About a week before IARA’s first AGM on 22 January 2025, IARA Chairperson Cormac MacDonnell and IARA General Secretary Lisa de Speville spoke to Brian Gatens from the adventure racing podcast, The Dark Zone.
The podcast was released on Thursday, 24 April 2025. You can listen to the podcast online.
“In this episode, we go international—literally—with Cormac and Lisa of the International Adventure Racing Association (IARA). As a worldwide organization, IARA is on a mission to unify, support, and elevate adventure racing on every continent. We talk about what it means to define standards of fairplay, safety, and sustainability in a sport that thrives on pushing limits and embracing the unknown. With a deep respect for racers, race directors, volunteers, and the land itself, IARA is working to shape a stronger, more inclusive future. From promoting ethical competition to building bridges with other organizations, IARA is setting the compass for where adventure racing is headed next. We dig into the core values that drive their work—teamwork, integrity, inclusion, and, of course, adventure. This episode offers a fresh perspective on what it means to race globally. Join us as we explore the spirit of adventure racing through the lens of its most ardent advocates.
Thank you for listening. If you like what you hear, please like, click, and subscribe on your streaming platform of choice. This helps spread the word about Adventure Racing and TDZ’s role in elevating the sport.
Remember – You Keep Racing, and We’ll Keep Talking!”
Our thanks to Brian for inviting us to have this conversation about IARA, and for all the wonderful work that he does for our sport through The Dark Zone.