Crush the Cargill Podcast

Steve chatted to Emma Timmis. Emma is a collector of World Records and aiming for another next week - the longest ‘distance' on a treadmill in 48 hours. Apart from running across Africa (twice), Emma has also roller-skated across the Netherlands, gained the World Records for the longest distance travelled on an elliptical cycle and fastest to run the length of New Zealand... and a few other things that you can read about on her website. We talk about cruelty to animals - mainly herself. Other animals also get mentioned - dogs, cats, mosquitoes, elephants, rhinoceros. We also talk about mindset, personal challenges,  dinner, dessert and whether she likes running - spoiler alert... she does. The big question... "how?" is touched on... to a point. Find out more about Emma on https://www.emmatimmis.com/ and if you want to join the party in Christchurch next week get in touch on FB or IG: https://www.facebook.com/emmatimmis https://www.instagram.com/emma.timmis/ 

In which Steve and Andrew chat to Sam Harvey a few days after his 677km, 101 hour run to be the assist at Dead Cow Gully Australian Masters Backyard Ultra. Topics include snoring, hot laps, team work and Sam's big plans for the next 12 months. You heard it all here first!

Steve and Andrew chat with Jean Beaumont - aka Jean the Machine. Jean has run Northburn Miler 5 times (winning 4 of them) as well as Big Foot 200mile, Leadville, UTMB and a short miler in Patagonia. Jean was the first woman to do the Tararua Main Range SK traverse unsupported in under 24 hours and still holds the super vet female unsupported record. She's even older than Steve and still beats him. She tells us lots of great stories that usually involve not enough sleep and too many skeletons. If you want to know how to lose your mind and your poles check it out!  

Andrew and Steve have a chat with Bernie O'Fagan and find out, eventually, he's from Christchurch. He's also done a few races including the Tahoe 200 mile race around a lake somewhere. He had a break and still finished which made us think about good tactics for finishing milers which makes us think about Great Naseby Water Race, and Matt Bixley, and going to the pub. We also cover important topics such as male pattern baldness, Andre Agassi, Catra Corbett, and altitude training to help Cantabrians coming to Crush the Cargill ( http://vertexaltitude.co.nz/  )  

Andrew (68 on Kepler waitlist) and Steve (with Kepler entry) chat with Shaun McWhirter about what's it's like at last place on the waitlist. Andrew feels a little bit better as Steve misquotes Bono - “Thank God it's him and not us” or something like that. Speaking of Bono (but mostly Steve) we find out about the time Bono shot Steve in the face with a flare and about Steve's career as an international Aussie Rules player. Running gets a mention - Shaun is quite good at it … as does Scott Running NZ and new shoes. Andrew's shoes have now done over 2600km. https://www.achillesnewzealand.org/ https://www.change.org/p/grant-guise-make-grant-guise-give-me-a-new-pair-of-shoes-when-my-scott-supertrac-rcs-get-to-3000km/f https://www.patreon.com/crushthecargill  

On being stood up by their guest Andrew eats his spaghetti for dinner and Steve drinks a beer while having a good chat. Topics include the Great Naseby Water Race, the Wanaka Tree, Kepler, The Wild and new shoes. Blood diamonds get a mention also. Here's the petition to sign… https://www.change.org/p/grant-guise-make-grant-guise-give-me-a-new-pair-of-shoes-when-my-scott-supertrac-rcs-get-to-3000km

Peter Thomson aka Pakeha rambling around Dunedin in the 1860s and 70s and wrote about it. In this episode Peter comes back to life to tell us of his experience in Crushing the Cargill in 1866. Lots of great tips for trail runners here… Paper roads, trees, birds, essential gear in 1866 and more… but not much more.  

Andrew and Steve call up Glenn Sutton's support crew. Glenn is going for a wee run from Milford Sound to Mt Cook. Only about 580km. He's nearly at 500km and has barely slept in 4 days. We get to chat with Bruce, Pinky and Emily. What's it like to be support for these wee runs? Why does the Otago Community Hospice need the money? What's it like having Glenn Sutton as a Dad? Why is Pinky called Pinky?  https://givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/sounds-2-summit    

Andrew and Steve gate-crash a party at Andrew McDowall's place to talk to Chris Bisley, winner of the Riverhead Relaps Backyard Ultra. Topics include food, mud, headspace and running in circles. And we meet Biscuit the kelpy.  

One of the stars of the book, Born to Run, Barefoot Ted describes himself as a feral child who escaped adulthood. He plays by his own rules and wants to help others also find their own inner child. He's passionate about natural movement and that led him to a fascination with the natural selection of footwear in human culture. And so Luna Sandals was born to provide people with portable ground to get that barefoot feel when you still need something rugged (Steve loves them).  Ted also talks about the Busuréliame (Inner Awakening) Project, a new cultural education project led by the Tarahumara for the Tarahumara. Read more about that here... https://lunasandals.com/blogs/luna-sandals-blog/true-messages-x-luna-sandals-collaboration?utm_source=LUNA+Sandals+Newsletter&utm_campaign=4d69d3eb71-bestsellers_COPY_03&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_11aae0a0a2-4d69d3eb71-344981061&goal=0_11aae0a0a2-4d69d3eb71-344981061&mc_cid=4d69d3eb71&mc_eid=f76b020ba7 https://www.barefootted.com/ https://lunasandals.com/ https://www.truemessages.org/  https://www.patreon.com/crushthecargill    

Steve talks to Lord of the Rings fan, sandal wearing ultra runner, anti-slavery campaigner, IT guru, and adopted kiwi hobbit adventurer, Naresh Kumar. We chat about his life and upbringing in poverty in Chennai to life in Silicon Valley. Somehow that changed to a life of adventure, discovery, activism and working for Lazarus Lake. In particular Naresh shares how 22 days cycling across Iran on a tandem (Freedom Seat) powered by kindness and peanut butter reinforced in Naresh the value of vulnerability and restored his faith in humanity. This is a moving and powerful story. Find out more and show your support here https://www.freedomseat.org/ And here's the documentary https://vimeo.com/348573381 Congratulations Naresh! You qualify for Crush the Cargill!

Steve talks to young explorer, climber, runner and ecologist, Maddy Whittaker. Maddy and 3 friends took on an epic 2 month high alpine traverse of the Southern Alps over summer. She also knocked off the South Island Te Araroa trail 2 years ago as a 17 year old… Topics include facing challenges for fun, looking inward and dealing with your shit, self-esteem, team-work, vulnerability, sharing the stoke, friendships, avalanches and kea and kakapo conservation. Mostly it's just about going after what you really love! Check out the trailer for her video here… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEwVWL9LwhI&fbclid=IwAR2rnSlRpsAHkdH91ZDLjeZDoejnn9NQVM7MDwbPUlqbmXXd1_X23RddVLU    

The boys zoom in for a chat with Scott Worthington the creator of the Revenant ultra endurance run. We hear about Scott's history in racing and always seeking another adventure. Aside from the importing of bears to Garston we chat about Volkswagon petrol gauges, travelling in straight lines, Northburn, older age winning, and plans to paddle 1000 miles. There's a few 'Wow!' moments in this one! Here's a video from Scott and Ben's recent Whanganui trek... https://www.facebook.com/100010186003497/videos/1393482467667940 Enjoy! 

Steve zooms in for a chat with Andrew Robinson, obstacle racer, adventurer and the first person to complete the 10 NZ Great Walks in 10 Days. Having previously completed 100miles running in barefoot shoes we already knew that Andrew enjoys suffering! Even though Andrew paddled one of these walks we have decided he still qualifies for Crush the Cargill. In this chat Andrew talks through the challenges and joys he faced in this epic 10 in 10 adventure including learning to paddle for a walk, facing failure on Day 1, smelling the roses his own way, logistics meeting the munchies with vegan pies, great support crews, indecent exposure, and a bit more suffering… and joy. Hopefully this inspires people to get out and enjoy this awesome country we live in! Check him out on Stuff here https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/124127655/runner-completes-nzs-10-great-walks-in-10-days And on Instagram here @hardy_kiwi #cantcancelrunning

This is probably the most beautifully crafted and executed podcast episode in the history of podcasting. Steve and Andrew catch up to discuss the history of Dunedin Pubrunners, the Three Peaks Mountain Race, toe amputation, Patreon, shit runs and Eugene Bingham's stunt double. There were a few other things talked about too but you will need to listen to find out.  Oh yeah... and we are now on Patreon...

A new year and we start with a bang... and some bad bagpipes. In this world first exclusive interview we dial in to chat with Ian Evans, sole finisher of The Revenant 2021, ultra endurance run. Subjects include, soggy feet, how to deal with ups and downs of endurance events, prickly spaniard grass, checkpoint 8 and pregnancy. Lots of useful tips for surviving all sorts of life challenges here! It is what it is!

Steve and Andrew zoom off to a camper van on the East Cape to catch up with homeless man Jim Kerse. Jim was the first kiwi to run the Western States way back in 1979, before the days of sports gels and Gurney Goo. After getting into the Coast to Coast and Ironman for a few years, he went back to USA a quarter of a century later and ran Western States again as well as  numerous other 100 miler events. Weird topics include nearly losing a leg to a spider bite but still trying to run 100 miles the week after and falling in the water 18 times during the kayaking section of the Coast to Coast. We also find out about the meaning of the word 'gooch' and discuss Andrew's body shape.

Steve and Andrew catch up with Brook and talk Te Araroa. Then Adam turns up late and we talk about stuff. Running gets a mention but so does Covid 19, Japan, Sigmund Freud (and his mother), the Crusaders and oppressive weather systems. Basically this is just a really bad episode so I wouldn't recommend listening to it. Possibly this is even worse than our first episode. Thanks to Brook for turning up. Apologies to Brook that the rest of us turned up also. The song is really good!

Everything you wanted to know but were too scared to ask! Steve zooms off to chat to Kerry Suter, a reasonably fast runner and now co-owner of Squadrun. Steve tries and fails to get answers to all the important questions like 'how to get good without training smartly' and 'why coaches are redundant'. A few other topics are covered such as cures for cramp, massage, stretching, compression tights, yoga, mind games, AERODAKS and how caffeine works as a bowel cleanser. #lifehacks #fitnesstruther https://squadrun.co.nz/

This week we bring in a couple of guest interviewers to interview Adam Keen to find out what, apart from Crush the Cargill, has made him so savage. We get the back story starting with Adam's first marathon while in the NZ Army, starting a sports coaching business and failure at the Riverhead Relaps as essential steps in the journey to the pinnacle of endurance running success - winning the 2019 Crush the Cargill 24 Hour Challenge.    

Steve meets Chris Townley, one of the founders of the Blue Lake 24 Hour Race held somewhere near the anus of New Zealand. The conversation sways between axes at weddings, working in search and rescue in the Ureweras, Waikaremoana, a race with 400 people and an even higher blood alcohol level, spa bath race briefings (with or without briefs) and what it takes to DNF everything in the South Island (probably just a lack of poles).  

Adam hits out on his own to talk to local Queenstown badass James Harcombe. James holds the fastest known time for running around Wales. He has also run a sub 30 hour Northburn 100 miler, drinks Fat Shakes and skis really steep mountains. #staysavage  

It's a global pandemic! We're all in the same boat! Or are we? Steve gets sick of talking about running and zooms off around the world to talk to some old mates about how the pandemic is affecting their lives in Wales, New Mexico and Japan.  Thanks to Glenn, Andy and Chami for the chat! 

