Thank you to Nick Hurff for coming onto the show. Whether as an Adventure Racer, Coach, Race Director, or Sports Performance Expert, Nick is a font of knowledge, experience, and wisdom. From his training to the intricacies of nutrition and recovery, Nick has much to share with the listener. Special shoutout for his Adaptive AR coming this year. Thi…

Thank you to Polish Adventure Racer and Ultra-endurance Athlete Rafael Adametz for coming onto the show. An accomplished racer, Raf recounts his entry to the sport, his growth as a racer, and his recent experience racing La Routa Adventure Race (the Philippine one, not the Mexice one). He's a great guest so settle in and enjoy this episode of The D…

Thank you to Team MDWW - Mountain Designs Wild Women - for coming onto the show. As the first all-female team to win an ARWS Expedition Race, they have secured their spot in AR lore, and also provide a cracking good episode filled with guidance, advice, and the keys to their longevity. With 78 combined years of adventure racing between them, they a…

The Dark Zone: An Adventure Racing Podcast is delighted to collaborate with the United States Adventure Racing Association on their new podcast: The Checkpoint. Join Brent Freedland and Brian Gatens as they interview regional race directors and a wide variety of voices from the world of Adventure Racing. Shownotes: The Checkpoint on Apple Podcasts …

Thank you to Team NAWWAL - Not All Who Wander Are Lost - for coming onto the show. This is a true-blue AR story. Four (somewhat) strangers decide to join forces and take on the 2023 edition Malacara Expedition Race in Florianopolis, Brazil. What follows is a bonkers story of struggle, teamwork, triumph and finishing with leftover food. This is a gr…

Thank you to Jason Bettis and Danny Collins for returning to The Dark Zone: An Adventure Racing Podcast. Expedition Ozark 2024 is their sophomore effort as RD's and are coming into this year's race following the great success and positive feedback from EO 2023. This episode touches upon their growth as RD's, their own successful adventure racing ca…

Thank you to Santiago Lopez for coming onto the show. One of the longest-serving and most successful race directors in the sport, Santiago talks about his experiences as both racer and race director, the upcoming ARWS World Championship in Ecuador, and his thoughts about the future of the sport. Huairasinchi, the race for which he is best known, is…

Thank you to Alyssa Godesky for coming onto the show. One of our more accomplished guests, Alyssa has placed on the podium at the 2022 USARA National Championship, has eight top-5 professional finishes at the Ironman distance, and holds multiple Fastest Known Times (FKT's) including on the New Hampshire 48 High Peaks, Adirondack 46 High Peaks and V…

Thank you to Amanda Bohley for coming onto the show. Originally recorded in December 2022, Amanda drops timeproof stories, pearls of wisdom, and overall stoke for this sport of ours. From having the world's greatest co-workers to being the adventure race equivalent of a human "Break Glass In Case A Great Teammate is Needed" emergency box, Amanda lo…

Thank you to Mikael Lindnord - Adventure Racer, Author, and Executive Producer of the upcoming film 'Arthur the King' for coming onto the show. Not only does Mikael share his experience with Arthur, the dog he rescued in Ecuador in 2014, but he also shares his vast racing experience and what it was like to be an Executive Producer for the upcoming …

Thank you to Adventure Racer and Race Director Chris Dixon for coming onto the show. Chris's outfit, Wild&Co., offers AR's all over Australia and his organization likes to think big and offer expansive and challenging races. First and foremost, Chris loves to be an adventure racer and he makes sure that his events honor the sport, the efforts of th…

Thank you to Per Vestling and Oskar Svärd of The Swedish Armed Forces Adventure Team (SAFAT) for coming onto the show. The 2023 Adventure Racing World Champions Per and Oskar, alongside their teammates Malin Hjalmarsson and Team Captain John Karlsson, captured their 2nd championship in the last three years at the ARWS World Championship held in Kou…

