Polly Taylor, unbroken: Hit by a car, she's back chasing her UTMB dream.

Just before Tarawera we caught up with Kerry Suter and Ali Pottinger from Squadrun for our annual pre-race preview. Days later, as he told us, he was going in for surgery to help get some mobility back after his big crash two years ago.
We knew you'd all be keen to hear how it went, and to get his views on the racing at Tarawera, since he's been involved since day one - so, here you go!
This is part of our DCR AidStation podcast for paid subscribers that was released on Wednesday. If you're keen to listen to the whole episode each and every fortnight, sign up! Nau mai, haere mai!

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Kia ora e te whānau! She’s 90 lbs soaking wet and with a personality 150 feet tall: Polly Taylor is a force to be reckoned with. A  guide in the Marlborough Sounds, past Northburn 100 mile winner, and someone who could talk the iron legs off a stove, Polly is someone who exemplifies that maximum growth occurs on the cusp of support  and challenge. In 2019, with her ultramarathon dreams about to come true, she was hit by a car. What follows is a tale of heart ache, tragedy, loss, gratitude, triumph and redemption. Eugene and Matt spoke to Polly as she toe’d the line at the Tarawera Ultra Trail 100 miler in the hopes of making her way back to Chamonix to have the chance to compete at UTMB after being run down on a pedestrian crossing cruelly robbed her of the chance four years ago.  What unfolds will leave you cheering loudly – for her, and for your own best life. 
Also in this episode – a rundown of the race we missed out on, Old Ghost Ultra, including a report on the ground from special correspondent Conrad Langridge. Best Enjoyed Running.

Episode Links 

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Polly Taylor on Instagram 

La Sportiva NZ 

James Kuegler Coaching 

Tarawera Ultra Trail 

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SCOTT Running 

Julbo Eyewear 

UltrAspire

irunfar

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Ciele

Further Faster New Zealand

Sit Back and Enjoy!

Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake

We went to Tarawera Ultra-Trail in 2024 and it was incredible. Moments so surreal you question reality. Simple pleasures, mundanity, joy, filth, pride, and noble stupidity (and this was just the car trip down). Please enjoy this episode of the DCR AidStation, recorded at some aid stations, among other places, and featuring Sam Harvey, Coach Eric Orton, Jenny Hirst, Ben Fraser and others, our reflections on the event, and a plethora of special guests and incredible conversations. 

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Tarawera Ultra Trail 

Curranz

SCOTT Running 

Julbo Eyewear 

UltrAspire

irunfar

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Ciele

Further Faster New Zealand

Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake.

Kia ora e te whānau!! Holy Hecka ... the four-day three-ring circus that is Tarawera Ultra-Trail has rolled into town for 2024, and we couldn’t wait to get this out to you all as a wee bonus treat. First off, for your entertainment we have the 2024 Elite Q & A live show, featuring Ruth Croft, Daniel Jones, Kate Avery and an amazing conversation with Tim Day, the Tarawera Ultra-Trail Course Director. Next up we have a truly uplifting conversation with Troy Sachs and Zach Friedley, both adaptive athletes, both alumni of DCR, and both competing at Tarawera. Troy, who, not content with being a member of the Australian Sports Hall of Fame, and Paralympian, was setting out to set an adaptive record in the 50km. Zach Friedley, professional trail runner for On running, and founder of Born to Adapt, was in the 21km, supporting his friend Matt Bryson, an adaptive athlete also completing the 21km.  Best Enjoyed Running.

Episode Links 

Subscribe to the DCR newsletter and DCR AidStation podcast

Ruth Croft on Instagram

Daniel Jones Lessons from the Long Run  

Kate Avery on Instagram 

Tarawera Ultra Trail 

Curranz

SCOTT Running 

Julbo Eyewear 

UltrAspire

irunfar

Dirt Church Radio on Instagram

Dirt Church Radio on Twitter 

Dirt Church Radio on Facebook 

Ciele

Further Faster New Zealand

Sit Back and Enjoy!

Kia ora e te whānau. Throughout this episode, Robyn Lesh talks about puzzles. From working out how not to drop a single point in her community college maths class, to graduating MIT whilst figuring out the ideal point of balance on her Olympic class foiling sailboat, to the ideal weight distribution for America’s Cup challenger American Magic, Robyn approaches life as a series of problems (in the truest sense of the word) to be solved. Trading her feet in the water for her feet in the dirt, Robyn set her sights on a life on the trails and in the mountains. For someone who was convinced that they couldn't run, to qualifying as the second-fastest woman in North America on the Golden Trail Series, Robyn continues to put the puzzle pieces into place as a professional trail runner for Vibram, whilst being a capo in the South Island-based  Katie Wright Mafia. Eugene and Matt talk to Robyn about all this, lining up at the Tarawera Ultra-Trail 50km, and more on this episode of Dirt Church Radio.  Best Enjoyed Running.

Episode Links 

Subscribe to the DCR newsletter and DCR AidStation podcast

Robyn Lesh on Instagram 

Robyn Lesh Blog

Model Sailboat Business

Robyn Run Coach Profile

Mark Ford - Stroke Foundation of NZ 

Curranz

SCOTT Running 

Julbo Eyewear 

UltrAspire

irunfar

Dirt Church Radio on Instagram

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Ciele

Further Faster New Zealand

Sit Back and Enjoy!

Kia ora e te whānau. The Big Friendly is rushing up again and Eugene and Matt have the privilege of being joined by their fellow MC’s, friends, and the Squadrun brains trust Kerry Suter and Ali Pottinger.  Kerry and Ali continue to be a driving force in coaching in Australasia, as they coach and support thousands. We run down the shiny diamonds in the field, and dig into the weeds in a preview. Kerry and Ali also share their wisdom of the do’s and don’t of the day, and drop some science on the reasons it’s best not to be too scientific. We discuss the UTMB furore and the dopamine rush that binary outrage brings and, more importantly, spend an hour yarning with some of our favourite people. If you are doing the Tarawera Ultra Trail, and are packing it because it’s taper time, you’ve got this. We believe in you, you are going to be fine. Best Enjoyed Running.

DCR AidStation podcast and newsletter

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Julbo Eyewear 

UltrAspire

irunfar

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Ciele

Further Faster New Zealand

AidStation 001 – Insert Something Cliche About Processes.
A special taste for DCR listeners of our new subscriber-only AidStation podcast.
We didn’t know this, but the second Friday in January is known as “Quitter’s Day”. This is the day that statistically, most people abandon their New Year’s Resolutions. Are you a resolution person? Or a Goal guy? Or someone who loves a good old intentional process? And why can’t we have all three? On the first episode of our brand-new, subscriber-only AidStation podcast (but free for January), Eugene and Matt sit down to discuss if they are on the resolution bus or not, what goals and processes they have in place for the year, and if, just, maybe, talking about something you are about to do on a podcast makes your more or less likely to achieve that thing. We also tackle the tricky question of what to do when your coaches (Kerry Suter and Ali Pottinger) fight publicly over your training in front of you. Spoiler* Matt went and waited in the car. 

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Kia ora e te whānau. When David Haunschmidt was racing his brothers over the beaches of Westray in the Orkney Islands, he never dreamed that his life would one day take him to New Zealand and near to the top of his sport. Starting trail running in 2018 as a means of expediency (I mean, hey you can still see all the things, but just in less time) David has proven himself to be one of the most consistently high performing trail athletes we have, with a slew of wins and podiums to his name. Notably the Tarawera Ultra Trail 50km course record, and being the current European Full Distance Xterra champion.  Most notably though, David is super nice. Engaging, humble, and has a refreshingly simple (which, we note is different from easy) approach to training and wellbeing. David also serves his community as an emergency medicine specialist. Eugene and Matt speak to David about all this, how he manages to juggle a busy work and training life, and the little 1%’ers  on the latest episode of Dirt Church Radio.  Best Enjoyed Running.

Episode Links 

Subscribe to the DCR newsletter and DCR AidStation podcast

David Haunschmidt on Instagram 

Curranz

Run Wild For Joe Facebook Group 

On Running 

SCOTT Running 

Julbo Eyewear 

UltrAspire

irunfar

Dirt Church Radio on Instagram

Dirt Church Radio on Twitter 

Dirt Church Radio on Facebook 

Dirt Church Radio on Patreon

Ciele

Further Faster New Zealand

Kia ora e te whānau. For our first podcast of 2024 Eugene and Matt have the pleasure of speaking with Zachary Friedley and Eric Orton. Zach is a returning Champion on DCR, having spoken to Matt on episode 202, and also being part of our Tarawera live pod in 2023.  Eric Orton is a first time caller but he will be no stranger to many of you. Together, they are coming down to New Zealand with 2 x Leadville Champ Adrian MacDonald to hold a Born to Adapt clinic and trail race in Rotorua on February 9th and 10th.  Born to Adapt was formed by Zach in 2021 to expand awareness around disabilities and foster spaces where everyone can have access to the transformative power of movement. He’s one of the only professional, above-knee blade runners  or “trail bladers”in the world. Zachary currently races as part of the On Trail Team, participating internationally in ultra and sub-ultra races including UTMB MCC, UTMB Tarawera 21k. Zach and Eric met during the creation of Born to Run 2: The Ultimate Training Guide, and have been working together since. Eric of course, best known for his is experience documented in the New York Times best selling book Born to Run and his own book of training philosophy, The Cool Impossible. Eric is the former Director of Fitness at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and lives in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. 

Dirt Church Radio. Best Enjoyed Running.

Episode Links 

Born To Adapt New Zealand Registration

Born to Run 2: The Ultimate Training Guide 

Eric Orton - The Cool Impossible 

Run Wild For Joe Registration 

Run Wild For Joe Facebook Group 

On Running 

SCOTT Running 

Julbo Eyewear 

UltrAspire

irunfar

Dirt Church Radio on Instagram

Dirt Church Radio on Twitter 

Dirt Church Radio on Facebook 

Dirt Church Radio on Patreon

Ciele

Further Faster New Zealand

Kia ora e te whānau. Gosh, it’s been a year, right? Do they get shorter and  longer as we get older or is that just us. Fresh from Coviduszko, Thredbro, and Taipei, our heroes reunite with man-about-town Andrew McDowall to bring you the annual DCR Christmas Special!! Except this time, we head along to the Fridge and Flagon and the Beer Jerk Running Club at their clubhouse/headquarters. We talk through our top performances of the year … the good, the truly amazing, the wondrous and madness of this sport we love.  Matt gets misanthropic then pivots, Andrew lists his big old year of getting after it and Eugene brings a rare sense of elegance and formality to the event that has been sadly lacking. We would like to thank all of you for your continued support, and wish you a festive season of love, good company, and miles of great single track. 

Dirt Church Radio. Best Enjoyed Running.

Episode Links 

Beer Jerk 

Auckland City Mission

Huntaway Run Co

Runners with Beards

SCOTT Running 

Julbo Eyewear 

UltrAspire

irunfar

Dirt Church Radio on Instagram

Dirt Church Radio on Twitter 

Dirt Church Radio on Facebook 

Dirt Church Radio on Patreon

Ciele

Further Faster New Zealand