In adventure racing, a “dark zone” is a pause in the action—when darkness or safety concerns require teams to stop, regroup, and prepare for what lies ahead. It’s a time for swapping stories, building friendships, and renewing energy. Here at The Dark Zone, we aim to recreate that spirit through compelling stories and shared experiences. We’re thrilled to have you with us.
The Dark Zone Podcast exists to celebrate the sport and its community through three key goals:
- Support new racers by connecting them with the wisdom of seasoned adventurers.
- Preserve the sport’s history through conversations that capture its essence and evolution.
- Showcase events by giving race directors a platform to share their stories with the world.
Dive in, enjoy the journey, and make the most of your time in The Dark Zone. We’re glad you’re here.
TDZ 172 – Luke Jansen & Silas Jones: The First Junior Adventure Racing World Champions
Episode Link Here Racing as Black Diamond NZ, Luke Jansen and Silas Jones of New Zealand traveled to Canada and became the first Junior Adventure Racing World Champions. In this episode, they recount a childhood of hut trips, orienteering before their teens, and cycling the vertical height of Everest for the fun of it. All…
TDZ 171 – Champion Racer Rachel Nolan: The Queen of Rocking Up And Racing Steady
Episode Link Here Rachel Nolan is back on the show FOUR YEARS (We can’t believe it either!) after her first visit on Episode #35, and it’s great to have her join us. In July 2026 she won PC12 in Colombia with Vidaraid, her first race with the team. Rachel and Brian also get into how…
TDZ 170 – 2026 ARWS European Championships – RD Lars Bukkehave on Crafting Denmark’s Beautiful and Challenging Course
Episode Link Here Just days before the ARWS European Championship Montane Adventure Race, race director Lars Bukkehave sits down with TDZ to explain the 48-hour course that he built. Showcasing the beauty and challenge of Denmark, the race runs 19 stages including a sea cliff where you can still see the black clay layer left…
TDZ 169 — New Zealand’s Louie Burger: 18 Years Old and Four Expedition Races Deep
Episode Link Here New Zealand’s Louie Burger is 18. He’s also four expedition races deep, including a run at the iconic Godzone. He got there by way of one of the country’s strongest school adventure racing programs, a last-minute addition to a team at The Magnificient, dedicated training and teamwork, and a lot of very…
TDZ 167 – The Endless Mountains Podcast, Episode 6: Slaying Dragons
Episode Link Here For the next two weeks, Rootstock Racing is taking over the Dark Zone feed, offering a limited series podcast chronicling the 2026 Endless Mountains Adventure Race. Shownotes: The Endless Mountains Adventure Race – www.endlessmountainsar.com Rootstock Racing – www.rootstockracing.com
TDZ 166 – The Endless Mountains Podcast, Episode 5: A Warm Welcome
Episode Link Here For the next two weeks, Rootstock Racing is taking over the Dark Zone feed, offering a limited series podcast chronicling the 2026 Endless Mountains Adventure Race. Shownotes: The Endless Mountains Adventure Race – www.endlessmountainsar.com Rootstock Racing – www.rootstockracing.com
TDZ 168 — Finding Your People: RD and Racer Shawn Lemaster On His First 100 Miler and 361Adventure’s Biggest Year Yet
Episode Link Here In December 2021, Racer and Race Director Shawn Lemaster sat down with us for Dark Zone #16. He was building races through 361 Adventures and putting in his own long days planning race courses and personal adventures. This year, we hit five years of the show, so we’re running it back with…
TDZ 165 – Allison Marinucci: Racing, Loss, and the Work of Recovery
Episode Link Here Therapist, ultra runner, and race director Allison Marinucci joins the show for a conversation that starts with endurance and goes somewhere deeper. Allison traces her path from Couch to 5K, through COVID-era backyard ultras, to a double hip replacement that forced the question every athlete eventually faces: who are you when the…
TDZ 164 – The Endless Mountains Podcast, Episode 4: Journey to the Crossroads
Episode Link Here For the next two weeks, Rootstock Racing is taking over the Dark Zone feed, offering a limited series podcast chronicling the 2026 Endless Mountains Adventure Race. Shownotes: The Endless Mountains Adventure Race – www.endlessmountainsar.com Rootstock Racing – www.rootstockracing.com
TDZ 163 – Nathan Fa’avae Returns, Bound for the Yukon 1000
Episode Link Here Nathan Fa’avae returns to the Dark Zone — over 100 episodes after his first appearance as guest #50. A seven-time adventure racing world champion with Seagate and Avaya, Nathan officially stepped back from traditional AR in 2023, not to slow down but to redirect: growing youth and women’s adventure racing in New…
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