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Trail Runner Nation

Trail Runner Nation is devoted to sharing knowledge and advice to the trail running community - from beginners to the pros! We offer tips and discussion regarding race nutrition, pacing strategy, mental focus and much more from well-respected members of the trail community.

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Episodes 27

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#799
Friday · 1 hr 12 min
The Secret Every Happy Trail Runner Knows | EP 799
Trail running isn't just about fitness. For Matt "Lamb Chops" Lambert, it's been a lifelong source of joy, perspective, healing, and connection. In this conversation, he shares how the trail shaped his life, why he stepped away from racing, and what it really means to build a relationship with the outdoors.
#798
September 11 · 1 hr 11 min
You're Probably Carrying Water the Wrong Way | EP 798
Hydration is far more than simply drinking when you're thirsty. Kramer Ammons explains how to build a personalized hydration strategy by understanding sweat rate, carrying methods, pre-hydration, and learning to recognize your body's early warning signs before small problems become race-ending mistakes.
#797
September 4 · 1 hr 14 min
Aging As An Athlete - The Best Miles Aren’t Always the Fastest | EP 797
Krissy Moehl, Kathleen Egan, and Jenny Jurek set out to cover 1,000 trail miles together, but somewhere along the way the miles became almost secondary. They talk about friendship, aging as athletes, learning to slow down, adapting ambitious goals, and intentionally making room for adventure at a stage of life when it's easy to let other responsibilities fill the calendar.
#796
August 28 · 1 hr 11 min
Three Elite Coaches. Six Impossible Decisions | EP 796
Three legendary ultrarunning coaches face rapid-fire “Would You Rather?” scenarios, forcing them to choose between competing coaching philosophies and defend their answers. The result is a fun, insightful conversation packed with practical lessons on training, racing, recovery, and the art of coaching.
#795
August 21 · 1 hr
Sophie Grant: The Adventure That Changed Everything | EP 795
After a painful chapter in her life and a growing sense that racing had become routine, Sophie Grant chose a challenge big enough to scare her again: running the entire 2,000-kilometer Via Alpina across eight countries in under 29 days. Along with photographer and crew member Zoe Salt, Sophie shares what the journey taught her about endurance, fueling, adaptability, support, and rediscovering what she loves about running.
#794
August 14 · 1 hr 6 min
Sometimes You Have to Borrow Belief | EP 794
Western States finisher Eric Strand shares how his crew and pacers carried him through the final 22 miles when he was ready to give up, revealing why even the most experienced ultrarunners sometimes need to borrow belief from someone else.
#793
August 7 · 1 hr 1 min
The Hidden Performance Killer Nobody Trains For | EP 793
Heat is one of the biggest performance limiters in trail running, yet most runners don’t understand how to train for it. Aline Barre from CORE explains the science of thermoregulation, practical heat adaptation strategies, and how monitoring core temperature can help runners race faster and avoid overheating.
#792
July 31 · 51 min
13 Miles. 7 Stops. One Ironing Board | EP 792
When a routine trail run leads Don and Scott to discover runners carrying ironing boards into the woods, they uncover the surprisingly real world of Extreme Ironing and the inaugural Iron X trail race. In this lighthearted episode, they talk with the race’s creators about how the event began, why fun and community still matter in trail running, and why sometimes the best adventures are the ones that don’t take themselves too seriously.
#791
July 23 · 1 hr 8 min
More Data. Better Gear. Slower Runners? | EP 791
This episode challenges the idea that more data, technology, and fueling automatically make us better runners. Dr. Phil Maffetone explains why aerobic development, metabolic health, and smarter use of data may be the keys to running faster, staying healthier, and becoming a more complete athlete.
#790
July 15 · 1 hr 12 min
Has Trail Running Lost Its Soul? | EP 790
Trail running has grown from a small community of passionate runners into a global sport, bringing bigger races, better gear, international competition, and more opportunities than ever before. Gaël Dutigny shares a firsthand account of witnessing UTMB from its very first edition in 2003 and reflects on how its evolution mirrors the growth of trail running itself. The conversation explores both sides of that growth, from crowded lotteries and commercialization to innovations in equipment, race o
#789
July 9 · 1 hr 3 min
You're Probably Using Caffeine Wrong | EP 789
Caffeine is one of the most researched performance enhancers in endurance sports, yet most runners know surprisingly little about how to use it effectively. In this conversation, Stone Creek Coffee founders Eric Resch and Amy Balestrieri separate the science from the myths, discussing when caffeine actually helps performance, why timing matters more than quantity, and how too much can hurt your sleep and recovery. They also explore why that morning cup of coffee is about far more than caffeine,
