Kia ora e te whānau. This week Eugene speaks with Sophie Power. Sophie is an ultrarunner who has recently been announced in the Great Britain team for the world 24 hour champs, after setting a lifetime best of 235.739 km. Sophie shot to global fame after the 2018 UTMB when she was photographed breastfeeding her 3 month old at an aid station. The photo went viral and Sophie started speaking out - she had only lined up for the race because, at the time, UTMB wouldn’t allow for a deferral because of pregnancy* … although it would for some injuries. Sophie has set up SheRaces, an organization that fights to change the way that women are viewed and treated in racing, and they are getting results. She’s now got three children and has been very open about her postpartum returns to running. Eugene  talks to Sophie all about this, as well as how she fits training into her busy life, and her favourite races including Spartathlon. Best enjoyed whilst running. *This policy has now been changed. Episode Links SheracesUltra Sophie Instagram Ultra Sophie Home SCOTT Running Julbo Eyewear UltrAspireirunfarDirt Church Radio on InstagramDirt Church Radio on Twitter Dirt Church Radio on Facebook Dirt Church Radio on PatreonCieleFurther Faster New Zealand

Kia ora e te whānau. *We acknowledge the Gundungarra people, the traditional custodians of the land that this podcast was recorded on, and pay respect to their elders past, present, and emerging*. Stop what you are doing and go run in the Blue Mountains … it’s really just that good … and what follows is a blast of a podcast detailing the epicness of the 15th running of UTA. Matt and special guest host Ali Pottinger break down the four days of the festival from some very scenic locations (ha!), the traditional DCR running of all the things before our 12-hour night shift takes place and we also bring to you the UTA elite Q&A featuring Scotty Hawker, Troy Sachs, Charlie Hamilton, and Lucy Bartholomew. Best enjoyed whilst running. Episode Links Ultra trail Australia by UTMB SCOTT Running Julbo Eyewear UltrAspireirunfarDirt Church Radio on InstagramDirt Church Radio on Twitter Dirt Church Radio on Facebook Dirt Church Radio on PatreonCieleFurther Faster New Zealand

Kia ora e te whānau. Running a marathon is difficult, be it a PR, a grind, a failure, or in training, 42.2km is a distance the demands respect. Imagine running one, then another, then another, then another 147 back-to-back, mainly off road, in some of the wildest country in one of the wildest places on earth. This is what we talk to Guiness world record holder (pending), nutritionist and author Erchana Murray-Bartlett about in this episode of Dirt Church Radio. We cover the why, where, and how of this amazing endevour, discover that maybe a chance meeting on a mountain can lead to beautiful things, that the ideal ratio of icecream scoops when running 150 marathons  is n+1  and to never get between a wild bull and your e-bike riding mum. Best enjoyed whilst running. Episode Links Erchana Murray-Bartlett Instagram tip to toe 2022Tip to toe gofundmeSCOTT Running Julbo Eyewear UltrAspireirunfarDirt Church Radio on InstagramDirt Church Radio on Twitter Dirt Church Radio on Facebook Dirt Church Radio on PatreonCieleFurther Faster New Zealand

Kia ora e te whānau. Mal Law is one of the best known names in the Aotearoa trail running. Mal has raised just shy of a million dollars for charity with his many multi-day adventures. Mal and his wife Sally are also known as the founders of Wild Things, the on-line trail running community beloved to many. Inspired by a fastpacking mission around the iconic Hardrock course, Mal came up with the concept for The Wild. Of course, an events company called Fusion Events which had been brought in to run the event went into liquidation in September last year, owing plenty of people plenty of money - that of course meant the race was off. Mal has now taken back the vision and operation of The Wild. Eugene and Matt have a frank and open conversation all about the trials and tribulations of the collapse of his - and many other people’s - dream last year, as well as the resurrection of the race, which will debut this December. We also talk to him about his next adventure - heading off to take on his second attempt at a sub-24 hour Bob Graham Round in the UK. Best enjoyed whilst running. Episode Links The Wild Mal Law Instagram The Wild Instagram SCOTT Running Julbo Eyewear UltrAspireirunfarDirt Church Radio on InstagramDirt Church Radio on Twitter Dirt Church Radio on Facebook Dirt Church Radio on PatreonCieleFurther Faster New Zealand

Kia ora e te whānau. Out the gate with a bonus episode recorded with Lazarus Lake and Shaun Collins on the last night of Laz’s stay. Gary ‘Lazarus Lake’ Cantrell is a self described “Hillbilly from Tennessee” who for the better part of 40 years has been quietly putting on the most difficult foot races on the planet. On good form and ready to wax lyrical about the fellowship of miles, the peculiarity of regional dialects, the importance of the collective, and the intrinsic worth of every athlete, this is a great conversation that we couldn’t wait to bring you. Best enjoyed whilst running. Episode Links Riverhead Relaps SCOTT Running Julbo Eyewear UltrAspireirunfarDirt Church Radio on InstagramDirt Church Radio on Twitter Dirt Church Radio on Facebook Dirt Church Radio on PatreonCieleFurther Faster New Zealand