The Steep Stuff Podcast

Send us Fan Mail The mountains of Spain are set to host an unprecedented gathering of mountain running talent as the World Mountain Running Championships descend upon Canfranc in the Pyrenees. This year's championship field is arguably the deepest ever assembled, with elite athletes from Kenya, Uganda, Italy, France, Spain, and the United States poised for an epic showdown across four gruelin...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when you suddenly find yourself among the world's elite athletes? Mason Coppi, who has exploded onto the sub-ultra mountain running scene with remarkable success, joins us for a candid conversation about his journey to the top and upcoming World Championships appearance. Despite dominating races and earning his place among the sport's best, Mason reveals his...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when you throw away your carefully crafted race plan and follow your intuition instead? For elite mountain runner Remi Leroux, it meant transforming a 15-race schedule into nearly 25 events across two continents in a single summer. Diving deep into his whirlwind season, Remi shares how his partnership with Brooks teammate Dan has pushed him toward spontaneity and risk...

Send us Fan Mail What does it truly mean to represent your country on the world stage? For Michelino Senseri, it's the fulfillment of a childhood dream that once seemed impossible. Speaking from Spain where he's been meticulously studying the World Trail Championship course, Michelino offers an unfiltered look at what American trail runners can expect when they toe the line against the w...

Send us Fan Mail Cam Smith and Anna Gibson join the podcast from Italy where they're juggling an extraordinary athletic challenge. Currently training with the USA Skimo team, both athletes are preparing to represent Team USA in dual events at the upcoming Mountain Running World Championships in Spain. The conversation offers a fascinating glimpse into their Italian training camp and the uniqu...

Send us Fan Mail Noah Williams has been on fire this summer. Fresh off a breakthrough performance at Sierre-Zinal where he clocked an impressive 2:45:10 as the third American finisher, he's now setting his sights on something even bigger: gold at the Trail Running World Championships in Spain. The conversation kicks off with Noah recounting his recent racing adventures, from Alaska's rug...

Send us Fan Mail Taylor Stack's remarkable transformation from promising college runner to Team USA representative has been nothing short of extraordinary. In this wide-ranging conversation, Stack opens up about his breakthrough European racing season where he finished as top American and 12th overall in the Golden Trail Series, plus secured a podium at the brutally technical Pitz Alpine Glac...

Send us Fan Mail Christian Allen takes us deep into the rugged heart of the Pyrenees as he prepares to represent Team USA at the World Mountain Running Championships. The reigning US Mountain Running Champion opens up about the wild, technical trails of Canfrank that barely resemble paths at times—"They stuck flags into a bunch of rock that you're just hiking up. It's really steep.&...

Send us Fan Mail Summits conquered, records shattered, and mountains yet to climb—Jasmine Lowther's extraordinary summer of racing defies conventional limits. Fresh from breaking the Grand Teton FKT and excelling at OCC, she now stands on the precipice of the World Championships in Spain. The Grand Teton FKT attempt reveals a fascinating dimension of Jasmine's relationship with mountains...

Send us Fan Mail Ruby Lindquist has experienced a meteoric rise in the trail running world this season, securing a coveted spot on Team USA for the World Trail Championships following a gutsy sixth-place finish at the hyper-competitive Broken Arrow 50K. Our conversation dives deep into the mental strategies that allow her to push through pain barriers when races aren't going according to plan...

Send us Fan Mail When Sydney Petersen toed the line at the Broken Arrow Skyrace this summer, she wasn't sure she'd even finish. After two weeks of complete rest nursing what she feared might be a serious hip injury, her training was far from ideal for what would serve as the US World Championship qualifier. Yet sometimes our greatest performances emerge when expectations fall away. &quot...

Send us Fan Mail Courtney Coppinger takes us inside her journey to the Mountain Running World Championships in this candid conversation about mental resilience, team camaraderie, and the pursuit of excellence on the international stage. From Colorado's high altitude training grounds to the pristine trails of Europe, Courtney shares the rollercoaster of emotions that define an elite athlete&ap...

