The Steep Stuff Podcast

Send us Fan Mail The mountains beckon, and Anna Gibson answers with a fresh approach to trail running excellence. Coming off an impressive 11th place finish at the prestigious Zagama mountain marathon in Spain, Gibson shares what it's like to race through corridors of 100,000 screaming fans while tackling 9,000 feet of elevation gain. What makes Gibson's success particularly fascinating...

Send us Fan Mail Rachel Tomajczyk pulls back the curtain on elite mountain running preparation in this compelling pre-Sunapee Scramble conversation. With multiple World Championship appearances under her belt, Rachel's approach to race preparation reveals the scientific precision that separates good mountain runners from the truly elite. The fascinating physiological discussion around altitud...

Send us Fan Mail Lauren Gregory's meteoric rise in trail running has been anything but straightforward. From contemplating quitting mid-season to standing on podiums at major races, her journey exemplifies the rollercoaster nature of elite athletics. Speaking from Boulder, Colorado—a place she calls home—Lauren opens up about managing an Achilles injury that has forced her to adapt her traini...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered how elite mountain runners balance their athletic pursuits with demanding professional careers? In this captivating episode, we dive deep with Jamie Brusa, a PhD marine biologist who doubles as one of the top competitors in the Cirque Series mountain races. Jamie shares her fascinating journey from middle school runner who feared distance events to collegiat...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wonder what happens when you take a collegiate mile record holder and unleash her on mountain trails? Sophie Wright is showing us exactly that as she transitions from Western Washington University track star to mountain running phenom. Fresh off her selection to the 2025 Trail Team Elite Team, Sophie joins the Steep Stuff Podcast to discuss her approach to the upcoming Sun of...

Send us Fan Mail From track workouts to technical mountain trails, Flannery Davis Love defies conventional categorization. The current record holder on Colorado's iconic Long's Peak joins the Steep Stuff Podcast to share her unique approach to the upcoming Sunapee Scramble US Mountain Running Championship. Flannery takes us inside her training methodology that seamlessly blends road mara...

Send us Fan Mail Sydney Petersen stands at the threshold of a defining moment in her trail running career as she prepares for the Sunapee Scramble—a race that could earn her a coveted spot on Team USA. In this candid pre-race conversation, she opens up about her journey, aspirations, and the meticulous preparation leading up to this pivotal competition. Fresh from attending the Brooks Summit with...

Send us Fan Mail The mountain running world is buzzing as defending champion Dan Kurtz prepares to face an elite field at the upcoming Sunapee Scramble. Fresh off a dedicated altitude training block in Boulder, Colorado, Dan takes us inside his unorthodox preparation—from living in a van and training on the steepest lines of Green Mountain to battling blizzards and mechanical breakdowns on his way...

Send us Fan Mail When it comes to training for mountain running, conventional wisdom often points to endless miles on technical trails and massive vert accumulation. Mason Copey is challenging that paradigm—and the results speak for themselves. Fresh off his victory at the La Sportiva Mount Sanitas Challenge, where he crushed the FKT and defeated elite competitors like Dan Kurtz, Mason joins the S...

Send us Fan Mail Remy Leroux returns to the Steep Stuff Podcast to share insights from his podium finish at the Alta 50K and his strategy for the upcoming Sunapee Scramble mountain running championships.  Fresh from the Brooks team summit in Seattle, Remy opens up about the exciting experience of joining what he considers "the best sub-ultra trail team on the planet." He describes how Br...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wonder what it takes to compete at the highest level of mountain running? Andy Wacker, one of America's most accomplished trail runners, pulls back the curtain on his remarkable journey in this candid conversation. From crushing a string of road races to preparing for the all-important Sunapee Mountain Classic, Andy shares the surprising freedom he's found competing...

Send us Fan Mail Taylor Stack is redefining what it means to be a young talent in the ultra-competitive world of trail running. Fresh off signing with Brooks and joining one of the most stacked trail teams in the world, Stack brings us inside his journey from self-coached athlete to sponsored professional with World Championship aspirations. The conversation dives deep into the evolution of Stack&...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wonder how elite runners approach championship races? Tyler McCandless, one of America's leading mountain runners, takes us deep into his preparation for the Sentipee Scramble US Mountain Running Championships in this illuminating conversation. With Pennsylvania roots that perfectly prepared him for East Coast racing conditions, McCandless explains why many Western mount...

Send us Fan Mail David Norris might just be the most versatile endurance athlete you haven't heard enough about. The Alaskan-born mountain marathon record holder brings an Olympic-level Nordic skiing engine to the trails, creating a unique skill set that makes him a formidable competitor at the upcoming Sunapee Scramble World Team Trials. What stands out immediately about Norris is his refres...

Send us Fan Mail The mountain running community holds its collective breath as we approach the legendary Soonapie Scramble – the definitive American mountain running championship that will determine who represents our nation on the world stage. This Sunday, June 1st, 2025, Mount Soonapie in New Hampshire becomes the battleground where dreams are made or broken as elite athletes compete for just se...

Send us Fan Mail From collegiate steeplechaser to trail running phenomenon, Rachel Tomajczyk's athletic journey is one of remarkable resilience and evolution. Fresh from her impressive performance at the Great China Wall Race, Rachel joins us to unpack her experiences competing on one of the world's most iconic landmarks – dealing with brutal climbs, technical descents, and navigating cu...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to reach the elite level of trail running when your body keeps threatening to derail your dreams? Ryan Becker knows this challenge intimately. After fully tearing his Achilles tendon during a college cross-country championship race—and still finishing to earn All-American honors—he's spent years battling chronic tendon issues while quietly becoming one of th...

Send us Fan Mail When you hear Lindsay Allison's story, you might wonder how one person balances so many contrasting elements. A Stanford graduate working remotely from Telluride while training at an elite level, Lindsay embodies the modern trail runner who refuses to choose between career and athletic dreams. From her unexpected athletic background in competitive trampoline to her recent sig...

Send us Fan Mail Meet Josh Potvin, the Vancouver-based architect who's simultaneously designing buildings and carving his name into the elite trail running scene. Fresh off his victory at the highly competitive Gorge Waterfall 50K, Josh shares the fascinating journey that took him from track roots to mountain summits. Josh's approach to balancing a demanding professional career with worl...

Send us Fan Mail From the first moment Abby Bennett stepped onto the technical, demanding trails of the White Mountains, she knew she'd found her calling – despite having no competitive running background whatsoever. Now, as one of the Northeast's strongest mountain runners, she shares the remarkable journey that's taken her from financial services burnout to mountain race podiums....

Send us Fan Mail The transition from collegiate track to mountain trails represents one of running's most fascinating journeys – and Kyla Christopher-Moody is navigating it with remarkable authenticity and talent. Fresh off her selection to the 2025 Trail Team Elite, Kyla joins us to share her path from Michigan high school standout to Montana State University track athlete and now emerging t...

Send us Fan Mail For Devin Pancake, trail running represents much more than a post-collegiate athletic pursuit—it's a thoughtful 30-year journey he's just beginning. Fresh off his win at the Antelope Island Buffalo Run 25K and his selection for the 2025 Trail Team Elite, Devin brings refreshing perspective to a sport that often celebrates immediate success. The conversation traces Devin&...

Send us Fan Mail Shay Aquilano's remarkable transformation from college soccer player to elite ultrarunner showcases what's possible when passion meets purpose in the mountains. Having recently captured the Gorge Waterfalls 100K championship and secured a coveted Western States lottery spot, Shay joins the Steep Stuff Podcast to walk us through her unique journey into the ultrarunning wo...

Send us Fan Mail The ultra-trail world is buzzing as Canyon's 50K approaches, and we've got the ultimate preview loaded with analysis, predictions, and some good old-fashioned trash talk. In this special episode, host James Lauriello teams up with guest co-host Teddy Tonelli to break down what might be the most anticipated ultrarunning matchup of the year: defending champion Eli Hemming...

Send us Fan Mail Sophie Wright is a name you need to know in the American mountain running scene. Fresh off completing her collegiate career at Western Washington University—where she holds the school record in the mile—this Alaskan-born trail runner is ready to make waves on the professional circuit as a 2025 Trail Team Selection athlete. Growing up in Palmer, Alaska provided Sophie with the perf...