Trail Runner Nation

Caffeine is one of the most researched performance enhancers in endurance sports, yet most runners know surprisingly little about how to use it effectively. In this conversation, Stone Creek Coffee founders Eric Resch and Amy Balestrieri separate the science from the myths, discussing when caffeine actually helps performance, why timing matters more than quantity, and how too much can hurt your sl...

Marc Hopkins , author of Hard Things , set out to write a book about running the Bigfoot 200, but what emerged was something much deeper. In this conversation, he shares how endurance running became the lens through which he uncovered old stories about self-worth, fear, identity, and the belief that one more finish line would finally make him enough. Together, we explore why runners chase hard thi...

What if getting older doesn't mean doing less, but doing it better? In this installment of the  Aging as an Athlete  series, legendary ultrarunner Krissy Moehl welcomes longtime climber and Patagonia ambassador Kate Rutherford for a conversation about longevity, purpose, and evolving with age. Kate shares how decades of climbing taught her that technical skill, efficiency, and joy can eventually o...

Western States is more than a 100-mile race. For many ultrarunners, it's the unofficial holiday that defines the season. In this annual Trail Runner Nation tradition, Andy Jones-Wilkins returns to break down the 2026 Western States field, explain the stories behind the biggest contenders, and help everyday runners understand who to watch when race day arrives. Along the way, the conversation explo...

What separates great ultrarunners from everyone else isn't just fitness. It's how they think. In this conversation, legendary coach and runner Ian Sharman shares the philosophy behind his new book The Art of Ultrarunning , explaining why execution, adaptability, and purpose matter just as much as training miles. Through stories from his Grand Slam of Ultrarunning record, hard-earned racing mistake...

Tim Tollefson returns to Trail Runner Nation for a wide-ranging conversation about what makes trail running special and what happens as the sport continues to grow. Using a "Wheel of Trail Running" format, the discussion lands on two big topics: cultivating the next generation of trail stewards and the ongoing professionalization of trail running. Tim shares how his work with  Runners for Public L...

Creatine has long been boxed into the weight-room world, but this episode opens the door to a much bigger conversation for trail runners and endurance athletes. Creatine is something surprisingly simple, "right within the reach of a glass," that may help athletes become stronger, faster, healthier, and more resilient. We discuss with Dr. Dan Pardi, Chief Health Officer at Qualia Life Sciences , wh...

Writer and ultrarunner Gaël Dutigny joins us to talk about his Ultra Running Magazine article, "Fear Isn't a Weakness ," and why fear may be one of the most misunderstood tools in endurance sports. Gaël shares how, even after finishing UTMB four times and racing in deserts, jungles, mountains, and even Iraq during wartime, fear still shows up before and during big efforts. The conversation reframe...

ode we are joined by Brian Morrison , author of  Given to Fly: A Story of Tragedy, Triumph, and Realization at Western States 100 , about one of the most unforgettable finishes in ultrarunning history. Brian takes listeners back to the 2006 Western States 100, where he was leading the race before collapsing on the Placer High School track just steps from victory, later being disqualified because h...

Megan Eckert returns to Trail Runner Nation after an extraordinary stretch in endurance racing, including a third place at Cocadona 250, setting a women's world record at  Big's Backyard Ultra and becoming the first woman to run more than 600 miles in six days. She explains why backyard ultras are less about speed and more about solving the strange little puzzle of time, sleep, food, heat, pacing,...

Returning guest, coach Colleen Miracle , joins us to talk about something many trail runners know they should care about but often ignore: sun protection. The conversation is based on Colleen's UltraSignup article  "Why Ultrarunners Face a Higher Risk of Skin Cancer and Decreased Running Performance." Colleen shares her own experience with stage-one skin cancer on her lip, which began as what look...

Audio Magazine episode!  Long-time friend,  Warren Pole  joins us to trade ideas, stories, and thought-provoking topics from the world of endurance sports. We talk about everything from whether races should ban in-race filming to the surprising ways ultrarunning might temporarily damage red blood cells and what that means for recovery. Warren brings a sharp perspective on long-term health, framing...

In this episode, we sit down with ultrarunning legend Hal Koerner and Ian Sharman to go beyond the race results and into the stories hidden between the aid stations. Hal reflects on the gritty era of ultrarunning when gear was simpler, races were rougher, and success often came down to who could stay calm while everything else unraveled. The conversation explores their approach to downhill running...

