On this episode of The Dark Zone: An Adventure Racing Podcast, we shift gears—literally—with ultra-distance cyclist and adventure writer Meaghan Hackinen. From solo rides across continents to podium finishes at grueling endurance events, Meaghan brings a unique perspective on resilience, mindset, and the beauty of long days in the saddle. She shares stories from her global rides, lessons learned while pushing physical and mental limits, and what it means to find strong efforts in the midst of fatigue. Whether you're navigating a remote bike leg in a multi-day race or dreaming of your next expedition, Meaghan’s insights are both inspiring and deeply grounded. Plus, we talk writing, racing, recovery, and the underrated magic of instant potatoes.

Thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, please like, click, and subscribe on your streaming platform of choice. This helps spread the word about Adventure Racing and TDZ's role in elevating the sport.

Remember - You Keep Racing, and We'll Keep Talking!

Shownotes:

Meaghan Hackinen - https://meaghanhackinen.com/book/

The Buckshot - https://www.bcepic1000.com/buckshot

Trans Am Bike Race - https://transambikerace.com/

North Cape 4000 - https://northcape4000.com/

North Cape-Tarifa - https://www.northcape-tarifa.com/

Ozark Gravel Doom - https://www.ozarkgravelcyclists.com/doom

Tour Divide - https://tourdivide.org/about_the_route

Atlas Mountain Race - https://bikepacking.com/tracker/atlas-mountain-race-2025/

Silk Road Mountain Race - https://www.themountainraces.cc/silk-road-mountain-race

Hellenic Mountain Race - https://www.themountainraces.cc/hellenic-mountain-race

Caves and Coves TT - https://www.bikepackadventures.ca/bikepacking-routes/caves-and-coves-itt

Sponsor Links:

American Himalayan Foundation - https://www.himalayan-foundation.org/

TDZ is happy to support The Checkpoint, presented by the United States Adventure Racing Association, through this crosspost of Episode #12. Thank you for listening and for supporting USARA.

Episode Details Below:

Welcome to Episode 12 of USARA's The Checkpoint Podcast.

On this episode of USARA's The Checkpoint Podcast, host Brent Freedland is joined by Brian Gatens, host of The Dark Zone: An Adventure Racing Podcast, for a deep dive into the world of expedition-length racing. From choosing your first race to travel logistics, international race prep, and lessons learned the hard way, Brian shares what it takes to level up. Along the way, he busts a few myths and offers practical advice drawn from years of on-course experience, as well as some terrible decisions. Whether you're planning your first expedition race or chasing a podium, this episode delivers the real-world insights you need to go farther, smarter, and stronger.

Send ideas for future episodes to [email protected]

Featured USARA Races:

Maine Summer Adventure Race - https://www.mainesummerar.com/

Never Summer Adventure Race - https://rockymountainadventureseries.com/never-summer-24hr/

Pocket Gopher AR Series - https://howlingadventurer.com/pocket-gopher-series/

Shownotes:

Thanks to Brian Gatens of The Dark Zone: An Adventure Racing Podcast (www.ardarkzone.com) for his assistance.

Be sure to visit the United States Adventure Racing Association at www.usara.com

Thank you for stopping by The Checkpoint. Don't stay here too long. There's training and racing to get to!

On this episode, TDZ steps off the course and into the heart of the Copper Canyons with the Korima Health Initiative. Founded with a mission to bring essential healthcare and education to the Indigenous Rarámuri people of northern Mexico, Korima is powered in part by a unique crew of volunteers—many of whom are also adventure racers. Just as they navigate wild terrain and unpredictable conditions in their athletic pursuits, these racers bring their endurance, teamwork, and grit to the challenges of remote medical work.

The connection is clear: in both arenas, success demands resilience, teamwork, and a deep commitment to service. We talk with those who’ve swapped trekking poles for stethoscopes and headlamps for tongue depressors. Tune in as The Dark Zone explores how the spirit of adventure racing fuels a mission of healing and hope.

Thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, please like, click, and subscribe on your streaming platform of choice. This helps spread the word about Adventure Racing and TDZ's role in elevating the sport.

