Trail Runner Nation

After years of base training, AJW has put his podcast bib on and launching his own podcast, "Crack a Brew With AJW". Andy will have discussions with members of the trail and ultra-community to sit down, have a beverage and discuss running, life and how the two intersect.  We play his first episode in its entirety with Courtney Dauwalter, fresh off her win at the Bandera 100K in January 2022 where she also won a Golden Ticket for the 2023 Western States 100.  Andy has an amazing lineup of guests for his first season, and you will not want to miss them. We will be promoting how to find and subscribe to his podcast soon - our crew is still working on all the details. Follow AJW on Twitter, FaceBook or Instagram as we button up the details. Of course, we will let you know on all our channels where and when to listen and subscribe.  If you want to learn more about Courtney, listen to these previous episodes with her Intuitive Training With Courtney Dauwalter EP 434 Courtney Dauwalter is a 4.4....What's Your GRI

In this episode, we talk with Ultrarunning historian Davy Crockett, about another legendary ultramarathon runner who has been referred to as the "Greatest of All Time" (G.O.A.T.). Pam has won numerous ultramarathons, including the Badwater Ultramarathon, which is considered one of the toughest races in the world. This is an incredibly inspiring conversation about one of the most accomplished ultramarathon runners of all time. Whether you're a runner yourself or just looking for motivation and inspiration, this episode is a must-listen. You can learn more about Pam in the article on Ultrarunning History. Davy Crockett, the host of the podcast, "Ultrarunning History"  Davy has run over 100 100-mile finishes since starting in 2004.  He is a race director of the Pony Express Trail 50 and 100 in Utah and was recently named Director of the American Ultrarunning Hall of Fame. Buy his recent book about Frank Hart. And listen to the first G.O.A.T. episode about Frank Hart. You can learn more about Davy and his many

Today we are discussing the age-old question: are ice baths good for your health? It is a topic that has divided fitness enthusiasts and athletes for years, with some claiming that ice baths can help reduce muscle soreness and inflammation, while others argue that they can be harmful to the body.  First, let us define what an ice bath is. An ice bath is a recovery method in which a person immerses their body in a tub of cold water and ice for a brief period, usually 10-15 minutes. The water temperature is typically around 50-59 degrees Fahrenheit.  Now, let us dive into the potential benefits of ice baths. Some proponents of ice baths argue that the cold water can help reduce inflammation and muscle soreness after a workout. This is because cold water can constrict blood vessels, which can help reduce swelling and inflammation. In addition, cold water can numb nerve endings, which can provide temporary pain relief.  However, it is important to note that the research on the effectiveness of ice baths is mixed.

We wanted to wrap up 2022 with one of our favorite type of episode, TRN Audio Magazine. Andy Jones-Wilkins joins us to discuss this and that with a guess the title game. Links to stuff we mentioned: "Unbreakable" movie by JB Benna Born To Run book by Christopher McDougall Pied Piper of Trail Running short reel "Strong Downhills Late in Races May Determine the Fastest Finishers" by David Roche "The Hidden Factor That Explains Easy Run Pace" by Alex Hutchinson Hire Andy as a coach! or check out his weekly Tap Room at iRunFar

Outcome goals are goals that focus on the end result or objective, while process goals are goals that focus on the steps or actions required to achieve the desired outcome. Outcome goals tend to be more specific and measurable, while process goals are more focused on the journey or process of achieving the outcome. Coach Ian Sharman joins The Nation to discuss these different kinds of goals and helps us understand the pros and cons of each. Outcome goals can be motivating because they provide a clear target to aim for, but they can also be discouraging if progress is slow or if setbacks occur. Process goals, on the other hand, can help to keep you on track and focused on the steps needed to achieve your outcome goal, which can lead to better long-term success. Real Science of Sport podcast episode Ian mentioned regarding soccer penalty kicks. Find out more about Sharman Ultra Coaching

Frank Hart rose to fame, popularity and wealth in the 1870 as one of the first African American athletes to break the color barrier as an ultra runner. Davy Crockett, the host of the podcast, "Ultrarunning History" joins us to tell us this amazing story of Frank Hart and the early popularity of pedestrianism. Get the book here. It's a great stocking stuffer! Davy has run over 100 100-mile finishes since starting in 2004.  He is a race director of the Pony Express Trail 50 and 100 in Utah and was recently named Director of the American Ultrarunning Hall of Fame. You can learn more about Davy and his many works at Ultrarunninghistory.com  Check out our earlier episode with Davy about the history of EP 556: The History of Ultrarunning If this episode was interesting to you, you might like the episode we did on "Pedestrianism" two years ago.