#788
July 3 · 1 hr 6 min
EP 788: The Hardest Part Wasn't the Race
Marc Hopkins, author of Hard Things, set out to write a book about running the Bigfoot 200, but what emerged was something much deeper. In this conversation, he shares how endurance running became the lens through which he uncovered old stories about self-worth, fear, identity, and the belief that one more finish line would finally make him enough. Together, we explore why runners chase hard things, the difference between simply enduring life and living with purpose, and how the trail can expos
#787
June 24 · 1 hr 11 min
EP 787: Aging as an Athlete- What Climbers Know About Longevity That Runners Need
What if getting older doesn't mean doing less, but doing it better? In this installment of the Aging as an Athlete series, legendary ultrarunner Krissy Moehl welcomes longtime climber and Patagonia ambassador Kate Rutherford for a conversation about longevity, purpose, and evolving with age. Kate shares how decades of climbing taught her that technical skill, efficiency, and joy can eventually outweigh youthful strength and endurance. The discussion explores everything from body awareness and re
#790
June 19 · 1 hr 11 min
EP 786: Everything You Need to Know Before Western States
Western States is more than a 100-mile race. For many ultrarunners, it's the unofficial holiday that defines the season. In this annual Trail Runner Nation tradition, Andy Jones-Wilkins returns to break down the 2026 Western States field, explain the stories behind the biggest contenders, and help everyday runners understand who to watch when race day arrives. Along the way, the conversation explores the race's unique culture, its history, the lottery system, the legendary Golden Hour finish, an
#785
June 11 · 1 hr 12 min
EP 785: Why Fitness isn't Enough
What separates great ultrarunners from everyone else isn't just fitness. It's how they think. In this conversation, legendary coach and runner Ian Sharman shares the philosophy behind his new book The Art of Ultrarunning, explaining why execution, adaptability, and purpose matter just as much as training miles. Through stories from his Grand Slam of Ultrarunning record, hard-earned racing mistakes, and years of coaching athletes of every level, Ian reveals how to stay motivated, pace smarter, a
#784
June 5 · 1 hr 9 min
EP 784: The Future of Trail Running Is Being Decided Right Now
Tim Tollefson returns to Trail Runner Nation for a wide-ranging conversation about what makes trail running special and what happens as the sport continues to grow. Using a "Wheel of Trail Running" format, the discussion lands on two big topics: cultivating the next generation of trail stewards and the ongoing professionalization of trail running. Tim shares how his work with Runners for Public Lands and Mammoth Trail Fest has changed the way he views trails, volunteerism, and the responsibility
#783
May 29 · 44 min
EP 783: The Supplement Runners Should Consider
Creatine has long been boxed into the weight-room world, but this episode opens the door to a much bigger conversation for trail runners and endurance athletes. Creatine is something surprisingly simple, "right within the reach of a glass," that may help athletes become stronger, faster, healthier, and more resilient. We discuss with Dr. Dan Pardi, Chief Health Officer at Qualia Life Sciences, whether this familiar supplement can support not just performance, but long-term health and better dail
#782
May 21 · 1 hr 3 min
EP 782: Fear Isn't the Enemy
Writer and ultrarunner Gaël Dutigny joins us to talk about his Ultra Running Magazine article, "Fear Isn't a Weakness," and why fear may be one of the most misunderstood tools in endurance sports. Gaël shares how, even after finishing UTMB four times and racing in deserts, jungles, mountains, and even Iraq during wartime, fear still shows up before and during big efforts. The conversation reframes fear not as something to suppress, but as information that can sharpen decision-making, expose your
#781
May 14 · 1 hr 8 min
EP 781: The Finish Line That Changed Everything
ode we are joined by Brian Morrison, author of Given to Fly: A Story of Tragedy, Triumph, and Realization at Western States 100, about one of the most unforgettable finishes in ultrarunning history. Brian takes listeners back to the 2006 Western States 100, where he was leading the race before collapsing on the Placer High School track just steps from victory, later being disqualified because he received assistance crossing the finish line. The conversation explores how Scott Jurek's belief in h
#780
May 6 · 57 min
EP 780: The Woman Who Ran 600 Miles
Megan Eckert returns to Trail Runner Nation after an extraordinary stretch in endurance racing, including a third place at Cocadona 250, setting a women's world record at Big's Backyard Ultra and becoming the first woman to run more than 600 miles in six days. She explains why backyard ultras are less about speed and more about solving the strange little puzzle of time, sleep, food, heat, pacing, and decision-making, one hour at a time. The conversation gets into what happens when the body start

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