The Steep Stuff Podcast

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Start lines are loud, data is messy, and mountains don’t care about your watch. We sat down with coach and ultrarunner Addison Smith to sort the signal from the noise: when to trust rate of perceived exertion, when heart rate zones help, and how to train for races that start cool, turn hot, and punish mistakes. Addison opens with a candid Black Canyon 100K recap—pacing with restraint, GI trouble in the middle miles, and the stubborn choice to keep fueling until the legs came back—then flips it into a toolkit you can use right away.

We break down a simple, usable RPE scale and show how to layer it with heart rate ranges without becoming a slave to numbers. On steep and technical terrain, grades, heat, and altitude can skew heart rate and pace; RPE keeps you honest. For heat adaptation, Addison shares a safe, effective 7–10 day protocol using sauna or hot baths after easy sessions in the 2–3 weeks before race day. The rule is “stimulus, not another workout”: 20–30 minutes, hydrate well, shorten after long runs, and avoid the temptation to “win” the sauna.

If Pikes Peak or big vert is on your calendar, you’ll want the over-under session in your toolbox. We explain how short VO2 surges followed immediately by threshold or steady state teach your body to shuttle lactate and your mind to settle when it craves a break—exactly the skill you need cresting steep switchbacks and rolling into runnable terrain. We also tackle the puzzle of why a crusher on the Manitou Incline might still have a modest mile PR: specificity, mechanics, and background sports make climbing strength and flat speed different beasts.

Throughout, we talk block training vs “a bit of everything,” the real role of zone two, and how life stress quietly shifts your zones day to day. We close with a reality check on coaching changes—why results often lag new systems—and shout out standout CTS performances at Black Canyon. Subscribe, share with a training partner, and leave a quick review to help more trail athletes find the show. What guides your long runs most—heart rate, pace, or feel? Tell us after you listen.

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What happens when raw talent, relentless prep, and an unfiltered voice collide with a sport increasingly driven by optics? We sit down with elite trail runner and coach Michelino Senseri to talk wins, world teams, a headline-grabbing Grand Teton FKT, and what the culture gets wrong—and right—about mountain running today. It’s an honest, funny, and deeply practical conversation that moves from emus on leashes to cameras on social trails, from pacer debates at Western States to how influencer marketing is reshaping who gets seen and paid.

Michelino opens up about the craft of coaching: building durable athletes with VO2 work, smart plyometrics, and week-over-week progress you can actually feel. We dig into why human coaching still matters in an AI world, how accountability beats templates, and the difference between training that looks good online and training that actually moves the needle. If you care about performance, this is a masterclass in process over hype.

We also go deep on injury and return-to-form strategy. Michelino breaks down living and racing with bulging discs, the tug-of-war between extension and decompression approaches, and what eight to twelve weeks of patient, consistent work can do for your spine and your season. Then we look ahead: CCC on the calendar, selective FKTs, a potential Grand Teton docuseries with too much story for a one-hour cut, and writing that may grow into a book.

If you’re tired of staged narratives and want the signal without the noise, this one’s for you. Hit play for candid insights on coaching, culture, access, and how to stay grounded while getting fast. If you enjoyed the conversation, follow Michelino on Instagram, check out his coaching at mikelinosenseri.com, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review to support the show.

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Steep grades, sharper ideas, and zero fluff—this conversation with Jackson Cole tracks a season where grit meets growth. We start with the highlights: a win at Cirque Series Alyeska, more Cirque podiums at Killington and Grand Targhee, a strong Rut 28K, and a proud top‑26 at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships short trail. Then we zoom out to what shaped it all: a two‑week, 1,100‑mile bikepacking trip across New Zealand’s South Island that built deep aerobic strength and reconnected Jackson with the Southern Alps, from Aspiring and Aoraki’s glaciated faces to the ridge‑rich basins of Arthur’s Pass and Nelson Lakes.

Jackson breaks down why low‑altitude alpine can still feel massive, how technical courses reward decision‑making as much as VO2, and what The GOAT race showed him about grit over turnover. We revisit his hard push on T‑Winot in the Tetons—route choice, switchback ethics, and the line between fourth‑class flow and fifth‑class traps—and unpack the honest realities of chasing the Grand Teton FKT: weeks of scouting, precise acclimatization, and respect for the gold standards already set.

Worlds in Canfranc gets the spotlight it deserves: a steep, technical course that elevated skyrunners who are lesser known stateside, a New Zealand team that punched above its weight with minimal federation support, and a personal moment of pride that lingers longer than a ranking. From there, we look at the sport’s fault lines and opportunities—brand money flowing into short trail, the need to keep true skyrunning alive in North America, the promise of Beast of Big Creek, and why governance, fair access, and year‑round anti‑doping have to catch up with the cash.

