Queens and the people

race events that have different distances – a marathon, half marathon, and a 5km, for example. Or like at the Tarawera race next month which features a 100 miler, a 100km, a 50km, and a 20km.

You’ll hear people saying, ‘‘Oh, I’m only doing the half marathon.’’ Or, ‘‘I’m just doing the 50km.’’ There is nothing ‘‘only’’ or ‘‘just’’ about doing a half marathon or a 50km (or a 5km or a 20km).

They are all huge achievements, and people should be proud of them, not diminishing them – and nor should those doing the longer distances be smug, either.

On the Dirt Church Radio podcast this week, we talk to Courtney Dauwalter, who is a global trail-running superstar, an American who runs races far in excess of 100 miles, even.

If anyone is qualified to look down their noses at shorter distance races, it’s her.

But when co-host Matt Rayment and I talked to her about this trend, she was quick to respond.

‘‘Oh, man. When people do say they’re only going 60k or 30k or whatever it is, I’m like, ‘no, that’s so awesome’,’’ Dauwalter tells us.

‘‘I’m just excited for people to get out and experience the trails at all. So many people don’t know the networks in their own area, there are great trails all around the world, so I just get excited when people are out enjoying that and the freedom that you can feel out on those trails.’’

So, there you go: that sensation of freedom and enjoyment that someone as talented as Courtney Dauwalter feels on the trails? You can experience it, too.

Getting out the door and going for a run is a sporting challenge billions of people can tackle.

Eugene Bingham and Matt Rayment are hosts of a trail running podcast Dirt Church Radio. Learn more at dirtchurchradio.com or get in touch via email dirtchurchradio@gmail.com