Trail Runner Nation

Ashley Walsh rejoins Trail Runner Nation to discuss some common norms that you should question: You don’t have to get faster You don’t need to run long on weekends You don’t need a sponsor You don’t need to apologize for a crappy race on social media Take the Tailwind Challenge at: Tailwind Nutrition    Check out the cool head TORCHES made for trail running at Petzl

Congratulations to Jimmy Dean Freeman and Andy Kumeda for completing the Original Six Hundo Challenge (aka The Last Great Race): Old Dominion, June 7, 2014 Western States, June 28, 2014 Vermont Trail, July 19, 2014 Angeles Crest, August 2, 2014 Leadville Trail, August 16, 2014 Wasatch Front, September 5, 2014 They join a very small group of 35 athletes to have completed this task since 1989: Last Great Race Finishers Last Great Race Statistics   Joe Kulak, Last Great Race record holder (114:23:49 set in 2003), joins The Nation to talk about Jimmy and Andy's incredible accomplishment. You can't run Six 100-mile races without your feet.  Foot Kenetics makes a revolutionary foot care product, RunGoo that can prevent blisters and other body chafage.  Get FREE shipping by using TRN2014 at checkout.

Victor Ballesteros was the second place finisher at the inaugural Tahoe 200 mile Endurance Race beginning on Friday, September 5, 2014.  This 100-hour limited run circumnavigates Lake Tahoe in California.  With over 39,800 feet (12,131 meters) of ascent and 39,800 feet of descent, it proved to be one heck of a challenge for the 90 warriors that toed the line. Candice Burt, the race director (masochist), of the race joins as co-host.  We were pleased to learn that an amazing 67% of the starters finished the race! Listen in to find out what this beast was all about, how this distance differs from your run-of-the-mill 100-miler.     Victor is CEO of Victory Sportdesign, THE best gear / drop bag available and works at San Francisco Running Company Victor's band, Voodoo Switch, plays the outgoing music on this podcast, "Waiting" Take the Tailwind Challenge at: Tailwind Nutrition    Check out the cool head TORCHES made for trail running at Petzl Get free shipping and no blisters if you order some RunGoo Enter code

Candice Burt rejoins The Nation to discuss the Tahoe 200, the first 200-mile race in North America.  The race will begin on Friday, September 5 and cutoff is the following Tuesday, September 9.  The race will be covered by Candice's article, How to be Tough as Nails Mentally for Your 100 Miler Link to study on smiling Take the Tailwind Challenge at: Tailwind Nutrition    Check out the cool head TORCHES made for trail running at Petzl Get free shipping and no blisters if you order some RunGoo Enter code: TRN2014 when you check out.

Join TRN and follow Jimmy Dean Freeman and Andy Kumeda as they take on the original SIX 100-mile runs in the "Orignial Six Hundo Challenge". #O6HC Stan Jensen, caretaker for www.run100s.com joins us as Jimmy and Andy's mentor. Jimmy & Andy reflect on their  Leadville Trail 100 races and looks ahead to their FINAL, Wasatch Front 100 this weekend. Follow Jimmy and Andy's challenge at #O6HC or @CoachJimmyDean or at Socal Coyotes To read more about JDF's challenge read here: Six Hundos You can't run Six 100-mile races without your feet.  Foot Kenetics makes a revolutionary foot care product, RunGoo that can prevent blisters and other body chafage.  Get FREE shipping by using TRN2014 at checkout.

Are you mentally tough to run an ultra? Are you addicted to running? Do you use imagery to make you a better runner? Dr. Duncan Simpson is a Certified Sport Psych Consultant (CC-AASP), Assistant Prof in Sport, Exercise, & Performance Psychology (SEPP) UG coordinator for SEPP  Barry University in Miami, FL. He recently finished gathering information to help understand Ultra Runners.  Specifically: Mental Toughness Exercise Addiction Sports Imagery Ultra running questionnaire Take the Tailwind Challenge at: Tailwind Nutrition    Check out the cool head TORCHES made for trail running at Petzl Get free shipping and no blisters if you order some RunGoo Enter code: TRN2014 when you check out.

Warren Pole returns to TRN for a spirited round of Grab Bag.  There are only 2 rules in TRN Grab Bag: 1.  Come with two topics. 2. Be prepared to comment on every topic.  Some opics that came out of the grab bag: Are ultrarunners becoming hobos? underwear or commando? Does ultrarunning cause tooth decay? ARTICLE Ultrarunning is like child birth Will the Grand Canyon forbid Rim to Rim running? Take the Tailwind Challenge at: Tailwind Nutrition    Check out the cool head TORCHES made for trail running at Petzl Get free shipping and no blisters if you order some RunGoo Enter code: TRN2014 when you check out.

Join TRN and follow Jimmy Dean Freeman and Andy Kumeda as they take on the original SIX 100-mile runs in the "Orignial Six Hundo Challenge". #O6HC Legendary Marshall Ulrich joins us as Jimmy's mentor. Jimmy reflects on his AC100 race and looks ahead to his Leadville Trail 100 this weekend. Follow Jimmy's challenge at #O6HC or @CoachJimmyDean or at Socal Coyotes To read more about JDF's challenge read here: Six Hundos You can't run Six 100-mile races without your feet.  Foot Kenetics makes a revolutionary foot care product, RunGoo that can prevent blisters and other body chafage.  Get FREE shipping by using TRN2014 at checkout.

We met David Horton at the Hardrock 100 Endurance Run.  David Horton is a 5-time finisher of this race and the winner of the first two.  We discuss with him the unique qualities that make this race one of the toughest runs in the world.  David has also completed over 160 ultras, has 40 wins, and many other ambitious running endeavors.  This gives him the authority to teach a class at Liberty University on advanced running.  In fact, they must complete a 50K race to pass the class!  David recently wrote an article in the April 2014 Ultrarunning Magazine, "Your First Ultra - You Can Do It" that offers some suggestions for your first ultra. Some topics: "Do I get to run or do I have to run?" "No discomfort, no gain" philosophy vs. "No Pain, no gain" Check out the Journey Film movie about David Horton's 2700 Pacific Crest Trail run  Here is a VIDEO clip. Check out the cool head TORCHES made for trail running at Petzl

Join TRN and follow Jimmy Dean Freeman as he takes on the original SIX 100-mile runs in the "Orignial Six Hundo Challenge". #O6HC Jimmy Dean Freeman's quest for the six original hundres in 13 weeks couldn't be accomplished without mentors like Thomas Green. Jimmy reflects on his race in Vermont and looks ahead to his hometown course of AC100 in this podcast. Tom has completed more than 175 ultramarathons, including more than 40 races of 100 miles or more.  Tom is best known for being the first person to complete the “Grand Slam” of ultrarunning (the four major 100-mile trail runs in one summer) in 1986.  Tom recently finished WS as he is on his way in 2014 to repeating the Grand Slam 28 years later. Follow Jimmy's challenge at #O6HC or @CoachJimmyDean or at Socal Coyotes To read more about JDF's challenge read here: Six Hundos You can't run Six 100-mile races without your feet.  Foot Kenetics makes a revolutionary foot care product, RunGoo that can prevent blisters and other body chafage.  Get FREE shipping b

Alex Varner is an accomplished distance runner.  In April he completed his first 50 mile race, Lake Sonoma 50 miler, where he came in fourth place and earning a birth in the Western States 100 Endurance Run.  After just 2 1/2 months of training, he competed in his first 100 mile race finishing an impressive 7th place.  He seemed like the perfect person to talk about the many different race distances and how they differ.  From 5K to 100 miles, what are the differences in training, nutrition, pace, strategy, mental toughness, etc. Take the Tailwind Challenge at: Tailwind Nutrition    Check out the cool head TORCHES made for trail running at Petzl Get free shipping and no blisters if you order some RunGoo Enter code: TRN2014 when you check out.

Join TRN and follow Jimmy Dean Freeman as he takes on the original SIX 100-mile runs in the "Orignial Six Hundo Challenge". #O6HC On June 29, 2014, Jimmy completed the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run, his second of six 100-mile runs.  Jimmy joins us with his virtual coach, Ian Sharman, to get a race report, discuss recovery for his third race, the Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Run, on July 19-20, 2014.  Ian is well qualified to coach JDF since he is the current record holder for the Grand Slam of Ultra Running, which he set last year. Follow Jimmy's challenge at #O6HC or @CoachJimmyDean or at Socal Coyotes To read more about JDF's challenge read here: Six Hundos You can't run Six 100-mile races without your feet.  Foot Kenetics makes a revolutionary foot care product, RunGoo that can prevent blisters and other body chafage.  Get FREE shipping by using TRN2014 at checkout.

