EP 782: Fear Isn’t the Enemy
Trail Runner Nation
Writer and ultrarunner joins us to talk about his ,” 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...
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EP 781: The Finish Line That Changed Everything
Trail Runner Nation
ode we are joined by , author of , about one of the most unforgettable finishes in ultrarunning history. Brian takes listeners back to the 2006 Western States 100, where he was leading the race before collapsing on the Placer High School track just steps from victory, later being disqualified because he received assistance crossing the finish line. The conversation explores how Scott Jurek’s belief in him helped Brian transform from a talented but relatively unproven runner into someone who truly believed he could win Western States. But the heart of the episode is not just the...
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EP 780: The Woman Who Ran 600 Miles
Trail Runner Nation
returns to Trail Runner Nation after an extraordinary stretch in endurance racing, including a third place at Cocadona 250, setting a women’s world record at and becoming the first woman to run more than 600 miles in six days. She explains why backyard ultras are less about speed and more about solving the strange little puzzle of time, sleep, food, heat, pacing, and decision-making, one hour at a time. The conversation gets into what happens when the body starts swelling after days of effort, how recovery has to be tested carefully, and why a runner’s “toolbox” matters more...
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EP 779: The Hidden Performance Cost of Sun Damage
Trail Runner Nation
Returning guest, coach , joins us to talk about something many trail runners know they should care about but often ignore: sun protection. The conversation is based on Colleen’s UltraSignup article Colleen shares her own experience with stage-one skin cancer on her lip, which began as what looked like a small freckle but turned out to be a wound that would not heal. The episode gets practical fast, covering SPF 30, UPF clothing, sun hoodies, lip sunscreen, reapplication during races, altitude exposure, cloudy-day risk, and why a “base tan” is not real protection. For endurance...
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EP 778: Audio Magazine- The Run That Changes Your Brain
Trail Runner Nation
Audio Magazine episode! Long-time friend, joins us to trade ideas, stories, and thought-provoking topics from the world of endurance sports. We talk about everything from whether races should ban in-race filming to the surprising ways ultrarunning might temporarily damage red blood cells and what that means for recovery. Warren brings a sharp perspective on long-term health, framing running as an investment that compounds over time, especially when paired with better nutrition. The conversation also explores how beginners can cut through noise and focus on simple fundamentals...
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EP 777: Inside the Toughest Era of Ultrarunning
Trail Runner Nation
In this episode, we sit down with ultrarunning legend and to go beyond the race results and into the stories hidden between the aid stations. Hal reflects on the gritty era of ultrarunning when gear was simpler, races were rougher, and success often came down to who could stay calm while everything else unraveled. The conversation explores their approach to downhill running, how they learned to descend with confidence, and why many runners sabotage themselves by braking too much and overthinking every step. Hal also shares memorable moments from decades in the sport, including...
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EP 776: Build Stronger Feet Before They Fail
Trail Runner Nation
In this follow-up conversation with Dr. Tonya Olson, we shift from fixing foot problems to preventing them by building stronger, more resilient feet before race day disaster strikes. Tonya explains that the biggest mistake runners make is not paying attention to their feet until something hurts, even though their feet have been quietly sending signals for months, like tiny grumpy trail prophets. The discussion explores how calluses, hot spots, toenails, and skin changes can reveal weaknesses in shoe choice, mobility, gait, and training habits. Tonya also unveils the surprising connection...
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EP 775: I Spent $4,500 on One Race
Trail Runner Nation
What are some of the real costs of running an ultra? In this episode, ultra runner and coach talks about this, and it turns out the race entry is just the first pebble in the avalanche. We discuss the hidden expenses that pile up around an A-race: travel, nutrition, coaching, shoes, gear, hotels, rental cars, and the tiny financial gremlins that quietly multiply in the dark corners of race prep. Colleen shares that one of her hundred-mile races carried a $4,500 receipt, but she emphasizes that ultras can also be done on a shoestring with borrowed gear, local races, and simple...
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EP 774: Aging As An Athlete- The Truth About Longevity in Running
Trail Runner Nation
What if your best performance isn’t behind you… it’s just different now? In this Aging as an Athlete episode, joins again as co-host in a discussion with . Bryce Thatcher is a trail-running pioneer and founder of , who has spent over 40 years innovating hydration gear while living and embodying a lifelong commitment to mountain running and human-powered adventure. We explore what it really takes to stay connected to trail running over decades. Bryce shares how a deep love of the outdoors and the human-powered movement form the foundation for long-term engagement in the...
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EP 773: Why We Choose to Suffer (And Love It)
Trail Runner Nation
In this episode, we are joined again by coach to explore the book, T by Paul Bloom, and discuss why endurance athletes voluntarily seek discomfort in pursuit of meaning, growth, and satisfaction. We discuss the concept of “benign masochism,” highlighting how pain and pleasure are deeply intertwined in long races and hard efforts. We talk about internal versus external motivation, the power of anticipation, and how reframing challenges can shape both performance and mindset. We explore flow state, decision-making under fatigue, and why doing hard things helps us better appreciate everyday...
info_outlineWriter 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:
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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.