Crack A Brew With AJW

In this episode AJW sits down with veteran ultrarunner and Cocodona 250 Race Director to learn about his background in running and event production as well as the unique challenges and opportunities of directing North America's most prestigious 200+ mile race. Learn all about the Cocodona 250 here https://cocodona.com/

In this episode AJW chats with Arizona ultrarunner Callie Vinson to discuss her journey to 200+ mile success as well as her incredibly inspiring story of personal triumph. Follow Callie on Instagram @callievinsonn

In this special episode AJW cracks a brew with David Roche a few days after his historic course record performance at the Leadville 100. In a wide ranging discussion they discuss the history of the race, David's training plan, his nutrition strategy and his flawless race day execution. Follow David on instagram @mountainroche Read Matt Carpenter's report on his 2005 Leadville finish here.

In this episode AJW cracks a brew with Don Freeman, a veteran of over 50 ultras including a handful of 200 milers, to discuss the mysterious 200 mile distance, his thoughts on the evolution of the sport, and his "other" career as a pioneer podcaster with Trail Runner Nation. Follow Don on instagram @trailrunnernation and visit the extensive podcast archives of Trail Runner Nation at trailrunnernation.com

In this episode AJW cracks a brew with veteran 200 mile runner Mike McKnight to learn more about his transition to 200 milers, his thoughts on the mystique of Arizona's Cocodona 250, and his exciting plans for the 2025 season. Follow Mike on instagram @thelowcarbrunner

In this episode AJW cracks a brew with accomplished 200 mile runner and artist Mika Thewes. They discuss her background as an art student ot Rhode Island School of Design, her passion for running really long distances, and her extraordinary experience at the 2024 Cocodona 250. Follow Mika on Instagram @sugarcrashvegan

In this episode AJW cracks a brew with 2024 Cocodona 250 winner Rachel Entrekin. Along the way they discuss her introduction into the sport, the differences between fixed time events and long trail races, her Cocodona experience and some thoughts about the future of super long runs. You can read Rachel's blog: Another dumb running blog – y'all welcome (wordpress.com) Support Rachel's GoFundMe: Fundraiser by Rachel Entrekin : Apparently, running is expensive (gofundme.com) Follow her on instagram at @rachel__entrekin And, learn more about Tepache. TEPACHE: A Modern Mexican Soda made from fresh pineapples! – De La Calle - Tepache)

In this episode AJW cracks a brew with Jeff Garmire, an incredibly accomplished mountain athlete from Montana who successfully blurs the lines between thru hiking, FKTs and Ultramarathons. Follow Jeff here to read all about the new race he is putting on, his book, his film, and all of his adventures: Twitter Facebook Instagram

In this solo episode of Crack a Brew with AJW I present my Western States Preview, some reflections on last month's Cocodona 250, and an update on my own journey both professionally and personally. Learn about my coaching practice here Follow me on Instagram @ajoneswilkins

In this episode AJW cracks a brew with legendary runner and Western States Board President Diana Fitzpatrick to discuss her running career, her most fond Western States memories and the various challenges of her role as Western States Board President. Follow Diana on Instagram @dianafitz11

In this episode AJW cracks a brew with renowned ultrarunning personality Corrine Malcolm to talk about her upbringing in the upper midwest, the Western States 100 and her thoughts on the evolution of ultra and trail running media. Follow Corrine on instagram @corrinemalcolm

In this episode AJW cracks a brew with the 2014 Western States champion to discuss her early years in Minnesota, her incredible win at Western States, and her incredibly busy life as a coach/nutritionist with CTS. Follow Stephanie Howe on instagram @stephaniemariehowe Learn about Stephanie's coaching practice here Read Research Essentials for Ultrarunning here

In this episode AJW cracks a brew with two time Western States champion to discuss what trail running means to them, the magic and mystique of the Western States 100, and Rob's annual ultrarunning camp which is one of the most successful in the United States. Follow Rob on Instagram @robkrar Learn all about the Rob Krar Ultra Camp here

In this episode AJW cracks a brew with Western States legend Scotty Mills to discuss his 20 finishes, the uniqueness of the trail and ultra community, and Scotty's thoughts about the future of the sport. Become a friend with Scotty on Facebook @Scottmills

In this episode AJW cracks a brew with Meghan Canfield, AKA "The Queen" to talk about the transition from fast marathons to trail running, her keys to ultrarunning longevity, and her extraordinary legacy at the Western States 100. Follow Meghan on Instagram @runningmegleg

In the first episode of Season 6 AJW cracks a brew with Western States legend Tim Twietmeyer to discuss the early days of the race, Tim's role as a long time board member for the event, and his thoughts on the future of the sport. Here is a great bio on Tim https://www.backcountryrunner.com/bios/tim-twietmeyer.phtml

In this episode AJW cracks a brew with Jeff Browning, aka Bronco Billy, to discuss his upbringing on a farm in Missouri, the keys to his longevity at the top of the sport and the challenge of transitioning from 100 to 200 mile races and beyond. Follow Jeff on instagram @gobroncobilly

