Trail Runner Nation

We invited Ryan Montgomery on our podcast to do a "Golden Nuggets" episode. Like some trail runs take interesting twists and turns and you end up discovery new and exciting vistas, our conversation turned to a fun and educational place. Our Soundman Ryan did a great job editing in the fragmented discussion. We hope you enjoy and will share it with other. Ryan Montgomery started his running career in middle school while living in Alaska and continued throughout high school. He ran his first marathon at age 15! Ryan discovered trail running while attending college in Utah and quickly became a top performer. He has broken the 13-hour mark for running the 100-mile distance in 2019 at the USATF National Championships and will be representing Team USA in the 24-hour World Championships in 2021. Ryan is also an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. Ryan runs for Altra and coaches with Mountain Endurance Coaching. Register to win a pair of La Sportiva Cyklon shoes powered by Boa Fit Systems Make sure to get your FREE sample pack of UCAN by clicking HERE Check out the trail-designed PATH Projects gear

After our Western States 100 Prognostication episode, we kept the recording button pushed and this is the discussion. We get a short race report from AJW on his Bighorn 100 race last weekend. Ambasedor Level Patreon members get all our bonus miles.

Western States 100 is the first high profile race that is being held since the pandemic cancelled racing around the world. We sit down with Andy Jones-Wilkins to get his take on this year's race. There will be 320 amazing stories from each of the starters. We highlight some of the ones that you might want to watch unfold. Hire Andy as a coach! or check out his weekly Tap Room at iRunFar Make sure to get your FREE sample pack of UCAN by clicking HERE Register to win a pair of La Sportiva Cyklon shoes powered by Boa Fit Systems Get 15% off your order at XO skin using the code TRN

This is an important episode and we are fortunate to have a friend, Cory Reese, join us to talk about depression. Cory is an accomplished ultra runner and author of three books: Nowhere Near First Into the Furnace Stronger than the Dark Cory introduces us to his friend and physiology expert (and ultra runner), Catherine Van Tassell, social worker, PA with experience in psychology at the University of Utah. She is also a master trainer for iFIT Mind. This episode should help everyone listening. If you suffer from depression, know someone who is, wonder if you are, or just want to help anyone that might need it. This podcast is for you. If you are in need of help, please reach out to your family friends or running community. We love you and want to help. If you have thoughts of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 anytime 24/7. Get your free UCAN sample pack here.

The world did not come to an end at the 2021 World's End 100K last week. Andy Jones-Wilkins experienced his first DNF after successfully completing 184 ultras prior. Read more about AJW's race in the Tap Room at iRunFar Hire Andy as a coach! or check out his weekly Tap Room at iRunFar Get your free UCAN sample pack here.

This is the first of a new series of episodes called NuggetCast. Andy Jones-Wilkins joins us to explain what a NuggetCast is and to help kick off the first episode. This episode's nuggets are: Train the mind Throw out the ego Be Prepared Hire Andy as a coach! or check out his weekly Tap Room at iRunFar

In running failure might manifest itself as a DNF at a race or a failed workout. Many of us are programmed to believe that failure is bad. In this episode, we will challenge that fallacy and talk about how failure is part of the design process of becoming a better runner and human. Returning guest, Adam Kimble joins us with a couple friends, Jim O'Brien and Connor Crouch to recount a discussion they recently had on a run about DNFs and failures. Learn more about Adam by checking out his web site and his coaching site, Run On Dirt Coaching. Adam's social channels: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook Mentioned on the episode: Desert Runners Movie

We all love a good story about trail running. In Dean Karnazes' latest book, "A Runners High - My Life in Motion", he tells stories that you will easily draw you in and might remind you of similar situations that you might have been in. The stories will make you laugh, questions our sanity as runner, and make you think about life and running. Listen to Dean's previous episode, "Who is Dean Karnazes?" Dean is an accomplished author of four other best sellers: UltraMarathon Man - Confessions of an All-Night Runner 50/50: Secrets I Learned Running 50 Marathons in 50 Days - and How You Too Can Achieve Super Endurance! Run! 26.2 Stories of Blisters and Bliss The Road to Sparta: Reliving the Ancient Battle and Epic Run That Inspired the World's Greatest Footrace To learn more about Dean, visit his web site: Ultramarathonman.com

This past year has broken from the normal and thrown some curveballs, challenges and outright disappointments to our lives inside trail running. We thought it would be a good discussion to talk about the state of The Nation, the trail running community that we all enjoy and love. Andy Jones-Wilkins joins us to talk about some of the changes and what that may mean to our sport. Links of interest: Ultrarunner Magazine's article from 2017 written by 9 important races in the US, "Why We Won't Pay: UTMB, ITRA and the 'Pay For Points' Racket" AJW's Taproom article, "Forty-One Years at the American River 50 Mile: The Longevity of Tim Twietmeyer Hire Andy as a coach! or check out his weekly Tap Room at iRunFar

This week on Trail Runner Nation, we have a special edition of our podcast. UTMB race co-founder Michel Poletti joins us from Chamonix, France, along with four other guests, from Bellingham, Washington, to Boulder, to Chamonix. The topic? A new partnership announced today between the iconic triathlon brand and what is perhaps the world's most famous trail race. Trail Runner Nation was one of the first media outlets in the world to receive the news. We taped this show Tuesday night, Chamonix time, and held it until the embargo expired at 4 am east coast time, Thursday, May 6. We'll continue to cover this story in future podcast episodes, as it evolves. For now, you can check out highlights of our conversation on our Trail Runner Nation Youtube Channel, and read a summary of highlights in this blog post on our web site. What's your opinion of this news? The Trail Runner Nation conversation continues in the new Trail Running Community at Ultrasignup. Check it out HERE. Our Guests: Michel Poletti is one of the founders of the UTMB race, along with his wife Catherine. Prior to that he ran a technology company, and organized an international hang gliding contest in Chamonix. He is an avid trail runner who for many years would run the 121 km UTMB TDS race with a radio so he could both race and help manage the event. He lives in Chamonix, France. Krissy Moehl is a Patagonia-sponsored trail runner. She won the first edition of UTMB in 2003, and won again in 2009. She coaches trail runners and is author of the book, Running Your First Ultra. Find out more at krissymoehl.com. She joins us from Bellingham, Washington. Hillary Gerardi has set course records around the world on highly technical skyraces. She recently established a woman's record on the Haute Route ski from Chamonix, France to Zermatt, Switzerland. She is sponsored by Black Diamond Equipment. Originally from Vermont, she lives in Chamonix full time now and joins us from there. Brian Metzler is one of the founders of Trail Runner Magazine and continues as a Contributing Editor. He is co-author of the upcoming book Trail Running Illustrated and writes for numerous magazines and websites. He joins us from Boulder, Colorado. Adam Chase is President of the American Trail Running Association, Captain and Manager of the Brooks off-road running team, and co-author of The Ultimate Guide to Trail Running. He has been freelance writing about running for several decades. He joins us from Boulder, where he practices law when not trail running. Show highlights from the Trail Runner Nation Youtube Channel Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc Continue the discussion in the Ultrasignup Community UTMB Through the Eyes of its Creator, Part 1 UTMB Through the Eyes of its Creator, Part 2