Thank you to repeat guest Mari Chandler of Team Vidaraid for joining the show. She is fresh from the ARWS Championship Race Course and walks us through the race, the ups and downs, and how Vidaraid stormed back from a long overnight dark zone to capture 2nd place. Full of wisdom and experience, Mari is not to be missed. Thank you to The New York Ad…

Welcome to Flash Podcast Episode #2 of The Dark Zone. Once again we have assembled an excellent team of analysts to share their thoughts and wisdom with the legions of at-home dotwatchers. This episode was recorded on Facebook Live during the ARWS World Championships held in South Africa October 2023. Thank you to Stephanie Ross from Flying Squirre…

The next best thing to adventure racing is talking about adventure racing and welcome to this Flash Podcast Episode of The Dark Zone. We have assembled a crack team of analysts to offer in-race updates, analysis, and predictions from the ARWS World Championship Race happening RIGHT NOW in South Africa! Thank you to Ashley Eaton from Strong Machine,…

Thank you to ARWS World Championships Race Director Stephan Muller for coming onto the show. This episode is a full course preview of the 2023 World Championships being held in Kouga, South Africa. 800 KM, 10 stages, and over 8 days of racing is just waiting out there for the racers and this episode goes deep on the entire course. Thank you to Step…

Thank you to Nationals Race Director Chris Yager and Team Grit Adventure members Jesse Spangler and Jesse Tubb for coming onto the show. This episode recounts their 2nd place finish at the 2023 USARA National Championships. All three guests have been on TDZ previously and they do a great job recounting the race, discussing their nutritional and nav…

Thank you to Sachiko for coming onto the show. This episode recounts Team East Wind's experience at the Nordic Islands Adventure Race on the Faroe Islands from August 2023. A legendary team, East Wind lived up to its reputation of relentless racing, strong competition, and making solid strategic decisions. Sachiko, a well-established long-distance …

Thank you to Abby and Brent of Rootstock Racing for coming onto the show. This episode is the culmination of a six-episode arc in which TDZ was embedded into The Endless Mountains Adventure Race. In this episode, Abby and Brent unpack the planning, preparation and experience of presenting a 5-day race. It's a deep dive into all aspects of the race.…

Thank you to La Ruta Madre Race Director Javier Barreda for coming onto the show. Billed as 'Mexico's Toughest Race," La Ruta Madre puts the natural beauty of Mexico on full display. Javier speaks about the challenging course, the high level of hospitality, and how he works hard for both a great race and to give those who travel a wonderful overall…

Thank you to Team Bend Racing for joining TDZ to discuss their decisive victory at Rootstock Racing's Endless Mountains Adventure Race. Alongside their discussion of their race, Bend speaks about their approach to the sport, team dynamics, and the process they follow when it comes to race training and preparation. Shownotes: www.endlessmountainsar.…

Thank you to volunteers Jim Rounsley, Misty and Ainsley Glenn, and Shelley Johannesen for joining TDZ during Day 4 of Rootstock Racing's Endless Mountains Adventure Race. Without volunteers, we wouldn't have adventure races, and this episode highlights their motivation as well as the wisdom and knowledge they pick up along the way. There is always …

Thank you to Emily Korsch, Jason Magness, and Stephanie Ross for joining TDZ on Facebook Live to discuss the Endless Mountains Adventure Race. Teams are now halfway through the race and our panel analysis helps the adventure racing fan understand and enjoy the race. Plus, there are always lessons to be learned for all racers. Shownotes: www.endless…

Here comes the biggest episode ever of the TDZ. Over 100 minutes of racer voices directly from the race course of Rootstock Racing's The Endless Mountains Adventure Race. Thanks to the kind hosting of the Penn-Wells Hotel in Wellsboro, PA, TDZ was able to interview each racer team during a mandatory media stop. The entire project took over 13 hours…

