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.

--- --- ---

Episode Links

Matt Bixley DCR 228

Sign up for the DCR AidStation newsletter.

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.

​

--- --- ---

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.

--- --- ---

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

The Tussock Traverse and/or the Ring of Fire is an event that you must do. 100%.

We can’t really jazz it up more than that. If you like a unique mountain-running adventure that is both a grassroots event and offers the most incredible scenery, and world-class trails. After a tough couple of years, 2026 saw the event organisers putting it all on the line again. Ali and Matt run through the weekend and all the experiences therein, including a two-part tale of one of the greatest sporting battles of the last two decades. excellent stuff.

Dirt Church Radio – Best Enjoyed Running.

​

--- --- ---

Episode Links

The Tussock Traverse

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. Paula Griffin is among the many professional athletes we’ve spoken to over the years who have pivoted from their original sport to trail running. Paula Griffin is the first professional netballer we’ve had on the podcast, so that’s really something. Paula speaks to Ali Pottinger about her life in professional netball (including becoming a Silver Fern), her pivot to MMA (of course), and then, after a circuitous route through motherhood and partnership, onto the trails, where she found her passion for this wonderful sport and inspiration to support other mums who love trail running. This is an incredible conversation between two incredible women that you won't want to miss. Dirt Church Radio—Best Enjoyed Running.

--- --- ---

Episode Links

Paula Griffin Instagram

Mums Who Trail Instagram

Mums Who Trail Home

Muriwai Sea Slugs

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

I don’t know, man. What’s in a name after all? We’re lucky enough that Matt’s youngest daughter isn’t called Skipper or Queenie (both names he went in hard for). Trying to decipher the lore behind a trail name is hard enough, right? This week on the AidStation, Matt and Ali talk about everything. From monetizing gravel *spoiler alert* Don’t do it! Salomon, we’re looking at you, to the end of the world, headlamps, hot bois, hot girls, trail crushes, and when is it too soon (or too late) to call a course change?? The AidStation podcast. Get in that chair, and let us make you a sandwich. Excellent Stuff.

Dirt Church Radio – Best Enjoyed Running.

​

--- --- ---

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. In our sport, we often hear stories of when people found trail running. Seldom do we hear of moments where trail running found us. Jack Harris was, as he tells it, going through a bit of a hard time, and one day decided to go for a hike along the Routeburn Track. By happy circumstance, that hike coincided with the running of the annual Routeburn trail run. It would be neater, if not less fulfilling, to fall back on some trope like “the rest is history”. And whilst it’s true that history is happening to us every day, what follows in Jack’s case is an 8-year journey from mid-pack to podium. Jack started 2025 with a 6th place at Tarawera 50km and ended the year as the Athletics New Zealand Long Course Trail Champion. There are heaps of other good twists along the way, including stitches, a flying doctor cameo, and an early appearance of one Ali Pottinger. Matt had the most brilliant time speaking with Jack about process, progress, and the surprising benefits of sometimes keeping your world small . Dirt Church Radio—Best Enjoyed Running.

--- --- ---

Episode Links

Jack Harris Instagram

La Sportiva

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

On this week’s AidStation, we have a most excellent conversation about the LoopHer relay in Riverhead, a 3, 6, or 12-hour female-only relay. We talk about the upcoming Tussock Traverse and Ring of Fire, and our unreasonable excitement to be involved. We discuss the chase for the Western States Endurance Run and whether the field should be deeper. Is there a place for a Sportiv-style event? Or should we leave it exactly how it is? We talk about how much is too much to tell your coach, and Matt shares an epic tale of woe that spanned 32 hours, time in the police cells, a lost dog, a hallucinated dog, and a medical DNF. Finally, it takes a lot to goad Matt to the point of wanting to pop off at something, but taking Ian McKaye’s name in vain will get you there every time. Excellent Stuff.

Dirt Church Radio – Best Enjoyed Running.

​

--- --- ---

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