We recently read a blog post from Charlotte Grysolle, "15 Learnings Between a Neuroscientist & Navy SEAL Officer".  This article was based on the Jocko podcast between Jocko Willink and Dr. Andrew Huberman, "332: Influence & Ownership Over Your Physiological & Psychological Being".  We enjoyed it so much we thought we'd have a casual discussion about six points we thought were interesting and how they relate to running. Optic Flow Expand your visual field Re-frame friction Dopamine peaks Physiological sigh Making mistakes is key for learning Check out the "GOOD" video from Jocko.

Coach Ian Sharman is one of the most consistent and successful trail and ultra runners. This year he had a few A-races that didn't go as expected. We talk through why. We discuss knowing when to back off and how to keep running sustainable for the long term. Some items that we discussed and we promised to link: The Range Report Newsletter by David Epstein Book: Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away by Annie Duke Learn more about running in Bhutan! Find out more about Sharman Ultra Coaching

Alex Hutchinson is back to discuss some of his most recent articles he published at Outsideonline: The Salt in Sports Drinks May Not be as Crucial as You Think How Pregnancy Affects Your Marathon Time Alex Hutchinson is an avid runner and author.  We did a series of podcasts on his book, Endure: Mind, Body and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance. Previous Podcasts where we discuss the specific chapters of Endure: Podcast #1:   The Unforgiving Minute, The Conscience Quitter, Heat, Belief Podcast #2: The Central Governor Theory, Pain and Training the Brain Podcast #3 : Oxygen, Fuel, and Zapping the Brain Check out Alex’s other books: Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights?: Fitness Myths, Training Truths, and Other Surprising Discoveries from the Science of Exercise Big Ideas: 100 Modern Inventions That Have Transformed Our World What Defines our Limits - with Alex Hutchinson Follow Alex on Twitter Check out Sweat Science

There has been a lot of hype around intermittent fasting for the last couple years but not a lot of decisive research or data.  Coach Bob Seebohar rejoins The Nation to help us understand what intermittent fasting is and what he knows about it and help us understand if there is any benefit for endurance athletes. Bob Seebohar is a board certified specialist in sports dietetics, exercise physiology, and an NSCA certified strength and conditioning coach.  He is also the sports dietitian for the University of Denver women's gymnastic team and the University of Denver Athletics Department. If you want to learn more about Bob and his services including his books, articles, coaching services, nutrition and more, visit ENRGPERFORMANCE.  He is also the co-host of the podcast Inside Sports Nutrition with Dina Griffin. Check out the tasty healthy snacks he invented at All-Around Snack Company. He has been on TRN a couple other times including these two great episodes: EP 517: Eat to Train EP 583: TRAINING PRINCIPLES

Too often we mistake the terms "Trail Runner" and "Ultra Runner" as the same thing. They are not. In fact, running shorter distances can help us become better runners at any distance and better all around athletes. Coach David Roche joins The Nation to talk about the benefits of running the next 5k or 10k turkey trot and how it helps us physiologically and biomechanically. It actually might be a whole lot of FUN TOO! There are more people running ultras and especially longer ultras today. Are we moving to those longer distances too quickly? Is there benefit in running the shorter distances for a while before jumping into an event that takes all day? David Roche is a 2-time USATF trail national champion and 3-time member of team USA. He is also part of the power duo of coaches at SWAP Running, along with his partner, Megan. They also a great book, The Happy Runner: Love the Process, Get Faster, Run Longer (you can listen to our book review with Megan and David HERE). Megan and David host a very fun and infor

As a young runner, Steve Magness was a very fast runner, holding one of the fastest high school mile times at 4:01.  He was a model for toughness, pushing through the pain until he puked.  But this strategy failed as he continued trying to break the 4:00 barrier at the University of Houston. Steve Magness is a runner, coach and world-renowned expert on peak performance. He uncovers the science and helps us learn how to be better athletes and tougher people. In his new book Do Hard Things - Why We Get Resilience Wrong and the Surprising Science of REAL TOUGHNESS Steve looks at the science and helps us learn how to be more resilient and learn how to do hard things. We did a chapter by chapter review of this book leading up to this episode. If you want to learn more listen to these episodes: Part 1 - Chapters 2,5,6 Part 2 - Chapters 3,7,11 Part 3 - Chapters 1,4,8,9,10 Steve is the co-founder of The Growth Equation, an online platform dedicated to the understanding and practice of performance and well-being.