Send us Fan Mail When Lindsay Allison submitted her application for the US Mountain Running World Championship team, she never expected to be selected. "When I got the call I was like, 'What? Are you sure? Me?'" she shares with genuine surprise in her voice. This unexpected honor comes at the perfect moment in her season—just as she's hitting her stride after overcoming ea...

Send us Fan Mail Standing at the base of Pike's Peak, staring up at the formidable 14,115-foot summit piercing the Colorado sky, runners face more than just a grueling physical challenge—they confront what veterans call "the ultimate mental battle." Every year, over 2,500 athletes from 46 states and eight countries gather in Manitou Springs to test their limits in America's mos...

Send us Fan Mail Pike's Peak isn't just a mountain—it's America's Ultimate Challenge. Rising dramatically from 6,000 to 14,000 feet, this Colorado landmark draws over 2,500 runners annually from across the globe, all seeking to test their limits against its unforgiving terrain. What makes this race truly special? As elite mountain runner Kiern Nay explains, "It's just...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to conquer one of America's most grueling mountain races? Elite trail runner James Reeves takes us behind the scenes of his preparation for Pike's Peak, a race that draws over 2,500 runners annually from 46 states and eight countries to challenge themselves against the formidable Colorado mountain. "It's just you're constantly wondering i...

Send us Fan Mail The mental and physical crucible of Pike's Peak brings together over 2,500 runners annually to test themselves against what organizers aptly call "America's Ultimate Challenge." What drives athletes back to this mountain year after year? As one elite runner explains, "You're constantly wondering if you're going too hard and if you're going t...

Send us Fan Mail Every summer, thousands of runners journey to Manitou Springs for America's Ultimate Challenge – the legendary Pikes Peak Marathon. For three-time champion Kristina Mascarenas, this race represents something far deeper than just another mountain to conquer. "It's just you're constantly wondering if you're going too hard and if you're going to die,&quo...

Send us Fan Mail The mental battle against the mountain defines Pike's Peak Ascent, drawing thousands to test their limits at what's rightfully earned its reputation as "America's Ultimate Challenge." Elite trail runners reveal that beyond physical preparation, it's the psychological fortitude required that brings them back year after year. When asked what keeps compe...

Send us Fan Mail The mountain looms ahead, a vertical challenge that tests not just physical endurance but mental fortitude. "It's just you're constantly wondering if you're going too hard and if you're going to die," says one elite runner, capturing perfectly why uphill racing has become such a compelling discipline within trail running. We dive deep into the world o...

Send us Fan Mail What makes a mountain race become legendary? In this deep dive into the historic Pikes Peak Marathon and Ascent, we're joined by Mark Tatum to uncover the remarkable journey of America's third-oldest and longest consecutively running marathon. From its unlikely origins—when a Finnish doctor challenged smokers to race him up the mountain in 1958—to Arlene Piper becoming t...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wonder how a mountain runner's motivations evolve over decades in the sport? Anton Krupicka opens up about his remarkable journey from Nebraska ranch kid to ultrarunning legend in this captivating conversation recorded live at La Sportiva Boulder. Anton shares the origin story of his running career, from his science scholarship at Colorado College to his early days worki...

Send us Fan Mail Join us Thursday Sept 11th for a Live Pod with Anton Krupicka at the La Sportiva Flagship store in Boulder, Colorado  When - Thursday September 11th What - Group Run & Live Podcast with Anton Krupicka Timing - Group Run Starts at 5:30 pm / Live Pod Starts (around) 6:45/7pm  RSVP - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/la-sportiva-summer-run-series-tickets-1344591662859 Use code SteepSt...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when an elite trail runner must quickly transition from racing a grueling mountain ultramarathon to coaching other athletes through their own epic challenges? Addison Smith lives this reality, and in our captivating conversation, he reveals the fascinating duality of his role at the UTMB festival in Chamonix. Fresh off his performance at the OCC race, Addison shares t...

Send us Fan Mail When a Nordic Combined athlete transitions to mountain running, the results can be remarkable. Adam Loomis brings unique insights from his years as a national team ski jumper and cross-country skier to the challenging world of technical mountain races and ultramarathons. Having recently won the Telluride Mountain Run 40-mile race with a course record, Loomis opens up about how his...