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Welcome to a captivating conversation with Alexa Aragon, the rising trail running star who's taken the mountain running scene by storm. With remarkable top-10 finishes at the Broken Arrow Sky Race, Sunapee Scramble, and most recently, a second-place finish at Cirque Series Snowbird, Alexa has quickly established herself as someone the trail running world needs to watch.

What makes Alexa's story particularly fascinating is her unorthodox path. Unlike many elite trail runners, she balances her competitive pursuits with a full-time career as a middle school math teacher. Growing up in Montana in a family of runners (her parents literally met at a track meet!), Alexa excelled as a steeplechaser at Notre Dame before stepping away from competitive running to work in public health in Ecuador. It wasn't until moving to Utah's Wasatch Mountains that she rediscovered her competitive spirit through local trail races.

Alexa shares her refreshingly unconventional approach to training - "It's a little chaotic, it's just kind of what I feel like and what makes me have fun." Without a coach or structured program, she runs 30-40 miles weekly, complemented by rock climbing and mountain biking. Her race strategy? "Full send and find out" - a fearless approach that's yielded impressive results against established professionals. We dig into her experiences at Broken Arrow, her mountaineering adventures (including a 42-hour attempt at the WURL), and her passion for introducing underrepresented youth to outdoor sports through her school's adventure club.

Whether you're a competitive trail runner, weekend warrior, or simply love inspiring stories of people forging their own path, Alexa's journey demonstrates how making running truly your own can lead to unexpected success and genuine fulfillment. Follow along as she shares her experiences from hiding under rocks during thunderstorms to standing on podiums alongside the sport's biggest names.

Follow Alexa on IG - @_lexi_aragon

Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello

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

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!