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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Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake

DCR IN THE WILD

Andrew will be at Northburn100 this weekend

Ali will be heading to the Kunanyi Moutain Run in Tasmania 28-30th March

Our mates at Squadrun have come up with a special four week training trial for listeners of DCR. Now as you’ll know from listening to DCR over the years, Squadrun is the baby of Kerry Suter and Ali Pottinger, and they have coached thousands of runners to success at a bunch of events we love and cherish and if you’ve been to any trail races on either side of the Tasman you’ll have seen the squadrun colours being represented strongly. So, if you want to give it a crack, here’s the link.

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Essay

Everyone you know someday will die (and other cheerful tidbits)

Eugene always said I should get better at attention-grabbing headlines. And I’ll tell you, that line from Rebecca and my wedding song (true story) certainly is one.

It’s also a beautiful lament on the fragility of life, the ineffable nature of love, and the triumph of the human spirit over adversity.

And this song was released 20-something years ago. This is wild because that means we’ve been married 20 years this year. Which can’t be right, surely? That means we’re getting old.

Does anyone else’s back hurt? or is that just me.. Anyway. Digression aside, this week on the podcast I got to chat to Andrew McDowall about that very fact. That Dirt Church Radio spans the gap from Elder Millenial to Young Gen x’er. We’re older, and that’s okay.

We all know the massive benefits to aging that running, or indeed any physical activity has, both on our metabolic, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, psychological, spiritual, and cognitive realms. Andrew and I discussed this week that for men in their middle age in particular, it might be something that is associated with the act itself which is the secret sauce.

You Have A Voice, Use It - Jasmin Paris. Dirt Church Radio 318.

Jasmin Paris joins a very exclusive club- Photo Credit: David Miller

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 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

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 trail, the conversations we have which can progress the sport, and the challenges that women face on our trails. This episode was recorded February 14th, 2025, at the Tarawera Ultra…

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

Ruth Croft shortly after crossing the finish line. Photo Credit: Tim Barkely-Smith

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.

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.

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

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 traveling 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

Kia ora e te Whānau. 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 for all your ills. Dirt Church Radio - Best Enjoyed Running.

Erin Colebatch- Run Further and Faster with An Ultra Appetite– Dirt Church Radio 309.

Kia ora e te whanāu. For the first DCR pod of 2025, we bring you a conversation Ali recorded with nutritionist 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