Kia ora e te whānau. This week, we’re all back in the same country (for the time being) and thought that we would switch it up on this week’s Aidstation with a Lightning Round of questions that are, frankly, all over the place. From mental strategies for ultramarathons to Andrew’s neighbour, who may be the incredible hulk, through to the best races for newbies, specificity, the pros and cons of modern fuelling, Ali’s twenties, to how much you’d pay to poop in a bucket, It’s all on this week in the Aidstation. Dirt Church Radio- Best Enjoyed Running

Northland 100 Ultramarathon

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The Kunanyi Mountain Run Special. Dirt Church Radio 321

Kia ora e te whānau. Lutruwita/Tasmania is legend. A hard place with warm people nestled off the east coast of Australia. Our legend, Ali Pottinger was lucky enough to travel to Nipaluna/Hobart to participate in this year’s Kunanayi Mountain Run. Whilst she was there Ali did what all good podcasters do, which was get some great content, from the race director Lincoln, to hearty participants taking on this incredible challenge, We’d always wanted to go to Hobart to go to MONA and ride singlespeeds, but this race is now firmly on the top of our list. Dirt Church Radio - Best Enjoyed Running

Kunanyi Mountain Run

Phil Rossiter on Dirt Church Radio

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Kia ora e te whānau. We get the band back together after ages for this week’s AidStation Podcast. Fresh from Kunyani, Northburn 100, and kicking about at Riverhead Relaps, Ali, Andrew, and Matt discuss their love of the Grassroots event and the challenges and opportunities for amazing experiences that lie within. This week, we've got some bonus audio that Matt recorded at the Relaps Backyard. First, you hear from RD Shaun Collins about the event's history, changes, triumphs, challenges, and where the backyard goes. We’ll speak to Helen Waterworth and Chris Newsome from His&Hers events regarding their brand new ultramarathon, the Northland 100, taking place in Whangarei in July. You’ll hear from returning champion Meg Collins about her new backyard PB and the puzzle of running whilst studying medicine. Finally, Matt speaks to Alex MacDonald, an 18-year-old woman making a name for herself commentating in what has largely been a very middle-aged and male profession. Dirt Church Radio - Best Enjoyed Running

Northland 100 Ultramarathon

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Kia ora e te whānau. Originally from Western Australia, growing up surfing and playing footie, Michael Dunstan has turned his hands to many things, including music, photography, and trail running. It turns out Michael is pretty (very) good at this whole trail running thing and has won the inaugural GPT100 mile race, Third place at Ultra Trail Snowdonia in Wales a win at the 2023 Hounslow Classic Marathon. Now based in Katoomba NSW, Michael is working hard at some lofty goals for 2025. This is a beautiful conversation, which covers a variety of topics and is guaranteed stoke inducing. It won't help if you don’t like snakes or thunderstorms, but apart from the Ophidiphobics amongst us, this will be a dead-set winner. Dirt Church Radio - Best Enjoyed Running

Michael Dunstan Music

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Kia ora e te whānau. The first clue to Matthew having an inkling that his faculties might be slipping is when he starts announcing every episode of the AidStation as number 25, just like this week. Age is a tyranny that we all face, and this week-old mates Andrew and Matt run down the question of when it is time to accept that you are not 25 anymore and if you should be. or would you want to go back to being 25 again? what keeps you going into middle age and beyond? and what's Matt's obsession with 25 anyway? But look. Despite the perseveration, this is an excellent conversation about strategies to keep your faculties, a tender chat about tender quads and the importance of not starting your races like a dickhead. Which is something that comes with age, I guess. Dirt Church Radio - Best Enjoyed Running

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Kia ora e te whānau. Jasmin Paris was rocketed into the wider consciousness when she became the first woman to finish Barkley Marathons, with 99 seconds to spare. Ironically, for a race that eschewed publicity for so long, the photos of Paris sending the final 100 metres or so to the yellow gate are arguably more famous than the Barkley itself. Whilst this may be Jasmin’s best known achievement, it’s far from her only one. Spine winner, Bob Graham Round holder, fell running champion, senior lecturer in veterinary science, Mother and partner. Jasmin’s life is full. Ali and Matt spoke to Jasmin about all this, and Green Runners, the organisation she co-founded with Damian Hall to advocate for, and address climate issues related to the sport of running and the wider world. We hope you enjoy this conversation, and are at least as stoked and inspired as we were. Dirt Church Radio - Best Enjoyed Running

Jasmin Paris Instagram

The Green Runners

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Aid Station 26: The 2025 Women in Trail Panel with Ali Pottinger, Corrine Malcolm, and Lucy Bartholomew.

Kia ora e te whānau. Please enjoy this incredible conversation with three wahine toa about women in trail. The conversation discussed different means of platforming women in the trail, the things that foster discussions that can progress the sport, and some of the challenges which women face in our community. This episode was recorded February 14th, 2025, at the Tarawera Ultra Trail by UTMB. Dirt Church Radio - Best Enjoyed Running

Lucy Bartholomew

Corrine Malcolm

Freetrail

Tarawera Ultra Trail By UTMB

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Kia ora e te whānau. When Adrian MacDonald moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, he didn’t do it for the trails, he did it for love and the chance to run hills at altitude. With a background in road and track, MacDonald didn’t hit the trails until the pandemic canceled races and he thought he’d try his hand at an FKT. The rest, as they say, is history. Andrew and Matt speak to Adrian about his back-to-back wins at the historic Leadville 100, what it took to get him there, his road, er, trail to Western States, and just how much of a nuisance Sam Harvey is to race the 100-mile distance *Spoiler Alert* exactly how much you’d think he is. Dirt Church Radio - Best Enjoyed Running

Adrian MacDonald home

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On

Coros

Carbs Fuel

Leadville 100

Tarawera Ultra Trail By UTMB

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Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake