The Steep Stuff Podcast

#202 - Hillary Allen - on Career, Worlds, Injury, Cycling, 2025 & 2026 Seasons & the North Bend Trailfest

Send us Fan Mail A last minute race entry. A season stitched together from recovery. A mindset that refuses to let results decide your worth. James L’Oriello sits down with mountain runner and endurance athlete Hillary Allen for a wide ranging conversation that starts with a literal tide mishap on a bike in California and quickly climbs into the real terrain: returning to hard efforts after injury, trusting your body again, and finding joy in the grind of uphill racing. We talk Vertical Kilometer racing, power hiking, and why stacking events like Run The Rut, Mammoth, and Pikes Peak Ascent can work when you manage impact and keep expectations light. Hillary shares how cycling helped her maintain fitness during rehab, and why VKs feel like the perfect blend of brutal and beautiful. Then we go deeper into applied sport psychology, including her approach to “healthy detachment” from outcomes and how that shift changed the way she competes at the highest level. Hillary also tells two Team USA stories that still sound unreal: the Broken Arrow qualifier surprise and the phone call in Europe that nearly turned her VK week into an 80K long trail world championship in the Pyrenees. From team dynamics to pacing differences, it’s a behind the scenes look at world class mountain running that’s equal parts tactical and human. We wrap with her experience publishing a book about recovery, how she keeps her identity bigger than sport, and why Unbound Gravel can be 200 miles of mud, wind, and pure problem solving. If you enjoy conversations about trail running, mountain running, injury comeback strategies, sport psychology mindset, and endurance training across running and cycling, you’ll want this one. Subscribe to Steep Stuff, share this with a friend who’s rebuilding after injury, and leave a review to help more runners find the show. Follow the HillyGoat on IG - @hillygoat_climbs Order Hillary's Book - Out & Back - @out&back Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.us Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod Follow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa

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Dustin Mullaney - Pre North Bend Trailfest Interview

Send us Fan Mail Race week exposes everything: what you’ve built, what you’ve ignored, and what actually holds up when the course turns steep. We’re joined by Dustin Mullaney, defending North Bend Trail Fest champion, to talk through the reality of racing often, recovering from monster efforts like The Rut, and why a condensed stretch of competition can feel like a cross-country season with a “never-ending taper.” If you’re trying to balance fitness, fatigue, and injury history, this conversation gets honest fast. We also go deep on why the Cascades and Western Washington are an underrated training ground for mountain running and skyrunning. We compare Seattle-area vert to Colorado, talk about how long runnable climbs change race dynamics, and why sea-level speed, humidity, and sustained climbing can translate well to UTMB-style racing. Dustin shares what keeps pulling him back to Chamonix, what hut-to-hut days taught him, and why goals like OCC and other iconic European-style races demand more than just a big engine. Then we nerd out on the details that decide results: smooth transitions from running to steep power hiking, building fatigue resistance so you do not panic before a technical descent, and why winter ski mountaineering and backcountry skiing can be the smartest endurance cross-training for durable mountain legs. We even take a left turn into genetics, de-extinction headlines, and what it means to be skeptical while still loving the science. If you enjoy trail running training talk, mountain race strategy, UTMB prep, and behind-the-scenes athlete pathways, you’ll get a ton out of this one. Subscribe for more, share it with a training buddy, and leave a rating and review so more runners can find the show. What part of your training needs the biggest upgrade right now? Follow Dustin on IG - @dustin.mullaney Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.us Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod Follow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa

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Noah Dusseau - Pre North Bend Trailfest Interview