In this episode AJW cracks a brew with Australian ultrarunner Lucy Bartholomew to discuss her early years in the sport, Western States and her adopted hometown of Auburn, California and her extraordinary relationship with her ultrarunning dad. Follow Lucy on Instagram @lucy_bartholomew Check out Dylan Harris' incredible film "Lucy's Dad"

In this episode AJW chats with Magda Boulet about transitioning from road marathons to the trails as well as her role as President of Gu Sports and their mutual passion for the Western States 100. Follow Magda on Instagram @runboulet Read the Western States Mission and Values statement here

In this episode AJW sits down with runner/philosopher Sabrina Little to discuss her running background, her favorite races, and her passion for both running and writing. They also have a great conversation about Sabrina's new book "The Examined Run" Follow Sabrina on Instagram @sabrinablittle Buy Sabrina's book here!

In this episode AJW cracks a brew with legendary Southern California runner Ben Hian. They discuss the early years of trail runner sponsorship, the vibrant San Diego trail community, and Ben's pursuit of greatness at the Angeles Crest 100 in the 1990's. See the pic from 1999 at Holcomb Valley Learn about Ben's company at radreps.com

In this episode AJW cracks a brew with veteran runner and writer John Trent. Along the way they discuss their mutual passion for Western States, the role their families have played in their running careers, and the way in which running and writing intersect for them. Follow John on instagram @trent4964 Buy a copy of John's book "Second Sunrise" here

In this episode AJW cracks a brew with Emily Hawgood fresh off her 3rd place in the Ultrarunner of the Year voting. They discuss her life growing up in Zimbabwe, her incredible 2023 racing season, and their mutual love of the Western States 100. Follow Emily on Instagram @emilyhawgood

In this episode AJW cracks a brew with veteran ultrarunner Ian Torrence. They discuss Ian's early introduction to the sport, his groundbreaking 1999 season and his long term relationship with both the Zane Grey 50 Miler and the JFK 50 Miler. Follow Ian on Instagram @itgoesinflag Read my feature on Ian here

In this episode AJW cracks a brew with Finn Melanson to discuss the year in ultrarunning. In addition to sharing their picks for these prestigious awards they also comment on rookie of the year, surprise of the year, mosti inspirational of the year, and best trail running film of the year. They wrap up with predictions for 2024. Check out Finn's excellent podcast here! Here is link for "Lucy's Dad" and here is the link to "The Long Way Home"

AJW cracks a brew with Western States legend Kaci Lickteig as she begins the build up to her 10th attempt at the Western States 100. They also discuss her full-time job as a Physical Therapist and why she loves running in Arizona so much. Follow Kaci on Instagram Check out our Website

AJW does a short solo chat about the newly announced World Trail Majors. Read more about it at aravaiparunning.com

In this episode AJW cracks a brew with Arizona ultrarunning legend Jamil Coury. Runner/Entrepreneur/Business Owner, over the past decade Jamil has emerged as one of the most influential figures in the sport. In this conversation AJW and Jamil discuss the deep history of Arizona Ultrarunning, the origins of Aravaipa Running and the Legend of Jamil's pride and joy, the Cocodona 250. Follow Jamil on Instagram @jamilcoury and learn all about his incredible company at aravaiparunning.com Check out our website

In this episode AJW cracks a brew with veteran ultrarunner Zach Bitter to learn more about his background, hear about how he juggles life with an elite level partner, and his reflections on his recently completed Javelina Jundred. Follow Zach on Instagram @zachbitter and check out Zach's website

In this episode AJW goes solo to give everyone an update on his current life situation and to weigh in on the current controversy regarding UTMB/Ironman. Read Gary Robbins detailed account here

In this episode AJW chats with West Virginia trail runner Caleb Bowen to discuss the West Virginia Trail Running scene, his experience as a college cross country coach at Marshall University, his alma mater, and his experience snagging a Western States Golden Ticket at the Grindstone 100K Follow Caleb on Instagram @coachbowenmuxc Check out our website!

In this episode AJW sits down with world class triathlete Heather Jackson as she prepares for the Javelina Jundred at the end of October. They discuss the transition from triathlon to trail running, the differences in communities and cultures, and Heather's strong desire to secure a Golden Ticket at Javelina to earn a trip back to Western States. Learn more about Heather on her website Follow Heather on instagram @hjacksonracing Check out our website!

