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

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