Kia ora e te whanau! This week Matt has the distinct privilege of speaking to Lee Grabarek. Lee (they/them) is a non-binary person who has been ripping it up on the trails and roads of Aotearoa for the last ten years, after travelling from Connecticut, where they enjoyed a very outdoorsy existence. Matt spoke to Lee about their life growing up, their initial foray into trail running and the sweet, sweet, sweet, transgression of wearing road shoes on the trail. We discuss Lee’s attendance at Out Trails, a trail running retreat for queer and trans people, and the massive impact that this had on their life. Lee, who puts it elegantly, does not “think about my gender every second of every day” so what this conversation is mostly about is running, how unifying this is, and what work there is to do in the space. Lee is here to, in their words, “Send it” and will be competing at this year's Crater Rim 30km. This is a truly interesting conversation with a super-interesting runner. Dirt Church Radio - Best Enjoyed Running. 

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Lee Grabarek- Stronger Than You Think 

Trail Society Podcast with Lee Grabarek

Out Trails 

Firies Furber Stairs Climb 

NickrunsAustralia.org.nz 

Inia Raumati Kia Mau Kia Ora 

Dirt Church Radio on Instagram

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Further Faster New Zealand

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Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake

Kia ora e te whānau! This week we’re joined by DCR favourite guest Gareth Morris as he recounts to us how he knocked off a run he first dreamed of more than a decade ago when he read the DCR favourite book, Feet in the Clouds, by Richard Askwith. The famous Bob Graham Round, a fell running loop in the English Lake District, challenges runners to tackle 42 peaks over a 66 mile course in less than 24 hours. (Bob Graham was the first person to go under that mark, in 1932). Gareth talks all about the history of this famous route, the camaraderie and sacrifice of those who helped him, and how he used the powerful words of legendary runner Nicky Spinks to get him to the end. Even if you’ve never heard of the BGR, or have any intention of running it, you’ll come away from this episode inspired (and with new knowledge about unique English cuisine …) Best enjoyed running!

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Episode links:

Westie Runner on YouTube

SQUADRUN

Dirt Church Merch!

Maree Leith Pledge Me for Finding Her Stride 

NickrunsAustralia.org.nz 

Inia Raumati Kia Mau Kia Ora 

Curranz

Julbo Eyewear 

UltrAspire

Dirt Church Radio on Instagram

Dirt Church Radio on Twitter 

Dirt Church Radio on Facebook 

Ciele

Further Faster New Zealand

Enjoy!

Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake

Kia ora e te whanau! David Hellard has had a long and varied history with running. From hashing with his army dad, to reclaiming fitness in his 20’s obstacle racing, adventure racing, a love of city exploration, running everywhere, ultras, to founding the long-running and wildly popular Bad Boy Running podcast. David has run many of the world’s greatest marathons and has a passion for a life on two feet. Lately pivoting to creating Caffeine Bullet, a chewable caffeine source that packs a mean punch. Proving the old adage that the degree of separation between New Zealand and the rest of the world is two degrees, David and Matt find out that they have a mutual friend (via Afghanistan!) and both being chatty and distractible embark on a conversation that can only be described as two anthropomorphic spaniels chasing a butterfly around a garden. Dirt Church Radio - Best Enjoyed Running. 

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Dirt Church Merch!

The Squadrun 4 Week Training Trial for DCR Listeners!

Bad Boy Running Podcast 

David Hellard Home 

Caffeine Bullet 

Firies Furber Stairs Climb 

NickrunsAustralia.org.nz 

Inia Raumati Kia Mau Kia Ora 

Dirt Church Radio on Instagram

Dirt Church Radio on Twitter 

Dirt Church Radio on Facebook 

Further Faster New Zealand

Enjoy!

Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake

Kia ora e te whānau! We’ve had the pleasure of some salubrious recording locales with Mr Andrew McDowall and this time is no different. Fresh off a DCMF he’s hit the Forestry Road Subaru Studios with Eugene and Matt for a full rundown of his Western States experience. We even got to stroke the buckle. *Spoiler Alert* That’s a pretty flash buckle, alright. 

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Episode links:

Andrew McDowall’s blog

SQUADRUN

Dirt Church Merch!

NickrunsAustralia.org.nz 

Inia Raumati Kia Mau Kia Ora 

Curranz

Julbo Eyewear 

UltrAspire

Dirt Church Radio on Instagram

Dirt Church Radio on Twitter 

Dirt Church Radio on Facebook 

Ciele

Further Faster New Zealand

Enjoy!

Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake

In its nine-year history the WUU2K has kicked many a runner in the ass. This year it kicked Matt in the head. Antecedently to the unfolding malarky, Eugene and Matt caught up with NZ trail legend Jenny Hirst, WUU2K race director and founder Gareth Thomas, and long-time collaborator Brent Robinson. You’ll get all the action from the start line, and Matt out on course,  alongside Eugene’s interviews with Tailwind NZ’s Mark Drew, Carly Webber from Runners NZ and many more. Best Enjoyed Running.

WUU2k

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Dirt Church Merch!

The Squadrun 4 Week Training Trial for DCR Listeners!

