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A double loop can turn a mountain race into a mind game fast. We sit down with Robin Vieira Brower right as Whiteface Sky Race week kicks off to talk through what changes when you know you have to climb the same mountain twice and still have the legs to descend it. Robin shares why she’d normally rather disappear into a point-to-point style course, and how she plans to use lap one as a live course study so she can be more intentional and efficient when it’s time to go again.

We also get honest about what makes East Coast skyrunning feel uniquely brutal: steep grades, quad-crushing descents, and long stretches where “running” turns into fast hiking. Robin breaks down how she thinks about pacing that first downhill, why hiking-heavy terrain gives her a mental break from flat-speed turnover, and what it’s like to race when you might be alone for big chunks of the day. That solitude can mess with your confidence, but it can also sharpen focus if you stay present and commit to racing your own race.

On the practical side, we talk gear and prep: choosing between trusted Norda trail shoes and a more structured option for security, squeezing in a travel-day shakeout, and how much course scouting is helpful without tipping into overthinking. Robin also explains why she’s keeping nutrition steady rather than experimenting, and why a solid, controlled day matters after months of injury setbacks and life stress. If you care about skyrunning strategy, mountain running mindset, and smart comeback racing, this one’s for you. 
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