This is the 9th volume of the award winning audio magazine. We have a couple editorial columnists that join us to wish you Happy Holidays.

Hire Andy as a coach! or check out his weekly Tap Room at iRunFar

Learn more about Sally or hire her as a coach.

Don didn't share his resources for his topic, so we are assuming he made everything up.

Author of the best-selling book, Born to Run, Christopher McDougall rejoins The Nation over 11 years since its publishing. Over 3 million copies have been sold. Find that bag of chia seeds, make some Iskiate and lace up your huarache sandals. Do you still have your Vibram five-fingers?

We talk with Chris about the impact of his book and where we have gone as a running community in the last decade. We talk a bit about two of his other books, Natural Born Heros and Running With Sherman

Author, Athlete, Coach, Nutritionist, Speaker and friend of TRN Matt Fitzgerald joins us to talk about his new book that is just now released, The Comeback Quotient - A Get-Real Guide to Building Mental Fitness in Sport and Life.

"Physical fitness enables an athlete to do hard things, mental fitness enables an athlete to deal with hard things, and no athlete realizes his or her full potential without both." We dive into Matt's research to find out what this mental fitness is and how we can develop more.

Video of Jacko Willink's, "Good"

You can find all 28 of his books, more about his coaching services and speaking HERE

In the winter of 1846-47 a group of pioneers were headed to California when they were trapped in the high Sierra Nevada Mountains. The snow was over 20 feet deep, they were running out of food, and the group wasn't working together. Three unsuccessful attempts were made to escape and get help from California.

On December 16, 1846 a small group began another attempt on homemade snowshoes with enough food for six days; hoping it would take around 10 days to make the 100 mile journey.

Tim Twietmeyer and Bob Crowley, have been trying to understand this story for over six years. This episode is an explanation of their findings and announcing their memorial trek 174 years later.

You can find out more about this heroic endurance feat and about the memorial event and how to track them at ForlornHope.org.

One of our favorite types of podcasts are to throw out a word and discuss it with smart people. That is why we invited Andy Jones-Wilkins back on to talk about "Patience". In fact, AJW has written about patience on iRunFar recently: "Patience in Trying Times". And back in 2013, "Ultrarunning Skill #3: Patience". Needless to say, he was WAY ahead of Don and Scott....not new.

Hire Andy as a coach!

Dr. Mark Cucuzzella has been running his entire life and has many marathons, six completions of the JFK 50 and two completions of the Comrades Marathon. But this fall he ticked of his first 100-miler! We talk to him about his great achievement and what he learned at the first inaugural Rim to River 100.

We also reminisce about his 20 episodes with us beginning in the 2012! Here is a link to the first episode we did with him.

Here is the finish line VIDEO of Dr. Mark

Here is his race report

The famous Western States 100 began from a horse race that started back in 1955. SIX years prior to this (1949), Pack Burro racing had been a prize-paying sport that started in the mountains of Colorado.

Here is a fun video produced by Salomon a couple years ago with Max King and Ryan Sandes trying the race.

Past guest and running shoe enthusiast, Brian Metzler, rejoins The Nation after we found out he has participated in many of these unusual events.

Make sure you read Brian's book, Kicksology: The Hype, Science, Culture & cool of Running Shoes

Listen to the episode on shoes we did with Brian.

Check out Christopher McDougall's book about his experience running with a donkey, Running with Sherman

Coaches Ian Sharman, David Roche and Krissy Moehl rejoin The Nation to answer questions you submitted via social media. Topics include:

• Taking time off after a big race
• How to be safe on the trails
• How to know you are ready for the next challenge
• Are back to back trainings necessary?
• How to incorporate stationary bike into training
• How to increase training duration and/or time

More about Krissy Moehl

• Krissy Coaching services
• Krissy’s book, “Running your First Ultra”

Ian's Stuff

• Sharman Ultras coaching services
• Ian’s new podcast, “PodiumRunner Endurance Podcast”

More about David Roche:

• 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”

This is our first Simul-podcast. It only makes sense that we would do this with our favorite British corespondent, Warren Pole,  one of the founders of 33 Fuel. They recently started a podcast that is devoted to endurance fueling: 33Fuel Podcast

We reflect on the eight-year relationship with Warren and Erica, his wife.