Trail Running NZ Home 

NickrunsAustralia.org.nz 

Inia Raumati Kia Mau Kia Ora 

Dirt Church Radio on Instagram

Dirt Church Radio on Twitter 

Dirt Church Radio on Facebook 

Further Faster New Zealand

Enjoy!

Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake

Kia ora e te whānau! On this episode, Eugene and Matt are joined by the brains trust of SQUADRUN Ali Pottinger and Kerry Suter for a play-along-at-home adventure around the start of planning for a big adventure or event, in this case, Matt’s build up to the Tarawera Ultra Trail. As usual with these conversations, Kerry and Ali are wise beyond years, and a font of incredible knowledge. Not to be missed. 

Dan Jones also checks in after his remarkable fourth-place run at Western States last weekend, and we debate the merits of standing in the way of Ruth Croft at UTMB (spoiler alert: Don’t).

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Episode links:

SQUADRUN

Dirt Church Merch!

Maree Leith Pledge Me for Finding Her Stride 

NickrunsAustralia.org.nz 

Inia Raumati Kia Mau Kia Ora 

Curranz

Julbo Eyewear 

UltrAspire

Dirt Church Radio on Instagram

Dirt Church Radio on Twitter 

Dirt Church Radio on Facebook 

Ciele

Further Faster New Zealand

Enjoy!

Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake

Kia ora e te whānau!
“At least I don’t have to listen to my own voice”. So goes the bio of Bradley Houghton, the maestro behind Trail Running NZ, the newsletter that has taken the scene by storm. Breaking his own rule, Bradley sits down with Eugene and Matt to discuss his own history with trail running, and the motivation to start Trail Running NZ. Bradley, like most of us who start something creative, juggles a full time job, family, and a love of running to bring you a weekly dose of trail running goodness. Whilst we had such a wealth of knowledge on the line we took a deep dive into the WUU2K (the Wellington Urban Ultra) a standout race in the Aotearoa running calendar since 2016, running through the courses, the history of the race and the stacked fields in this year's event. Best Enjoyed Running.

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Dirt Church Merch!

The Squadrun 4 Week Training Trial for DCR Listeners!

Trail Running NZ Home 

NickrunsAustralia.org.nz 

Inia Raumati Kia Mau Kia Ora 

Dirt Church Radio on Instagram

Dirt Church Radio on Twitter 

Dirt Church Radio on Facebook 

Further Faster New Zealand

Enjoy!

Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake

Kia ora e te whānau!

Our mate Andrew McDowall is quite good at running. Eugene calls him (inexplicably) the fifth Beatle of DCR, which is absolutely true if not numerically suspect. Andrew has been trying to get into Western States for what has felt like 100 years, but is actually 9 years. Which can feel like 100 years, I’m sure. He only went and bloody got in this year, and we speak to him about what this means for him, his training, and what he is most excited about. We also crack into a game of Over and Under about the most over rated, and most underrated aspects of race preparation. Baller. 

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Episode links:

Dirt Church Merch!

Maree Leith Pledge Me for Finding Her Stride 

NickrunsAustralia.org.nz 

Inia Raumati Kia Mau Kia Ora 

Curranz

Julbo Eyewear 

UltrAspire

Dirt Church Radio on Instagram

Dirt Church Radio on Twitter 

Dirt Church Radio on Facebook 

Ciele

Further Faster New Zealand

Enjoy!

Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake

Kia ora e te whānau! Anthony Kerr-Taylor – Ant K-T – couldn’t tell you what got him out onto the Riverhead trails during the country’s first Covid lockdown, but that first run four years ago has lead to a string of incredible results including an 8th place at this year’s Tarawera Ultra Trail 100 mile and a couple weeks ago Ant ran 348kms (or 52 laps) at Kings Backyard to take the record for the farthest run at a backyard on New Zealand soil. Ant talks us through “going down the rabbit hole” in this amazing conversation. Honest, inspiring, and assured, Ant K-T is one to watch. Best Enjoyed Running

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Anthony Kerr-Taylor Instagram 

Tina Buch’s LEA and REDs Research

NickrunsAustralia.org.nz 

Inia Raumati Kia Mau Kia Ora 

Julbo Eyewear 

UltrAspire

Irunfar

Dirt Church Radio on Instagram

Dirt Church Radio on Twitter 

Dirt Church Radio on Facebook 

Further Faster New Zealand

Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake

Kia ora e te whānau. This week we speak to the returning champion and guest on DCR episode 102 Coach Maree Leith of GoRunGirls. We talk to Maree about her efforts in writing and publishing her first book, Finding Her Stride, a compilation of 19 New Zealand woman runners and their stories. We also discuss our top tips for hitting the streets in the midst of winter, nerd out about headlamps (well, Matt does). We announce our new competition with The Spectacle, Aotearoa’s newest running festival, taking place December 13th-15th in Whakatū/Nelson. 

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Episode links:

Maree Leith Pledge Me for Finding Her Stride 

NickrunsAustralia.org.nz 

Inia Raumati Kia Mau Kia Ora 

Curranz

Julbo Eyewear 

UltrAspire

Dirt Church Radio on Instagram

Dirt Church Radio on Twitter 

Dirt Church Radio on Facebook 

Further Faster New Zealand

Enjoy!

Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake