The Steep Stuff Podcast

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Two weeks before a race, the glamor disappears and the real work shows up: shipping cutoffs, permit conversations, course marking decisions, and an inbox that never stops. We sit down with race director Mathias Eichler to talk about what it takes to bring Beast of Big Creek back and level it up as part of the Skyrunner World Series, without sanding off the personality that made it special in the first place.

We get specific about the runner experience and the race director reality. Mathias breaks down how a family-run, community-driven trail running event can host international skyrunners, build a full weekend at camp, and still feel local through handmade details and creative choices. We also talk about the unsexy essentials that protect a race long-term: enough bathrooms, clear briefings, smart aid station planning, and communicating expectations across cultures and languages.

Then we go deep on the hard constraints of mountain media and race logistics: drones in national forest boundaries, Starlink priorities for timing and search and rescue, tree cover that blocks coverage, and why livestreaming a short, technical skyrace often doesn’t pencil out. If you care about skyrunning, trail race directing, responsible trail running, and how events grow without going cookie-cutter, this conversation is a clear look behind the curtain.

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A 5K with nearly 3,000 feet of gain, a choose-your-own-line climb, and a descent that’s basically controlled chaos. Bayden Menton joins me right after a huge Mount Marathon performance to break down what it actually feels like to race one of the most iconic mountain running events in Seward, Alaska and why the smallest decisions on cliffs, scree, and in the gut can decide your day.

We also rewind to where Bayden comes from: Joseph, Oregon, early cross-country roots, and a life built around mountains. He shares how Western Colorado University’s trail running team shaped his development, why good coaching is often about communication and consistency, and how he tries to chase progression without burning out or turning running into a joyless checklist.

Then we get into the Trailhouse, a new training-house project supported by Hyperlite, Wynn, and Lever, with coaching from Matt Daniels. Baden talks about the selection process, what day-to-day training looks like with housemates, and the part nobody warns you about: being on camera and navigating social media without letting it hijack your focus. We close with what’s next, including the High Five 100, Kodiak 100K as a UTMB qualifier, and long-term dreams like Zegama and UTMB.

If you enjoy deep race breakdowns and honest talk about building a sustainable trail running career, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a rating and review.

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You can hear it right away: Sean McCauley isn’t chasing trail running just for a result, he’s chasing a life he actually wants to live. We talk through his origin story of starting to run at six to spend time with his dad in a military family, then falling hard for mountains, movement, and the quiet mental space that comes with long days outside. From early races to big dreams, Sean shares how running becomes both an outlet and a craft he’s willing to fully commit to.

That commitment gets tested. Sean opens up about a tough college start during COVID, mental health stress, and the moment he realizes he needs to get back to the mountains to thrive. We get into what Western Colorado University gave him as a developing athlete, why that program keeps producing top trail talent, and what changes when you step from track and cross country into modern trail racing. If you’ve ever struggled with imposter syndrome, injuries, or the feeling that you’re “all in” while others see it as just a hobby, you’ll recognize the highs and lows he describes.

From there we go deep on the practical side of training for big mountain races: living in tiny Kremling, training with Eli and Tabor Hemming, learning effort-based pacing, planning long-term race strategy for goals like the UTMB OCC qualifier, and troubleshooting fueling and heat acclimation for Speedgoat 30K. Sean also shares what he learned at Broken Arrow Skyrace about positioning, staying engaged on runnable sections, and racing with confidence in stacked fields.

If you’re into trail running, ultrarunning, mountain racing, or endurance mindset, hit subscribe, share this with a training partner, and leave a rating and review so we can keep telling these stories. What part of Sean's approach are you trying to bring into your own running?

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Mount Marathon looks simple on paper, but Sophie Wright explains why it can leave your entire body trashed for days. We talk about that unique kind of post-race soreness, how falling and braking on steep terrain adds up fast, and why this year’s “no snow, straight to hard shale” descent made the race feel extra sketchy. If you’ve ever wondered why a short mountain running effort can hurt more than a long run, this conversation puts real words to it.

We also get into what it takes to actually improve on technical downhills. Sophie shares what she noticed from the best descenders in the field, how line choice can change everything, and what she wants to sharpen next. From there, we zoom out into training and coaching, including her work with David Norton, the value of time-based training in the mountains, and why variety like biking can make you stronger without just piling on miles.

On the career side, Sophie opens up about the mental shift from college running to competitive trail running: how pressure creeps in, how fun can disappear, and how she’s working to keep joy at the center while still chasing big goals. We cover her move to Colorado, altitude adjustment, and what the Front Range trail community adds to day-to-day motivation. Then we celebrate her signing with La Sportiva, talk shoes and gear, and look ahead to races like Cirque Series, Pikes Peak Ascent, The Rut, and Moab Half, plus why Mount Marathon will always pull her back. If you like the show, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a rating and review.

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A lot of athletes say they love the mountains, but Andy Cornish actually builds her whole season around them. We talk about Jackson Hole summer life, getting up on the Grand Teton, and how growing up in the Tetons shaped a style that blends trail running, mountaineering, and ski mountaineering into one “mountain athlete” path.

Andy also shares what it feels like to join the Mammoot team and why the fit matters when your goals don’t look like the standard trail racing checklist. We get into the gear details that make big days smoother, including a vest-style 15-liter pack that can carry water up front and still haul climbing essentials, plus what she looks for in traction and support when moving fast on technical terrain.