Be sure to try out the many products at 33fuel.com and use the code TRN33 for 10% off your purchase.

We all have multiple identities - Mom, brother, friend, scientist, comedian, bowler, runner, writer, etc. Some of these identities come by choice, by chance or forced upon us. They may change over time too. We are the sum of these identities. They help us learn and grow. We should celebrate them in our own lives and within those around us. One of the best parts of trail running is to learn about the identities of others on a run.

In this episode we talk to Kim Strom. We learn about some of her identities:

• Running model (appearing on the cover of Trail Runner Magazine more than any other person)
• A Photographer
• A Writer
• A Trail Runner
• Her newest identity - cancer patient

Check out this collective: alpsinsight.com

Photo Swiss Alps and by PatitucciPhoto

We brought together running representatives from three continents

• Asia: Mark Agnew, Hong Kong
• Europe: Hillary Gerardi, France
• North America: Jamil Coury, USA

We asked them to talk about running topics that are current in their corner of the world.

Photo: Jubilee Paige

Find out more about Jamil: Run Steep Get High Youtube Channel & Cocodona 250 Race

Photo by by Martina Valmassoi

Find out more about Hillary HERE. And check out this cool VIDEO

 

Mark Agnew climbs on the Annpurna 55km ultramarathon trail race. Photo: Flawsome Pictures

Learn More about Mark HERE and the SCMP Page. You also might be interested in his team's ocean rowing HERE

 

Zoë Rom had a great birthday this year. She woke up and set out to run the 17-mile, 5400' ascent to Capitol Peak. Capitol Peak is one of the infamous "14ers" (peaks in Colorado over 14,000' elevation). It is a class 4 climb that is rated "high" in exposure, rockfall potential, and Route-finding. It is also know for the "knife edge" near the top. She had a good day and ended up setting the supported FKT in 5 hours 37 minutes.

Zoë is also the assistant editor at Trail Runner Magazine, runner, climber, coach and host of the new Trail Runner Magazine in-house podcast called DNF.

We talk to Zoë about her FKT and about how DNFs are successes that propel us to become better.

Check out Zoë's coaching website

Photos by TJ David

Earlier this summer Adam Kimble broke the supported FKT (fastest known time) on the 171-mile circumnavigation of the Tahoe Rim Trail in 37 hours 12 minutes. The Tahoe Rim Trail is a long-distance hiking trail that forms a loop around the Lake Tahoe Basin in the Sierra Nevada and Carson ranges of California and Nevada in the United States. The trail ranges in elevation from 6,240 feet at the outlet of Lake Tahoe to 10,338 feet at Relay Peak in Nevada. Adam broke Killian Jornet's 2009 record by 20 minute. Adam is multi-talented: playing division 1 college baseball and won on the famous "The Price is Right" TV game show.

We speak to Adam about his recent accomplishment and the lessons he learned on his first attempt the year prior. We also learn about how he fuels for races and "palate fatigue"

Some of Adam's accomplishments include

• Discovery Channel's "The Wheel" contestant
• Winner of two self-supported multi-stage races
• podium finisher at three 100-milers
• 2016 ran from California to Georgia in 60 days
• 2017 FKT running the length of Great Britain with Kris King

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

photos by Helen Pelster

One of the many conversations we enjoy on the trail is how each of us were introduced to trail and ultra running. Each of us has our own story. Although each of these stories are unique, there are some relatable common threads. In the book, The Rise of the Ultra Runners - A Journey to the Edge of Human Endurance, Author Adharananad Finn explores these stories as he walks through his journey into ultra running with the final destination of running the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB), a 106-mile race through the French Alps.

Check out Adharanand's web site: The Way of the Runner and his podcast

Running with the Kenyons

We met John Kelly in episode 483 after he successfully broke the 31-year FKT on the 268-mile Pennine Way in Scotland earlier this summer. In this episode, John discusses his successful completion of The Grand Round, UK's big three fell running rounds run consecutively (192 miles, 84,000' elevation, 113 summits) AND riding a bike between the trail heads totaling 398 miles.

This was John's second attempt at The Grand Round. We discuss why he decided to try again and lessons that he learned. Although most of us will never consider something this grandiose, we do like to set goals that push us to our own personal limits. The lessons that John learned can be transferred to our personal attempts at greatness.

Read his adventure account in his own words: Blog Post

Please consider donating to John's focused charity, the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust

Photo Credit: Max Holloway

Who knew watching someone walk would be a more popular spectator sport than baseball, football or horse racing? During the 1870s and 1880s, that was the case. Sold out arenas watched competitors walk around tracks almost non-stop for six days straight going over 500 miles. Some walking contests were created from wagers that had athletes walk hundreds of miles between cities....in the snow! Pedestrianism may be the long lost relative of our sport! Author Matthew Algeo joins The Nation to teach us about a long-forgotten sport, known as pedestrianism. This sport spawned America's first celebrity athletes, made them rich and opened the doors for immigrants, African Americans and women.

Matthew Algeo has written many books that evolve around interesting events in American history. He is a journalist that has reported from four continents and these stories have appeared on some of the most popular public radio programs. Matt currently lives in Sarajevo with his wife, Allyson, and his daughter, Zaya

His book, "Pedestrianism: When Watching People Walk Was America's Favorite Spectator Sport" is a fun read that might teach you some strategies on how to be a better runner!

Find out more about Matthew and his other books on his website

Running is one of the world's most popular forms of exercise but is sometimes accompanied with injuries.  It is easy to do a quick web search for these injuries, but will often find contradicting treatments. Our expert physical therapists, Dr. Joe Uhan and Dr. Asher Kyger Henry review your common injuries and offer solutions.  A theme evolved around

• Movement
• Strength
• Efficiency

Find out more about Asher Kyger Henry's practice and coaching

Check out Joe Uhan's coaching and services

Andy Jones-Wilkins is not a stranger to big training blocks and high mileage, but it has been nearly four years since he has run 100 miles in one week. This year has been unique and without any races, Andy decided to push his boundaries and set his BHAG: Run 100 miles in one week. He shares the five gold nuggets he learned from his adventure.

Read his pre run expectation at iRunFar Tap Room

Hire Andy as a coach!

Coaches Ian Sharman, David Roche and Krissy Moehl rejoin The Nation to answer questions you submitted via social media. Topics include:

• Is there a training load gain running with strollers?
• Is there a fitness transfer from heat to elevation?
• How to treat tightness and cramping in lower calf muscles.
• How to train for longer races when time is limited by work, family, and life?
• How to get in long training runs when it is so HOT....every day?
• How to make a comeback after a year or more off?

More about Krissy Moehl

• Krissy Coaching services
• Krissy’s book, “Running your First Ultra”

Ian's Stuff

• Sharman Ultras coaching services
• Ian’s new podcast, “PodiumRunner Endurance Podcast”

David 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”

Two legendary Race Directors, Scotty Mills and Julie Fingar join The Nation to discuss when we will get back to racing, what to expect when we toe the line, and our responsibilities as racers as we transition back to racing.

Scotty Mills has raced over 200 ultras and has directed races from 50k to 100 miles including the iconic San Diego 100.  Julie Fingar is an elite runner with many podium Finnishes including Angeles Crest 100, Rocky Racoon 100, Rio Del Lago 100, Headlands 100 and top 10 finisher at Western States 100.  She is also owner of NorCal Ultras, the engine that produces some of the biggest and oldest trail races, including Way Too Cool 50K, American River 50 Mile, and Rio Del Lago 100 mile races.

Check out ITRA's Race Guidelines: a framework of standard operating guidelines that race organizers from around the world can reference, so that we can restart trail running events confident that we are applying good practice to keep our community of trail runners - including participants, volunteers and host communities - safe.

John Kelly is only the 15th person to finish the formidable Barkley Marathons since its creation 24 years ago.  Since then he has finished many of the toughest races in the world including the Laverado Ultra Trail and the Tor des Geant.  Last year John moved from the U.S. to England and began tackling the amazing EU trails.  This spring, before the pandemic, John won the Spine Race, a 268-mile, 39K elevation route following the Pennine Way National Trail in Scotland.  As races were cancelled, John decided to try and break the 31-year-old FKT for the Pennine Way.

We talked to John about his

• successful FKT (subsequently bested by friend, Damian Hall 8 days later)
• What is a Bog?
• His ambitious attempt at the Hartley Slam, named after Mike Hartley, the only person to complete all three of the Rounds consecutively.
• Balance: with training, young family and startup business

Follow John's adventures at RandomForestRunner.com, where he will post a link on how to follow his Grand Round attempt

John is running to raise funds for the Stephen Lawrence Trust, founded to tackle inequality in all forms.  Please consider donating

.

Brian Chontosh, aka Tosh, Terry Fletcher  and Don recount their adventure and lessons learned after they completed the Trueform Runner Challenge": a couch to 100-mile" attempt through the Sierra Nevada mountains in Northern California.

Check out the amazing motionless treadmill that promotes efficient running, the Trueform Runner

Check out Tosh's links:

• Crooked Butterfly Podcast
• Crooked Butterfly website
• Tosh's Instagram

Follow Terry Fletcher on  Instagram

Alyssa Clark recently set a world record for the number of consecutive marathons: 95 marathons in 95 days.  Join us as she explains how this started out as a way to cope with COVID quarantine when she was living in Italy and kept pushing her goal.  We all can learn from her determination, her grit, her passion and love for running.

Learn more about Alyssa:

• Her blog
• Training4adventure.com
• Instagram
• Facebook

Brian Chontosh, aka Tosh, and  Terry Fletcher join The Nation to discuss the upcoming adventure, the Trueform Runner Challenge: a 100-mile event through the Sierra Nevada mountains in Northern California.  We visit with the group to discuss their expectations and training:

• The Mind's Mind
• Physical vs. Mental side
• How big is your fuse and what to do if you blow it?

Check out the amazing motionless treadmill that promotes efficient running, the Trueform Runner

Check out Tosh's links:

• Crooked Butterfly Podcast
• Crooked Butterfly website
• Tosh's Instagram

Coaches Ian Sharman, David Roche and Krissy Moehl rejoin The Nation to discuss running topics:

• How to increase mileage?
• Is heat training necessary?
• Is Soccer (Football) a good base experience?
• Should you eat on a long run? What should you eat?
• 1000 miles in 1000 hours? from an article in the May 1993 issue of Ultrarunning Magazine (get 25% off a subscription)

More about Krissy Moehl:

• Krissy Coaching services
• Krissy's book, "Running your First Ultra"

Ian's Stuff:

• Sharman Ultras coaching services
• Ian's new podcast, "PodiumRunner Endurance Podcast"

More about David Roche:

• 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"

This is an episode we have been wanting to do for a long time.  We love our dogs and they love to join us on the trails.  However, there are many questions that come up concerning the safety of our companions.

Ultrarunner and dog-lover, Victor Ballesteros and Veterinarian, Dr. Xuân Mai Võ, join us to talk about their passion for the trail, outdoors, and their furry companions.  Some of the topics covered:

• What breads are the best?
• Where to find a good trail running dog?
• When can our pups start running?  How far?
• Safety concerns for our dogs.  How to deal with heat
• What can we learn from our pets?
• Canicross (Canicross USA)

Some additional resource links:

• Sophia Yin , Perfect Puppy in 7days: How to Start Your Puppy Off Right
• How to Behave so Your Dog Behaves
• Musher's Secret (paw wax)
• Squirrel's Nut Butter Salves
• Leptospirosis
• Dog and Human Harnesses
• Mid-range, everyday harnesses, Ruffwear

For the BEST sports bags visit Victor's company, Victory Sport Design and get 15% off with code trnpups

Michael was looking for a new wet suit online and clicked on a link that said "trail running" because he had never heard of it.  This started a pivot in his life that would eventually lead him to be a product line manager for Salomon and living in France with his wife, Steph.  Mike joins us to explain why this sport and community quickly drew him in and how it has enriched his life.

Read more about Michael's story HERE

Watch Michael talk turkey about Salomon's 2020 offering in this VIDEO

What if there was a revolutionary treatment that could:

• improve your cardiovascular capacity
• decrease sports injuries
• help you live longer
• enhance memory
• make you more creative
• make you look more attractive
• keep you slim and decrease food cravings
• protect you from cancer and dementia
• ward off colds and flu
• decrease your chance of heart attack, stroke and diabetes
• help you feel happier, less depressed and less anxious

Dr. Matthew Walker's book, "Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams"  could miraculously improve all of these.

Alex Hutchinson and Andy Jones-Wilkins wake us from our slumber to help us understand WHY WE SLEEP.  We each take a chapter (four out of sixteen total chapters) to discuss and debate the research and findings.

AJW's Coaching

Find out more about Alex

• Alex's web site
• A previous podcast with TRN: What Defines our Limits - with Alex Hutchinson
• Follow Alex on Twitter
• Check out Sweat Science at Outside Online

Coaches Ian Sharman, David Roche and Krissy Moehl rejoin The Nation to discuss running topics.

More about Krissy Moehl:

• Krissy Coaching services
• Krissy's book, "Running your First Ultra"

Sharman Ultras coaching services

More about David Roche:

• David and Megan's coaching at SWAPRunning (SWAP stands for Some Work, All Play).
• Their book, the Happy Runner

The events in 2020 have effected everyone throughout the world.  First with the Pandemic and now with coming to terms with some long overdue inequalities.  We didn't want to distract from the attention and introspection that is needed now.  So we decided to not publish a new episode this week, rather, we want to share one of our favorite episodes.  This episode is from 2014 and we hope you like it and might help you through these hard times.

If "ultra running is 90% mental and the other 10% is in your head", shouldn't we train our brain?  Is there a repeatable process for winning?

Lanny Bassham went from a kid that others said would never compete as an athlete to a 2-time Olympic medalist and 4-time world champion with four world records.  All winners have common threads that they do differently than everyone else.  He has discovered a formula to preparing mentally to be a champion.  Since retiring from competition, he continues as a coach to many World and Olympic champions, Fortune 500 companies, the United States Secret Service, the US Navy SEALS, the United States Army Marksmanship Unit, the US Marine Corps Marksmanship Unit, and the FBI.

"With Winning in Mind" is in it's third edition and is a MUST read for all Nation Members.

Learn more at Lanny's web site:  Mental Management

You will learn about the

• three circles of the Mental Management System
• three phases of a task
• goal getting
• how to use rehearsal as a mental tool
• How an imagined imprint can be just as real as an actual imprint.
• How can we be better coach your children

Zach Bitter and Matt Fitzgerald pop in to see who reins supreme with a grab bag topic.

Check out Zach's latest world record and his coaching information HERE

Matt is always working on the next must-read running book.  Make sure you have his entire library and his coaching services HERE

Do you remember your first trail run?  What was the first thing you learned?

There are some differences everyone learns when transitioning to the trails.  Andy Jones-Wilkins joins The Nation and we talk about some things we wish we knew including:

• How to find a trail?
• What gear do you need?
• What techniques are different?
• How can I remain safe?
• What Etiquette is important to know

Here is the article about the Emergency Puffy featured at Cruzet Running by John Anderson

AJW's Coaching

Michael McKnight set the fastest cumulative time for the triple crown of 200-milers, Bigfoot 200, Tahoe 200, & Moab 240  in 2017.  Around the same time, he began his journey to become a fat-adapted runner.  Three years later and without a race on the calendar, he wondered if he could run 100 miles without food, relying on his fat burning engine.  In the early hours of May 8, he began his self-made 100-mile route around Cache Valley, UT (see map below).

In this podcast, we

• talk to Michael two weeks prior to his project about his idea, preparation, and expectations.
• 5 days after his project, we spoke with him about lessons learned and his experiences
• talk to Jeff Browning, Michael's coach about fat adaption and how this might help you

Check out Michael's previous podcast, EP 431: Chasing the Triple Crown of 200s with Michael McKnight

Here is Jeff Browning's previous podcast: EP 427: Giddyup with Jeff Browning

Check out Jeff's coaching web site: GoBroncoBilly.com 

Podcast photo by VanhornPictures

Peter Bakwin and Buzz Burrell popularized the term Fastest Known Times when they set the FKT on the John Muir Trail in 2000.  A few years later they created the website that helps our community record cool routes around the world.  With the cancellation or postponing of many races this year, more people are "projecting" adventures that might lead to an FKT.  Buzz joins us to talk about the rise in popularity of FKTs and how you can participate!

Tune into the Fastest Known Time Podcast

Listen to Buzz's past podcast with us.

Coaches Ian Sharman, David Roche and Krissy Moehl join The Nation to debate matters of trail running consequence in a new game called, "Bonk or No Bonk.

More about Krissy Moehl:

• Krissy Coaching services
• Krissy's book, "Running your First Ultra"

Sharman Ultras coaching services

More about David Roche:

• David and Megan's coaching at SWAPRunning (SWAP stands for Some Work, All Play).
• Their book, the Happy Runner

In our first call in show, Dr. Mark Cucuzzella fields calls from Nation Listeners from around the world.  We field questions regarding

• Risks of fasted runs
• Rehab from meniscus injuries
• Training for a marathon vs. a mountain ultra
• Best treadmills for running indoors
• How to avoid injury and run pain free

Please consider supporting Dr. Cucuzzella's running store, Two Rivers Treads or call them for expert advice. 304-885-8843

Visit the Natural Running Center

Recently, our friend and trail culture advocate, Bob Crowley, was appointed as President of ITRA, International Trail Running Association.  Bob helps The Nation understand more about this little known organization that we SHOULD know about and support.  ITRA's values mirror our shared values of authenticity, humility, fair play, respect, solitary, and teamwork.  Not only can it represent our collective voice, but can help race directors and individuals alike.  The basic membership is free so please sign up to strengthen our voice and protect our culture.

We often hear that, "ultra running is 90% mental and the rest is in your head".....or something like that.

Returning favorite guest, Dr. Simon Marshall and 3-time Xterra world champion, Lesley Paterson join The Nation to help us understand how the brain works and strategies to help us perform at a higher level.

Visit their website: BraveHeartCoach.com to learn more or to schedule 1/2 hour mental coaching sessions.

Check out their new Xterra Podcast

They co-authored the book, "Brave Athlete - Calm the F*ck Down and Rise to the Occasion"

Try out their FREE "Smog Report"personalized advice to optimize your training

Fun video introduction of the book.

Follow Simon and Lesley on Twitter

Here is the link to our previous podcast with Simon and Lesley

Volume 8 of the Pulitzer Prize winning TRN Audio Magazine is now available at your corner newspaper stand.

Featured articles :

• Is Longer Better?
• Good Until the Last Drop
• Give me 5
• You Never Forget Your First Time
• Does the Tail Wag the Dog?
• Running, Is it Good for Your Knees?
• Don't Believe the Hype
• How Much?

Anton Krupicka "Indulgence" Video

JB Benna's "Unbreakable" Movie - Free for a limited time

The effects of various drugs on spider webs spider web

Check out

• AJW's Coaching

If you are interested in getting some great quality facemasks check out these two manufacturers:

C29Mask

Theramasks

Today, the Western States Endurance Run Board of Directors announced the cancellation of the 2020 race.  This is only the second time in the race's 46 years that they have had to cancel the race.  Race Director, Craig Thornley, joins Andy Jones-Wilkins in a discussion to clarify and answer any questions.

Earlier this week we posted a podcast discussing the situation with COVID-19.  Since then, many communities have been directed to "shelter in place".  This doesn't mean we cannot continue with our passion of running.

As promised, this is the follow up podcast with Coach and Prognosticator, Andy Jones-Wilkins.  The discuss the subject of what we can do now.  If we approach this with the right attitude (as many ultra runners do), we can see this as a great opportunity to try something new or experiment with something in our training.  Let us know what you are planning to do.  Let's occupy social media with our trail running spirit of optimism and motivation!

We also chat with Julie Fingar, RD for NorCal Ultras, about the ramifications RDs have to deal with and how they are trying to innovate and create options for runners.

SPECIAL EDITION:

We recently posted a letter from the Ultra-Endurance Sport Science & Medicine web site.  This letter makes recommendations for our sport during this pandemic.  Dr. Marty Hoffman, co-author, joins us to explain how this virus can affects our community.  Bob Crowley, Trail Animals Club, also explains how this affects our race season.

Here is the link to Corrine Malcolm's article at irunfar

For an updated status on race cancelations:

• Check your race web site
• Check ultrasignup.com
• Updated list at Ultrarunning Magazine

Be a solution, Be kind...mãs!

Matt Fitzgerald (sports nutritionist, writer, athlete, coach) will be releasing a new book in May, "Running the Dream; One Summer Living, Training and Racing with a Team of World-Class Runners Half My Age".  We talk to him about his journey as he trains with Hoka's NAZ elite team of professional runners in Flagstaff, AZ.

He also has launched an interesting cool new running camp concept, "Endeavorun".  Check it out.

There are many high profile races out there and many of those are very difficult to get into.  The good news is there are many GREAT races that you might not know about.  It the New TRN produced podcast, Trail Hacks highlights one of these amazing races.  We speak with the Race Director to better understand the characteristics of the race. We then get with a veteran runner to give us a hack or two that might help us successfully complete the race.

In our inaugural Trail Hacks Podcast, we speak with Scotty Kumar, producer of the award winning podcast Ten Junk Miles.  His team runs the Badger Trail Races held on August 1-2.

Register HERE

Be sure to subscribe to Trail Hacks podcast where ever you listen or visit www.trailhacks.run

Don found a recent article, "13 Things You're Probably Doing That Are Sabotaging Your Run" by Erin Kelly on Bustle.com

We decided to make a game to discuss the points.  TRN friends:Donna NiCuarta and Warren Pole join us to debate the pros and cons of each point.

There is a correlation between motivation and self-discipline in successful runners.  Coach AJW joins The Nation to discuss what motivation and discipline is, how we can use it, and how to improve it.

Here are the links that we discussed

• Gene Hackman's motivational speech in Hoosiers
• Brad Kerns Morning Routine
• Podcast on Vulnerability
• Podcast Anatomy of a DNF

AJW's Coaching

AJW's Tap Room

If you have been trail running for a while, you inevitably have been mentored by others with a lot of experience and wisdom.  This is where Trail Runner Nation was born - to provide a venue to share this knowledge with a broader audience.  Stephanie Howe  joins us to discuss some of the great golden nuggets of knowledge that we have learned.

Make sure you check out Stephanie's web site for coaching or nutritional consultation.

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Nathan Sports Vapor Howe
• Cliff Bar
• The North Face

Nearly 8 years ago we recorded a podcast where we talked about the SoCal Coyotes' philosophy.  These tenants are common throughout our tribe.  Coach Jimmy Dean Freeman joins us to discuss its relevance eight years later.

Click HERE to watch the video

Click HERE to listen to the original podcast

In this edition of Grab Bag, Alex Hutchinson and Matt Laye join us as we try an find out the truth behind:

• Over breathing?
• Can we become so efficient that we are burning less energy than a sedentary person?
• Is there a benefit to stretching?
• How does your microbiom affect health?
• Can smiling improve performance?
• Do we have limits to the number of calories we can process?