In this episode AJW sits down with Athlete/Activist Caroline Gleich to discuss her career in sport, her passion for public policy, and her thoughts for the next decade in both athletics and activism. Follow Caroline on Instagram @carolinegleich Check out these excellent resources from Patagonia https://www.patagonia.com/actionworks/about CrackabrewwithAJW.com

In this final episode of Season 3 AJW sits down with renowned ultrarunning coach Jason Koop to discuss coaching, some of the most influential coaches in their lives, and the current state of the sport through Koop's unique perspective. Follow Koop on Instagram @jasonkoop Check out his podcast Visit his coaching page

In this episode AJW welcomes world class obstacle racer Amelia Boone to Crack a Brew with AJW to discuss the transition from obstacle racing to ultras, the Barkley and her Hardrock dreams. Find Amelia on Instagram @arboone11

In this episode AJW sits down with season ultra veteran Paul Terranova to talk about his quest to complete the Rocky Mountain Slam in the summer of 2023 and his keys to ultrarunning longevity. Follow Paul on Instagram @paulterranova and check out his wife Meredith's website https://eatingandlivinghealthy.com

In this wide ranging discussion AJW cracks a brew with Leah Yingling as she prepares for UTMB. They discuss her last two years at Western States, the difference between east coast trails and west coast trails, UTMB, and the future of ultrarunning media. Follow Leah on Instagram @leah_yingling and her photographer husband Mike @shitinthewoods

AJW cracks a brew (and a scotch whiskey) with Arizona ultra runner Peter Mortimer. In their wide ranging conversation they discuss the Barkley, 200+ mile races and Pete's "One and Done" philosophy. Learn all about Pete on his website https://www.8moremilescoaching.com/

In this fun and wide ranging discussion AJW sits down with Maggie Guterl after her 77 hour run on the Collegiate Peaks Loop. They discuss variety of training, the ongoing debate between east coast and west coast trails, and what's next for Maggatron as she turns 40. Follow Maggie on Instagram @Maggatronruns

In this episode AJW sits down with Tyler Green, two time runner-up at Western States, to discuss the connection between education and ultrarunning as well as the wonder and beauty of the Western States experience. Follow Tyler on Instagram @narrowgreenarrow Read all about the Western States Killing Machine here and here.

AJW kicks off season three with a lively interview with 62 year-old ultra legend Pam Reed. Focusing mainly on Pam's "My Three Runs" Project they discuss the joys and challenges of running three of North America's most prestigious ultras in just three weeks. Learn all about Pam on her website

In this episode AJW cracks a brew with two time Western States champion Hal Koerner to discuss directing an aid station at the iconic race, Hal's long history with the event and his hope to return to run it again in 2024. Follow Hal on Twitter and instagram @halkoerner Visit Hal's store at roguevalleyrunners.com Watch JB Benna's iconic film "Unbreakable"

In this episode two time top-10 Western States finisher Katie Asmuth joins AJW to reminisce about her first 100 miler at Angeles Crest 100, why she loves the Memorial Weekend Training Camp so much, and her state of mind going into this year's Western States. Follow Katie's adventures on Instagram @kt_asmuth

In this episode AJW sits down with Karl "Speedgoat" Meltzer, the winningest 100 mile runner of all time to discuss what's harder, east coast trails or west coast trails and to ruminate on the future of the sport both of them love to much. You can find Karl on instagram and twitter @karlmeltzer and learn all about his event, the Speedgoat Mountain Races

In this episode AJW has a wide ranging discussion with veteran ultrarunner Dean Karnazes, author of "Ultramarathon Man" and "Runner's High." Their discussion ranges from the intersection of running and writing to Dean's long history with Western States 100. You can find Dean on Twitter and Instagram at @Ultramarathonman or on his web site Ultramarathonman.com If you'd like some help with your running goals, consider hiring Coach Andy.

In this episode AJW cracks a brew with Dale Garland the longtime Race Director of the Hardrock 100. They discuss the history of the race, the connection between teaching and being a Race Director, and Dale's thoughts on the next ten years in the sport. Follow Hardock on instagram and twitter at @hardrock100run Enjoy this video of Bogie Dumitrescu's 2015 Hardrock finish LINK to Hardrock's responsible usage work with Altra LINK to The "Fish Philosophy" explained

In this episode AJW sits down with 17 year ultra veteran Devon Yanko. In this wide ranging discussion they talk about longevity and versatility in ultrarunning, her Golden Ticket winning run at the Javelina Jundred last fall, and her thoughts going into the 2023 Western States 100 Follow Devon on instagram and twitter @fastfoodie The link to Billy Yang's film "Life in a Day"

In this episode AJW shares a glass of moonshine with Jason Green the Grand Poo Bah of the Yeti Trail Runners. They discuss the origin of the Yeti Trail Runners, the inspiration they've both gleaned from legendary runner Tom Green and Jason shares his fondest Western States memory You can find Jason on Instagram and Twitter at @Yetitrailrunners

In this episode AJW and Sally have a spirited conversation about running versatility, parenting endurance athletes, and Sally's plans for the upcoming Cocodona 250 mile race in Arizona Follow Sally @yellowrunner on Instagram and @sallymcrae on Twitter

In this 8th and final episode of Season One AJW welcomes his son Logan on to Crack a Brew with him and talk about Western States, Hardrock, and what it's like growing up as the son of an ultrarunner. You can find Logan's Podcast here https://www.rodeo-labs.com/podcast/ An article Logan wrote about ultrarunning here https://www.irunfar.com/two-wheels-spectating-2021-hardrock-100-bike And AJWs 2016 Hardock Race report here https://www.irunfar.com/down-to-the-very-marrow-my-2016-hardrock-100