We were able to visit with 2014 Hardrock 100 third-place finisher, Adam Campbell,  moments after kissing the rock.  This was Adam's second 100-miler where he convincingly proved that he is build for endurance running.  Adam talks to us about how he finds time to trail while holding down a busy career as a lawyer, his philosophy about fitness, how the Hardrock 100 is unique and intimidating.  He also relates the full story of being caught on 14,058' (4285 M) Handies Peak in a storm, where he and his pacer were struck by lightning. Interesting fact about Adam: He holds the Guiness World record for fastest marathon time in a suit: Video Shortened VIDEO of the interview with Adam Campbell Check out the cool head TORCHES made for trail running at Petzl

On July 11, 2014, 141 lucky lottery winners will tow the line at one of the most demanding 100-mile endurance runs in the world, the Hardrock 100. This race began as a tribute to the toughest of the tough miners that worked in this high-altitude, picturesque paradise of western Colorado.  Race Director, Dale Garland, joins the Nation to talk about the history and demands of this course.  The course boasts of and average altitude over 11,000 feet, 34,000 feet of ascent and 34,000 feet of descent.  There are 7 summits over 12,000' and 4 summits over 14,000'.  Most runners get to see the sun set twice with the average finish time of 41 hours (cutoff time of 48-hours).  Because of the harsh environment and changeable weather, Dale calls this a race for the "post graduate" ultra runner. Trail Runner Nation will be in Silverton, CO this year with Petzl (Hardrock sponsor) to provide podcasts with athletes, live updates via social media and video clips of these amazing athletes and the beautiful scenery!. Take the Ta

Sally McRae pushed her body, mind and spirit to finish F10 at the 2014 Western States 100.  Sally tells her 21 hour 24 minute experience of victory and her lessons learned.         Take the Tailwind Challenge at: Tailwind Nutrition    Check out the cool headlamps made for trail running at Petzl

Bob Crowley joins us to build off our previous podcast with him.  In "Ultra Trail Running Culture: Bob Crowley- Part 1 we discussed the tenets of being an ultra trail runner, part 2 and part 3 will focus on the emphasis and importance ultra trail runners place on mental preparation for an event.  Specifically, what does one do to plan, prepare, and execute and review to optimize the experience of running an ultra event. There are four stages of mental training for a 100-mile event (some of these may transfer to shorter distances, but we will focus on the 100-miler because of its uniqueness) Plan Prepare Execute Review In Part 2 we talk about Planning and Preparing. Bob refined Sunny Blende's, "What to Do When Things Go Wrong" sheet for running Hard Rock: HRH When Things Go Wrong - Bob Crowley Previous podcasts with Bob: Bob Crowley & Josh Katzman - Trail Running Culture, Are We at Risk of Losing it?  Ultra Trail Running Culture - Bob Crowley- Part 1 Take the Tailwind Challenge at: Tailwind Nutrition   

We catch up with Sally McRae and Chris Vargo to find out how their training is going and talk about common questions they receive as coaches.  We field some questions from live Nation listeners, Ian MacNairn and Emir Dedic. 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 Freeman as he takes on the original SIX 100-mile runs in the "Orignial Six Hundo Challenge". #O6HC Jimmy just completed the "Old Dominion".  Jimmy joins us with his virtual coach, Andy Jones Wilkins, to get a race report, discuss recovery for his second race, the Western States 100 Follow Jimmy's challenge at #O6HC or @CoachJimmyDean or at Socal Coyotes To read more about JDF's challenge read here: Six Hundos You can't run Six 100-mile races without your feet.  Foot Kenetics makes a revolutionary foot care product, RunGoo that can prevent blisters and other body chafage.  Get FREE shipping by using TRN2014 at checkout.

Amazing trail runner and author of the book One Step Beyond  Malcolm Law and his equally talented wife Sally Law sat down with us and discussed how a small gift in the form of a book became the spark for a dramatic change in life.  Malcolm spun on his heel, leaving the corporate world to become a trail  adventurer and a major fundraiser for Leukemia & Blood Foundation of New Zealand.   Malcolm Law set out to perform a world-first attempt to run New Zealand’s seven renowned ‘Great Walks’ in seven consecutive days.  It would take 3-5 days to "Walk" each of the sections so in trailrunner fashion he decided he should run them.  Malcolm has set a new adventure and equally agressive fund raising goal.  Running 50 Peaks in 50 days  combined with a fund raising goal well over 250K for the Mental Health Foundation of NZ. You can find more about Malcolm on his website http://runningwildnz.com/ Wanna FREE signed copy of One Step Beyond.  Join the contest ending June 18th, 2014.  Complete this sentence, "You know you

"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 runn