Send us Fan Mail A 47-mile pacing shift on a record attempt would be a season highlight for most runners, and Noah Disot treated it like another valuable day in the mountains. Fresh off crewing and pacing Joe McConaughy on a John Muir Trail (JMT) effort, Noah joins us ahead of North Bend Trailfest to talk about what he learned from nonstop movement, staying on top of nutrition, and keeping the vibe positive when the work gets long and messy. We also dig into the Pacific Northwest trail running scene and why the Seattle area deserves more credit as a training base. Noah explains how Issaquah, Tiger Mountain, Squawk Mountain, Cougar Mountain, and North Bend can deliver serious vertical gain without living at altitude, plus why connected trails and a tight community make it easier to stack consistent weeks. If you’ve wondered how the PNW compares to places like Boulder or Flagstaff, Noah gives an honest, athlete-level view of what actually matters day to day. From there we zoom out to Noah’s bigger ultrarunning goals: building on strong races like Cascade Crest, chasing sponsorship, and taking a real shot at a Western States golden ticket at Havelina 100. We get specific about what changes his 100-mile outcomes, including patience early, finishing strong, dialing fueling (think higher carb intake), and using sauna sessions for heat prep without digging a dehydration hole. Noah also opens up about altitude and breathing challenges and why he’s drawn to rugged, mountainous hundreds even when they bite back. If you like pre-race energy, training talk that stays practical, and the real-life balancing act of an athlete with a demanding engineering career, subscribe, share this with a trail friend, and leave a rating and review so more runners can find the show. Follow Noah on IG - @noah_dusseau Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.us Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod Follow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa

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Casey Campbell - Pre North Bend Trailfest Interview

Send us Fan Mail Something wild happens when a runner stops chasing “perfect” and starts chasing what they actually love. Casey Campbell is living proof. Casey joins us to unpack his late-season shift toward uphill racing, including a breakout day at the Broken Arrow Ascent that surprised even him, and the training choices that helped it happen. We talk uphill specificity, winter Nordic skiing as strength-building cross training, and why Bend, Oregon is one of the best all-around places in the U.S. to train for mountain running thanks to its mix of Cascades climbs, high desert terrain, and year-round options. We also get into Casey’s path from soccer to starting running in high school, then walking on at the University of Oregon for track while studying architecture. That background shapes how he thinks about progress: building blocks, patience, and problem-solving instead of panic. From there we dig into what it’s like to race in a Team USA jersey overseas, including his recent trip to Poland for a fast, punishing mountain course with huge vert and relentless climbs. Casey shares what team racing adds that most of us miss after college, and how the shared effort changes your mindset mid-race. The real heart of this conversation is balance. Casey works a demanding architecture job, manages travel stress and limited PTO, and still shows up ready to compete. We talk coaching with Joe "Stringbean" McConaughy, why adaptive communication beats cookie-cutter plans, and why AI coaching and spreadsheet “magic numbers” can’t capture sleep, stress, and real life. If you care about trail running, uphill racing, mountain running performance, and sustainable motivation, this one hits deep. If you enjoy the show, subscribe, share it with a trail friend, and leave a rating and review so more runners can find these conversations. Follow Casey on IG - @campbell.casey Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.us Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod Follow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa

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#201 - Matthew Zupan

Send us Fan Mail A hundred-mile podium doesn’t happen by accident, and Matt Zupan doesn’t chalk it up to luck. From a quiet start in Missouri to finding his stride in the Reno and Truckee trail running scene, Matt tells the full story of how community, mountain obsession, and steady habits shape the runner he is now, including a breakthrough day at the Leadville 100. We talk through the Sierra Nevada pull that keeps bringing him back, from the John Muir Trail to big linkups and the kind of off-trail scrambling that tests more than fitness. Matt unpacks Norman’s, the 13 fourteeners route that echoes Nolan’s, and why failing multiple times in the same spot became the point. The win isn’t just finishing; it’s learning navigation, patience, and how to keep going when the goal stops impressing anyone but you. Then we get tactical on Leadville. Matt shares how he deliberately goes out slow, manages altitude, and climbs the ranks without drama, plus what it feels like when a lifelong dream race finally clicks. We also get into guiding with Rogue Expeditions, ski patrolling with an avalanche rescue dog named Kazakh, chasing Western States and UTMB dreams, and the debate around distance hype versus beautifully designed courses that actually make you want to suffer. If you like honest trail running conversations with real lessons and big goals, follow the show, share this one with a friend, and leave a rating and review so more runners can find it. Follow Matt on IG - @zupermantastic Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.us Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod Follow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa

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Most Replayed Episode: Matt Daniels

Send us Fan Mail Something breaks in an athlete’s season, and the story usually gets edited into a neat comeback. We do the opposite here. Matt Daniels talks with us in real time about the messy middle: a divorce, an unexpected mold exposure that kept making him sick after travel, and the slow process of feeling like a normal human again. From there, we map how he’s rebuilding toward Run Rabbit Run, including what changed once he brought on CTS coach Cliff Pittman and started treating long-distance development as a craft, not a gamble. We also get into the side of trail running most people only whisper about, the business. Matt shares how working with an agent takes the stress out of negotiations, why brand alignment matters more as you get older, and how athlete media is becoming a real second lane. That naturally leads to the Boulder Boys Show: how it started as friends talking on long runs, why honesty resonates, and what joining Jonathan Levitt’s collective could mean for exposure and sponsorship opportunities. Fueling is the performance thread that ties it together. Matt explains why nutrition has been his limiter in ultras and how Hyperlight’s simple, high-carb approach helps him train his gut for 100 miles. We trade stories on Sierre-Zinal and Zegama, then zoom out to the future of professional trail running: UTMB’s gravity, why the Olympics might be the wrong fit, how prize money and media rights could shape athlete pay, and why anti-doping conversations are only getting louder. If you care about ultramarathon training, sponsorship reality, and where trail running is headed next, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a running friend, and leave a rating and review so more people can find the show. Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.us Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod Follow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa

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#200 - Chrissy Lofgren, 2026 Pikes Peak Marathon Champion

Send us Fan Mail Winning Pikes Peak isn’t just about fitness, it’s about decisions you make when your lungs are burning, your stomach is turning, and the mountain keeps asking for more. I sit down with Chrissy fresh off her Pikes Peak Marathon win to replay the day from the first miles on Barr Trail to the long, lonely stretches above treeline where you don’t get feedback from the pack, you only get truth from your own pacing. We talk about the tactical side of mountain racing: why the W’s can ruin your race if you surge, how she stayed controlled even while moving into the lead, and what it’s like to chase the men and run your own race when you’re suddenly out front. Chrissy also gets real about race-morning nausea and the unsexy skill that separates great days from disasters: continuing to fuel with gels, fluids, and sodium so you still have something for the descent. If you care about trail running nutrition, high altitude strategy, and finishing strong instead of just surviving, you’ll get a lot out of this one. From there we zoom out to the season that built this result, including consistency on trails, learning through frequent racing, and the value of having coach Rachel Spaulding and a tight Colorado Springs training community. Chrissy shares how she balances a demanding nursing career with training, why gravel biking helps her stay durable, and what’s next as she pivots toward CIM and a faster road marathon while still keeping her heart in the mountains. We even nerd out on shoes, including why the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro felt so locked-in on Pikes Peak. If you enjoy these athlete deep dives, subscribe, share this with a training partner, and leave a rating and review so more runners can find the show. Follow Chrissy on IG - @Chrissy Lofgren Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.us Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod Follow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa

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#199 - Darren Thomas, 2026 Pikes Peak Marathon Champion

