Trail Runner Nation

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, and why Western States continues to hold a special place in trail running despite the sport's rapid evolution. If you're following the race from home or standing somewhere along the course, this episode provides the context that transforms names on a start list into stories worth following. By the end, you'll be just as excited for Statesmas as AJW is.
Episode Sponsor:

Tifosi Optics - CLARITY ON THE TRAIL: Post your Golden Nugget of wisdom that helps you recover after a huge effort on Instagram, tag @TifosiOptics, @TrailRunnerNation, and use the hashtag #ClarityOnTheTrail.  OR try texting us (within the USA) with your tip: 916-235-3928.
If we use yours on a weekly episode, you get a pair of the new Sanctum SL glasses!
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TimeStamps:
00:00 | Welcome to Statesmas
AJW explains why Western States has become trail running's biggest annual celebration and why the excitement starts weeks before race day.
05:00 | What Makes Western States So Special?
The discussion explores the history, atmosphere, traditions, and unique energy that make this race unlike any other.
13:00 | Course Conditions and What to Expect in 2026
With virtually no snowpack and a dry trail, the hosts discuss how this year's conditions could shape the race.
19:00 | Breaking Down the Women's Race
AJW highlights the favorites, dangerous newcomers, and rising stars who could battle for the podium.
42:00 | The Men's Race Preview
From Jim Walmsley and Kilian Jornet to emerging contenders and dark horses, the elite field gets a thorough analysis.
56:00 | How Western States Earned Its Legendary Status
The conversation dives into the lottery, qualifying system, volunteers, race traditions, and why earning a bib means so much.
1:00:00 | Final Podium Predictions
AJW reveals his official picks, shares bold predictions, and offers a few runners that fans shouldn't overlook.

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, and perform your best when everything starts falling apart. The discussion goes well beyond racing, exploring consistency, ego, resilience, and why success often comes from making better decisions instead of simply pushing harder. Despite your experience or goals, this episode offers practical lessons that can improve both your running and the way you approach challenges off the trail.  Learn more about Ian at Sharman Ultra.
Episode Sponsors:
Tifosi Optics - CLARITY ON THE TRAIL: Post your Golden Nugget of wisdom that helps you recover after a huge effort on Instagram, tag @TifosiOptics, @TrailRunnerNation, and use the hashtag #ClarityOnTheTrail.  OR try texting us (within the USA) with your tip: 916-235-3928.
If we use yours on a weekly episode, you get a pair of the new Sanctum SL glasses!
Timestamps:
00:00 | Why "The Art" of Ultrarunning?
Ian explains why successful racing is about combining science with execution and why ultrarunning is as much an art as it is physiology.
09:00 | Finding Your Purpose
The conversation explores why every run should have intention and how a meaningful "why" helps runners push through difficult moments.
20:00 | Adapting When Goals Slip Away
Ian discusses how successful runners adjust expectations during a race instead of giving up when their original goal becomes unrealistic.
39:00 | Consistency Beats Hero Workouts
Why small, repeatable actions build stronger athletes than occasional epic training sessions, and how consistency shaped Ian's career.
47:00 | Training Is Practice for Decision Making
Running isn't just building fitness. Every workout teaches pacing, body awareness, problem solving, and race execution.
56:00 | The Grand Slam Battle with Nick Clark
Ian shares the remarkable story of chasing the Grand Slam record through four 100-mile races while battling one of his closest competitors every step of the way.
1:01:00 | Racing Yourself Instead of Your Competition
One of the episode's biggest lessons: take care of your own race first, then compete when the time is right. Execution nearly always beats emotion.

