Trail Runner Nation

Krissy Moehl, Kathleen Egan, and Jenny Jurek, affectionately known as the Mullet Train, share the story behind their goal of completing 1,000 trail miles together, including the Arizona Trail, High Lonesome 100, and Crazy Mountain 100. What started as an annual fastpacking adventure evolved into something much bigger: an intentional way to preserve friendship, challenge themselves, and keep adventure central as they get older. They talk candidly about learning each other's rhythms, figuring out how far their particular “train” can realistically travel each day, and discovering that a successful adventure doesn't always mean sticking stubbornly to the original plan. The conversation also gets wonderfully practical, covering ultralight gear, water, food, trail magic, trail names, cowboy camping, and the different “superpowers” each woman brings to the group. One of the most interesting shifts comes from Krissy, who spent decades racing at the highest level but now finds herself wanting to stop, take her shoes off at lunch, and actually absorb the places she once would have raced through. Underneath it all is a compelling message for aging athletes: don't wait for adventure to happen, put it on the calendar, find people who make you want to show up, and go collect some stories while your body still lets you.

LINKS

Jenny and Scott Jurek's book, North - Finding My Way While Running the Appalachian Trail

Krissy's coaching and races

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!

ALTRA: With the classic Altra Fit, you set the pace. Altra running shoes are designed with room for your toes so they can actually spread out -  for a natural fit. This gives you comfort, balance, and strength on and off the trail. Better balance and stability for our toes mean more comfort – on mile 5, 50, or 100.

Learn more about Altra Fit. Feel the Altra Difference and use code TRN10 for 10% off your first order at checkout at altrarunning.com/TRN. Stay Out There with Altra.

RunMotion Coach: Whether you’re training for your first trail race or chasing a new ultra PR, RunMotion Coach creates a personalized training plan that adapts to your schedule, fitness, and progress. Built by experienced coaches and powered by intelligent coaching technology, it helps you train smarter, stay consistent, and arrive at the starting line ready for your next adventure.

Timestamps

00:24 – The 1,000-Mile Idea
Krissy, Kathleen, and Jenny introduce their goal of covering 1,000 trail miles together and explain how an annual adventure gradually became something much bigger.
05:35 – Why They Needed This Adventure

Jenny explains how life, motherhood, and time away from ultrarunning left her craving an adventure, and a proposed section hike eventually grew into tackling the Arizona Trail.

14:28 – Why This, Why Now?

The women discuss why these adventures feel particularly meaningful at this stage of their lives and why intentionally carving out time together matters.

20:19 – Welcome Aboard the Mullet Train

Jenny explains the wonderfully ridiculous origin of their team name, while the women identify the different “superpowers” each brings to the trail.

28:45 – It Took 400 Miles to Become a Team

Kathleen explains how ambitious mileage goals gradually gave way to understanding their natural pace and how hundreds of miles together taught them to read and support one another.

35:00 – From Racing Through It to Taking It In

Krissy reflects on one of her biggest changes as an athlete: after years of elite racing, she no longer wants to rush through beautiful places and would rather stop, soak her shirt in the creek, and enjoy where she is.

46:20 – Rattlesnakes, Cowgirl Camping and the Best Stories

The women share moments when things didn't go according to plan, including a close encounter with a rattlesnake and an uncomfortable night of cowboy camping that unexpectedly became one of their favorite memories.

50:43 – Why Adventure Matters in Your 50s

Jenny talks about the freedom of stepping away from work and family responsibilities and being completely responsible for herself in the mountains, while the group reflects on why these trips mean so much now.

54:08 – Sometimes the Hardest Part Is Showing Up

Jenny compares their adventures to running a 100-miler: scheduling, planning, and getting everyone to the start can be harder than the adventure itself. Once they finally see each other at the airport, they know making the time was worth it.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Coaching advice almost always starts with, “It depends.” In this special Ask the Coaches episode, Don and Scott take away that safety net by forcing Ian Sharman, Hal Koerner, and Ellie Greenwood to make definitive choices on some of trail running’s biggest debates. Is it better to be undertrained or overtrained? Should you trust data or your instincts? Would you add mileage or strength training? Can motivation be taught? Along the way, the coaches reveal not only their philosophies, but also the surprising amount of agreement behind them. Beneath the conversation emerges a consistent message: sustainable training, learning to listen to your body, and developing good judgment matter far more than chasing perfect numbers. It’s entertaining, occasionally chaotic, and full of coaching wisdom every trail runner can apply.

LINKS

- Sharman Ultra Coaching

The Art of Ultrarunning book, by Ian

Hal Koerners's Field Guide to Ultrarunning

Hal's races: Siskiyou Out Back & Lithia Loop

- Rogue Valley Runners Store

Knee Knacker 30-mile

Forerunners North Shore store that Ellie works part time

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!

ALTRA: With the classic Altra Fit, you set the pace. Altra running shoes are designed with room for your toes so they can actually spread out -  for a natural fit. This gives you comfort, balance, and strength on and off the trail. Better balance and stability for our toes mean more comfort – on mile 5, 50, or 100.

Learn more about Altra Fit. Feel the Altra Difference and use code TRN10 for 10% off your first order at checkout at altrarunning.com/TRN. Stay Out There with Altra.

RunMotion Coach: Whether you’re training for your first trail race or chasing a new ultra PR, RunMotion Coach creates a personalized training plan that adapts to your schedule, fitness, and progress. Built by experienced coaches and powered by intelligent coaching technology, it helps you train smarter, stay consistent, and arrive at the starting line ready for your next adventure.

Instant Hydration:

Timestamps

00:00 | The Rules: No “It Depends”
The coaches are forced to choose between two coaching philosophies before explaining their reasoning.
04:00 | Training Smarter vs. Training Harder

Should runners prioritize perfect execution or simply never miss a workout? The coaches debate consistency, intensity, and long-term improvement.

21:00 | Undertrained or Overtrained?

The panel discusses why arriving healthy, rested, and mentally excited may be more valuable than squeezing in one more week of training.

29:00 | Mileage or Strength Training?

With limited training time, the coaches debate whether extra running or extra strength work produces the biggest return.

44:00 | Trust the Data or Trust Yourself?

Heart rate, recovery scores, wearables, and intuition collide as the coaches explain why learning effort by feel remains one of the most valuable skills in ultrarunning.

56:00 | What Should You Do When You Want to Quit?

The coaches tackle one of the hardest race-day scenarios: stop, regroup, and reassess, or keep moving forward no matter how slowly.

1:11:00 | Final Thoughts (and One Last “It Depends”)

The episode wraps with laughs, reflections, and one final reminder that while coaching often depends on context, the principles of smart, sustainable training remain remarkably consistent.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sophie Grant had reached a point where even the hardest ultramarathons no longer carried the uncertainty they once did, and after years of infertility and IVF, she realized she had also lost some of her joy in running and trust in her own body. The Via Alpina changed that, taking her roughly 2,000 kilometers across the Alps and forcing her to approach each day without knowing exactly what the next one would bring. She and photographer Zoe Salt talk about the physical and logistical realities of nearly a month on the trail, including relentless fueling, strength training, bad patches, storms, forest fires, and the value of an exceptional crew. Sophie shares practical lessons endurance athletes can use immediately, including her belief that “a bad moment does not make a bad day,” the importance of eating before assuming something has gone seriously wrong, and learning to distinguish between not wanting to continue and truly being unable to continue. The deeper story is about something bigger than an FKT: Sophie describes how this adventure helped her appreciate what her body could do after spending years focused on something it couldn't. By the end, her message is wonderfully simple: try something new,

LINKS:

Sophie Grant's coaching

Zoe Salt photography

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!

ALTRA: With the classic Altra Fit, you set the pace. Altra running shoes are designed with room for your toes so they can actually spread out -  for a natural fit. This gives you comfort, balance, and strength on and off the trail. Better balance and stability for our toes mean more comfort – on mile 5, 50, or 100.

Learn more about Altra Fit. Feel the Altra Difference and use code TRN10 for 10% off your first order at checkout at altrarunning.com/TRN. Stay Out There with Altra.

RunMotion Coach: Whether you’re training for your first trail race or chasing a new ultra PR, RunMotion Coach creates a personalized training plan that adapts to your schedule, fitness, and progress. Built by experienced coaches and powered by intelligent coaching technology, it helps you train smarter, stay consistent, and arrive at the starting line ready for your next adventure.

Timestamps

00:00 – The Via Alpina and an Enormous New Challenge
Sophie and Zoe introduce the roughly 2,000-kilometer route across eight Alpine countries and explain why attempting it was so different from Sophie's previous racing.
05:14 – Why Sophie Needed Something Different

After years of racing at a high level, Sophie realized she was operating on autopilot and needed a challenge that could bring uncertainty, learning, and joy back into running.

12:12 – Infertility, Running and Her Relationship With Her Body

Sophie opens up about infertility, IVF, and how the experience left her angry and disconnected from her body before the Via Alpina helped change that relationship.

20:00 – What 29 Days Really Looked Like

Zoe describes watching Sophie get up and do the work day after day, while Sophie shares the low moments, frustration, pain, and perspective that kept her moving.

25:12 – How Do You Fuel for a Month?

Sophie breaks down the surprisingly broad menu that powered the effort and explains why years of practicing 80 to 90 grams of carbohydrate per hour made eating almost automatic.

28:41 – “A Bad Moment Does Not Make a Bad Day”

Sophie explains how food, music, distraction, and experience help her escape negative headspaces, plus the crucial difference between can't continue and simply don't want to.

41:51 – When the Plan Falls Apart

Storms, vehicle problems and forest fires force the team to adapt, leading to a broader conversation about trusting your support system and learning to build a different life when the original plan changes.

48:20 – Not Every Problem Needs to Be Fixed

Sophie explains one of the most meaningful lessons from her infertility experience: sometimes people don't need solutions, they simply need someone willing to sit with them and acknowledge how hard things are.