Remember - You Keep Racing, and We'll Keep Talking!

Show notes:

https://korimahealthinitiative.org/

TDZ is happy to support The Checkpoint, presented by the United States Adventure Racing Association, through this crosspost of Episode #11. Thank you for listening and for supporting USARA.

Episode Details Below:

Welcome to Episode 11 of USARA's The Checkpoint Podcast.

On this mailbag episode of USARA’s The Checkpoint Podcast, host Brent Freedland is joined by adventure racing veterans Mari Chandler and Andy Bacon for a lively and wide-ranging conversation. Drawing from listener questions, the trio dives into gear preferences, sleep strategy, and team communication among other topics. With decades of experience between them, Mari and Andy offer equal parts wisdom, humor, and hard-earned insight. Whether you're new to AR or a seasoned racer, this episode has something for everyone. Tune in for a fun and informative journey through the questions that keep adventure racers up at night.

Send us your questions for future episodes at [email protected]

Guest Link:

Andy Bacon's EX2 Adventures - https://ex2adventures.com/

Featured USARA Races:

Stubborn Mule Adventure Race - https://180adventure.com/sm-race-info

Rainier Raid Adventure Race - https://rainierraid.com/

Shownotes:

Thanks to Brian Gatens of The Dark Zone: An Adventure Racing Podcast (www.ardarkzone.com) for his assistance.

Be sure to visit the United States Adventure Racing Association at www.usara.com

Thank you for stopping by The Checkpoint. Don't stay here too long. There's training and racing to get to!

Adventure racing thrives on passion, and nowhere is that clearer than in the story of Frank Johnson and The Wild Driftless Adventure Race. A longtime racer turned first-time Race Director, Frank is stepping up to give something back to the sport he loves. On this episode of The Dark Zone, we talk about what it means to start something new, why smaller races matter, and how community fuels everything. Big thanks to Frank for joining us, and don’t forget to check out the race website in the show notes.

Thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, please like, click, and subscribe on your streaming platform of choice. This helps spread the word about Adventure Racing and TDZ's role in elevating the sport.

Remember - You Keep Racing, and We'll Keep Talking!

Show notes:

https://www.adventuresignup.com/Race/IA/StrawberryPoint/WildDriftless

Freedom by Sebastian Junger - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55711668-freedom

Sponsor Links:

https://www.ascendathletics.org/

This episode of The Dark Zone explores a creative partnership between a college classroom and the course. Students from Washington and Lee University’s Leading Public Relations Campaigns class teamed up with Adventure Addicts Racing to support the Adrenaline Rush Adventure Race. As part of their coursework, students developed and implemented real-world media strategies to promote the event, offering a fresh perspective on how adventure racing is experienced, marketed, and understood.

Throughout the project, the students gained knowledge of communication, storytelling, and the unique culture of AR. But they didn’t stop there, students also came away with practical recommendations for race directors looking to grow the sport and better engage new audiences. It’s a compelling conversation about where adventure racing is today and where it could go tomorrow.

Thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, please like, click, and subscribe on your streaming platform of choice. This helps spread the word about Adventure Racing and TDZ's role in elevating the sport.

Remember - You Keep Racing, and We'll Keep Talking!

Show notes:

https://www.adventureaddictsracing.com/

Sponsor Links:

https://www.ascendathletics.org/

https://www.adventuresignup.com/Race/IA/StrawberryPoint/WildDriftless

A big thank-you to teacher and adventure racer Jeremy Johnson for connecting The Dark Zone with the student racers of Full Steam Ahead Adventure Racing. Based at Brunswick High School in Maryland, FSA is a thriving, student-led club that's bringing the next generation into the world of AR. In this episode, three young racers share how they found the sport, what it’s taught them, and how the lessons of adventure racing are shaping their lives beyond the course. If you're looking for a shot of optimism about the future, this is the episode to hear. If you want to help, FSA please see the donation link below.

Thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, please like, click, and subscribe on your streaming platform of choice. This helps spread the word about Adventure Racing and TDZ's role in elevating the sport.

