This week is all about Western States. The history, the myths and legends, and how Ali, Andrew, and Matt first got drawn into the orbit of this incredible race. Andrew, who ran the bloody thing in 2024, confirms that the hype is indeed justified and talks us through the ins and outs of the iconic course. We have interviews with Caitlin Fielder, Holly Ranson, and Lachlan Colbatch, all of whom are toeing the line on Saturday. Above and beyond all this, we discuss Matt’s wildlife encounter on the weekend, how NZ is a village, discuss the future of the WSER, and vote with our hearts and our heads on who we think will take the win. All this and more at the DCR AidStation.

Dirt Church Radio – Best Enjoyed Running.

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Episode Links

Western States Endurance Home

irunfar (the GOATS)

Caitlin Fielder Instagram

Holly Ranson Instagram

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Further Faster New Zealand

Enjoy!

Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake

Kia ora e te whānau. This week, we bring you a double header of epic proportions. First, you’ll hear the 2026 Ultra Trail Australia Women in Trail panel. This episode features elite trail runners Beth McKenzie, Charlie Simpson, Lydia O’Donnell, and Olympian triathlete Sophie Linn. Next, Ali speaks to Dr. Pelle Kempe, a specialist Obstetrician and Gynaecologist based in Palmerston North. He is the Medical Lead for the Obstetrics and Gynaecology service at Palmerston North Hospital. Dr. Kempe also serves as Chair of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. A passionate trail runner, Pelle is dedicated to improving women’s health. This conversation explores the intersection of trails and health, the changes and challenges for female athletes, and possible ways forward. (Note for the fellas: Women’s health affects everyone. Stick around, learn something, and enjoy the chat.)

Dirt Church Radio—Best Enjoyed Running.

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Episode Links

Beth McKenzie Instagram

Sophie Linn Instagram

Charlie Simpson Instagram

Lydia O’Donnell Instagram

Dr Pelle Kempe Instagram

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Dirt Church Radio on Instagram

Dirt Church Radio on Facebook

Further Faster New Zealand

Enjoy!

Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake

This week is a tribute to togetherness that running can bring us. Ali, Andrew, and Matt celebrate the experience of heading out for a run with your mates, be it a marathon relay, a Denny’s Marathon, or a Coast to Coast to Coast. We explore (literally) some of the cool places you can get to in a city on foot. We salute and welcome Freden, Auckland’s new maunga-based running activity, and reveal our fondness for the ephemera collected post-race, and the memories they hold. We get sub-niche, learn that Fela Kuti’s mum was tough as all get out, and pay our fondest respects to Matua Ken. All this and more, at the DCR AidStation

Dirt Church Radio – Best Enjoyed Running.

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Episode Links

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Dirt Church Radio on Instagram

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Further Faster New Zealand

Enjoy!

Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake

Kia ora e te whānau. Ian Sharman is a straight-up Legend in the sport of ultramarathon running. A Coach and Athlete hailing from the Golden Age, before 4K cameras in everyone’s pockets and when fans had to pass around a pirated copy of Unbreakable, Sharman and his kin were like trail gods, foreshadowing and inspiring the current crop of legends and doing things us regular people could only imagine, and we had to, because it was before the great trailrunning media bubble formed. Starting DCR 8 years ago after growing up in the sport, listening to Shaman on Trail Runner Nation and the like, and having him on the podcast is like a dream come true. The four-time Leadville winner and Grand Slam of Ultra Running record holder joins Ali and Andrew for a long overdue catch-up about life on the trails, his amazing achievements in racing and coaching, and the why behind his new book, The Art of Ultrarunning: Tried & Tested Strategies for Long Distance Runners.

Dirt Church Radio—Best Enjoyed Running.

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Episode Links

Ian Sharman Instagram

Sharman Ultra Coaching

The Art Of Ultrarunning Preorder

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Dirt Church Radio on Instagram

Dirt Church Radio on Facebook

Further Faster New Zealand

Enjoy!

Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake

This week, Ali, Matt, and Andrew get philosophical: if an influencer were to influence the woods and no one were around, would anyone GRWM? We take a shot at amateur doping (and why this sucks), and share our undying admiration for the NZ 24-hour championship team. We address some of the curliest issues afflicting trail running in the 21st century. While we are at it, why is Andrew so calm? It worries us when he goes all Zen. Should you date runners, even if you are one? Is this a slippery slope? Does time count in the airport lounge? How does one confuse terrain with talent, and we circle (pit) back to the debacle in the desert. All this and more, at the DCR AidStation

Dirt Church Radio – Best Enjoyed Running.

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Episode Links

Sign up for the DCR AidStation newsletter and never miss an episode! Join us today.

Dirt Church Radio on Instagram

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Further Faster New Zealand

Enjoy!

Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake

Kia ora e te whānau. We ran away and joined the circus. And it was cool as hell. No, not that dork-fest in the desert, but a true example of community and fellowship at the 2026 Hoka Ultra Trail Australia by UTMB. These are incredible four days in the majesty of the Blue Mountains. Ali and Matt were privileged to lead a brilliant conversation with some of the biggest talents in Trail and Ultra Running on Friday, after the first of our live shows was rained off. We speak with Beth McKenzie, Ruth Croft, Dan Jones, and two-time Leadville champ (and kangaroo victim) Adrian MacDonald. We’ll be running down the highs and lows, drama, and hilarity of yapping on the mic during this wonderful week away. We would like to acknowledge every single person who toe’d the line in the 11, 22, 50, 100 km, and 100-mile distances. We appreciate the effort, courage, and sacrifice you and your families made to be here. We think you are very cool and tough, and we can’t wait to see you in 2027.

Dirt Church Radio—Best Enjoyed Running.

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Episode Links

Ruth Croft

Beth McKenzie

Dan Jones

Adrian MacDonald

Ultra Trail Australia by UTMB

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Dirt Church Radio on Instagram

Dirt Church Radio on Facebook

Further Faster New Zealand

Enjoy!

Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake

We’ve had some big weeks in the running world. With some incredible performances and a new normal being established across the board, from 42.2 to 250 miles. Ali, Andrew, and Matt are here for it, and we have some questions as well. Is our sport, and the big tent that it has become, lost some of its sparkle, its unpredictability, its wonder? Now, every elite performance must surely hinge on the 1%ers.

When is too much too much? Have accomplishment and performance been superseded by attention? Are races now cults of personality driven by an allegiance to race directors? When a brand’s identity overshadows the identity of its runners, is that a good thing? And we’re doping now? sorta? And surely in today’s day and age should we be encouraging elite road runners who have podcasts to shut the F*&k up as much as possible? especially when it comes to gender*

Dirt Church Radio – Best Enjoyed Running.

​*I think we can all agree on this one.

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Episode Links

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Dirt Church Radio on Instagram

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Further Faster New Zealand

Enjoy!

Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake

Kia ora e te whānau. Who is excited for UTA? Gosh, we certainly are. This week, Join Ali and Matt as they preview the elite fields in the miler, 100km, 50km, and 22km events at Ultra Trail Australia, as well as answer those last-minute questions that athletes have when staring an event like this in the face. This year, we’ve decided to do things a little differently, and Ali speaks with Ian ‘easy’ Meyer- one of the foundations of the course marking team, and event stalwart- to dive into the details of the course, what to expect, and the level of detail that goes into planning this incredible event.

Dirt Church Radio—Best Enjoyed Running.

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Episode Links

Ultra Trail Australia by UTMB

Sign up for the DCR AidStation newsletter.

Dirt Church Radio on Instagram

Dirt Church Radio on Facebook

Further Faster New Zealand

Enjoy!

Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake