Trail Runner Nation

It is no surprise that world-class athletes couldn't get to their level without a strong mental game. It could be argued that you need a strong mental game to push beyond your personal limits to a new plateau.  Recent research reveals exactly how they do it - and now we can learn that formula and incorporate it into our athletics and other areas of our lives. Noel Brick, PhD, research phycologist of endurance athletics and Scott Douglas, contributing writer for Runner's World, co-authored the titled book and help us understand how we can learn from these athletes to improve our performance on and off the trail. Last week to register to win 1 of 10 pair of BOA Fit System powered La Sportiva Cyklon shoes. Get 15% off XO Skin gear HERE by using code TRN at checkout

We invited Ryan Montgomery on our podcast to do a "Golden Nuggets" episode. Like some trail runs take interesting twists and turns and you end up discovery new and exciting vistas, our conversation turned to a fun and educational place. Our Soundman Ryan did a great job editing in the fragmented discussion. We hope you enjoy and will share it with other. Ryan Montgomery started his running career in middle school while living in Alaska and continued throughout high school. He ran his first marathon at age 15! Ryan discovered trail running while attending college in Utah and quickly became a top performer. He has broken the 13-hour mark for running the 100-mile distance in 2019 at the USATF National Championships and will be representing Team USA in the 24-hour World Championships in 2021. Ryan is also an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. Ryan runs for Altra and coaches with Mountain Endurance Coaching. Register to win a pair of La Sportiva Cyklon shoes powered by Boa Fit Systems Make sure to get y

After our Western States 100 Prognostication episode, we kept the recording button pushed and this is the discussion.  We get a short race report from AJW on his Bighorn 100 race last weekend.  Ambasedor Level Patreon members get all our bonus miles.

Western States 100 is the first high profile race that is being held since the pandemic cancelled racing around the world.  We sit down with Andy Jones-Wilkins to get his take on this year's race.  There will be 320 amazing stories from each of the starters.  We highlight some of the ones that you might want to watch unfold. Hire Andy as a coach! or check out his weekly Tap Room at iRunFar Make sure to get your FREE sample pack of UCAN by clicking HERE Register to win a pair of La Sportiva Cyklon shoes powered by Boa Fit Systems Get 15% off your order at XO skin using the code TRN

This is an important episode and we are fortunate to have a friend, Cory Reese, join us to talk about depression.  Cory is an accomplished ultra runner and author of three books: Nowhere Near First Into the Furnace  Stronger than the Dark Cory introduces us to his friend and physiology expert (and ultra runner), Catherine Van Tassell, social worker, PA with experience in psychology at the University of Utah.  She is also a master trainer for iFIT Mind. This episode should help everyone listening.  If you suffer from depression, know someone who is, wonder if you are, or just want to help anyone that might need it.  This podcast is for you.   If you are in need of help, please reach out to your family friends or running community.  We love you and want to help.  If you have thoughts of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 anytime 24/7. Get your free UCAN sample pack here.

The world did not come to an end at the 2021 World's End 100K last week. Andy Jones-Wilkins experienced his first DNF after successfully completing 184 ultras prior. Read more about AJW's race in the Tap Room at iRunFar Hire Andy as a coach! or check out his weekly Tap Room at iRunFar Get your free UCAN sample pack here.

This is the first of a new series of episodes called NuggetCast.  Andy Jones-Wilkins joins us to explain what a NuggetCast is and to help kick off the first episode. This episode's nuggets are: Train the mind Throw out the ego Be Prepared Hire Andy as a coach! or check out his weekly Tap Room at iRunFar

In running failure might manifest itself as a DNF at a race or a failed workout. Many of us are programmed to believe that failure is bad. In this episode, we will challenge that fallacy and talk about how failure is part of the design process of becoming a better runner and human. Returning guest, Adam Kimble joins us with a couple friends, Jim O'Brien and Connor Crouch to recount a discussion they recently had on a run about DNFs and failures. Learn more about Adam by checking out his web site and his coaching site, Run On Dirt Coaching. Adam's social channels: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook Mentioned on the episode: Desert Runners Movie

