Dirt Church Radio Trail Running

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
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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’re not going to lie, there was a lot on the docket this week, and boy did Ali, Andrew, and Matt rip through it. 
We, the aforementioned, declare that Tamaki is now the distance-running capital of Aotearoa. And also that it is “mad nice” (Friedland, 2026). We charge that big companies should stop doing things that make them look like dicks, and that the Boston thing was sort of okay, and also we wonder if that dude that Jurek helped across the line at Western States ever got a sympathy cougar. READ THE RULES, PEOPLE.
Attending to point 1. We salute Messers McLean, Wadams, Steel, Steel, & Steel for their spectacular efforts at the Faultline Miler. 
Andrew McDowall formally and unreservedly apologizes to Shaun Collins for his complete disregard for Trail Nav events in the North Island. We also discussed the little race in London over the weekend and the Wanaka Ultra. Mad Nice indeed. 

Dirt Church Radio – Best Enjoyed Running.
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Episode Links 

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

Way back in 2023, when Eugene and Matt first spoke to Matt Bixley (on DCR 228 if you are interested), they were impressed not only by the attention he paid to detail in planning his adventures, the scope of the adventures - 18 Keplers (at the time) , a Barkley Marathons, a million rogaines, and an astounding back story, but the sheer ability of the man to spin a great yarn.  
Fast forward a couple of years, and we find out that not much has changed. Settle in for round two with Matt, this time with DCR’s Andrew McDowall. There’s been more Keplers, More Barkley Marathons, and even more adventures with a compass in hand, maybe even a broken rib in there too. I apologize in advance for the test cricket chat. Fun, free-wheeling, and always entertaining, we are stoked to bring you this conversation with the man who literally wrote the crib notes on the Kepler. Dirt Church Radio—Best Enjoyed Running.

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Episode Links 
Matt Bixley DCR 228
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Matt Bixley’s Kepler Notes
Dirt Church Radio on Instagram
Dirt Church Radio on Facebook
Further Faster New Zealand
Enjoy!
Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake

Goodness me, we got through a bit on the Aidstation this week. From hard choices to boners (Yes, you read correctly). Better mental health and running strategies you can use every day. Paying to pace? yep, we go there too, and yep, Backyards aren't dead. Also, most importantly,  I know, it’s not Mack or Mac, it’s Mc, as in McDowall, but goshdarnit, Andrew is back, and we’re all the better for it. Did we mention boners?  Excellent stuff.

Dirt Church Radio – Best Enjoyed Running.
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Episode Links 

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

Kia ora e te whānau. This week, Ali Pottinger chats with Annie Hand, fresh off her second-place finish at the Six Foot Track Marathon. Hand, a Blue Mountain stalwart, completed the Ultra Trail Australia Miler in 2025 and is off for a lap of Mount Blanc in 2026. Annie and Ali talk about performance, Annie’s abiding love of the Blue Mountains, and the pleasant surprise of ending up on podiums in this excellent conversation you won’t want to miss. Also, don’t miss out on our Greatest Run Ever this week, a brotherly battle at the Delerious West.  Also, we'd like to put The Goat Farm forward for best running club name ever. Dirt Church Radio—Best Enjoyed Running.

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Episode Links 

Sign up for the DCR AidStation newsletter.
Annie Hand Instagram
Dirt Church Radio on Instagram
Dirt Church Radio on Facebook
Further Faster New Zealand
Enjoy!
Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake