"There is no such thing as the One True Way to eat for maximum health.  No diet cult is better than the rest, and a person need not join any diet cult to attain maximum health. An agnostic approach to healthy eating that forbids nothing, smiles upon eating for pleasure, and encourages individual choice can do the job just as well or better" - Matt Fitgerald, Diet Cults

Well known sports writer, nutritionist, athlete and trainer, Matt Fitzgerald joins the Nation to discuss how diet cults have taken over our culture, vilified many foods and lead us with fear to join their restrictive diets.

This is NOT another diet book, but rather a captivating book that invites us to objectively look at different diets and figure out, through scientific research, what is healthy eating.

Links:

Free Audible download of "Diet Cults"

Purchase the book

Link to Matt's previous podcast, "The Mind-Body Method of Running by Feel"

Take the Tailwind Challenge at: Tailwind Nutrition   

Check out the cool head TORCHES made for trail running at Petzl

Join TRN and follow Jimmy Dean as he takes on the original SIX 100-mile runs in the "Orignial Six Hundo Challenge".

Prior to each run we collect a recap from the previous race, bring a mentor to help repair our athlete and commit Jimmy to a prediction.

This should be fun......for us.

This podcast expert:  David "Sniper" Snipes: Sniper has completed >40 100-mile runs, including Jimmy's first challenge: the "Old Dominion"

Follow Jimmy's challenge at #O6HC or @CoachJimmyDean or at Socal Coyotes

To read more about JDF's challenge read here: Six Hundos

In the middle of the official Western States Endurance Run training weekend, we relax with

Ian Torrence

Emily Harrison

Dominic Grossman

Katie DeSplinter

We chat about

• the weekend training
• Is trail running an activity or a way-of-life
• Mental Taper
• How has social media affected ultra running?
• If you could enter a trail running time machine, would you choose to dial back the dial 100 year? or forward 100 year?

Links:

McMillan Running

Take the Tailwind Challenge at: Tailwind Nutrition   

Check out the cool head TORCHES made for trail running at Petzl

So if you get a chance to have a running discussion with Ann Trason and Andy Jones Wilkins at mile 55.7 on the Western States 100 Trail, what would you ask?

We throw the kitchen sink at them both and came up with a jumbolia of topics that will make you laugh, gasp, motivate, and train you.

Register for Ann's new trail race series, Overlook Endurance Runs: 50k, 50-mile, and 100K

Take the Tailwind Challenge at: Tailwind Nutrition   

Check out the cool head TORCHES made for trail running at Petzl

We posted a video on April 9th about Josh Spector's experience running his first 135-mile race, The Brazil 135.  To date it has had over 2 Million views - because it is that good!  Josh's first 135-mile run was on an unfamiliar course in a foreign country,  he talks to us about the difference between 100-milers and running 135 miles, how to prepare yourself for running in a foreign country, and how to enjoy the journey.

Josh is currently training for the grueling Badwater 135 this summer.

Josh's Blog, Twitter, and Facebook

Take the Tailwind Challenge at: Tailwind Nutrition   

Check out the cool headlamps made for trail running at Petzl

Many athletes fail to make progress or they see their fitness regress due to three main factors:

1. You become injured
2. You are training improperly
3. You’ve simply lost the desire to train, or train like you used to

Dr. Stephen Gangemi, the Sock Doc,  joins The Nation to discuss the science behind motivation.  From your brain to your gut, we will discuss the physiological and mental aspects of motivation and how you can regain the Eye of the Tiger!

Here are the links to the first two articles that are the basis of this podcast:

Athlete Motivation Part 1: It's In Both of Your Brains

Motivation Part II: Healing and Optimizing Your Two Brains

Motivation Part III: Why Your Motivation Stinks, Literally

Take the Tailwind Challenge at: Tailwind Nutrition   

Check out the cool headlamps made for trail running at Petzl

Many athletes fail to make progress or they see their fitness regress due to three main factors:

1. You become injured
2. You are training improperly
3. You’ve simply lost the desire to train, or train like you used to

Dr. Stephen Gangemi, the Sock Doc,  joins The Nation to discuss the science behind motivation.  From your brain to your gut, we will discuss the physiological and mental aspects of motivation and how you can regain the Eye of the Tiger!

Here are the links to the first two articles that are the basis of this podcast:

Athlete Motivation Part 1: It's In Both of Your Brains

Motivation Part II: Healing and Optimizing Your Two Brains

Take the Tailwind Challenge at: Tailwind Nutrition   

Check out the cool headlamps made for trail running at Petzl

One of your most important tools as a runner is your feet. You need to take care of them or your training/race may be foiled. John Vonhof literally wrote the book on how to take care of your feet: "Fixing Your Feet".  This book is now in the FIFTH edition!  John joins The Nation to discuss the basic principles of foot care:

• How you can have healthy & happy feet
• Footwear
• Insoles
• Gaiters
• Blister prevention and treatment
• What to keep in a foot care kit
• Taping your feet

You can learn more by visiting his website HERE.

Take the Tailwind Challenge at: Tailwind Nutrition   

Check out the cool headlamps made for trail running at Petzl

Jared Campbell paid his $1.60 and a pack of cigarettes for his third attempt and second finish at the 2014 Barkley Marathons, a niche race in a niche sport.  Since the race's inception in 1986, only fourteen runners out of about 800 have completed the 100 mile race within the official 60 hour cut-off.  Jared is one of two racers that have finished the race twice.  Jared joins The Nation to discuss one of the most difficult trail races and his view on training.

You can learn more about Jared at his blog, Door5 and read more about his race at Barkley Marathons HERE.

Watch the 2014 Barkley Marathons Movie TRAILER and find out more about the movie HERE

Take the Tailwind Challenge at: Tailwind Nutrition   

Check out the cool headlamps made for trail running at Petzl

Dr. Mark joins us again to cover some interesting topics:

• America College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the world’s authority on exercise and health,  just released an article, "How to Select a Running Shoe", refining their position.
• Should you follow your doctor's treatment recommendations blindly?  What questions should you ask and what drugs to be careful of as a runner.  There was an article in Runners World talking about some medications you should avoid as a runner.
• Breathing is an important component in endurance sports.  Can we learn to breath better?.  What are things to consider and what are some exercises to learn to breath better?   Check out this video of some exercises you can do.
• A few ways to help you improve your running gait: You need to check out THIS WEBSITE.  You can get a PHd in running gait from these videos.  Another LINK that has more gait analysis information.

Where to find Dr. Cucuzzella:

• Boston Marathon: Monday, April 21
• Harpers Ferry Half Marathon: Saturday, May 10
• Two Rivers Treads Running Store
• The Natural Running Center

LINK to all of Dr. Cucuzzella's podcasts with The Nation.

Take the Tailwind Challenge at: Tailwind Nutrition   

Check out the cool headlamps made for trail running at Petzl