In this follow-up conversation with Dr. Tonya Olson, we shift from fixing foot problems to preventing them by building stronger, more resilient feet before race day disaster strikes. Tonya explains that the biggest mistake runners make is not paying attention to their feet until something hurts, even though their feet have been quietly sending signals for months, like tiny grumpy trail prophets. T...

What are some of the real costs of running an ultra?   In this episode,  ultra runner and coach Colleen Miracle talks about this, and it turns out the race entry is just the first pebble in the avalanche. We discuss the hidden expenses that pile up around an A-race: travel, nutrition, coaching, shoes, gear, hotels, rental cars, and the tiny financial gremlins that quietly multiply in the dark corn...

What if your best performance isn't behind you… it's just different now?  In this Aging as an Athlete episode, Krissy Moehl joins again as co-host in a discussion with Bryce Thatcher .   Bryce Thatcher is a trail-running pioneer and founder of UltrAspire , who has spent over 40 years innovating hydration gear while living and embodying a lifelong commitment to mountain running and human-powered ad...

In this episode, we are joined again by coach Adam Kimble to explore the book, T he Sweet Spot: The Pleasures of Suffering and the Search for Meaning by Paul Bloom, and discuss why endurance athletes voluntarily seek discomfort in pursuit of meaning, growth, and satisfaction. We discuss the concept of "benign masochism," highlighting how pain and pleasure are deeply intertwined in long races and h...

In this episode, we are joined by Michael Miller to discuss his book Run Like a Rarámuri : Stories and Wisdoms from the Sierra Tarahumara and Running Long and his deep connection to the Indigenous Rarámuri "running people" of Mexico's Sierra Tarahumara. Drawing on years spent living among the community, Michael shares how running is woven into their social fabric as a celebration of resilience, na...

In this episode of Trail Runner Nation's Aging as an Athlete series, along with Krissy Moehl , we welcome elite ultrarunner and therapist  Darcy Piceu for a thoughtful conversation about longevity in endurance sports. Drawing on more than two decades of racing at the highest level, Darcy explains that there is no "magic pill" for staying in the sport long term, emphasizing instead the importance o...

In this episode of Trail Runner Nation , we sit down with filmmaker Dylan Harris to talk about his powerful new film, The Cut-Off . Instead of following the front of the pack, the film shines a light on the runners fighting the clock at aid stations, chasing the courage it takes simply to continue. Dylan shares the inspiration behind the project, the stories that moved him most, and what the back-...

In this episode, we are joined by Cliff Pittman , Coaching Development Director for CTS .  We take a practical look at VO₂ max and what it really means for everyday runners. We explore whether this popular performance metric is truly essential, how much it matters for trail and ultra athletes, and where it can be misunderstood or overemphasized. The conversation cuts through the numbers to focus o...

In this episode, Alex Hutchinson rejoins Trail Runner Nation discuss why muscle is the real engine behind endurance, performance, and long-term health, especially as runners get older. The conversation explores how and why we lose muscle over time, why this decline matters for speed, resilience, and injury prevention, and the encouraging truth that much of it is reversible. Alex explains the criti...

Discover proven strategies to prevent foot issues and optimize your performance in ultra running. Dr. Tanya Olson joins us to share expert insights on foot care routines, products, and techniques that keep feet healthy and injury-free. Key Topics: The importance of planning a comprehensive foot care strategy before race day Modern products and methods for preventing blisters, maceration, and toena...

This episode brings back Trail Runner Nation's Point–Counterpoint format, with coaches Ian Sharman , Annie Hughes , Jeff Browning , and Trish Ahrends stepping into the debate arena. Responding to listener feedback, this episode leans hard into our long-held "experiment of one" philosophy. Each coach is assigned a position and must defend it, whether they personally agree or not. Training myths, sa...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with our special co-host, Krissy Moehl, and with climber, endurance athlete, and paraplegic adventurer  Quinn Brett for a conversation that stretches far beyond sport. We explore what happens when the body changes, identity is shaken, and resilience becomes a daily practice. Quinn's story is one of dramatic transformation. Once a climber, guide, and search-and...