53:15 – The Courage to Try Something That Scares You

Sophie closes with advice for anyone who feels stuck: try something new, choose something that scares you, and focus on having the courage to begin rather than obsessing over the outcome.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We often think of ultrarunning as an individual pursuit, but Eric Strand’s Western States story proves that the strongest performances are rarely solo efforts. After cracking a rib, falling multiple times, and watching his sub-30-hour goal slip away, Eric reached mile 78 convinced he wouldn’t make it. His pacers refused to believe that story, helping him stop negotiating with himself, stay focused on the mile he was in, and keep moving forward one step at a time. Along the way, the conversation explores what separates a great pacer from an average one, how trust and preparation begin long before race day, and why different moments require different kinds of encouragement. This episode is a reminder that sometimes the greatest gift another runner can give you is believing in you until you’re able to believe in yourself again.

LINKS

Video of Eric Finishing WS100

Eric's Race Report

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!

Stone Creek Coffee: Start every adventure with One More Mile, our limited edition coffee created by Stone Creek Coffee and Trail Runner Nation for runners who believe the journey is as meaningful as the finish line. Fuel your next early morning, long run, or post-run conversation, and save 20% with code ONEMOREMILE20. Every cup is an invitation to be part of a community that goes farther together.

Instant Hydration

Timestamps

00:00 | When Belief Runs Out
Eric introduces the moment at mile 78 when he thought his Western States dream was slipping away.
08:00 | Borrowing Someone Else’s Confidence

Eric explains how his pacer shifted his mindset from making excuses to focusing on the mile directly ahead.

15:30 | What Makes a Great Pacer

The conversation explores communication, trust, and why every runner needs something different during difficult moments.

30:00 | Managing Pain Without Giving Up

Eric shares how his pacers helped him push through cracked ribs, multiple falls, and overwhelming fatigue without losing sight of the finish.

39:00 | Lessons for Every Pacer

Practical advice on pacing strategy, communication, course knowledge, and common mistakes that can make or break a race.

48:00 | A Son’s Push to the Finish

Eric reflects on the emotional role reversal of having his son pace him over the final miles and what that experience meant.

55:00 | Why No One Finishes Alone

The discussion closes with a broader lesson about crew, volunteers, family, and the trail running community that makes extraordinary accomplishments possible.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Most runners focus on pace, heart rate, and fueling, but heat may be the hidden factor that determines whether a great race turns into a survival march. In this conversation, CORE endurance performance lead Aline Barre explains how the body regulates temperature, why overheating steals blood away from your muscles and gut, and how even well-trained athletes can unravel when heat gets ahead of them. She shares simple, research-backed ways to become heat adapted using overdressed runs, saunas, hot baths, and smart scheduling, while also explaining why hydration, electrolytes, and cooling strategies matter just as much. The discussion also explores CORE’s non-invasive temperature sensor, how monitoring heat strain can help runners avoid crossing the point of no return, and why “cooler is faster” isn’t just a catchy phrase, it’s physiology. This episode offers practical tools that can make running in the heat feel far more manageable.

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!

ALTRA: With the classic Altra Fit, you set the pace. Altra running shoes are designed with room for your toes so they can actually spread out -  for a natural fit. This gives you comfort, balance, and strength on and off the trail. Better balance and stability for our toes mean more comfort – on mile 5, 50, or 100.

Learn more about Altra Fit. Feel the Altra Difference and use code TRN10 for 10% off your first order at checkout at altrarunning.com/TRN. Stay Out There with Altra.

RunMotion Coach: Whether you’re training for your first trail race or chasing a new ultra PR, RunMotion Coach creates a personalized training plan that adapts to your schedule, fitness, and progress. Built by experienced coaches and powered by intelligent coaching technology, it helps you train smarter, stay consistent, and arrive at the starting line ready for your next adventure.

Instant Hydration:

Timestamps

00:00 | Why Heat Matters More Than You Think
Scott and Don introduce the episode and explain why heat may be one of endurance sports’ biggest overlooked performance limiters.
07:00 | How to Become Heat Adapted

Aline explains how overdressed runs, saunas, and hot baths help your body adapt in as little as 10 to 14 sessions.

16:30 | Measuring Core Temperature

The conversation explores why core temperature matters, how it differs from skin temperature, and how runners can monitor heat strain in real time.

22:00 | Cooling Strategies That Actually Work

Ice bandanas, pre-cooling, slushies, wet clothing, and aid station tactics that help keep performance from falling apart.

31:30 | Common Heat Training Mistakes

Why hydration, electrolytes, recovery, and smart scheduling matter just as much as simply running in hot weather.

38:00 | Heat Training Beyond Hot Weather

Can heat adaptation improve altitude performance? Aline shares surprising research and explains how long heat adaptations last.

44:30 | Practical Tips for Your Next Hot Race

The episode wraps up with actionable advice on clothing, cooling methods, and how to avoid crossing the overheating threshold on race day.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.