Send us Fan Mail Ten tries at Pikes Peak can either break you or build you. Our guest Darren Thomas shows exactly what it looks like when it builds you, turning a decade of near-misses into a 2026 Pikes Peak Marathon win that’s equal parts patience, craft, and pure downhill grit. We talk through the emotions of finally getting the hometown title, the weird whiplash of flying home and going straight back to work, and why “post-race depression” gets easier to manage when you return to real life quickly. Then we get into the race breakdown trail runners actually want: where Kieran Hammer put pressure on the climb, how Darren refused to chase splits, what altitude felt like above treeline, and how a six-minute deficit at the summit disappeared fast once the descent began. We also dig into how the Bar Trail has changed over the years, why downhill running is a skill you earn, and what “racing by vibes” really means when you’re trying to win at 14,000 feet. From there, the conversation widens into Darren’s full 2026 trail running season, staying healthy after years of injury cycles, strength training, and the simple rule that saves careers: if it starts to hurt, don’t run that day. We also talk long-distance racing, hydration and nutrition, chasing classic European events like Zegama and UTMB, sponsorship without becoming an influencer, and why stepping back from social media can make you a better athlete and a happier person. If you love mountain running, altitude training, and honest race strategy from a champion, this one delivers. If you enjoy the show, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube, share it with a friend who loves trail racing, and leave a rating and review so more people can find Steep Stuff. Follow Darren on IG - @greatbasinranger Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.us Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod Follow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa

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#198 - Aimee Kohler, RD of the Running Kind Introducing the new Catskill 100

Send us Fan Mail A new 100-mile race is coming to the Catskill Mountains, and it’s not pulling any punches. Amy Kohler, race director at The Running Kind, joins us to reveal the Catskill 100, a technical Northeast ultra marathon that leans hard into steep climbs, rocky descents, and true backcountry vibes. Think Devil’s Path brutality up front, big mountain linkups across the range, and more than 27,000 feet of vert that won’t feel “easy” for a single step. If you’ve ever felt like the Catskills get overlooked in mountain running conversations, this one makes the argument in the loudest possible way. We walk through the course like a guided tour: where it starts, how the Devil’s Path packs massive elevation into a short distance, and why this terrain can favor strong hikers as much as fast runners. We also get into the on-the-ground realities that make this a serious undertaking, including DEC permitting through state-designated wilderness, minimal road running, long stretches with limited cell service, and the operational lift of building aid stations at trailheads. Amy shares ideas for a Phoenicia halfway cheer zone and what it takes to staff an event that can run for 51 hours. Then we zoom out to the bigger “why.” The Running Kind is a carbon neutral race organization, and Amy ties trail running directly to stewardship and advocacy, including what she learned meeting lawmakers in Washington, DC with Runners for Public Lands. We break down the Roadless Rule and the Travel Management Rule in plain language, why they matter for trail access and safety, and how runners can have real influence by paying attention and speaking up. If you’re excited for the Catskill 100, share this with a friend who loves technical terrain, then subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming race previews and interviews. And if the show helps you, leave a rating and review to help new listeners find it. Follow the Running Kind - @therunningkind For More Information on the Catskill 100 - > Catskill 100 Register for the Catskill 100 - > Catskill 100 Registration Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.us Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod Follow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa

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A Special Discount Code for Listeners

Send us Fan Mail A Special Discount Code for Listeners Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.us Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod Follow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa

#197 - Will Johnson

Send us Fan Mail Pikes Peak week has a way of making every runner take stock: what am I chasing, and what’s actually worth it when the climb gets real? I sit down with Will, a full-time high school English teacher and developing mountain runner, to talk about the years-long build behind “overnight” progress and why the best performances usually come from a love of the work, not a fear of the result. We trace his path from the Pacific Northwest to Western Colorado University in Gunnison, where day-to-day trail miles with a stacked crew helped shape his approach to training, racing, and staying grounded as the sport gets louder. From there, we get honest about pressure, self-criticism, and the post-college urge to make something happen immediately. Will explains why he picks races for the place and the experience, even when the elevation gain is intimidating, and why the finish line rarely delivers the fulfillment people expect. We also dig into his coaching relationship with Kieran, how they think in multi-year arcs, and what it takes to rebuild speed and running economy after a big hundred-mile effort while keeping the stoke high for a legendary mountain race. You’ll also hear how he balances ultrarunning training with the real demands of teaching, why Southern Colorado terrain near Mancos and Durango is an underrated playground for technical trail running, and how music and creative writing keep his creativity sharp. We even go deep on AI and why he and his students push back against shortcuts in art and learning. If you care about trail running mindset, ultramarathon training, and the craft of becoming a better mountain athlete, this one will stick with you. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s training for a big climb, and leave a review so more runners can find the show. Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.us Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod Follow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa

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History of the Pikes Peak Ascent & Marathon with Mark Tatum

Send us Fan Mail One mountain, nearly a century of stories, and a finish line that keeps moving further into the clouds. We sit down to unpack the deep history of the Pikes Peak Marathon and Pikes Peak Ascent, from its early ascent roots to the moment it becomes one of the most competitive mountain running events in the United States. We talk about how the race really starts taking shape, including the strange early “smokers vs non-smokers” era, the legends who helped define what was possible, and the athletes whose names deserve to be remembered. We dig into why the Pikes Peak results database matters so much, how Matt Carpenter shaped the race both on the trail and online, and why his records became the standard everyone measured themselves against. From skyrunning pivots and WMRA championship spotlight years to the Golden Trail World Series surge, we connect the dots between big organizational decisions and the moments fans still argue about. We also get practical about what makes Pikes Peak uniquely hard: altitude, weather swings, barometric pressure, and pacing traps like the W’s. If you love trail running history, mountain running strategy, and the culture of racing a 14er, this one is for you. Subscribe for more deep dives, share this with a friend who loves big climbs, and leave a review with your favorite Pikes Peak era or record to chase. Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.us Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod Follow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa

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#196 - Erin Ton, FKT on Mount Kilimanjaro

Send us Fan Mail She didn’t just beat a record on Mount Kilimanjaro, she rewrote what “supported speed” can look like at 19,000 feet. Aaron Ton joins us fresh off a massive double: new supported ascent and supported round-trip Fastest Known Times on Kilimanjaro, plus an honest look at the parts that felt smooth and the part that nearly derailed everything when altitude slammed her around 15,000 feet. We get into the real build behind a big mountain FKT: stacking altitude in Colorado, grabbing a fast acclimation bump in Ecuador near Quito, then navigating Tanzania logistics where a lost bag and a strict six-day permit window forced a smarter timeline. Aaron breaks down the Mweka route from humid jungle darkness to high, dry rock, how she staged guides at camps to meet national park rules, and why those guides weren’t just “support” but true athletes who helped her unlock speed on the descent. Then we zoom out to the bigger mission: chasing speed records across the Seven Summits. Aaron explains why Mount Elbrus is suddenly on the table, what it takes to get a Russia visa, why Denali intimidates her more than Everest, and how she thinks about risk, intention, and the way social media can make dangerous terrain look easy. We also talk optimization culture, consumerism in trail running, and a post-climb Tanzania safari that raises its own conservation tradeoffs. If you enjoy deep dives on mountain running, altitude strategy, and the mindset behind big objectives, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave us a rating and review. Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.us Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod Follow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa

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#195 - Marie Nivet, 2026 UTMB ETC Champion

Send us Fan Mail She called it a “bonus race,” showed up with no pressure, and walked away with one of the biggest wins of her career. Marie Nive joins me right after UTMB week to unpack what it felt like to win ETC, why that result matters for mountain running, and how she reframes nerves when the stakes get loud. We talk about the specific thing she wanted to fix from last year, technical downhills, and why confidence comes from solving real race problems rather than trying to “feel ready.” We also go behind the scenes of UTMB week inside the Nike ACG house. Marie explains how sharing the week with teammates can actually reduce pressure, how the group cheers without adding expectations, and what it’s like to stick around and spectate the biggest races after you’ve already competed. Her take on Lauren’s OCC win is pure goosebumps, and it opens up a bigger point about mindset, composure, and finishing fast when everyone is watching. Then we widen the lens: US trail running culture versus France, why Broken Arrow felt like stepping into the TV version of America, altitude preparation, and how she trains between the French Alps and the Pyrenees. Marie also shares the less-seen side of her life as a sports science PhD studying hypoxia and high-intensity exercise to help people age well, plus how she balances research with a packed Golden Trail World Series season and a long travel block through Japan, China, and Korea. If you enjoy deep athlete stories and smart trail running talk, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a rating and review so more people can find the show. Follow Marie on IG - @marie_nivet Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.us Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod Follow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa

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Most Replayed Episode: Cam Smith, 2026 U.S. Skimo Olympian

Send us Fan Mail A skimo World Cup podium is rare. Coming back after an ACL and meniscus tear, then surviving a major shoulder injury right after, is even rarer. We sit down with Cam Smith to talk about what it really takes to rebuild your body and your confidence when momentum gets ripped away and the biggest goal is still out there: qualifying for the 2026 Winter Olympics (Milano Cortina) in ski mountaineering. Cam walks us from Rockford, Illinois to Western Colorado University’s Mountain Sports program, then into the Crested Butte skimo scene that helped him snowball from “mid-pack and stoked” into Team USA and a history-making World Cup result. We get specific about what changed at that breakthrough moment, why belief matters in elite endurance sport, and how training at altitude forces you to chase power and pace, not just watts per kilo. Then we zoom into the Olympic reality for skimo. The format is sprint and co-ed relay, the athlete quota is tiny, and the qualification math is unforgiving. Cam explains how nations earn spots, how the U.S. plans to test relay pairings, and why the level is rising fast as countries pour resources into these short, explosive events. Along the way we hit the fun stuff too: training in France, the croissant count tradition, vegetarian fueling, Dynafit sponsorship loyalty, Pierra Menta as a “lifetime memory,” and a mindset reset that comes from working with a sports psychologist and staying grounded through work outside sport. If you care about ski mountaineering, trail running, strength training, ACL rehab, or Olympic qualification, this one delivers. Subscribe, share this with a mountain athlete friend, and leave a five-star review if it helps, what part of Cam’s story are you taking into your own training? Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.us Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod Follow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa

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#193 - Joe "Stringbean" McConaughy - RD North Bend Trailfest & Ultrarunner

Send us Fan Mail A mountain town, a brutally steep VK, and a trail festival that’s trying to feel like a hometown party instead of a corporate expo. We’re joined by Joe McConaughey, ultrarunner, coach, and race director of North Bend Trailfest, to break down why Mount Si delivers one of the most compelling short-course mountain running tests in the Pacific Northwest and why that matters for the future of sub-ultra racing. We talk course specifics and what you actually get when you show up: a Mount Si Vertical Kilometer that hits sustained steep grades, a 30K that links ridgelines toward Tenerife, and a 10K option that still gives you a real summit-style effort. Joe also shares how North Bend’s location near Seattle makes travel simple, and why building the event around the park, local vendors, and family-friendly ideas like childcare support can make the weekend feel bigger than the distance on paper. Then we zoom out into the behind-the-scenes reality of race directing on public land. Joe walks through permitting constraints in Washington, the difference between DNR land and other agencies, and the constant tradeoffs between protecting wilderness and keeping trails maintainable and usable. If you’ve ever wondered why some iconic routes can’t host races or why certain events cap fields well below demand, this conversation gets specific. We also get into Joe’s athlete brain: FKTs, big ultras like Cocodona, John Muir Trail experience, and why overplanning hydration and sodium can backfire when the body refuses to follow your model. Add in new dad life and you’ve got a real look at how endurance goals evolve when time and energy are no longer unlimited. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves steep singletrack, and leave a rating or review so we can keep bringing you conversations like this. Follow Joe on IG - @thestring.bean Register for the North Bend Trailfest - @northbendtrailfest Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.us Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod Follow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa

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#194 - Adam Sjolund

Send us Fan Mail A lot of runners dream about a breakthrough season. Adam Joland is living one, and he’s honest about how messy it looks from the inside. Right after a standout run at Sierre-Zinal and a strong Golden Trail campaign, we sit down to dissect what actually went right: keeping the monster climb under control, staying mentally present for the whole race, and learning how to race with confidence instead of just hanging on and hoping. If you follow mountain running, Golden Trail World Series racing, or just love hearing how elite athletes problem-solve in real time, this one gets specific fast. Adam also shares the long road that led here, from growing up in Bonnie Lake, Washington to running collegiately at the University of Nevada, Reno where trail running became part of the training culture early. Then comes Flagstaff, Arizona, a training environment that can either sharpen you or swallow you. We talk about adjusting to altitude, finding a crew, and building the Ponderosa Pirates as a group of hungry “misfit” trail runners who keep each other honest. Outside the racing, Adam balances a mechanical engineering PhD at NAU with research focused on carbon sequestration, plus the practical question every emerging athlete faces: how do you chase a professional trail running contract without turning your brain over to social media? He explains why he quit posting, why he came back, and how outsourcing Instagram helps him stay focused on training, nutrition, and technical skills. We also get into the sport’s rapid professionalization, what we gain with bigger money, and what we risk losing from trail running’s dirtbag roots. If you enjoy the conversation, subscribe or follow, share it with a training partner, and leave a rating and review so we can keep telling these stories. Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.us Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod Follow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa

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Most Replayed Episode: Mason Coppi, 2026 U.S. Mountain Running Champion

Send us Fan Mail Mason Copi just came off a win at Cirque Series Alta, and what stood out to us wasn’t only the speed it was the optimism. We talk right after the race about the course, the steep Baldy descent, and why feeling “locked in” can look like smiling, waving, and actually enjoying the chaos. From there we zoom out into Mason’s full arc: Southern California roots, a nationally competitive high school program, Division I running at Furman, and the moment the sport started to feel like self-worth instead of sport. Mason shares how David Roche’s The Happy Runner mindset helped him rebuild a healthier relationship with training, then why trail running and sub-ultra racing became the perfect reset. If you care about mountain running, the Golden Trail Series, and the rise of the hybrid track-to-trails athlete, this one hits all the right notes. We also get practical. Mason breaks down how he trains like a road athlete during the week with threshold and 10K-style work, then adds mountain specificity on weekends. We dig into cross-training doubles on the bike to build aerobic volume with less wear and tear, plus his simple race-day nutrition for an hour-long mountain race, including caffeine gel timing and why “something sweet” can help you go all out. If you’re chasing faster sub-ultra results, better mindset under pressure, or just a more sustainable love for trail running, you’ll leave with tools you can use right away. Subscribe, share this with a running friend, and leave a rating and review so more people can find the show. Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.us Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod Follow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa

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A Special Discount Code for Listeners

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Most Replayed Episode: Michelino Sunseri, Grand Teton FKT Holder

Send us Fan Mail He just set a Grand Teton FKT, but what grabbed me most wasn’t the time on the clock. It was the way Michelino “Mike” Sanseri thinks about mountains, suffering, joy, and what it actually takes to become dangerous on a start line without losing yourself along the way. We talk about how a single run on the Teton Crest Trail and a moment on Hurricane Pass pushed him to leave Tahoe and move to Teton Valley, why trails always felt like home, and why college running on roads and flat paths broke his body year after year. Mike gets real about quitting, the “lost years,” and the surprisingly human way motivation can come back when you finally reconnect with what makes movement feel alive. From there we trace the messy climb into elite mountain running: early comeback races, learning ultrarunning through painful mistakes, and the competitive edge that helped lead to major results like Speedgoat and Broken Arrow. We also get into The North Face partnership and team culture, ski mountaineering goals (including skiing the Grand Teton), and what it’s like to train where grizzlies, wildfire smoke, and real consequences live right outside the door. We close with mindset and training lessons you can steal today, including Mike’s “box of matches” metaphor for managing intensity, plus a fun detour into aliens, pyramids, and the simulation question. If you’re into trail running, mountain running, FKTs, ultrarunning training, and big mountain adventure, this one hits. Subscribe, share it with a mountain friend, and leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so more people find the show. Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.us Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod Follow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa

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