Trail Runner Nation

The prodigal daughter returns!  Faith is back in studio to discuss where she has been and the welcoming return to trail running.  At some point, we all take a break from trail and ultra running.  Why do we come back?  How do we come back?  Faith discusses her exploits into the Ironman and why she is coming back to the trails.

When Andy Jones-Wilkins isn't pouring cold brew in his Taproom, you can find him at the highest profile races.  Recently returning from 2015 WS100 and Hardrock 100 he shares his trail side insight of the strongest runners in our sport including; Magda Boulet, Rob Krar, Kilian Jornet and Anna Frost.   

Even if you are less than 50 years old, you will find this podcast very educational.  Joe Friel is an endurance sports coach that has worked with athletes of varying levels up to elites.  He holds a masters degree in exercise science, is a USA Triathalon and USA Cycling certified coach that has written fourteen books on endurance including the subject of our podcast, "Faster After 50, How to Race Strong For the Rest of Your Life".  He is also the founder of Training Peaks, a web-based software company focused on endurance training. We focus on What are the endurance myths of growing older? What actually happens to our body as we get older? How can we mitigate these factors and train smarter to optimize endurance performance and slow Father Time?

Sally Edwards is best-selling author, entrepreneur, professional triathlete, professional speaker, and iPhone app developer.  She was a pioneer in the inception of ultramarathoning, finishing in the top 3 at Western States 100.  She co-founded Fleet Feet Sports running franchise and the American River 50 mile Endurance Run. Ultrarunning Magazine recently re-published an article that Sally wrote in 1983, "Ultramarathoning  - A dying Sport".  We invited Sally to Studio G to take a retrospective look at the sport and where it has come. Sally is passionate about getting people healthy and moving.  Her recent venture is Heart Zones, a fitness technology and education company that uses smart devices with the vision to get America fit. Download the Upbeat App  an app that matches your music to your cadence. HOMEWORK: We touched on a book that Sally wrote, "Be a Better Runner: Real World, Scientifically-proven Training Techniques that Will Dramatically Improve Your Speed, Endurance, and Injury Resistance".  She has p

Top athletes, Aliza Lapierre and Paul Terranova, join The Nation to discuss taper.  They are both in the middle of their taper for Western States 100.  We discuss why you should taper, how they do it differently and what to expect.

Andy Jones-Wilkins joins Race Director of the Western States 100, Craig Thornley  to discuss the 2015 course, the race, and who to watch.  As always, the gong accompanied this podcast. Men's Preview Women's Preview

Candice Burt joins us to Teach us how to be a hipster ultrarunner How to organize a 200-mile endurance run How she is prepping for next week's Bighorn Mountain Wild & Scenic Trail Run 100-miler.  Please help her with race info by using #CandiceRunsBighorn on Twitter and Facebook Her experience at the Ultra Fiord 108-miler in Patagonia, Chile where she finished 5th overall.  See her Blog Post  Check out Candice's races at Destination Trail Running

Jimmy Dean Freeman capped his 2014 running season by running SIX 100-mile endurance runs.  This weekend will be his first 100 miler since then.  He talks about his where he is physically, but more important emotionally and mentally.  He discusses his plan for running the San Diego 100 miler - his first time. Check out the SoCal Coyotes

We have often said, "The podcast is a trail run without the running."   Join  Ann Trason, Sally McRae and Billy Yang as we cover a lot of ground in 90 minutes.  

Sally McRae and Billy Yang were in Northern California for the Western States 100 training weekend as they are preparing for their race in 36 days.  So we bribed them with sushi to join us for a podcast.  We gave Sally the task of jotting down 5 topics on her flight.....and that's where it all begins..... Massages Self defense apparati What animal are you most afraid of? Sally's bear encounter.  See the video HERE Strength training Ann Trason as a coach! etc. etc. Take the boys as they forecast how many times Sally laughs - the answer will be revealed at the end of the podcast.

