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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 Arrow.

During our conversation, Andie reveals how Nordic skiing methodology revolutionized her approach to training. Rather than following traditional running dogma, she embraces a more holistic perspective measuring effort in hours and vertical gain instead of just miles. This cross-disciplinary approach incorporating substantial mountain biking and ski mountaineering has kept her injury-free and mentally fresh while developing unique strengths for mountain challenges. "I think it's dumb when people say cross-training," Andie explains. "It's just training—everything goes together and time on feet is time on feet."

What truly distinguishes Andie's story is her remarkable resilience facing a recent diagnosis of Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS)—a rare condition affecting blood flow during downhill running. Rather than allowing this setback to derail her athletic pursuits, she's brilliantly pivoted to focus exclusively on uphill races like the Broken Arrow VK and Pikes Peak Ascent. This adaptation has unexpectedly elevated her climbing performance to new heights: "I'm in the best uphill shape I've ever been in, breaking my records beyond anything." Andie's journey reminds us that sometimes our greatest challenges lead to discovering our true strengths.

Whether you're fascinated by the lifestyle of mountain towns, curious about training across multiple disciplines, or seeking inspiration for overcoming obstacles in your own athletic journey, this conversation offers valuable insights from someone who embodies the authentic spirit of mountain sports. Follow Andie's upcoming season as she tackles iconic vertical challenges in North America and Switzerland!

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Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello

Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod

Use code steepstuffpod for 25% off your cart at UltimateDirection.com!