The boys catch up with Mt Cargill local Anna Frost to discuss how running long distances suck, why Grant Guise is to blame for everything and Andrew's homelessness. Other topics include shoes (again), trail running adventures, SisuGirls, being a mum, why Dunedin is a great training ground and the dangers of yaks. https://sisugirls.org/ http://frostysfootsteps.com/ https://www.trailrunadventures.com/

Andrew, Adam and Steve zoom off to rural Pennsylvania for a chat with Chris McDougall and his donkey, Sherman. He's well-known as the author of the best-selling Born to Run but little is known about his first book - we get the scoop! Also find out about Mexican sex cults, donkey dongs, shoes and what the Copper Canyons have in common with Invercargill. Also getting a mention is Anna Frost, Jenn Shelton and Caballo Blanco. Unfortunately we lose connection before getting to find out much about running with Donkeys... so no spoilers here. Read the book! https://www.chrismcdougall.com/running-with-sherman/ Also check out Luna Sandals.

Andrew and Steve catch up for a casual chat with Josh Smythe; fire spinner, yoga teacher, psychology graduate, student politician, new dad and Dunedin Jesus. We chat about life for Josh growing up as a missionary kid in Cambodia, the seismic shift of returning to NZ, how whisky pong didn't help, top down gating for pain, and altered perception through yoga and trail running. We also get to discuss a bit of politics and consider some great hopes for humanity. Andrew's chafing also gets a mention which leads into a great advert for Aerodaks.  

We caught up with Christchurch runner and musician Barrett Hocking. Wild banter ensued. Topics included Barrett's experiences playing trumpet for The Black Seeds, life on the road, running on the pipe, coming down from the pipe, a hill in Christchurch, Andrew's Hagley Park success, Andy McDowall, Crush the Cargill and Mt Difficulty. http://www.theblackseeds.com/

Crush the Cargill is a fundraiser for the Valley Project and so this week Steve zooms in for a chat with Tess Trotter, the leader of the Valley Project. Tess talks about some informative experiences, running away from men across India in third class trains, arranged marriages and slabs of porridge. She also shares about what the Valley Project does, why she does what she does and how much she appreciates the Crush the Cargill - for both the koha and the funniest memes in the galaxy. 

Steve, Adam, and eventually Andrew zoom over to Montana for a chat with Jeff Browning, aka Bronco Billy. As one of the most successful ultra runners in history (22 miler wins in 39 starts) Jeff shares his wealth of knowledge in mindset, nutrition, and how to keep motivated over the years and keep winning as an old man (advice for Steve). Other topics included camping with Grant Guise, facing down mountain lions, porcupines, bra fences and gin. Don't miss this wild ride! Yeehaw! And for those interested here's a list of Jeff's races... https://ultrasignup.com/results_participant.aspx?fname=Jeff&lname=Browning And here's a couple of strength training videos... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-kUa5VQ5Ww https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSM4vgIBdU4&feature=youtu.be

Sick of hearing about running? Here's  a podcast about archaeology! Steve talks to Prof Tom Higham from Oxford University about lockdown in Greece and Tom's work with carbon dating religious relics and Neanderthals. Topics also cover Greek food, who would win in a race between a Neanderthal and a Human and whether archaeology really is as sexy as Indiana Jones. Harrison Ford and Tom Hanks (Da Vinci Code) both get a mention. Further reading... http://www.ox.ac.uk/news-and-events/find-an-expert/professor-tom-higham https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/how-the-da-vinci-code-unit-is-exposing-the-truth-about-the-authenticity-of-religious-relics-a6742611.html https://www.livescience.com/47460-neanderthal-extinction-revealed.html

Andrew and Steve get to chat with Dave McLean, a true legend, who in spite of a few close calls is still living. Dave shares a few great yarns about spending nights knee deep in Fiordland winter, days in jail in Guatemala, his first foray into multi-sports with a a 22 day event with the help of a set of crutches, reluctantly getting rescued from Otago harbour twice, the best way to absorb Voltaren, and why not to climb Mt Cook as a training run for Kepler. This is an episode about living life to the full... and beyond. https://www.aerodaks.com/ https://www.aerobicedge.com/