Trail conversation with Don and Scott

Travis Macy, professional ultra-endurance athlete, coach, teacher, husband and father of two joins us to talk about his new book, "The Ultra Mindset: An Endurance Champion's 8 Core Principles for Success in Business, Sports and Life".  This book is a set of simple principles for daily life that includes embracing fear, rewriting the stories we tell ourselves, and mastering the art of asking for help. "We constantly send our kids -and ourselves- the message that if you struggle something is wrong.  If you're doing something right, it will feel nice and easy; it will be fun.  Struggle should be halted as soon as possible at all times because it will probably lead to suffering and, even worse, failure.  The problem with the message above is that it flies in the face of what we know to be the truth about learning and general process, namely, that if you never struggled, growth is almost impossible because lack of growth only shows complacency with in a comfort zone." - The Ultra Mindset The book is available at m

Ryan Sandes joins us to talk about his recent FKT at Cape Town Table Mountain.  We talk about training, racing, mental toughness and how running can prepare us for life's challenges. And a host of other topics that happen when your sitting down and chatting with a runner for 60 minutes! Find Ryans Website here at RyanSandes.com           

Warren Pole joins The Nation to discuss the finer DOs and DON'Ts of Ultra Running.  We build on an article from Competitor Magazine, "Dos and Dont's From Top Ultramarathoners"  and an article from Outside Magazine, "Hal Koerner's Ultrarunning Commandments"

John Hinds is the founder and owner of Cadence® Insoles. He has been involved in athletics since he was a kid and in search of the perfect insole ever since. For the last 22 + years he has been a physical therapist focusing on orthopedic and sports rehabilitation, helping people get back on their feet as quickly as possible. John joins The Nation to answer some of these questions: Who should use insoles?  Who shouldn't? Who should go the the podiatrist? Does my foot weaken and become dependent? When can you use an over-the-counter insole? Do they wear out? Do I need to spend my whole paycheck to get good insoles? How do insoles differ? How are Cadence® Insoles different?   Get a 15% discount on Cadence® Insoles when you purchase on their online store and enter coupon code: TRN15

One part of the Ultra 168 team, Marcus Warner, joins The Nation to discus an article they wrote.  Dan and Marcus reside in the drop bear capital of the world, Sydney, Australia.  They began the blog/website to share their passion for the trails and has evolved into a great resource for our community, wherever in the world you live. Video of Marcus being chased by a bear on the Western States Trail. Like them on Facebook Follow them on Twitter

The Nation has received some opposing views from our latest podcast, "You Can Help Save the Pacific Crest Trail".  Mike Miller, an environmental biologist and trail runner, joins us for a different view of the PCTA's recent stance on trail racing.   What do you think?

 Candice Burt joins us to share the news and point us to the petition  The Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA) is lobbying and advising the USDA Forest Service to ban recreational events on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). If they succeed, no new trail running events nor growth of existing events will be allowed on the PCT.  Our existing trail running events could also be in jeopardy of receiving future permits.  Read about the PCTA's stance HERE Please join The Nation by speaking out against this ill-advised policy by Signing the petition that Candice Burt created Consider posting on the PCTA facebook  page and commenting on their post about their stance with your opinion. The more we express ourselves, the more the PCTA and USDA Forest Service will understand our point of view and the size of the trail running community Call Beth Boyst, the Pacific Crest Trail Administrator for the USDA Forest Service: bboyst@fs.fed.us (707) 562-8881 to express your concerns Share your concern with your social media group

Join Coaches Emily Harrison and Ian Torrence teach us why patience is important in Ultrarunning.   Guest host is Sycamore: If you are looking for a coach, they can be found at McMillan Running You can read Ian's article, "Patience and the Ultramarathoner"

Rob Rhodes joins The Nation to tell us about he biggest film festival for runners that is taking place all over the world!  The Trails In Motion is an annual international film tour that brings a collection of the finest trail and ultra running films to passionate audiences around the world. Join like-minded trail runners and adventure sports enthusiasts at film festival-styled events in more than 25 countries. You can find a screening HERE    Rob also started and leads a group for trail runners in the San Francisco Bay area called the Bay Trail Runners