We wrap with a living 2026 sketch: Mount Marathon in Seward, a possible return to Minotaur, Beast of Big Creek, and a decision tree that includes Whistler, Speedgoat, and a Skyrunner World Series run depending on support. If you care about real mountains, real talk, and a future where athletes can race hard without selling the soul of the sport, this one hits home.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves steep trails, and leave a quick review so more mountain‑minded listeners can find us.

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Big changes hit short trail running, and we’re here for all of it. We kick off The Substack with Rachel Tomajczyk to unpack the new Golden Trail World Series calendar, the late surge into Asia, and why a four-race-plus-final format forces athletes to rethink everything from training blocks to travel budgets. With no US stop on the GTWS schedule and Quebec Mega Trail standing alone in North America, the balance of power and opportunity shifts—especially for American athletes trying to build a season without burning out on flights.

We pull apart the strategy calls that matter now: whether to base in Asia for Japan, China, and a technical South Korea final or bounce back and forth and risk jet lag; when to favor course specificity over brand obligations; and how to use Broken Arrow’s massive platform even without GTWS points on offer. We also look at segment rankings—uphill, downhill, and flats—as a storytelling win that may widen gaps at the top without radically changing podiums. Safety gets a real upgrade too with the prologue removed from the final, a move we applaud after last year’s fatigue-fueled injuries.

Then we turn to the US National Skyrunning Series, with Whiteface, Beast of Big Creek, Ski Talk Scramble, and Kismet Cliff Run creating a steep, technical path on home soil. For athletes who want world-class competition minus transoceanic chaos, this is a timely alternative with real prize purses and accessible travel. Expect East Coast rock and root to reward different strengths than the smooth Euro burners, and watch for new names to break through.

If you’re mapping a 2024 season, this is the roadmap: pick your A-races, respect recovery, and let geography serve your goals. Subscribe, share with a trail friend, and leave a quick review to help more runners find the show. Got a question or a hot take on the calendar? Drop it our way and we might feature it next time.

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Introducing The Sub Stack, The News Show for all Things Short Trail 

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You press play for stoke, but stay for substance. We sit down with legendary endurance athlete and coach Travis Macy to unpack ski mountaineering’s Olympic debut, the rise of Skimo Gold as “SportsCenter for Skimo,” and how smart storytelling can turn niche talents into household names. From the first shotgun blast at Leadville to adventure racing across continents, Travis connects the dots between joyful beginnings and professional systems that actually grow a sport.

We dig into the sprint and mixed relay—how three minutes of mayhem can hinge on a flawless skin rip—and why Team USA’s duo of Cam Smith and Anna Gibson has real medal potential. Travis explains the physiology behind these formats, why training low builds the power you can’t access at 9,000 feet, and what a modern program looks like when you balance sleep-high, train-low blocks with precise transition practice and downhill control under redline fatigue. If you’ve ever wondered how to watch schemo like an insider, start by watching hands and feet.

The conversation also tackles the big question: can schemo scale without losing its soul? We weigh the broadcast-ready sprint against the long, romantic epics of Pierramenta, and the absence of vertical and individual at the Games. Along the way, we spotlight youth pipelines in the U.S., how European systems give rivals a head start, and why star building—done with authenticity—creates the next wave of fans and athletes. Travis even opens up about auditioning for Olympic commentary and what it takes to make technical sport coverage sing.

If you enjoyed this deep dive, follow Skimo Gold and the Travis Macy Show, share this episode with a friend who loves mountain sport, and leave a quick rating or review. Your support helps more people discover the athletes, stories, and ideas reshaping ski mountaineering and short trail.

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The mountain weekend Flagstaff has been waiting for just showed up with big legs and bigger lungs. We sit down with race director Aaron Barber to unpack how Flagstaff Sky Peaks evolved from a “nice race in the pines” into a full three-day festival at Arizona Snowbowl, built around steep ski runs, high-altitude ridgelines, and a finish-line scene right by the lodge. From a Friday uphill lung-burner to Saturday’s slate with a 2,500-foot opening climb, fixed-time vert loops, and distances from 5K to 50 mile, to a Sunday point-to-point that tops out near 11,500 feet, this is mountain racing with teeth.

Aaron shares the playbook behind the overhaul: hard-won permits through Coconino National Forest, alignment with resort management to unlock summer terrain, and a design that prioritizes big climbs, real technicality, and community. We dive into the 50-mile circumnavigation of the San Francisco Peaks caldera, why short doesn’t mean easy, and how gnarly ski-run grades change pacing, fueling, and gear choices. If you’re planning a late-summer or early fall schedule, we lay out who should target which race, how to prep for altitude swings and unpredictable weather, and why descending on tired legs might be the weekend’s real decider.

We also explore the competitive layer: potential prize purses, what scalable anti-doping could look like, and early conversations that align the event with skyrunning-style courses and live coverage. Flagstaff’s running culture, from Buffalo Park sessions to big-vert weekends, frames the story, while the Snowbowl venue adds food, beer, and an easy basecamp to keep the community together between efforts. Whether you chase the uphill, stack a vert challenge, or go all-in on the point-to-point, Sky Peaks now offers a sharper test for elites and everyday mountain runners alike.