We all love a good story about trail running. In Dean Karnazes' latest book, "A Runners High - My Life in Motion", he tells stories that you will easily draw you in and might remind you of similar situations that you might have been in. The stories will make you laugh, questions our sanity as runner, and make you think about life and running. Listen to Dean's previous episode, "Who is Dean Karnazes?" Dean is an accomplished author of four other best sellers: UltraMarathon Man - Confessions of an All-Night Runner 50/50: Secrets I Learned Running 50 Marathons in 50 Days - and How You Too Can Achieve Super Endurance! Run! 26.2 Stories of Blisters and Bliss The Road to Sparta: Reliving the Ancient Battle and Epic Run That Inspired the World's Greatest Footrace To learn more about Dean, visit his web site: Ultramarathonman.com

This past year has broken from the normal and thrown some curveballs, challenges and outright disappointments to our lives inside trail running.  We thought it would be a good discussion to talk about the state of The Nation, the trail running community that we all enjoy and love. Andy Jones-Wilkins joins us to talk about some of the changes and what that may mean to our sport. Links of interest: Ultrarunner Magazine's article from 2017 written by 9 important races in the US, "Why We Won't Pay: UTMB, ITRA and the 'Pay For Points' Racket"  AJW's Taproom article, "Forty-One Years at the American River 50 Mile: The Longevity of Tim Twietmeyer Hire Andy as a coach! or check out his weekly Tap Room at iRunFar

This week on Trail Runner Nation, we have a special edition of our podcast. UTMB race co-founder Michel Poletti joins us from Chamonix, France, along with four other guests, from Bellingham, Washington, to Boulder, to Chamonix. The topic? A new partnership announced today between the iconic triathlon brand and what is perhaps the world’s most famous trail race. Trail Runner Nation was one of the first media outlets in the world to receive the news. We taped this show Tuesday night, Chamonix time, and held it until the embargo expired at 4 am east coast time, Thursday, May 6. We’ll continue to cover this story in future podcast episodes, as it evolves. For now, you can check out highlights of our conversation on our Trail Runner Nation Youtube Channel, and read a summary of highlights in this blog post on our web site. What’s your opinion of this news? The Trail Runner Nation conversation continues in the new Trail Running Community at Ultrasignup. Check it out HERE. Our Guests: Michel Poletti is one of the fo

This is an "Out and Back", encore episode that we recorded in 2016 with Dr. Stephanie Howe. She had recently finished her PhD in Nutrition & Exercise Physiology at Oregon State.  She has taken her passion of running and transformed it into a career as an exercise physiologist, coach and sports nutritionist.  She joins The Nation to discuss: How to fuel during a run or race Appetite hormones Pallet fatigue She then shares her Simple Rules: Eat real food Chill out the day before a race Be nice

This is an encore episode with Courtney Dauwalter that we recorded back in February 2018.  We hope you enjoy the timeless wisdom that Courtney shares with The Nation.   Courtney Dauwalter rejoins The Nation after earning a golden ticket into the 2018 Western States 100.  She has won her last six races and was overall winner at three of those.  She has been the first human to cross the line at 10 of the races she started including a 10 hour buffer between second place at the 2017 Moab 200. Courtney talks about her "old school" method of training which includes a more intuitive focus rather than a specific training program.  Part of this includes consistency and adhering to AJW's "10-minute rule" Previous podcast with Courtney

The Dalai Lama has said, "The goal is not to be better than the other man, but your previous self.” East Coast Correspondent joins The Nation to talk about consistency and discipline. Sometimes it is very easy to set goals and get started. For many, failure can come just as easy if we set too high of expectations. We talk about ideas and tactics that have helped us when there are 6 reasons not to get the work done. Sometimes it means doing something so minuscule that it is just a bit more effort than doing nothing at all. These small wins help us psychologically and physically to get a step closer to our desired outcome. Here is the link to Scott's Tedtalk that he couldn't remember. Christine Carter teaches about her "better than nothing" philosophy that helped her become a runner after failing initially. Check out these previous episodes with similar topics - EP 458: Motivation vs. Discipline - Grit: That Space Between Giving Up and Going All In Hire Andy as a coach! or check out his weekly Tap Room at iR

