Trail Runner Nation

Why do ultrarunners keep going? The pain says stop but the mind says GO! Join Ann Trason, Andy Jones-Wilkins and Lee "Mac" McKinley as we discuss this topic in detail.

The prodigal daughter returns! Faith is back in studio to discuss where she has been and the welcoming return to trail running. At some point, we all take a break from trail and ultra running. Why do we come back? How do we come back? Faith discusses her exploits into the Ironman and why she is coming back to the trails.

When Andy Jones-Wilkins isn't pouring cold brew in his Taproom, you can find him at the highest profile races. Recently returning from 2015 WS100 and Hardrock 100 he shares his trail side insight of the strongest runners in our sport including; Magda Boulet, Rob Krar, Kilian Jornet and Anna Frost.

Even if you are less than 50 years old, you will find this podcast very educational. Joe Friel is an endurance sports coach that has worked with athletes of varying levels up to elites. He holds a masters degree in exercise science, is a USA Triathalon and USA Cycling certified coach that has written fourteen books on endurance including the subject of our podcast, "Faster After 50, How to Race Strong For the Rest of Your Life". He is also the founder of Training Peaks, a web-based software company focused on endurance training. We focus on What are the endurance myths of growing older? What actually happens to our body as we get older? How can we mitigate these factors and train smarter to optimize endurance performance and slow Father Time?

Sally Edwards is best-selling author, entrepreneur, professional triathlete, professional speaker, and iPhone app developer. She was a pioneer in the inception of ultramarathoning, finishing in the top 3 at Western States 100. She co-founded Fleet Feet Sports running franchise and the American River 50 mile Endurance Run. Ultrarunning Magazine recently re-published an article that Sally wrote in 1983, "Ultramarathoning - A dying Sport". We invited Sally to Studio G to take a retrospective look at the sport and where it has come. Sally is passionate about getting people healthy and moving. Her recent venture is Heart Zones, a fitness technology and education company that uses smart devices with the vision to get America fit. Download the Upbeat App an app that matches your music to your cadence. HOMEWORK: We touched on a book that Sally wrote, "Be a Better Runner: Real World, Scientifically-proven Training Techniques that Will Dramatically Improve Your Speed, Endurance, and Injury Resistance". She has promised to come back and discuss the gold nuggets with The Nation.

Top athletes, Aliza Lapierre and Paul Terranova, join The Nation to discuss taper. They are both in the middle of their taper for Western States 100. We discuss why you should taper, how they do it differently and what to expect.

Andy Jones-Wilkins joins Race Director of the Western States 100, Craig Thornley to discuss the 2015 course, the race, and who to watch. As always, the gong accompanied this podcast. Men's Preview Women's Preview

Candice Burt joins us to Teach us how to be a hipster ultrarunner How to organize a 200-mile endurance run How she is prepping for next week's Bighorn Mountain Wild & Scenic Trail Run 100-miler. Please help her with race info by using #CandiceRunsBighorn on Twitter and Facebook Her experience at the Ultra Fiord 108-miler in Patagonia, Chile where she finished 5th overall. See her Blog Post Check out Candice's races at Destination Trail Running

Jimmy Dean Freeman capped his 2014 running season by running SIX 100-mile endurance runs. This weekend will be his first 100 miler since then. He talks about his where he is physically, but more important emotionally and mentally. He discusses his plan for running the San Diego 100 miler - his first time. Check out the SoCal Coyotes

We have often said, "The podcast is a trail run without the running." Join Ann Trason, Sally McRae and Billy Yang as we cover a lot of ground in 90 minutes.