Welcome back to Zoe F. for her return visit to The Dark Zone. A lifelong AR racer, volunteer and font of wisdom, Zoe shares her thoughts on teamwork, transitions, nutrition, and what she hopes for the racers at Rootstock Racing's The Endless Mountains Adventure Race. Be sure to return tomorrow to TDZ as we'll be bringing daily episodes from The End…

Thank you to USARA Nationals Race Director Chris Yager of the Green Mountain Adventure Racing Association (GMARA) and USARA Executive Director Michael Garrison for joining The Dark Zone to offer a first peek into the upcoming 2023 USARA National Championships based out of Smuggler's Notch in Vermont. Kudos to Chris for sharing just enough about the…

Thank you to AR Racer, Coach and Mountain Guide Jen Segger for returning to The Dark Zone for another episode. Seegs was first on TDZ #24 and returns with even more wisdom, stories, and guidance. Pull up a chair and give this one a good listen. Jen was kind enough to extend the following offer to TDZ listeners: 40% off my AR courses for both BEG an…

Thank you to Paul Steele and John Hardin for coming onto the show to talk about their newest endeavor. The CheNarr Adventure Race is coming to the Nashville, Tennessee area this coming August. Driven by a desire to share the natural beauty of the area and their love of adventure, John and Paul are excited for the first edition of the race. Shownote…

Thank you to Stephan Muller for coming onto the show. A longtime adventure racer, including the first Eco-Challenge, Stephan goes deep on his plans for the ARWS World Championship in South Africa this October. Along the way he shares his AR wisdom, talks about what the sport means to him, and how teams can prepare for a big race. Shownotes: https:/…

Thank you to Travis and Mark 'Mace' Macy for joining The Dark Zone to share their experience, strength, hope, and stories. Travis's new book A Mile at a Time recounts their family's dedication to endurance racing (including Mace's participation in the first Eco-Challenge), Mace's Alzheimer's diagnosis, Travis's successful adventure racing career, a…

Thank you to Adrian Crane for joining The Dark Zone to share his adventure racing stories and wisdom. Adrian has competed in every Eco-Challenge, among many other events, and shares not only his stories from back in the day, but what he sees today as an Adventure Racing World Series referee. We are fortunate to have Adrian on the show and the TDZ c…

Thank you to Jennifer Strong McConachie for joining The Dark Zone to discuss her book Go Far: How Endurance Sports Help You Win at Life. An accomplished ultrarunner, climber, and endurance sports competitor, she doesn't hold back in sharing her many life lessons and personal adventures. And, yes, rollerblading finally makes its way onto an episode …

Thank you to Team Bend Racing/Skin Doctor for joining The Dark Zone. Only a few hours from their resounding win at Expedition Ozark, Bend Racing recounts their journey, the challenges along the way, and how they held it together at the front of the race for so long. This is a must listen for racers of all speeds as Bend shares so many of their stra…

Flash Podcast alert - This is a special episode of TDZ. No music! No intro! Nothing! We get right into Expedition Ozark. Welcome to the show! Thank you to Brent Freedland, Emily Korsch and Jason Magness for joining The Dark Zone for this Expedition Ozark Flash Episode. Recorded halfway through the race, our panel discusses the race so far, the stra…

Thank you to Travis Siehndel and Mike Chaney of Adventure Enablers for joining The Dark Zone. Their wide-ranging conversation covers their Adventure Racing, Self-Made Adventures, and their jump into Race Directing. Chock full of advice, this episode is valuable to both the beginner and the veteran racer. Thank you to this episode's sponsor: VJ Shoe…

Thank you to New Zealanders Fynn and Molly of Team Fear Youth for returning to The Dark Zone (Check them out on Episode #30) to recount their experience at Godzone, Chapter 11. They had a great race and do a fine job telling the world all about it. They offer a master class on how to level up from Year 1 to Year 2 and do it in the typically humble …

Thank you to Vanessa Cummings for coming onto The Dark Zone. We connected with Vanessa well in advance of her first race and she was kind enough to track her preparation and overall approach to the event while balancing the other demands of day-to-day life. Special shoutout to her strategy of springboarding from volunteering at an event to racing i…

