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A fast 30K can be more intimidating than a steep ultra, especially when the trail begs you to push from the opening minute. James sits down with Robin Vieira Brower ahead of the Gorge Waterfalls 30K to talk about what makes the Columbia River Gorge such a special place to race: lush, sea-level air, deceptively technical singletrack, and that mix of speed and flow that punishes overreaching early.

We get into the nuts and bolts of trail running training from Bend, Oregon, where Robin balances dirt-road speed work with mountain days on terrain like Mount Bachelor and South Sister. The conversation also tackles the bigger question many runners are asking this year: how does a low snowpack winter change fitness, durability, and even race outcomes across the West? More runnable days can mean stronger legs in spring, but it can also bring new risk if recovery falls behind.

Robin also breaks down why she treats tune-up races as mental training: practicing strategy, managing nerves, dialing nutrition, and learning when to push versus when to protect the bigger skyrunning goals ahead. Finally, we talk about juggling it all with her work as Marketing Director at Wazelle, travel around major events like the Boston Marathon, and the real-life chaos that can derail “perfect” training weeks. If you’re building toward a spring trail race or a summer skyrace, you’ll leave with practical cues for pacing, preparation, and staying steady when plans break.

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