Links that of stuff we talked about:

• Stronger by Science Podcast
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6934128/
• https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra1907805
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31872558
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed
• term=gut%20microbiota%20fermentation%20determines%20the%20efficacy%20of%20exercise%20for%20diabetes%20prevention&cmd=correctspelling

Matt Laye is an endurance athlete and PhD in medical physiology and an assistant professor of health and human performance at The College of Idaho.  Matt is a coach at Sharman Ultra and a regular contributor to Ultrarunning Magazine, 

Visit Matt's Blog: Laying It Down

Follow Matt on Facebook and on Twitter

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 

• What Defines our Limits - with Alex Hutchinson

Follow Alex on Twitter

Check out Sweat Science

Dr. Phil Maffetone helps us understand the difference about over-weight and over-fat.  We discuss why is so difficult to lose weight because our understandings may be in error.

If we lose excess fat, we will become healthier and more efficient runners.

Book: Overfat Pandemic - Exposing the problems and its simple solution for everyone who needs to eliminate excess body fat 

Article: "Six Reasons Weight-Loss is so Darn Difficult"

Other Dr. Maffetone podcasts:

• Daydreaming is Healthy for Runners
• Dr. Phil Maffetone Unplugged
• Dr. Phil Maffetone was RIGHT all along!
• Take Your Shirt Off and Get Some Vitamin D - with Dr. Phil Maffetone
• Phil Maffetone: How can Rhythm Improve Your Efficiency?
• Breaking the 1:59 marathon with Dr. Phil Maffetone
• Dr. Phil Maffetone - Building a Better Athletic Brain
• Phil Maffetone transcribed!
• Eat to Win with Dr. Phil Maffetone.
• Dr. Phil Maffetone - Speed up by slowing down

Get the Maffetone App HERE

Take the 2 Week Test

Get a taste of Dr. Maffetone's best articles HERE

Phil Maffetone's MUSIC

Ellie Greenwood elaborates on a few recent articles she wrote in Ultrarunning Magazine:

Reigniting Your Passion, November 2018

Finding Gratitude in Slower Times, September 2019

Band of Runners, November 2019

Matt Fitzgerald (sports nutritionist, writer, athlete, coach) has been doing some endurance writing with his 2019 published "Life is a Marathon: A Memoir of Love and Endurance".  In May, he will be releasing, "Running the Dream; One Summer Living, Training and Racing with a Team of World-Class Runners Half My Age".  We talk to him about his journey as he trains with Hoka's NAZ elite team of professional runners in Flagstaff, AZ.

• Having fun helps us become better runners
• Judgement is more important than toughness
• Depletion runs

He also has launched an interesting cool new running camp concept, "Endeavorun".  Check it out.

CTS Training Director, Jason Koop, joins The Nation to talk about his new podcast Koopcast and some good tactics to start the new year off right.

Check out Jason's book, "Training Essentials for Ultrarunning"

Jason Koop is the Head Coach for CTS-Ultrarunning. He is the author of ‘Training Essentials for Ultrarunning’ which has become the benchmark book for ultramarathon training. During his coaching career, he has managed over 100 endurance coaches and several hundred atheltes of all types, abilities and sports. He is also an accomplished ultrarunner in his own right having finishes in some of the most difficult races on the planet including the Badwater 135, Hardrock 100, Leadville Trail 100, Wasatch 100, Bear 100 and Western States 100

Don and Scott review the podcasts from 2019 and the many amazing guests that have joined us and helped us become better, smarter, more efficient runners.  What were your favorite gold nuggets?

AJW joins us for a quick recap of 2019 performances in ultrarunning.  It includes his picks for

• Ultrarunner of the year (female and male)
• Performance of the year (female and male)
• Rookie of the year (female and male)
• Surprise of the year (female and male)
• Most inspirational

Please check out Andy's coaching services and his weekly Tap Room article!

AJW's Coaching

AJW's Tap Room