The Steep Stuff Podcast

Send us Fan Mail The mountain running world turns its attention to Palisades Tahoe this week for what promises to be an epic showdown at the Broken Arrow 46K. This isn't just any race – it's a Team USA selection event that has attracted virtually every elite mountain runner in the country, creating what might be the most competitive field ever assembled on American soil. The race itself...

Send us Fan Mail Sam Lewis brings a wealth of experience to the starting line of the Broken Arrow 46K, having represented Team USA three times internationally and competed in the 23K version of this iconic mountain race twice before. In this compelling conversation, she shares the meticulous preparation that has her feeling "in the best shape of my life" heading into one of the season&ap...

Send us Fan Mail Denali Strabel returns to the Steep Stuff Podcast for a deeply personal conversation about her journey back to the Broken Arrow 46K Skyrace after a five-year hiatus. The Alaskan mountain runner opens up about the transformative path that led her here – through pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and the heartbreaking loss of her twin sister. From the moment she arrived at the race ven...

Send us Fan Mail A broken bone can shatter more than just your foot – it can fracture your confidence. When professional Adidas Terrex athlete Dani Marino suffered a cuboid fracture (the rare "nutcracker fracture") during OCC last year, the physical damage was just the beginning. The psychological barrier of running downhill again loomed larger than any mountain course. This conversation...

Send us Fan Mail Ashley Brasovan redefines what success looks like in ultrarunning. With 25 years of competitive running experience, four Team USA appearances, and consistent podium finishes, she's accomplished what many dream of—all while running just five days a week. The secret? Balance. After battling four femoral stress fractures during her collegiate career at Duke, Ashley developed a s...

Send us Fan Mail From podium finishes to mountain FKT ambitions, Jane Maus has been quietly building an impressive resume in trail running. Just weeks before the highly anticipated Broken Arrow Skyrace 46K, she joins the Steep Stuff Podcast to share her practical approach to one of North America's most competitive mountain races. Having placed 7th at Broken Arrow in 2022, Moss brings valuable...

Send us Fan Mail Meet Oakley Olson, a rising star in the trail running world who's breaking barriers between collegiate track and mountain racing. Fresh from her NCAA steeplechase season and now a Trail Team Elite selection for 2025, Oakley joins us just days before tackling both the Vertical Kilometer and 23K races at Broken Arrow Skyrace. Oakley's story is remarkable – from showing up...

Send us Fan Mail Imagine grinding uphill at a 30% gradient during the Broken Arrow 46K, your heart hammering against your ribs, legs burning with each step. Now imagine doing it twice—because that's exactly what awaits the elite athletes competing for spots on Team USA this weekend in Olympic Valley. Trail running standout Cade Michael joins us fresh off impressive performances at Canyons 50K...

Send us Fan Mail Trail running fans rejoice! Canadian elite mountain runner Josh Potvin joins the Steep Stuff podcast to share his preparation for the upcoming Broken Arrow 46K race. Coming off a victory at the Gorge Waterfall 50K, Potvin's confidence is high as he aims for a podium finish against top American competition. In this candid conversation, Potvin reveals his meticulous training ap...

Send us Fan Mail The world of mountain running has transformed dramatically in recent years, with increasing competition and international participation revolutionizing races across America. In this illuminating conversation, elite Brooks athlete Talon Hull shares his journey from collegiate track star to professional trail runner, offering rare insights into the tactical approach needed for mount...

Send us Fan Mail The trail running world buzzes with anticipation as Broken Arrow 46K approaches, and there's no better guest to break down this iconic race than its 2023 champion, Michelino Sunseri. Fresh off a move to Salt Lake City—which he boldly claims has "the best trail running community in the United States"—Michelino brings refreshing honesty about his current fitness and r...

Send us Fan Mail The countdown to Broken Arrow is on, and Colorado Springs crusher Brian Whitfield has his sights set firmly on earning a coveted spot on Team USA for the World Mountain Running Championships. This conversation reveals not just an athlete ready to race, but one who has methodically transformed his approach to professional trail running. Whitfield offers a refreshingly candid look a...

