The Steep Stuff Podcast

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Chamonix does something to your brain. You land, look up at the peaks, and suddenly every run feels like it should be longer, harder, and higher. We sit down with Noah Williams to talk through the reality of preparing for OCC when the terrain is unreal, the field is stacked, and the smartest move might be holding back even when your legs feel electric.

We get into the nuts and bolts of mountain running performance: adapting from Leadville altitude to lower-oxygen-cost running, why that “superhuman” feeling can still destroy your quads, and how Noah thinks about controlled downhill stimulus to build durability without blowing up the taper. He also opens up about a rough Sierra-Zinal day, what he learned from it, and the lifestyle shifts that are improving recovery in a measurable way, including better sleep quality and HRV.

From there, we zoom out to race craft and expectations. Noah breaks down how he approaches deep fields like OCC: staying within himself for the first 20 to 25K, taking stock mid-race, then turning it into a real fight over the final kilometers. We also talk course recon choices, realistic goals like a top-10 finish, and why the sport’s growth and sponsorship money can be a good thing if we protect what makes trail running special.

If you’re training for OCC, UTMB week races, or any mountain marathon style ultra, this one is packed with practical strategy, recovery lessons, and honest perspective. Subscribe, share this with a trail friend, and leave a rating and review so we can keep bringing you these conversations. What part of taper week do you struggle with most?

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Sierre Zinal doesn’t hand out gifts, and neither does a season that starts with a stress reaction, rolls into a posterior tib strain, and then keeps whispering from an irritated Achilles. We sit down with Christian Allen fresh off a huge European stretch to talk about what finally clicked, how he stayed consistent enough to stack results, and why his best racing shows up when he resists the urge to force the day early.

We get specific about the realities of pro trail running training: when to shut things down, when to lean on cross training to keep your engine, and how you decide whether pain is “manageable” or a warning siren. Christian shares how he navigates limited certainty without perfect health insurance, why trusted PT support matters, and what a hydrodisection injection did and did not change. If you care about injury prevention, Achilles tendinopathy management, or smart return to running, there are plenty of practical takeaways here.

Then we pivot to OCC at UTMB week. Christian explains why OCC feels like one of the sport’s most meaningful sub ultra wins, how he thinks about pacing a now longer 60K distance, and why “run your own race” is harder than it sounds when the front of the field lights up from the gun. We also talk Golden Trail World Series selection, the balance between road speed and trail skill, and his longer arc toward Olympic Trials marathon goals before stepping up to 100 mile racing.

If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe, share it with a trail running friend, and leave a rating and review so we can keep telling these athlete stories.

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A 15K can feel longer than a 100K when the course is straight up, straight down, and the field is absolutely loaded. We’re fired up for ETC in Courmayeur during UTMB week, and we’re treating it like what it’s becoming: a legitimate proving ground for mountain running specialists who live for steep climbs, fast singletrack, and fearless descents.

We dig into what makes ETC unique, starting with the course math that matters: 15K with roughly 1200 meters of gain, a big first climb, a dip, a second push to the high point, then a demanding downhill where pacing mistakes show up fast. We also talk about why this race sits at a fascinating intersection of the Golden Trail Series, the European championships scene, and the UTMB week spotlight. With OCC now stretching to a harder 60K, athletes have to choose their battles, and we debate how racing blocks like Pitz Alpine plus Sierre-Zinal can either sharpen you or leave you flat.

Then we make picks. On the women’s side, we break down the contenders and why an athlete like Courtney Coppinger has the tools to take the win, plus we look at how the American crew could surprise. On the men’s side, we lay out the matchups, the skyrunning wild cards, and why Taylor Stack feels like a true “guy to beat” pick if he gets his day. We also sneak in a few OCC predictions, including excitement around Lauren Gregory and Christian Allen.

If you like smart race previews, mountain running strategy, and honest takes on what actually wins these courses, subscribe, share this with a trail friend, and leave us a rating and review. What’s your podium prediction for ETC?

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Mont Blanc in the background has a way of rewriting your definition of “normal.” We’re checking in with Taylor Stack from Chamonix as UTMB week starts to buzz, and he shares what it feels like to train in a place where even the “easy” routes quietly stack thousands of feet of vertical gain.

We talk about the practical reality of Alpine trail running versus Colorado mountain running: bigger relief from a lower start, fewer truly flat miles, and terrain that can surprise you even when the map looks friendly. Taylor also gets into the mental side of being in a legendary venue, the temptation to over-explore, and how he’s trying to stay disciplined with a big effort coming up.

Then we zoom in on ETC and why racing early in the week is such a gift. Taylor explains how he plans to use the rest of UTMB week to spectate OCC, CCC, and UTMB, and why watching the gear logistics, nutrition, and crewing up close can be the best prep if you want to race OCC next year. We also hit course recon, what elevation profiles miss, the joy of French food on a runner’s budget, and what it’s like to be just recognizable enough to get stopped for a photo while still holding onto that underdog mindset.

If you’re training for a mountain race, dreaming of UTMB Chamonix, or curious about ETC, press play, then subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a quick rating and review so we can keep telling these stories.

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A race where the “course” is more like a suggestion sounds fun right up until you’re waist-deep in a peat bog, freezing, and trying to decide which ridge will get you to the next checkpoint fastest. That’s the world of UK fell running, and Finlay Grant joins us to explain why it creates a uniquely durable kind of mountain athlete. 