This is the part 3 and final chapter by chapter review of Steve Magness' new book Do Hard Things - Why We Get Resilience Wrong and the Surprising Science of REAL TOUGHNESS. We encourage you to buy the book and read along as we will have follow up episodes discussing the key points in each chapter. In this episode we discuss Chapters 1, 4, 8, 9, and 10 Steve Magness is a runner, coach and world-renowned expert on peak performance. He uncovers the science and helps us learn how to be better athletes and tougher people. Every runner and parent should read this book. It's that good. Our guest hosts are Andy Jones-Wilkins and Krissy Moehl. Hire Andy as a coach! or check out his weekly Tap Room at iRunFar Learn more about Krissy, preorder her book and consider her coaching services HERE 

Ryan Hall is a retired American long-distance runner.  He holds the American marathon record of 2:04:58 (Boston 2011) AND the half-marathon record of 59:43 (the first American to break the one-hour mark!)  He is a two-time Olympian and author of the recent book, Run the Mile You’re In.   Ryan joins us to talk about his transition from professional running to coaching, powerlifting, author, husband, and dad.   You can follow Ryan and learn more about his coaching at Run Free Training his web site Ryan and Sara Hall watch his video from the challenge “Chop Wood, Carry Water” follow Ryan on Instagram: @RyanHall3 listen to his podcast Run Free

This is the part 2 of our chapter by chapter review of Steve Magness' new book Do Hard Things - Why We Get Resilience Wrong and the Surprising Science of REAL TOUGHNESS. We encourage you to buy the book and read along as we will have follow up episodes discussing the key points in each chapter. In this episode we discuss Chapters 3, 7, and 11. Steve Magness is a runner, coach and world-renowned expert on peak performance. He uncovers the science and helps us learn how to be better athletes and tougher people. Every runner and parent should read this book. It's that good. Hire Andy as a coach! or check out his weekly Tap Room at iRunFar

Tapering is typically thought of as a physical reduction in ones physical stresses from training.  In today's episode, we talk about the mental part of a taper - getting ready for that big day. Todd Larsen and Bob Crowley join us to talk about Todd's recent A-Race that didn't go as planned and his analysis of why.

This is the first part of our chapter by chapter review of Steve Magness' new book Do Hard Things - Why We Get Resilience Wrong and the Surprising Science of REAL TOUGHNESS. We encourage you to buy the book and read along as we will have follow up episodes discussing the key points in each chapter. In this episode we discuss Chapters 2, 5 and 6 Steve Magness is a runner, coach and world-renowned expert on peak performance. He uncovers the science and helps us learn how to be better athletes and tougher people. Every runner and parent should read this book. It's that good. Hire Andy as a coach! or check out his weekly Tap Room at iRunFar

Brad Kearns has been striving for peak performance, healthy living and fitness.  Recently his thinking of nutrition was challenged on his B.rad podcast by a guest, Jay Feldman.  We thought this was interesting enough to invite Brad back to discuss his new thoughts.  Brad might get you to rethink your nutrition and start a discussion with your running friends. Brad Kearns is a New York Times bestselling author, Guinness World Record setting professional Speed golfer, #1 ranked USA age 55-59 high jumper, and former US national champion and #3 world-ranked professional triathlete. Brad has written over twenty books on diet, health, peak performance, and ancestral living, and is a popular speaker, retreat host, and host of numerous online multimedia educational courses at BradKearns.com. In 2017, The Keto Reset Diet (co-authored with Mark Sisson) became New York Times bestseller, and #1 ranked overall bestselling book on amazon.com for two days.  He promotes the importance of performing a daily morning exercise r

Most runners don’t like strength training, including many of our experts in this episode.  Our experts discuss why it is important, how we can implement it into our training program and the benefits. Michael Wardian is a great example of how strength training can help him become one of the best consistent ultra athletes with over 300 marathons and ultras.  He has many accomplishments including setting the record world record time in 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days and just completed a transcontinental run, “Running Home” in 61 days.  Check him out on Instagram or learn more on his web site.  Check out this video showing Mike’s three core strength exercises that you can do anywhere (dead bugs, bridge, bird dog)! Jason Fitzgerald had to be on this strength running episode because he has a podcast and website dedicated to the subject, Strength Running.  Jason is a USA Track & Field certified coach, and frequent contributor on PodiumRunner, Runner’s World, Active, MapMyRun, The Art of Manliness, Lifeha

Professional Headmaster and 2nd place finisher of the 2005 Western States 100, Andy Jones-Wilkins, join us to write the latest edition of Audio Magazine. The Authors dug deep to come up with topics that will keep you up to date and informed about trail running. Since there was so much trash talking leading up to this recording, we kindly ask our listeners to rank the magazine articles best to worst. Click this link to participate in the poll. There might be some high stakes and bragging rights based on the results, which, of course, we will share with The Nation. Hire Andy as a coach! or check out his weekly Tap Room at iRunFar