Trail Runner Nation

Dr. Mark Cucuzzella and Dr. Ryan Green are runners, experts on running form AND owners of specialty shoe stores.  We enlist their help to teach us how to choose the right shoes: Find a credible store and fitting expert Step & Feel What is the right size? Use all your senses to feel the fit Orthotics? Color matters Magic will happen when you take off your shoes References: Contact Dr. Green at his...

One of the new devices for athletes that is getting some buzz are continuous glucose monitors (CGM), a small adhesive patch with a tiny filament embedded in the flesh.  This device is designed to track your blood sugar levels.  Could this be the next technology that helps runners avoid bonking?  Author, runner and regular TRN guest, Alex Hutchinson recently tried out one of these devices and share...

Most of us inevitably recruit a team that support our running.  This could be a running partner, coach, crew, pacers, etc.  One key teammate that you might consider is an Athletic Trainer.   Guest co-host, Krissy Moehl , shares her experience with having someone on her team that helps maintain her body through activation, recovery and treatment. Kerry Gustafson is owner of Prime Sports Institute ,...

Andy Jones-Wilkins  joins to talk about seven simple rules to consider for a successful long run.  This list is not comprehensive and we may have follow up episodes.   Don't run a single hill (the definition of a hill varies by fitness level) Run all downs, (unless the hill taxes the knees, quads, or risk a fall) Start early with a purposeful walk/run rhythm.  Keep the body fresh, do not put yours...

Trail Runner Nation began in November of 2011 with a singular purpose or WHY: To share knowledge with our Nation of runners that will help them become better runners, run longer. In this candid conversation, Don and Scott talk about how this WHY was formed and how it has guided the podcast: from choosing guests and topics. We credit this clarity to a book by Simon Sinek, "Start with Why" . We high...

Kilian Jornet , 33, is one of our generation's greatest endurance athletes.  He is a six-time Skyrunner World Series champion, and has stood atop the podium at trail races around the wold, most notably the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc , Western States Endurance Run , and Hardrock Hundred Mile Run .  Jornet has set fastest known times on mountain peaks from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc and holds numer...

One thing most runners have in common is that we will inevitably puke: literally and figuratively.  How do you react to these situations?  Dr. Rob Bell is a certified Mental Performance Coach with years of academic research and real-life coaching experience.  He will help us to put these situations into perspective, frame them and then use them to propel us to improved performance and fulfillment....

Badwater 135 mile race is dubbed the world's toughest footrace.  It begins at the lowest elevation in the USA (280 feet below sea level) and runs over three mountain ranges in the blistering heat of Death Valley, climbing 14,600' to end at the portal to Mt. Whitney.  Some of the greatest ultra runners have run this race.  This was Sally McRae 's second attempt.  In 2018 she finished a personal-dis...

Joe Grant has run and raced around the world and created some amazing adventures in his home state of Colorado.  Guest hosts Anna Frost and Stephanie Howe find out more about what makes Joe tick and why he feels running is an art. Joe's move, The Middle Way Find out more about Joe's adventurous life Joe's adventure to bike to and then summit all of Colorado's 14ers (peaks that are over 14,000' in...

Our Coaches, Krissy Moehl  , David Roche and Ian Sharman join us to talk about some of the lessons that were learned from the 2021 Western States 100 race that might help you improve your performance. You can find out more about Krissy: - Krissy Coaching services - Krissy's book, "Running your First Ultra" Ian Sharman can be found at - Sharman Ultras coaching services - Ian's podcast, "PodiumRunne...

Mimmi Kotka is a world class runner that lives part-time in the Chamonix Valley with her husband Toni and dog Enzo, giving tours of the mountains at Run the Alps .  Mimmi has won or been on the podium at a number of major trail races around the world. That list includes first place at the 101 km CCC and 121 km TDS races in Chamonix, France. She is a member of the Swedish National Ultrarunning Team...

This week's podcast (Friday) will be hosted by two of our favorite guests, Anna Frost and Stephanie Howe . Be sure to check out these links to their coaching and their events coming up: Stephanie's web site Stephanie's Threshold Expeditions Anna's web site Anna's Trail Run Adventures

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...

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...

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...

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 Univer...

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 th...

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 Karnaz...

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:...

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 f...

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 Palle...

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...