If you enjoy the show, tap follow, share it with your crew, and leave a quick review so more runners can find us. Ready to pick your race and build your plan? Subscribe and tell us which climb you’re tackling first.

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The voice you hear at the steepest start lines has a story—and a system. We sit down with Goldy, the announcer behind the Cirque Series and the force behind the Beehive Bandwagon, to unpack how a kid who DJed camp dances became the guy who turns finish lines into goosebumps. From a fateful Red Bull gig to years across X Games, Dew Tour, and trail races, he shares how preparation, empathy, and restraint shape the sound of an unforgettable race day.

We explore the craft that most people never see: studying start lists and past results so callouts are accurate and earned; reading the course so updates actually help families track their runners; pacing energy to protect the voice while still lighting up the key moments. Goldie explains why he treats the winner and the final finisher with equal weight, and why the “last 100 yards” is where brands are built, communities grow, and athletes decide to come back next season. He also gets candid about budgets, live-tracking tradeoffs, and how clear timelines plus a good radio beat fancy tech for keeping crowds engaged.

Short-course mountain racing sits at the heart of this conversation. We talk about the visibility, the shared stoke, and the way these events invite elites and first-timers into the same narrative arc. You’ll hear how the Cirque Series balances game-day decisions with tight production, why guest experience matters as much as athlete flow, and how a great MC can connect all the dots without getting in the way of the moment. If you care about trail running, event production, or the secret ingredients that make a finish line unforgettable, this one delivers.

If this resonated, follow Goldie at beehiveproductions.com and on Instagram at The Beehive Bandwagon. Enjoying the show? Subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review—your support helps more runners find us.

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Want to know how an elite mountain runner designs the very supplements he trusts on race day? We sit down with Momentous VP of Innovation, Matt Chorney, to connect the dots between steep trail performance, clean ingredient sourcing, and the certifications that actually protect athletes. Matt’s story stretches from New Hampshire’s rugged roots to Jackson’s endless access, and he brings that same blend of grit and curiosity to building products that stand up in pro and collegiate locker rooms.

We dig into the difference between “third-party tested” and true third-party certification, and why NSF Certified for Sport or Informed Sport should be non-negotiable if you care about your career—or simply your health. Matt outlines the Momentous three—protein, creatine, and omegas—as everyday pillars backed by research, then walks us through a smarter path to better sleep using apigenin, magnesium L-threonate, and L-theanine. No knockout melatonin bombs here, just targeted support for falling asleep, staying asleep, and getting deeper recovery.

Then we switch gears to racing and real-world tools. Sodium bicarbonate is hot, but the GI tradeoffs are real; Matt explains how a topical option like PR lotion can buffer acidosis without wrecking your gut. We also get into training philosophy and longevity: choosing joy over pressure, skipping a marathon when the spark isn’t there, and using mountain days to build sustainable fitness. With Broken Arrow on the horizon and classic adventure routes on deck, Matt shows how science can fuel the soul of the sport.

Trail running is having a moment—bigger prize purses, crossover stars, and growing visibility—so protecting the culture while raising performance matters more than ever. If you care about clean fueling, smarter sleep, and steep trail stoke, this conversation delivers. If you enjoyed the show, follow, share with a friend, and leave a quick rating or review—your support helps us keep bringing you thoughtful stories from the mountains.

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A high-stakes relay, a new Olympic sport, and two athletes who refused to blink. We sit down with Cam Smith to unpack how he and Anna Gibson qualified Team USA for the ski mountaineering mixed relay—beating Canada when it mattered most—and how an underdog mindset became their superpower. Cam’s story delivers a rare inside look at Olympic prep when your sport is making its debut: recruitment gambles, selection races, and the art of saying no to media so you can say yes to training.

Cam explains how he recruited Anna, why her track speed and mountain grit were a perfect fit, and how selection races turned a bold idea into a winning relay. He breaks down the Solitude World Cup from the inside: crisp transitions, a key pass from fourth to first, and the calm second lap that sealed it. We dive deep into training specificity—ankle weights matched to ski system weight, start cadence rehearsal, treadmill intervals with race film study—and how peaking for a three-to-four-minute burst mirrors track more than trail. Expect practical takeaways on race craft, pacing under pressure, and building systems that protect performance when the spotlight gets hot.

We also demystify Olympic logistics and gear rules: national kits with strict logo sizes, manufacturer-only markings on helmets and poles, and equipment checks that may lock your gear pre-race. Cam offers a candid view on seeding, the wide first climb, and why a second-row start isn’t a problem. He shares the mantra anchoring his approach—“Expect nothing, handle anything”—and looks ahead to the likely addition of the individual event in 2030, where his engine can really sing.

If you’re curious about ski mountaineering, or you love stories of process beating pressure, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who thrives in big moments, and leave a review to help more people find the show. Then tell us: what’s your favorite underdog win?

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