Trail Runner Nation

Dr. Mark Cucuzzella joins us again to talk to us about the "H" words: Heat and Heart. Our community has been buzzing with the tragic deaths of Micah True (aka Caballo Blanco) and Arizonan, John Greer. We ask Dr. Mark if ultra running can be damaging to our health and how to deal with heat in training and race day expectations.

Nation member Warren Pole talks about why British ultras aren't very cool compared to the way he imagines American ultras to be, the best ultra-running advice he has ever received, and his quest to complete the UTMB this year. After listening to this podcast, you may change the way you think about bonking.

You may be able to finish a marathon with a few GUs, a piece of watermelon and some water, but that probably won't work for a 50K or beyond. WHY? Sunny explains how to fuel and what to eat to help you through your first ultra.

Scott Jurek is a trail runner, outdoor enthusiast, physical therapist, competitive athlete, chef, vegan and now author. Scott talks to us about his new book, Eat and Run: My Unlikely Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness. How does a seven-time Western States 100 winner, three-time Spartathalon winner, two-time Badwater winner... whew, we could go on and on... fuel for success? How did he get into running? How does he train? What is next for Scott? All these questions are answered in a short, informative and entertaining interview. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

We catch up with Jimmy Dean Freeman who is part of a relay team consisting of 7 ultrarunners running nearly 2,500 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica California to help spread the message to elementary school children about fitness, self confidence, setting goals and realizing personal achievement. Jimmy experiences are grand as he is escorted by police, becomes part of a hootenanny, saves a turtle and he is only 1/2 way home!

Frank Lieberman is living proof that It Has Nothing To Do With Age. At 60 he decided to ride Tevis Cup, a 100 mile horse race through the rugged Sierra Mountains. At 62 he ditches the horse and puts on a pair of running shoes and makes the same trip. At 68 he took 1st place at the Swanton Pacific 100 mile Ride and Tie event. He shares with us that Father Time lives in our mind and not in our heart.

What happens when you leave 3 runners in a room with a few mics. Scott sings his version O' Canada, Don finds his memory is failing faster than his leg turnover and Faith...well as usual, she comes across pretty good.

At TRN we have produced a number of megabytes talking about the benefits of forefoot striking. We have invited author of the book Tread Lightly: Form, Footwear, and the Quest for Injury-Free Running, Dr. Peter Larson, to the podcast. He has recently been conducting research on the biomechanics of distance running in road races with his undergraduate students. Heel strikers unite, you no longer have to run at night under the cover of darkness to hide your running gait.

TRN joins elite ultrarunner and running coach Carilyn Johnson as we discuss the Art of Pacing. Who knew there was so much to this pacing stuff? Pacers should get a finishers shirt for all the work they put in for a runner.