For his own pure self-interest Steve zooms in for a chat with Shaun Collins aka the Runningbeast; ultra-runner, event organiser and recent finisher of the Revenant. Shaun tells what he gets up to during the day as a bean counter and director of Lactic Turkey Events and the joys and challenges of running events. Steve gets tips on how to grow facial hair, how to deal with hallucinations and how to crush the Revenant (for a friend). Now to unleash the beast! https://www.lacticturkey.co.nz/ #professionalisminjandals

Steve and Andrew zoom in for a chat with Dwight Grieve, Te Anau cop, and the fastest runner in Fiordland. Topics include policing during the lockdown, moose in Fiordland, running and resting from running, trout of all races, how to stay positive when surrounded by shit, and how humans are mostly really nice people. Warning! This episode sways from ridiculous to philosophical without a seconds notice! Special thanks to Emerson's Brewery, Kereru and Matt Hamblett

Andrew and Steve get to sit down and chat with Graham Bland, the Crush the Cargill Lockdown Beer Mile 2020 Champion. An ordered interview doesn't happen. Topics include Behemoth brews, Crush the Cargill, Franco and Frankl, Jonah the cat, hills like Mt Cargill, living in Auckland, marathons on honeymoon, Naseby, Crush the Cargill, hanging and the best way to put down an elephant. There's also a tribute to The Goodies, some MacGyver references and a bit of name-dropping.

Adam, Steve and Andrew invite Ruud, the 'communist' Edendale tulip grower, along for a chat. We discuss lots of shit... and in the midst of it we touch on a bit of tulip growing and exporting info, firefighting technology, endurance running with lots of endurance but not so much running and a bit of politics. Tigers get a mention and we still aren't sure what the icepick was doing there...

Adam, NZs premier strength training coach for runners, joins Steve to host an interview with Tom Spencer, adventure racer, winner of Mt Difficulty Ascent (or not), and self-isolation poster boy. Andrew joins in after doing battle with the supermarket, Tom leaves then returns, facial hair is compared, Ron Jeremy gets a mention. Laughter happens. Listening to this podcast in public will improve social distancing.

In part one of the lockdown diaries Andrew and Steve learn to use Zoom and catch up with Jaime Stevenson, runner and coach. Topics range from grizzly beers, poutine and even running. The challenge of doing Everest in one's backyard gets mentioned and Steve is now wishing he didn't mention it... You can get in touch with Jaime here... https://runningnz.co.nz/

In which Steve and Andrew discuss all they know about pandemics, hoarding and alternatives to loo paper. Running gets a mention...

Steve and Andrew offer beer and chips to bribe Matt into an interview. Matt shares all his secrets about running the Kepler and Barkley Marathons. Topics also cover genetics of obesity, the difference between sugar and heroin, brain tumours, running on drugs, and more about drugs and having a degree in chemistry. Not only does this look like an episode of Breaking Bad we also get lots of stories about quitting, not quitting, passing Mr Muir although not mentioning getting passed by Ms Muir singing 'Bodys Hit the Floor', running for fun and lots of other numbers.

The Complete Book of Running Chapter Two. A couple of pages were read about the psychological benefits of running repeated numerous times. Apart from that topics strayed to ask significant life questions such as:. Is joy helpful or is it something else? Can running promote joy or something else? What else goes on for missionaries in Cambodia? Is it helpful or joyful to get whipped by Terry? Would getting a million dollars be joyful (or something else)? Who is Andrew's favourite guru?

Steve and Andrew delve into the depths of psychoanalysis in seeking to make sense of the Northburn 100 while covering the official race report for the Crater Rim Ultra and discussing what constitutes cheating and whether cancer can give you an unfair advantage. Our good friend Kipchoge gets a mention as well as Brigid Kosgei and driverless shoes. Obviously this is an episode about running.