We talk about Finlay’s path from school cross-country into fell running, then onto the European skyrunning scene, including his build toward ETC and the longer skyraces on his calendar. He breaks down what training looks like when most of your runs are already technical and steep: elevation-heavy weeks for leg durability, three to four hard sessions when he’s sharpening up, and just enough faster running to keep speed online without living on the track. 

Finlay also tells the story of racing well in broken shoes held together with duct tape and how that moment helped open the door to working with Scarpa. Along the way, we compare the grassroots culture of fell races to the big production feel of modern trail events, and we get into the real logistics of balancing work shifts with travel, recovery, and racing ambitions. 

If you’re into trail running, skyrunning, mountain running, or you’re simply curious about route choice racing and the toughest terrain traditions in the UK, this one will expand your view of what “technical” can mean. Subscribe or follow, share the episode with a mountain-running friend, and leave a rating and review so we can keep telling these stories.

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Chamonix has a way of making trail running feel like the center of the universe, and Sydney Peterson is soaking it up while she can. After stacking a string of brutally competitive European races, she joins me for a catch-up from the Alps where recovery, team time, and UTMB week energy all collide. We talk about what it’s like to live among people who treat mountains like a daily ritual, from running vests at the grocery store to the quiet confidence that comes from being surrounded by athletes chasing big days outside.

Sydney breaks down what’s happening at Brooks trail camp, why UTMB recon is such a powerful advantage, and how scouting now can set up future goals like Marathon du Mont Blanc or an OCC debut. We also get into ETC and why it’s such a smart way to experience the UTMB scene: you race early, then you get the rest of the week to cheer, crew, and actually enjoy the spectacle without carrying race-week nerves the whole time.

The deeper thread is how she’s building her season on purpose. Sydney explains why she’s choosing courses that attack her weak points, especially technical downhill running and the mental intensity of deep fields. Then we look ahead to the Golden Trail Series final in South Korea, a course she describes with a “healthy amount of scared” and a lot of excitement to learn. We close with an incredible story about trail legend Stevie Kremer and how mentorship can shape not just results, but an entire career. If you enjoy the conversation, subscribe, share it with a trail friend, and leave a rating and review so we can keep telling these stories.

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A hamstring injury doesn’t just take away fitness. It can mess with your confidence, your decision-making, and even your ability to trust basic sensations like a cramp. Sam Lewis joins us from the Chamonix area to talk about the messy middle of a comeback, right after a hard Sierre-Zinal and just before lining up for ETC near Courmayeur.

We get into what it’s like to train in the Alps without getting carried away, why UTMB week in Chamonix feels like a mini home for so many trail runners, and how Sam is approaching a short, fast mountain race as a way to reconnect with her roots. She also shares a meaningful shift in her week: pacing an OCC para athlete through Born To Adapt, and what it means to show up as support instead of chasing your own result.

Then we go deep on her PhD in philosophy of sport and sport ethics at the University of Idaho. Sam breaks down research on moral reasoning in sport, why win-at-all-costs culture can make people worse at ethical decision-making over time, and how coaches can actively teach better values through reflection and lived-experience focused tools. If you care about trail running culture, coaching, athlete development, and what we sacrifice to win, this one hits hard.

If you enjoyed it, subscribe or follow, share the episode with a friend headed to UTMB week, and leave a rating and review so we can keep telling these stories.

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A 3:05 at Sierre-Zinal and a Mont Blanc Marathon 23K podium is the kind of season that usually comes with “full-time pro” stamped on it. Kirsty Sky Dixon is doing it while working full-time as an orthodontist in Scotland, and the way she thinks about that balance might change how you approach your own training and goals. 

We talk through what Sierre-Zinal felt like on her first attempt, why the course is so addictive, and how the race exposes both strengths and weaknesses, especially when you’re a pure climber who wants to level up on technical descents. Kirsty shares what she noticed about the heat, the atmosphere, and the little details that matter when the times are historic and you’re racing the mountain as much as the field. 

From there, we get into the practical side: training for big vertical when you don’t have endless alpine climbs outside your door. Her setup is surprisingly simple, built around Arthur’s Seat, commuting runs to the train, weekend adventures in the hills, and the accountability of guidance from mountain running legend Angela Mudge. We also dig into the UK hill running and fell running culture, why Edinburgh is such a strong hub, and how Great Britain team trials work when selection is tight and timing is tricky with a clinical schedule. 

One note: we hit technical difficulties and lost the final portion of the conversation, so the recording ends abruptly. If you enjoy this one, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s juggling big goals, and leave a quick rating and review so we can keep bringing these stories to the trail running community.

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The mountain running GOAT label sounds shiny until you hear what it demands day after day. Joseph Gray joins us for a wide-ranging, no-fluff talk about winning at the highest level, staying motivated deep into a long career, and how he handles the pressure of being someone other athletes look up to.

We dig into why sub-ultra trail racing often gets overlooked in the US compared to ultrarunning, even when the performances are absolutely world-class. Joseph breaks down the economics of attention, how “more hours” creates more marketable drama, and why short mountain races are a different kind of suffering where you cannot hide from pace, tactics, or mistakes. He also talks candidly about media blind spots, race storytelling, and what it means when the best athletes are not the ones getting covered.

Then we go where most people avoid: anti-doping in trail running. Joseph explains out-of-competition testing pools, why untested events can warp opportunity, and why programs like Quartz can create the appearance of safety without real protection. We also get practical with training for uphill running, including progressive efforts and building an aerobic engine that sustains power on steep terrain, plus the youth work he is proudest of through the Colorado Springs trail running camp for kids and Project Inspired Diversity.

If this conversation hits home, subscribe, share it with a friend who loves steep trails, and leave a five-star rating and review so more people find the show.

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