Leadman*, ultrarunner, sports dietitian and former olympic athlete coach, Bob Seebohar says that we should, "eat to train, not train to eat". Our fueling is as important in our training as aerobic and anaerobic training. Bob even wrote the book on it, Metabolic Efficiency Training, Teaching the Body to Burn More Fat He discusses the simple methodology he prescribes to athletes to help them improve their nutrition and fuel burning with periodization and the simple "hand method" of fueling. Bob owns and runs eNRGPerformance in Colorado, but consults virtually around the world. Check out these links: - BirotaFoods.com - AllAroundSnackCo.com *Completing all six Leadville endurance events in 7 weeks

A book written by runner, adventurer, skier, biker, speaker and climber, Brenden Leonard. Brendan takes his unique skill of illustrations take a fun, tongue-in-cheak look at our lifestyle as runners. It is a reminder to the experienced runners to not take themselves to seriously and to new runners to understand that running isn't all rainbows and unicorns. Buy a few copies and share them with your local running tribe and fuel your next training runs with topics. Link to Brendan's 2018 movie, How to Run 100 Miles. Find more about Brendan at Semi-Rad. or follow him on Twitter or Instagram. Make sure you check out his podcast, Off The Couch

Alex Hutchinson rejoins The Nation to help us understand the latest research as it relates to endurance sports.  We discuss: What Marathoners (and Badminton Players) Think About Yes, Walking is Sometimes Faster Than Running Uphill Don't Judge a Runner's Efficiency by Their Stride Scientists Weigh in on the Great Trekking Pole Debate Listed to our podcast series with Andy Jones-Wilkins and Magda Boulet as we discuss each chapter of Alex's Book, Endure: Mind,Body and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance: Podcast #1: The Unforgiving Minute, The Conscience Quitter, Heat, Belief Podcast #2: The Central Governor Theor, Pain and Training the Brain Podcast #3: Oxygen, Fuel, and Zapping the Brain What Defines our Limits - with Alex Hutchinson Follow Alex on Twitter Check out Sweat Science      

Our Coaches, Krissy Moehl , David Roche and Ian Sharman are back to answer questions that YOU asked on our TRN hotline. This episodes questions come from Collin from Memphis, TN Doug from Chamonix, France Bailey from the White Mountains of New Hampshire Matt from Minnesota Jen from the UK (but residing in France) Lori from Ft. Worth, Texas Links to stuff Don committed Scott to put in the show notes Megan Roche as guest on the Running for Real Podcast Three-Minute Mountain Legs with David Roche Eight-Minute Speed Legs with David Roche David's stuff: - David and Megan’s coaching at SWAPRunning (SWAP stands for Some Work, All Play). - Their book, the Happy Runner - David and Megan’s new podcast, “Some Work, All Play” If you have a question for the coaches on a future episode, please call and leave a message at +1 530-492-5006

We continue our discussion about being a mom and trail running with Sally McRae, Anna Frost, and Stephanie Howe. Download Part 1 HERE Learn more about these amazing moms/athletes: You can find out more about Anna Frost's coaching and her jewelry at her website Make sure you check out Stephanie's web site for coaching or nutritional consultation. Sally can be found HERE for coaching and inspiration

We reconnect with Andy Jones-Wilkins to play one of our favorite podcast games, Drop Bag. We each pull a "relevant" topic out of our drop bag and discuss. Here are some of the stuff we talked about: Link to Ultrarunning Magazine's article by Bob Crowley, "Head, Heart and Soul: The Future of Trail Running" If you want a deal on Ultrarunning Magazine click HERE Link to AJW's Trail Love Letters Stan Jensen's Run 100s website Christine Carter's TedTalk, "The 1-Minute Secret to Forming a New Habit" and Brad Kearn's Morning Routine and his podcast Hire Andy as a coach! or check out his weekly Tap Room at iRunFar