Dr. Ryan Green is a certified athletic trainer and holds a doctorate in kinesiology.  He is a father, husband, runner and cancer survivor.  He recently discovered the benefits of tacking a running break.  We covered the following topics:

• Running Breaks - how long and how?
• Are their benefits to stretching?
• How should you warm up or should you? (Dr. Green's warm up lunge series)
• How to treat injuries?
• Ice Cup Massage

Visit Ryan's running store at Varsity Sports.

Visit Ryan's new web site: www.RunDocRyan.com

Take the Tailwind Challenge at: Tailwind Nutrition   

Check out the cool headlamps made for trail running at Petzl

If you could run one last 100 miler with a personal-best time and then never run again OR you could be guaranteed to be able to run three miles a day for the rest of your life, but never run another 100, what would you choose?

Andy Jones-Wilkins answers this question and other philosophical questions.  AJW will be running his tenth and final Western States 100 this June.  He has remained a competitive threat in this event and a HUGE fan of this race and trail running.  We talk with Andy about two of his recent blog posts on iRunFar:

• Problem Solving on a Run
• Stillness on The Run

Other topics covered:

• How do you get your kids involved in running?
• What is the "Sawchuk Seven" and is it true?

"Race Course in Review" by Vasque Running Shoes

Take the Tailwind Challenge at: Tailwind Nutrition   

Check out the cool headlamps made for trail running at Petzl

George Plomarity, Patagonia's Team Sports Sales and Marketing Rep, joins The Nation to talk about their marketing campaign called #sufferbetter.  We discuss what this means to the ultra runner and how you can share your experiences with the community and possibly win a full Patagonia kit.  Post your story and photos on Twitter or Instagram and you will be registered for a monthly drawing.

"Race Course in Review" by Vasque Running Shoes

Take the Tailwind Challenge at: Tailwind Nutrition   

Check out the cool headlamps made for trail running at Petzl

"One of the most wonderful things that has happened to the world is Trail Running", says Gordy Ainsleigh in a face to face conversation we recently enjoyed.  Gordy talks about where ultra trail running has gone and his thoughts on where is is going.  He talks about his passion for the sport and his secret to life-long running.  He answers some of the Nation Members' questions too.  Find out why Gordy believes in cotton t-shirts, grape juice and beards - even in the summer months.

Gordy has finished Western States 100 twenty-two times, most recently in June, 2007, though he unofficially completed the race in just over 30 hours (the official cuttoff) in 2010.  his fastest time is 20:55 in 1984, after starting 8 minutes late.

"Race Course in Review" by Vasque Running Shoes

Take the Tailwind Challenge at: Tailwind Nutrition   

Check out the cool headlamps made for trail running at Petzl

Karl Meltzer is the record holder for the most 100-mile trail wins and most 100-mile wins in one season.  He joined the Nation with a studio audience the day before Way Too Cool 50K to discuss his race strategies:

• How does he break up a 100-mile race
• How does he alter his training when he is injured
• How has his training changed over the years
• His multi-day records and upcoming attempt to break the 2200-mile Appalachian Trail record
• How is a multi-day race different mentally and physically from a 100-mile race

He also talks about Wings For Life World Run coming up on May 4th.  100% of the $50 race fee goes to find a cure for spinal cord injuries.

Check out this video of Karl's Red Bull Human Express, his 2064-mile Pony Express record run in 2010.

Check out our video simulcast HERE

"Race Course in Review" by Vasque Running Shoes

Take the Tailwind Challenge at: Tailwind Nutrition   

Check out the cool headlamps made for trail running at Petzl

We talk with three of Nike's newly-formed Trail Elite Team: Sally McRae, Chris Vargo, Alex Varner, and Team Manager: Pat Werhane.  This interview was recorded the afternoon before Chris and Alex finished #1 and #2 at a 1200-participant, Way Too Cool 50K.  Some of the topics we discuss are:

• How to adjust for weather or course conditions?
• Is there race-day cooperation between team mates?
• Trusting your training
• Pre-race pump up songs

Sally: “Back it up” by Gwen Staphanie

Chris: “Helecopter” by Bloc Party

Alex: “The Sign” by Ace of Base       uhhhhh, yea :)

• Core strength exercises

Check out our video simulcast HERE

"Race Course in Review" by Vasque Running Shoes

Take the Tailwind Challenge at: Tailwind Nutrition   

Check out the cool headlamps made for trail running at Petzl

Nation member, Candice Burt joins us to discuss a recent lighthearted  blog post she wrote on how ultra runners take things to excess.   DUH!   That's who we are. 

Fun article about people that make up excuses for not racing well.

Here are some of the races she directs:

Tahoe Rim 200 mile race

Bellingham Trail Marathon 

Bellingham Trail Running Series

Cle Elum Ridge 50k & 25K

Rainshadow Running

"Race Course in Review" by Vasque Running Shoes

Take the Tailwind Challenge at: Tailwind Nutrition   

Check out the cool headlamps made for trail running at Petzl

Ultra Trail Running is distinctly different in culture and mental preparation than other running or endurance sports.  Veteran Trail Ultra Runner, Bob Crowley, visits with the Nation about what is unique about this sports culture.

• Is there a difference between "doing" an ultra run and "being" an ultra runner?
• What are some of the tenets of the trail running culture?
• Are we losing the ultra trail running culture with the mass appeal and participation recently?
• How can we keep the culture?
• How does this culture helps us prepare mentally for the experiences that accompany a long trail race

An interesting perspective from Geoff Roes in his article, "Ultrarunning is Dead"

Join the Trail Animals Running Club

"Race Course in Review" by Vasque Running Shoes

Take the Tailwind Challenge at: Tailwind Nutrition   

Check out the cool headlamps made for trail running at Petzl

Ashley Walsh has been busy weaving a tapestry of trail philosophy on her blog AshRuns100s, training and racing.  In fact, she recently killed it at Pistol 100 Mile in TN, where she won with a sub 20-hour finish!  You gotta run this one just for the buckle!

Grab bag topics include:

• Motivation vs. Commitment
• There is a season for everything
• How to guarantee a DNF
• Gear or no Gear?

Ashley, always up for a challenge, was dared by her husband, Dan, to include this list of words. Did she succeed?

"Race Course in Review" by Vasque Running Shoes

Take the Tailwind Challenge at: Tailwind Nutrition   

Check out the cool headlamps made for trail running at Petzl

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

"Race Course in Review" by Vasque Running Shoes

Take the Tailwind Challenge at: Tailwind Nutrition   

Check out the cool headlamps made for trail running at Petzl

Download a free audio book at Audible