WUU2K 2021: Mary Fisher, left, and Carrie Buckmaster (guide), right, clinking mugs at an aid station. You can just see the tether they sometimes use on wider trails on Mary’s right hand…a looped piece of twined together fabric. Between them is Mary’s regular cane which they used nearly all of WUU2K so she could keep as close to Carrie’s line as possible

This week Eugene and Matt have the privilege and pleasure to speak with Aotearoa/New Zealand Para swimmer Mary Fisher! Prior to her retirement from the structure, rigor, and scrutiny of high performance sport in 2018, Mary won Gold at the London and Rio Paralympics in world-record times. After that, Mary chose to do something relaxing, like run the Tarawera 87 km. Eugene and Matt speak to Mary after her recent running of the (completely heckers) WUU2K, which Mary finished with her guide, Carrie Buckmaster. We speak to Mary about her love of the trails, advocacy and inclusion in sport, and how trail running can become more accessible. This conversation transcends “inspiration”, rather being a conversation with a person who enjoys trail running and has the mindset of an elite athlete who happens to have a visual impairment. And a bunch of gold medals.We have a great Greatest Run Ever and Matt rants a bit about how good late 90’s Swedish power-pop is. Enjoy.

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Episode Links

Mary Fisher- SIx Tips on how and when to help a blind person

Tramping Blind on The Kepler Track

All is for All

Runners with Beards Blue Lake 24h

The Most Dedicated: An Aotearoa Graffiti Story

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Ciele