Kia Ora Whanau. This week Eugene and Matt have the distinct pleasure of our first two-on-two podcast, as we speak to Andrew Glennie and Steve Tripp, the gentlemen behind the Crush The Cargill 24 Challenge. Billed as “the longest 24 hour race in the world”, Crush the Cargill takes place in Dunedin, racing up and down Kapukataumahaka (or Mt Cargill) for 24 hours to benefit the Valley Project, which is a community led initiative focussing on the wellbeing of the residents of the North East Valley suburbs of Dunedin, focussing on healthy homes, a sustainable environment and a sense of belonging for all. The marketing and approach that Steve and Andrew have taken to promoting Crush the Cargill has been informal, entertaining and irreverent, frequently hijacking other forums on social media with the now infamous hashtag #Crushingit, informing top flight international runners that they have won complimentary entries (the race entry is by Koha, or donation) and disqualifying others. This approach sits with the grassroots ethos of Crush the Cargill and whilst appearing blithe, it soon becomes apparent that both Steve and Andrew care very much about the event that they have started, and the cause behind it. As for the men themselves? Those clowns who showed up to Northburn in Lucha Libre masks with a Crush the Cargill flag, well... they are crushing it in their own right. Steve Tripp is a doctor, who teaches at the Otago School of Medicine, having previously moved to Cambodia as a missionary with his family and began human rights monitoring. He also runs Justees, a T-shirt company which supports at-risk young men in the Cambodian slums. No slouch when it comes to events, Steve has a 6:44 Kepler PB. Andrew Glennie is a community mental health worker, who works with at risk youth and in his spare time is the current Aotearoa/New Zealand 24 hour champion and the current holder of the Slam of the Damned (all four 100 mile events in New Zealand in a calendar year). We’re stoked to bring you this highly entertaining and freewheeling conversation with the enfants terribles of our trail and ultra running scene. Enjoy!!!

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