Send us Fan Mail Jade Belzberg has quietly become one of the most formidable forces in North American mountain running, with podium finishes at Broken Arrow Skyrace that have turned heads throughout the elite trail running community. As she prepares to tackle both the Vertical Kilometer and 23K races at this year's event, Jade offers a rare glimpse into the mindset and preparation of an athle...

Send us Fan Mail The mountains call and Cam Smith answers. Having just secured his spot on Team USA in the Mountain Classic discipline with a stellar fourth-place finish at the Sunapee Scramble, Cam joins us to unpack his tactical brilliance and focused mindset that led to this achievement. What stands out immediately in our conversation is Cam's strategic approach to racing. Despite minimal...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wonder what goes through an elite athlete's mind when injury threatens to derail everything they've trained for? In this captivating conversation with mountain running legend Allie Mack, we discover how the most challenging moments often lead to unexpected triumphs. Fresh off qualifying for her eighth USA Mountain Running Team at the Sunapee Scramble, Allie reveals...

Send us Fan Mail Crossing the finish line as U.S. Mountain Running Champion wasn't even on Anna Gibson's radar a week before the race. Fresh off a grueling marathon at Zagama on the other side of the world, with jet lag in her system and soreness in her quads, victory seemed improbable. Yet sometimes the greatest achievements come when pressure evaporates. "If you had told me this w...

Send us Fan Mail The path to international mountain running stardom isn't paved – it's steep, muddy, technical, and tests athletes to their absolute limits. Taylor Stack knows this firsthand after his breakthrough performance at the 2025 US Mountain Running Championship Son of Peace Scramble, where he secured third place and a coveted spot on Team USA. What makes Stack's performance...

Send us Fan Mail Lauren Gregory takes us deep into her journey at the 2025 US Mountain Running Championship at Sunapee Scramble, where she secured second place and earned a coveted spot on Team USA. Just a week removed from this performance, Lauren shares the intimate details of a race that demanded everything from her physically and mentally. The conversation reveals the fascinating chess match t...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wonder what happens when elite Nordic skiers turn their attention to mountain running? The answer might surprise you. David Norris, fresh off his victory as the 2025 US Mountain Running Champion at the Son of Peace Scramble, joins us to break down his remarkable journey from Alaska's cross-country ski trails to the podium of one of America's most prestigious mountai...

Send us Fan Mail Mountain running has a new force to reckon with. Fresh off his silver medal performance at the 2025 USATF Mountain Running Championships, Mason Copey joins James Lauriello to break down the race that earned him a coveted spot on Team USA for the upcoming World Championships. What makes this conversation particularly fascinating is the clear evolution of an athlete coming into his...

Send us Fan Mail Andie Cornish takes us on a breathtaking journey from the iconic peaks of Jackson Hole to the competitive world of mountain running. Growing up just minutes from world-class terrain shaped Andie into the dual-sport athlete she is today—excelling both as a ski mountaineer tackling serious Teton objectives and as an elite trail runner with impressive results at races like Broken Arr...

Send us Fan Mail Jackson Cole, one of the most compelling figures in skyrunning, returns to the Steep Stuff Podcast for a raw, insightful conversation about his mountain running journey. Currently based in Missoula, Montana, Jackson opens up about training alongside elite ultrarunners Adam Peterman and Jeff McGavro – a dynamic that pushes his fitness while maintaining the pure essence of mountain...

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Send us Fan Mail The countdown to America's most competitive mountain running showdown has begun. In this episode, host James Lauriello sits down with race director Tom Hooper and co-host Nick Tusa to dissect the upcoming Sunapee Scramble – the USATF Mountain Classic Championships that will determine who represents Team USA at the World Mountain Running Championships. This race promises unpar...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered how elite mountain athletes transition between winter and summer sports at the highest level? Cam Smith, one of mountain running's most versatile competitors, takes us behind the curtain on his journey from a winter of Olympic-qualifying ski mountaineering races to the upcoming Sunapee Mountain Running Championship. The conversation kicks off with a light-hearte...