Gary Avery said, "Optimal Stress + Optimal Rest = Optimal Progress"

Greg joins us from McMillan Running, an online resource / coaching for runners, to discuss how important REST is in our training.  He explains why "the most difficult situation is to be the fittest spectator at a race".  In a recent Runner's World article, "Give it a Rest", Greg explains how better we perform when we incorporate rest into our training schedules: rest during our weekly program and after a race.

Closing Song: "Feeling Way Too Damn Good" by Nickleback.

Duncan Callahan lives and trains at over 7000' altitude in beautiful Colorado. He has finished in the top 10 in the last 33 races winning the prestigious Leadville Trail 100 twice! Duncan joins us to talk about: Training and racing at altitude How to mentally execute a race How making a peanut butter sandwich is similar to racing "Be the 4th Quarter guy" Cardiac Drift How to enjoy the process of transformation Learning how to balance life, work, family and running.

Change out of your spandex triathlete shorts and make sure you aren’t drinking during this podcast (you may find milk coming out your nose in a fit of laughter).  Warren Pole discusses three things that have been on his mind recently: Are Ironman Triathlons for pussies? (take note of Warren Pole’s image on this post) Aren’t injuries [...]

Recount his observations while he was running the 2013 Boston Marathon His response to a recent study on barefoot running How to "live more and die less" Upcoming clinics Dr. Mark will be leading in the U.S.

Max is not only a great runner and nice person, but he is also a student of the sport and coaches athletes. We couldn't turn down the opportunity to talk to him about his training, what he commonly helps athletes improve, and what he is personally working on to improve his running.

John Burkett interviews runners from all walks of life and discovers that there are as many reasons WHY we run as there are people, come common threads that exist with all runners and that our reasons change with the different seasons of life.

Sometimes when Don makes the schedule, there is a mix up. We recorded this one night when a guest didn't show up so we decided to just take about trail stuff. The truth is, we can't even remember what we talked about to put in this description! So listen up and find out :)

Join Ashley Walsh and Jimmy Dean Freeman as we explore what we love and what we could live without on the trail. Ashley is nice. Scott is out of town and submits his list and appears as "Silent Scott" channeling his thoughts through Don. Jimmy streams organic wisdom from the trail gods. What's not to like? Apply a fresh Performance Enhancing Kokopelli to get the most out of this podcast.

Warren Pole turns the table on Don, Faith and Scott and ASKS the questions!

Pandora's Box turned out to be a bit larger than we thought. After an hour and 48 minute podcast we still have some more work to do. Join Ashley Walsh and Jimmy Dean Freeman as we discuss, "If you walk in your endurance run can you really really claim you ran the race?" Oh yeah, and JDF intro's the EPIC Bill Bradley into the mix.

Ultra Running Veterans, Dana Gard and Steve Harrold share with us stories of who mentored them and how the sport of ultra running has changed.

We had a great virtual run with Dr. Steven Gangemi, AKA cult leader, where we talked about many different things including the recent articles stating that running was bad for your health.

We join Elite ultra runner Nikki Kimball and film director and producer Jaime Jacobsen as we talk about their new movie "Finding Traction": Nikki's quest to set a new record on the 273-mile, Vermont Long Trail.

Dominic Grossman and Katie DeSplinter join TRN to talk about their experience at Liza Howard’s recent trail running camp with Team RWB, Katie’s recent win at Ozark Trail 100, How long does it take to get “race ready”, Their training schedule, Two-legged Star Wars creatures.

Our favorite Brit, UTMB finisher, good friend of the Mayor of Chamonix, and journalist extraordinaire: Warren Pole joins us to discuss how ultra running can teach us to be better in our professional careers... or can it? Warren drops Aristotle-like philosophy on the Nation Membership.

Running partners can inspire motivate and help you reach your potential. Choose the wrong running partner and they may just drive you crazy. Ultra runner, Coach, Mother, and three-time member of the USA's 24-hour team and "smart aleck": Carilyn Johnson joins the nation to discuss important considerations to keep in mind when choosing who you run with.

The Trail Runner Nation's Doctor, Dr. Mark Cucuzzella, is in the house and talks about 3 simple tips to think about as you are training in the coming months: don't overstride, lengthen your posture and go nip to hip!

Mike Morton continues to have an amazing come back. In the last race season, not only did he win every race he entered, but he set new records as well. Mike is also an Ambassador for Team RWB and will be a coach at the upcoming trail running clinic on November 9-12, 2012 in Texas.

Do you need to know if you're an ultra runner? Check out this link on run100s.com and join us as we discuss the list of reasons you may be an ultra runner.

Ultra Runner and running coach, Liza Howard joins us to talk about fall training and a great training camp she is hosting in Texas on November 9-12, 2012. Team RWB is a non-profit, grass-roots organization that is helping our U.S. veterans reintegrate into civilian life through a physical activity and community. There will be many high-profile runners and coaches on staff to help you become a better trail runner. You don't have to be a veteran to attend, but if you are... it's free of charge!!!

Our second interview with Adam Bradley, aka Krudmeister, a record-holding long-distance treker! The last time we talked to him he had just set a world record for a self supported Pacific Crest Trail trek. This summer Adam did a self-supported, human-powered trek over 4700 miles from Reno, NV to the Bearing Sea in Alaska. This is an amazing story of endurance. We talk "Krudmeister" about his 2 1/2 month journey through some of the American Continents most beautiful country, the wildlife he encountered, and his determination to keep going day after day.

We catch up to Aliza Lapierre after an amazing 2012 race season. She talks about time off, base building, cross training, listening to your body, race selection, having a coach and much more!

Join us on a 90 minute run with Dr. Gangemi. He talks about NSAIDs and all things important for the health of an endurance athlete. Most importantly, we talk to him about what he is doing in this photo...

Our good friend, Warren Pole, joins us again to recount the 2012 North Face Ultra Tour Du Mont Blanc. He describes his successful finish of this world-class event. Warren explains his revolutionary strategy: "Running with the Mayor" which aided Warren to move up 1100 places before he finished!

Jimmy Dean Freeman, our southern California correspondent, chats with Faith, Don and Scott about the 2012 Western States 100. Earthquakes, rain, snow, hail, record-low temperatures, records-broken, memories-made, goals-met, dreams-fulfilled, victory, defeat, agony, pain, joy, enlightenment: all were present again at this year's WS100.

Have you ever wished you could take a running vacation? Five days of supported running bliss and evenings filled with sharing ideas and stories of trail running? Andy and Kim Holak, veteran trail runners, enable the dream with their company: Adventure Running Company

Dr. Mark Cucuzzella joins us again to talk to us about the "H" words: Heat and Heart. Our community has been buzzing with the tragic deaths of Micah True (aka Caballo Blanco) and Arizonan, John Greer. We ask Dr. Mark if ultra running can be damaging to our health and how to deal with heat in training and race day expectations.

Nation member Warren Pole talks about why British ultras aren't very cool compared to the way he imagines American ultras to be, the best ultra-running advice he has ever received, and his quest to complete the UTMB this year. After listening to this podcast, you may change the way you think about bonking.

We catch up with Jimmy Dean Freeman who is part of a relay team consisting of 7 ultrarunners running nearly 2,500 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica California to help spread the message to elementary school children about fitness, self confidence, setting goals and realizing personal achievement. Jimmy experiences are grand as he is escorted by police, becomes part of a hootenanny, saves a turtle and he is only 1/2 way home!

Dominic plays the mountain profile like a concert pianist plays the arpeggio. A well-executed run is like making music. Join us as we discuss with Dominic what he has learned from his mentors and absorbed directly from the San Gabriel Mountain range. Running uphill, recovering on the downs and cruising the flats set the stage for a hit song. This is a must listen.

Join Don and Scott as they chat with Faith, fresh out of her first 50 miler. There were hamburgers, chafage, post-race blackouts and more! Listen to get the scoop.

What was your longest back-to-back training run? How about a 40+ mile back-to-back-to-back. Repeated for 65 days. With no support! We talk to a record-holding fastpacker and trail runner to uncover how to take ultra-running to the extreme and see what other things we can learn from him.

Scott, Faith and Don take on blogger Will Cooper's Nine and a Half Ways To Keep Running Real. He lists his top suggestions that every trail runner should follow. We turn each one inside out as we talk through them.

The Kokopelli has held a prominent role in folklore, culture and traditions. Many authorities believe this celebration is justified as it is probable the Kokopelli allowed the homo erectus to avoid extinction. On such authority is Professor Richard Nelson. His research has provided the first look at the powers of the Kokopelli. Dr. Nelson shares with us the benefits of applying and wearing the Performance Enhancing Temporary Tattoo available exclusively on our site.

Steven Sashen, the founder of Invisible Shoes and author of the popular 'Sh*t Barefoot Runners Say' video, joins us for an insightful discussion on topics including invisible shoes, running on a foot of cotton, a thin sheet of stainless steel and broken glass... Did I forget anything? About a million other disconnected tangents... Oh yeah, stay tuned at the end for a special bonus track where we keep the mic live for a post interview discussion!

When we say "Patagonia", you think of "The Mountain" or "The Gear". If Mark Hofmann and George Plomarity from Patagonia Outdoor Clothing and Gear have anything to say about it...the answer is "The Gear". George and Mark have plenty to say as we discuss the equipment that makes us want to run to the trail.

TRN has a WEB Ninja and now a GEAR Ninja? What's next... Well what's now is an introduction to "The Trail Runners GEAR Tester". James turns gear upside down and inside out to get to the bottom of it all. Don't make a purchase until you consult your Gear Ninja.

Trail Runner Nation's own web ninja & ultra-runner Tim Smith joins us to talk about the very cool features of our website, http://www.trailrunnernation.com. Ninja Tim has created a social media site for trail runners. The content is community driven. Sometimes Tim finds the ninja training comes in handy as he has to keep some of the Nation members in line!

Ever thought you might be able to run with the worlds fastest ultra-runners in a 100 mile foot race? Well try running it with a camera strapped to your back and looking through the lens. Filmmaker and ultra-runner J.B. Benna takes us behind the scenes of the rugged Sierra Nevada Mountains, home of the Western States 100 and the epic race of 2010 that stretched from Squaw Valley to Auburn California.

Check out our first podcast which explains just what is the Trail Runner Nation, how to get involved and what to expect from future episodes and around the website.