Matt spoke to Jasmin about all this, and Green Runners, the organisation she co-founded with Damian Hall to advocate for, and address climate issues related to the sport of running and the wider world. We hope you enjoy this conversation, and are at least as stoked and inspired as we were. Dirt Church Radio - Best Enjoyed Running
Jasmin Paris Instagram
The Green Runners
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Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake
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Aid Station 26: The 2025 Women in Trail Panel with Ali Pottinger, Corrine Malcolm, and Lucy Bartholomew.
Kia ora e te whānau. Please enjoy this incredible conversation with three wahine toa about women in trail. The conversation discussed different means of platforming women in the trail, the things that foster discussions that can progress the sport, and some of the challenges which women face in our community. This episode was recorded February 14th, 2025, at the Tarawera Ultra Trail by UTMB. Dirt Church Radio - Best Enjoyed Running
Lucy Bartholomew
Corrine Malcolm
Freetrail
Tarawera Ultra Trail By UTMB
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Kia ora e te whānau. When Adrian MacDonald moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, he didn’t do it for the trails, he did it for love and the chance to run hills at altitude. With a background in road and track, MacDonald didn’t hit the trails until the pandemic canceled races and he thought he’d try his hand at an FKT. The rest, as they say, is history. Andrew and Matt speak to Adrian about his back-to-back wins at the historic Leadville 100, what it took to get him there, his road, er, trail to Western States, and just how much of a nuisance Sam Harvey is to race the 100-mile distance *Spoiler Alert* exactly how much you’d think he is. Dirt Church Radio - Best Enjoyed Running
Adrian MacDonald home
Adrian MacDonald Instagram
On
Coros
Carbs Fuel
Leadville 100
Tarawera Ultra Trail By UTMB
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Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake
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Kia ora e te whānau.St. Valentine’s Day is for lovers, and we thought what better way to celebrate our love for Tarawera Ultra Trail and the people at the pinnacle of our sport than to change up your standard interview format to something that vibed with the day. Our pros had three minutes each, randomly drawn questions, some about running, some not, and one opportunity to pass. We spoke to Caitlin Fielder, Dan Jones, Ruth Croft, Hadyen Hakes, Konoka Azumi, Ryan Montgomery, Robbie Simpson, Helen Redcloud Mino Faulkner, and Lucy Bartholomew. It was great to hear the pros being quick on their feet in a different sense of the word. Also, you’ll hear in this episode a tale of two milers and Ali’s perspective starting these events and welcoming people home. Dirt Church Radio - Best Enjoyed Running
Tarawera Ultra Trail By UTMB
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Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake
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The 2025 Tarawera Ultra Trail Preview Special, with Kerry Suter and Lucy Bartholomew. Dirt Chruch Radio 313.
Kia ora e te whānau. It's that time of year again!!! The circus has rolled into town, the tents are being set up, the sawdust is being sprinkled, the elephants have those funny headdress things on, and all we are waiting for is a bunch of clowns to show up. In what is one of our favourite episodes of each year, Matt, Ali, and Andrew are joined by special guests Kerry Suter and the mighty Lucy Bartholomew (yes, that Lucy Bartholomew) to provide the inside track on the action at this weekend's 50, 102, and 100mile Tarawera Ultra Trail. With thousands set to hammer the trails, there is some super-spicy racing across all the fields. Still, with a Western States Endurance Run Golden Ticket on the line for the first two men and women in the 102km, it’s undeniable that this distance will leave people reaching for the cold water. With approximately 100000 years of experience between the five of us from elite to coach to corn-fed citizen athlete there’s plenty to keep everyone interested no matter your focus this weekend, So sit back, relax, and enjoy! Dirt Church Radio - Best Enjoyed Running
Lucy Bartholomew - Instagram
Lucy Bartholomew @ Salomon
Tarawera Ultra Trail By UTMB
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Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake
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Kia ora e te whānau. You know the feeling when you are running down a trail and it gets so good that you feel that you are flowing and then you push it just that little bit and you suddenly figure out that you are holding onto the dirt and sanity by your fingertips? Yeah. This episode is like that but in podcast form. In this episode, our heroes discuss what it truly means to commit to a big race, and how they can haunt your dreams. The crew rips through their bucket list races (if money was no object) and then some more realistic options. Finally, in a truly historic DCR moment, the batton of impulsivity is solemnly passed from Matt to Andrew McDowell, who has slaughtered the most fattened trail calf and declared war on his bbq reggae-loving brethren in Wellington with his all-out assault on the Tararua Ranges. I mean, Karel made it look easy, nē? Dirt Church Radio - Best Enjoyed Running
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Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake
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Kia ora e te whānau. We’ve discussed on Dirt Church Radio in the past that the pros walk amongst us, however witnessing their drive, discipline, and ability to seemingly dance away on the most challenging of terrain is a sight to behold. And, look, not to put too fine a point on it, but Amanda Basham rules. A professional trail runner and endurance coach, who has raced at the highest heights of the sport, including winning the USATF trail championships as her first race as a professional. Amanda was kind enough to speak to Ali and Andrew about her extraordinary career in the sport, her love of Aotearoa, and an incredible, in-depth, and honest discussion about what goes into being a professional runner and a parent. From post-partum to the joys and travails of travelling to races with young children, and the parenting juggle, to the business aspect of sponsorship, longevity, and perspective, Basham took us to school. This is an incredible conversation with an amazing human being. Thanks, Amanda!! Dirt Church Radio - Best Enjoyed Running
Amanda Basham Home
Amanda Basham Instagram
Altra
Garmin
UltrAspire
Buff USA
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Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake
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During the taper phase common side effects include (and are not limited to): Madness, phantom pain, irritability, insatiable hunger and thirst, endless worry, and comparison. You will be a dick to your family at some point. You will be self-indulgent and mope in a Zoom call going “No one even knows what I’m going through”. You will stress about your training, and your gear choice, and you will have regrets. You will feel like you are losing fitness. You will question your life choices.
Don't worry. Matt, Ali, and Andrew have the ointment. -
Kia ora e te whanāu. For the first DCR pod of 2025, we bring you a conversation Ali recorded with sports dietitian and ultramarathon runner Erin Colebatch. With race season fast approaching it’s time to get your nutritional strategies dialed in (and who couldn’t be a little more dialed in, right?). Ali and Erin talk about how nutrition can be simple, which is difficult from easy, a practical approach to carbohydrates, and perhaps most salient for those undertaking long runs, how one can avoid being like the pope or a bear in the woods. We’ve also got an excellent Greatest Run Ever from last year’s GPT and more on this week’s episode. Dirt Church Radio - Best Enjoyed Running
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Kia ora e te whanāu. Holy moly it's been a long year, and we are STOKED to share the 5th episode of the Dirt Church Radio Christmas Special!! Matt, Ali, and Andrew run through the highs, the lows, (well, we cut those out), and the legends of the 2024 trail running world. This is coming out on Christmas day, so we'll keep the preamble short, but we wish you a wonderful 2025 filled with love, light, and dirty ankles. Get after it in the new year, and we'll see you on the trails after a couple of weeks' break. Dirt Chruch Radio- Best Enjoyed Running.
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Inia Raumati Kia Mau Kia Ora
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Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake
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