Thank you to Marina LeGree of Ascend Leadership Through Athletics for joining The Dark Zone for a discussion of her group's work in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Along the way we draw the connection between her organization's work and what similarities it has to the attitude and ethics of AR. You can learn more about Ascend and support their work at th…

Thank you to Mary for joining The Dark Zone to talk about her entry into AR, her years as a solo racer, and her trajectory into becoming a multi-day racer. Along the way, we write down the Five "Foster Rules" that she has developed. Mary loves AR, the people that she meets, and what she has learned about herself. Warning - This one may cause you to…

Thank you to John for joining The Dark Zone to talk about NYARA's premier event - The Longest Day 24-Hour Race - and his experience as a racer, race director, and student of the sport. John's enthusiasm for AR is contagious and you'll want to listen to this one when you're on the trainer, climbing a mountain or pounding out those road miles. Learn …

Thank you to Jason and Danny for joining The Dark Zone to talk about Expedition Ozark, a new 5-day race coming up in April 2023. Set in the host city of Bentonville, Arkansas, EO sounds like it has all things for all racers. Jason and Danny talk about the course, the disciplines, and what the race has to offer. And, of course, there will be caves, …

Thank you to Kate Geisen for coming on the show as she recounts her AR history, but more importantly her bikepacking adventure on the North-to-South route of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. Kate walks us through her prep, those early hard days (including an unexpected zero-day), her need to commit breaking and entering (with permission), and …

Welcome to David Webster of Team ACDC AR. Not only did he jump into the deep end of the pool at the 5-day ITERA Expedition Race this past August, but he didn't even dip his toes in the water beforehand. Sit down, buckle up, and listen to how David jumped into an expedition race as his first AR. Special thanks to NYARA.org for sponsoring this episod…

The Eastern Mountain Wilderness Challenge, the brainchild of Eric Caravella of Packrafting Adventures, was held for the first time this past August in New York State's Adirondack Park. A wilderness area larger than the State of Massachusetts, the Adirondacks offer a true backcountry experience for the teams that took on this 30-hour, four-checkpoin…

Thank you to Nathan Fa'avae for coming onto the show. In many ways, Nathan is in no need of an introduction as his 20+ year adventure racing career, with multiple wins and 7 AR World Championships, does all the talking for him, but Nathan is plentiful in his thoughts and gracious with his time as he speaks about his personal growth as a racer. Alon…

Whether solo or with a team, Jesse Spangler brings his best, fast self to every adventure race that he enters. Thank you to him for coming on the show to talk about his entry to the sport, how his solo racing has helped him to be a better teammate, and defining all those navigation terms that bedevil those of us who are more human.…

Thank you to Craig Cook of AR Live Coverage, Brent Freedland of Rootstock Racing and Jason Magness of Bend Racing for coming onto the show for instant/flash analysis of the ARWS World Championships in Paraguay. The top ten are still coming across the line (after almost 130 hours of racing) and teams are scattered all over this monster of a course. …

Thanks to the hard work of Dave Gedney and the magic of tracking devices, we were able to track down four teams while on the course at USARA Nationals. We made good use of their mandatory 5-minute media time to chat about the race and how it's going so far. Thank you to the following teams: Team Psyched, Cherubini Brothers, Thisability Racing, and …

Thank you to Brent Freedland as we spend 10 minutes breaking down the action found in the first two stages (and little bit of the rest of the race) of the 2022 USARA Nationals. Head over www.usara.com for all their media coverage.Brian Gatens による

Thank you to the hardest working AR analyst in the business Brent Freedland of Rootstock Racing for sticking around AFTER our Worlds episode to offer his thoughts on the upcoming USARA National Championship Race being held in Bishop, CA this weekend. The terrain, the teams, and the big race picture are all discussed. Sit back and enjoy this flash e…