Remember - You Keep Racing, and We'll Keep Talking!

Show notes:

To Donate: https://frederickcounty.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/55586/82/False/True

https://www.usara.com/news/the-ar-kids-are-alright

https://bhsgazette.org/9827/spotlights/full-steam-ahead-run-for-fun/

https://bhsgazette.org/11643/features/adventure-racing-at-brunswick-high/

Sponsor Links:

https://www.ascendathletics.org/

https://www.adventuresignup.com/Race/IA/StrawberryPoint/WildDriftless

Team Bones joins TDZ fresh off their 115-hour epic at Raid Bimbache in Morocco. From battling illness and chasing down runaway maps to staying strong and supportive as a team, they trekked (and biked... and paddled...) through it all together. Sleep-deprived and still processing their experience, they still made time to bring us their story. Thank you to Roy, Jen, James, and Jesse for sharing their story with us.

As with all Flash Episodes, what you hear is what you get as we record and release with no edits to save time. There’s a bit of fuzz here and there due to shaky WiFi, but nothing that takes away from the power of their experience.

Episode 125 feels like a milestone, and we’re grateful to Team Bones for helping us mark it in style.

Remember - You Keep Racing, and We'll Keep Talking!

Sponsor Links:

https://www.ascendathletics.org/

Hike For Her Registration Page - https://raceroster.com/events/2025/99558/hike-for-her-2025

Hike For Her Auction Site - https://app.galabid.com/hikeforher

https://www.wilddriftless.com/race-information

Oh Canada!

The Dark Zone recently sat down with the leadership team behind the upcoming Adventure Racing World Championships to be held in Penticton, British Columbia to dig into the necessary training, team planning, travel logistics, and what racers can expect. They held their ground under our not-so-subtle questioning about the course, but we still managed to get our hands on some beta (Nav! Nav! Nav!). This is your sneak peek into the minds shaping the biggest race of the year. Thank you to Lyndie, John, Alex, and Kenton for spending some time with us.

Thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, please like, click, and subscribe on your streaming platform of choice. This helps spread the word about Adventure Racing and TDZ's role in elevating the sport.

Remember - You Keep Racing, and We'll Keep Talking!

Show notes:

https://www.expeditionracecanada.ca/

https://arworldseries.com/races/expedition-canada-canada

https://www.linkedin.com/company/blade9films/posts/?feedView=all

https://www.visitpenticton.com/

Sponsor Links:

https://www.ascendathletics.org/

Hike For Her Registration Page - https://raceroster.com/events/2025/99558/hike-for-her-2025

Hike For Her Auction Site - https://app.galabid.com/hikeforher

https://www.wilddriftless.com/race-information

In this episode, we go international—literally—with Cormac and Lisa of the International Adventure Racing Association (IARA). As a worldwide organization, IARA is on a mission to unify, support, and elevate adventure racing on every continent. We talk about what it means to define standards of fairplay, safety, and sustainability in a sport that thrives on pushing limits and embracing the unknown. With a deep respect for racers, race directors, volunteers, and the land itself, IARA is working to shape a stronger, more inclusive future. From promoting ethical competition to building bridges with other organizations, IARA is setting the compass for where adventure racing is headed next. We dig into the core values that drive their work—teamwork, integrity, inclusion, and, of course, adventure. This episode offers a fresh perspective on what it means to race globally. Join us as we explore the spirit of adventure racing through the lens of its most ardent advocates.

Thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, please like, click, and subscribe on your streaming platform of choice. This helps spread the word about Adventure Racing and TDZ's role in elevating the sport.

Remember - You Keep Racing, and We'll Keep Talking!

Show notes:

https://internationaladventureracing.org/about/

https://www.facebook.com/internationaladventureracing/

Sponsor Links:

https://www.ascendathletics.org/

Hike For Her Registration Page - https://raceroster.com/events/2025/99558/hike-for-her-2025

Hike For Her Auction Site - https://app.galabid.com/hikeforher

https://www.wilddriftless.com/race-information