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 runners have to give back to the places they love. The conversation explores everything from carrying a small saw on training runs to the challenges and opportunities created by big sponsors, larger race organizations, and growing prize purses. Throughout the episode, Tim makes a compelling case that trail running's future depends on balancing growth with the community values that built the sport. It's an honest look at how runners can help preserve trail culture while welcoming more people into it.
Episode Sponsors:
Tifosi Optics - CLARITY ON THE TRAIL: Post your Golden Nugget of wisdom that helps you recover after a huge effort on Instagram, tag @TifosiOptics, @TrailRunnerNation, and use the hashtag #ClarityOnTheTrail.  OR try texting us (within the USA) with your tip: 916-235-3928.
If we use yours on a weekly episode, you get a pair of the new Sanctum SL glasses!
Timestamps
00:00 | Welcome Back, Tim Tollefson. Tim shares updates from Mammoth Lakes and explains why the Eastern Sierra continues to inspire his running and community work.
05:45 | California Carpet and Gravel Running. A conversation about trail surfaces, the rise of gravel running, and how the sport continues to evolve.
11:45 | Why Trail Stewardship Matters. Tim discusses his work with Runners for Public Lands and why every runner should consider giving back to the trails they use.
22:00 | How Runners Can Get Involved. Practical ways to participate in trail work, volunteer projects, and local stewardship efforts.
30:00 | The Professionalization of Trail Running. The group explores sponsorships, prize money, corporate investment, and how the sport has changed over the past decade.
43:00 | Building Mammoth Trail Fest. Tim shares the vision behind Mammoth Trail Fest and how community, storytelling, and stewardship shape the event.
53:00 | What Trail Running Could Look Like in 2036. A look ahead at the future of the sport and the values Tim hopes will remain at its core.

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 daily function. For runners who usually think about carbs, hydration, shoes, and mileage first, creatine offers a different kind of performance question: what if strength, recovery, and durability start with something small and easy? It's a practical topic for athletes who want to keep moving well, aging well, and showing up stronger on the trail.
Links
Qualia Life Instagram
Try Creatine out with a 15% discount HERE
Episode Sponsors:
Tifosi Optics - CLARITY ON THE TRAIL: Post your Golden Nugget of wisdom that helps you recover after a huge effort on Instagram, tag @TifosiOptics, @TrailRunnerNation, and use the hashtag #ClarityOnTheTrail.  OR try texting us (within the USA) with your tip: 916-235-3928.
If we use yours on a weekly episode, you get a pair of the new Sanctum SL glasses!
Peluva - Footwear that let your feet be feet.  Get 10% off on our DEALS page 
TimeStamps
00:02 – Welcome to Trail Runner Nation Scott opens the episode by inviting listeners into the conversation and setting the tone around becoming faster, healthier, and stronger athletes.
00:21 – Why Creatine Matters for Runners Don introduces creatine as the central topic and frames it as a surprisingly accessible tool that could support performance and health.
00:36 – Setting the Energy for the Conversation The hosts land the opening with a light, upbeat exchange before the main discussion begins.

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 true "why," and help you respect the environment you're moving through. We also talk about the thin line between fear that freezes you and fear that helps you function, especially in long mountain races where fatigue, darkness, cutoffs, hallucinations, and self-doubt all start stirring the pot. One of the most useful takeaways for trail runners is that mental preparation deserves the same attention as physical training, because knowing yourself may be just as important as knowing your pace, gear, or nutrition plan.  
Links:
Gaël Dutigny's Substack
UltraRunning Magazine
"Race to the Summit" Dean Potter's documentary on Netflix
Episode Sponsors:
Tifosi Optics - CLARITY ON THE TRAIL: Post your Golden Nugget of wisdom that helps you recover after a huge effort on Instagram, tag @TifosiOptics, @TrailRunnerNation, and use the hashtag #ClarityOnTheTrail.  OR try texting us (within the USA) with your tip: 916-235-3928.
If we use yours on a weekly episode, you get a pair of the new Sanctum SL glasses!
True Nutrition: Customized quality protein: Use Code TRNSummer and get 25% off between May 22-25 for their Memorial Day Sale!
Peluva - Footwear that let your feet be feet.  Get 10% off on our DEALS page 
Timestamps
00:00 | Is Fear Holding You Back or Helping You? Scott opens the conversation by asking whether fear on the trail is something to overcome or something that may actually guide us.
02:40 | Why Gaël Wrote About Fear Gaël explains how decades of running in mountains, deserts, jungles, and difficult environments shaped his view that fear is a deep part of the sport.
05:15 | Why Experience Doesn't Eliminate Fear Even after multiple UTMB finishes and other major races, Gaël shares why fear still shows up and why that may be healthy.
11:30 | Training Fear Before Race Day The discussion turns to how runners can practice facing fear in training, whether that means darkness, distance, terrain, isolation, or uncertainty.
21:20 | Fear as a Decision-Making Tool: How fear can sharpen awareness and help runners make better choices instead of simply pushing blindly forward.
27:15 | Mental Health as Performance Training Gaël makes the case that talking to a sports psychologist or therapist is not weakness, but another form of training for hard things.
44:20 | Fear, DNFs, and Knowing Your Why The group talks about how fear of failure, social pressure, and shallow motivation can unravel a race when things get hard.