Then we go deeper on the question I’ve started asking more often: what’s your why? Andy breaks down the mix of nerves, excitement, peace, and empowerment that comes from choosing hard objectives, especially as a woman in a space that still needs more representation. We close with a practical note every runner understands: foot care, injury mitigation, and why insoles and socks can make or break consistency when plantar or peroneal issues flare up.

If you enjoy these athlete stories and mountain-focused training talk, subscribe or follow, share this with a friend who lives for steep trails, and leave a rating and review so we can keep making more.

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A sponsorship announcement is only interesting if it changes something real, and that’s why we wanted to hit record with Alexa Aragon. Alexa is now officially part of Mammut and La Sportiva’s athlete teams, and she’s clear about what matters most: using brand support to expand outdoor access for her students through her adventure club. We talk about the early, tangible wins already showing up, from donated harnesses and gear to climbing shoes that help more kids try the sport without the usual cost barriers. 

We also get specific on the gear side for trail runners who love the details. Alexa shares what she’s racing in, why the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro became her go-to, and what she actually carries on race day, including a belt setup for bottles, gels, keys, and quick stash space. If you’re dialing your own trail running kit, this is the kind of practical breakdown that helps you streamline comfort, fueling, and efficiency. 

Then we zoom out to the season itself. Alexa has been racing a lot, learning fast, and feeling the reality of a “recover, race, recover, race” cycle that can crowd out real training. She tells a wild story about lining up at Quebec Mega Trail on three hours of sleep, and we use that as a springboard into smarter load management, recovery, and choosing when to skip an event to get ready for a true target race like Sierra Zinal. We also share a quick foot care segment on injury prevention, insoles, socks, and why your feet deserve as much strategy as your workouts. 

If you enjoyed this, subscribe or follow, share it with a friend who loves trail running, and leave a rating and review so we can keep bringing you more athlete stories and race coverage.

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A trail running comeback can look heroic from the outside, but the real story usually lives in the months nobody sees: the freak accidents, the stalled fitness, the identity spiral, and the slow grind back to the start line. Danny Marino joins us right after her Broken Arrow 46K win to lay out exactly what it took to return and race fearlessly again.

We get honest about the injury cycle that derailed her momentum, including a toe fracture that worsened into a full break, a surgery decision, and a knee crash that forced even more downtime. Danny shares what helped most when motivation dipped, why admitting “I want to give up” can be strangely empowering, and how working with both a psychologist and a sports psychologist normalized the emotional chaos that comes with being sidelined.

Then we go practical: how she rebuilt fitness with cross training, gravel biking, and an aggressive strength training focus, why quality mattered more than big mileage, and what changed between last year’s return and this year’s breakthrough. Finally, we break down the Broken Arrow race itself, talk next steps toward CCC at UTMB week plus a humid, technical tune up at Ragged, and zoom out on the rise of short trail racing, live streams, and what the sport needs to keep growing.

If this conversation lights a fire for your own training or recovery, subscribe, share it with a running buddy, and leave a rating and review. What’s the hardest part of a comeback for you: the body, the mind, or trusting the process again?

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He’s 44, he’s racing almost every weekend, and he’s still winning. Timmy Parr is one of the true American mountain running legends, and he’s on a mission that sounds impossible until you hear how close he is: Project 5050, a plan to win a race in all 50 states. He’s already checked off 46, and he tells us exactly which four states remain and how he’s managing the travel, the training load, and the pressure that comes with chasing a public goal.

We start with Whiteface Sky Races and get into the unglamorous truth about steep ski-run descents, DOMS, and why most runners never train at full speed on a 30% downhill. From there we zoom out into longevity in trail running and skyrunning: what changes in your 40s, how recovery slows down, and why “old man strength” can beat raw fitness through smarter pacing and better decisions. Timmy also shares how racing at altitude versus sea level affects confidence, performance, and even sleep.

Then we go deep on history. Timmy walks us through his 2009 Leadville 100 win, including huge training weeks, brutal heat, the darkest mental patch of the day, and the moment the race turned. We also talk sponsorship politics, corporatization in trail racing, and why community-driven events still feel like the soul of the sport.

If you love trail running, ultramarathon stories, mountain race strategy, and real talk about staying competitive as you age, this one delivers. Subscribe, share it with a running friend, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

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A 20K with nearly 8,000 feet of climbing shouldn’t exist, and yet Whiteface Sky Race is about to make a whole field of strong runners question their life choices. Steve Taylor joins us from smoky Colorado Springs as we turn our full attention to Whiteface, the opener of the Merrill U.S. Skyrunner Circuit, and one of the steepest, most punishing race profiles you’ll find in the United States. Two loops. A massive early climb that gains about 3,000 feet in 2.5 miles. Long stretches that flirt with 30% to 40% grade. No hiding from it.

We talk through what that terrain demands, from steep hiking strength and leg durability to the psychology of being told to go do it all again for lap two. The Adirondacks and Lake Placid backdrop get their own moment too, because this region’s rugged trails, wet technical footing, and big-mountain feel are exactly why this race belongs on a skyrunning calendar. If you’re the kind of trail runner who loves “kick you in the teeth” courses, Whiteface is the blueprint.

Then we get tactical: Morgan Elliott’s form and résumé, who might hang on early, and the under-the-radar names that could surprise when the grade turns brutal. On the women’s side we spotlight Robin Vierre-Brower, dig into challengers, and talk winning-time expectations. We also look ahead to the season stakes and the Kismet Cliff Run final on September 13 in North Conway, New Hampshire. Subscribe, share this with your mountain running crew, and leave a review. Who’s your podium pick for Whiteface?

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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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