Andrew and Steve share everything they know about rugby and the Rugby World Cup and other forms of violence such as local body politics. Aerodaks gets a mention as well as some Uruguayan hookers, capybaras (a delicious breed of mountain fish) and the Tongan Thor. Aussie Rules gets a mention as well as tiddlywinks and the Beautiful Game. It's the world in union. The world as one. As we climb to reach our destiny. A new age has begun!

Andrew and Steve sit down with the Race Directors of the Great Naseby Water Race, Aileen and Jamie Sinclair. Tales are spun about the founding of the Great race as well as stories from Western States, Tahoe, the Ponderosa, Honest Ali and some camels. Pumpkin soup gets a mention, as well as Southland Swede and other Swedes, Dwight's night stick, and old age. Friends, runners and other nutters, this is a True Bonanza!

The lads get to chat with Rocky. Not Rocky Balboa but the Rocky from #furtherfaster. Down the road from the shop that sells the heavier gear (#cactusoutdoor). Further Faster is the place that Rocky sells stuff for running further and faster including anything that #grantguise sells like #Scott shoes and #ultraspire stuff. Also covered topics related to dogs and escaping to Mueller hut without crampons and ice axes. Somehow pigs got mentioned... as well as #Emersons #Weatherspoons and, of course, #Aerodaks.

In which Andrew and Steve interview Grant Guise… 3 way long distance relationships don't work well. Topics include getting second at Mt Difficulty Ascent, Hagley Hombres, the kids race at Northburn, euthanasia and coffee with Croydon. To be honest I have no idea what we talked about or why we did it but doesn't time fly when you're having fun!

In which Andrew and Steve get stood down by a Dutch communist tulip grower and so read a chapter from The Complete Book of Running by Jim Fix. Chapter is appropriately about how running can cure our ails which fits the theme of Donald Trump finding a cure for AIDS and cancer, faecal transplants for obesity and Andrew's sore throat. Literally the shittiest episode yet!

Steve and Andrew chat to Matt and Eugene from Dirt Church Radio. Some confusion exists on who is interviewing who. Andrew shares some investigative journalism advice with Eugene and Eugene attempts to share running tips from books other people have written. Matt describes his strange Kepler Challenge experience and choosing family life over becoming one of the next Beatles. Andrew and Eugene discuss tuataras and the destruction of Invercargill and how much Steve would look like Lenin if he has a haircut and leaves a goatee. Steve drinks whiskey and laughs a lot.

In which Andrew really does carry a lawnmower around the Dunedin parkrun on a very wet and cold day. In between much grunts, curses and lawnmower jokes there are the usual gems of wisdom such as how do astronauts poop in space and what Jesus' brothers thought of him. Also includes an interview with Nic, one of the parkrun volunteers.

In which Andrew and Steve, after numerous attempts, diversions and distractions, get to chat to Glenn Sutton and his support crew during his running of the Badwater135 in Death Valley, California. 135 miles. 50 degrees celsius. Why, How and WTF are the questions that come to mind and don't get answered as the ensuing conversation drifts into random snippets of interesting geographical and medical facts with a few motivational quotes thrown in.

IN which Andrew and Steve get to interview Raz again. Raz is the founder of Aerodaks, the best running underwear in the universe. Find out why a very tall black Polish guy living in Australia who loves databases would end up making undies. Why are they black? Why only briefs? Why only men's? What really is the meaning of life? These questions and more answered in this long awaited episode.

The official race review from the unofficial event Longest Shortest Day and probably the worst podcast ever recorded. Andrew and Steve offer race highlights and discuss important issues that were raised such as sausages, batteries, chicken legs and hallucinations. It's also noted that as the Longest Shortest Day wore on sleep deprivation led to a depreciation in language, humour and common sense. Andrew also does some rummaging and gets rich.