Podcast
The Steep Stuff Podcast
Hosted by James Lauriello · EN
Welcome to the Steep Stuff Podcast, your source for all things Short Trail
20episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Kicking off the La Sportiva Green Mountain & Grandeur Peak Challenge with Anton Krupicka, Jason Dorias, Tom Goth & Kelsey Quinn
6d ago00:30:02Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailYour backyard peak can be more than a workout, it can be a measuring stick for an entire community. We’re joined by Kelsey Quinn from La Sportiva marketing plus athletes Anton Krupicka, Jason Dorias, and Tom Goth to unpack the La Sportiva Green Mountain and Grandeur Peak Challenge, running May 15 through June 15. The goal is simple and addictive: chase the fastest uphill time, stack the most summits, or just get in the game and let the mountain sharpen you. We get into why Green Mountain in Boulder has become a daily ritual for so many trail runners, from its proximity to town to the sheer number of ways you can climb it. Anton shares the kind of long-view perspective only years of repeats can create: how the trail has rerouted over time, how pre-Strava “ghost times” still shape the lore, and why breaking 30 minutes remains a real marker in mountain running. Then we shift to Grandeur Peak in Salt Lake City, a steep, clean effort that functions like a perfect vertical kilometer and a favorite training tool for ski mountaineers. Tom and Jason talk routes, strategy, and the local history of FKTs and early Strava rivalries, including why the West Grandeur line is such a magnet for uphill specialists and why poles often win the day. We also cover the prizes, including $750 cash for the fastest man and woman, awards for the most completions, and raffle entries for anyone who participates. If you’re near Boulder or the Wasatch Front, this is your excuse to learn the route, test your pacing, and add your name to the story. Subscribe, share this with a training partner, and leave a review if you want more conversations like this.Details For Grandeur You have from May15 to June15 to complete the Grandeur Peak West Climb segment.The fastest single ascent (trailhead → summit) for both Male & Female during this timeframe will receive $750 cash each!The most verified summits during event window (Top 3 Most Completions) during this timeframe will receive $500 | $350 | $150 each!Every registered participant will be entered for a chance to win a pair of La Sportiva Mountain Running shoes (5 total) + other prizes!Dates:The challenge runs from May 15 to June 15, 2026.Details for Green The Challenge:You have from May15 to June15 to complete the Green Mountain via Amphitheater/Saddle Rock/Greenman Trail segment.The fastest single ascent (trailhead → summit) for both Male & Female during this timeframe will receive $750 cash each!The most verified summits during event window (Top 3 Most Completions) during this timeframe will receive $500 | $350 | $150 each!Every registered participant will be entered for a chance to win a pair of La Sportiva Mountain Running shoes (5 total) + other prizes!Dates:The challenge runs from May 15 to June 15, 2026.To Sign up for the Green Mountain Challenge - > RegisterTo Sign up for the Grandeur Peak Challenge -> RegisterFollow Anton Krupicka on IG - @antonkrupickaFollow Jason Dorias on IG - @jasondoriasFollow Tom Goth on IG - @tomgothUse code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.usFollow James on IG - @jameslaurielloFollow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_podFollow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa
Transcribe →
The Sub Stack Short Trail News - Episode 4
1w ago00:59:04Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailTrail running is getting faster right in front of us, and you can see it in the results: course records dropping, deeper fields showing up everywhere, and athletes crossing over from road and track with zero patience for “easing into” the trails. We sit down with Rachel Temaichek to catch up on a wild personal update from racing in Europe, then zoom out into what’s already shaping the heart of the season across US trail racing, the Golden Trail World Series, the Skyrunner World Series, and the World Cup calendar.We recap Gorge Waterfalls 30K and why the Lauren Gregory vs Taylor Tuttle showdown felt like a statement race, plus what Mason Cope’s performance says about the current level of American men’s racing. From there we hit Canyons 50K, where Matt Daniels and McKenna Morley light up a fast course and push the bigger question: are nutrition, training, and shoe tech making trail running records the new normal? That naturally leads into Western States 100, where the fields look deep enough to make even “safe” picks feel spicy.On the international side, we talk Skyrunner quirks like evening starts and headlamps, then go deep on Zagama: the fan energy, the mud, Taylor Stack’s historic American podium, and Tove Alexanderson’s jaw-dropping course record. We also break down Ledro, the Kenyan depth in the men’s race, and the ongoing debate about staggered starts and passing on technical descents. Subscribe for more race breakdowns, share this with a trail friend, and leave a review if you want more frequent ranking and results check-ins.Follow Rachel on IG - @rachrunsworldUse code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.usFollow James on IG - @jameslaurielloFollow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_podFollow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa
Transcribe →
#181 - Simon Kearns
2w ago00:58:04Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailMount Rainier is not the place where you get to switch your brain off and “just suffer.” The route moves, the glacier breathes, and a boot pack that looked safe two days ago can point straight at a crevasse. That’s why Simon Kearns’ new Mount Rainier round trip on-foot FKT, 3:43:50 car to car, stopped us in our tracks. Simon is an RMI Expeditions mountain guide and a rising name in mountain running and skyrunning, with speed records that include Mount Hood and a recent fastest time on Mailbox Peak. We talk through the real story behind the Rainier effort: a last-minute pivot away from a ski record attempt after snapping a race ski, the advantage and responsibility that comes with doing route work on the mountain, and how he stays sharp when the terrain demands both speed and precision. If you’ve ever wondered what “dialing a route” means on snow and ice, this conversation makes it concrete. We also get into how he trains around guiding logistics, why he works with Jackson Cole as a coach, and how he thinks about the balance between lonely FKT projects and the energy of racing. Along the way we swap notes on the Pacific Northwest volcano scene, European skyrunning culture in Chamonix, and what it looks like to pursue the AMGA and IFMGA guiding path while still chasing big athletic goals. If you like FKTs, alpine running, mountaineering strategy, and honest talk about risk, training, and motivation, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a mountain friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show.Follow Simon on IG - @simonkearns1Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.usFollow James on IG - @jameslaurielloFollow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_podFollow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa
Transcribe →
#180 - Taylor Stack
2w ago00:53:31Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailA muddy mountainside, a deafening wall of fans, and a start line stacked with icons of trail running. Taylor Stack joins us right after Zegama to break down the day he turned a “maybe top 20 is solid” opportunity into a third place podium against one of the deepest Golden Trail World Series fields anywhere. If you’ve ever wondered what it actually feels like to race in Europe’s steep, wet, technical chaos and still finish fast, Taylor gives the clearest picture I’ve heard. We get into the unsexy stuff that creates big results: consistent training, finding your personal volume sweet spot, and why he avoids chasing hero workouts for confidence. Taylor explains how he uses early-season races as rust busters, how living around 9,000 feet shapes his fitness, and why he drops down in elevation for faster sessions. We also talk metrics and why he keeps it simple with pace and heart rate instead of obsessing over running power. Then we go mile by mile through Zegama: the shockingly hard early pace, the iconic Sancti Spiritu climb shoulder to shoulder with Kilian Jornet, and the decision to stay controlled so he could attack late. Taylor shares how he fueled, how Golden Trail bottle service changes the game, what he saw when Kilian’s day went sideways, and the mindset shift required to move from “podium is a dream” to “winning is the goal.” If you enjoy deep race recaps, practical mountain running training advice, and the mental side of performance, subscribe, share this with a training partner, and leave a review so more runners can find the show. What part of Taylor’s approach are you going to try in your next build?Follow Taylor on IG - @stack_taylorUse code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.usFollow James on IG - @jameslaurielloFollow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_podFollow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa
Transcribe →
Some Thoughts on Zegama
2w ago00:25:08Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailZegama-Aizkorri in the rain is supposed to slow people down. Instead, it gave us one of the loudest statements of the year, and I needed a solo mic to process it. The course was wet, muddy, and technical enough to punish every mistake, yet the racing still felt electric on both sides of the field. If you follow trail running, mountain running, skyrunning, or the Golden Trail World Series, this is the kind of weekend that reshapes expectations.We have to talk about Tove Alexanderson. She didn’t just win Zegama, she smashed the course record and put massive time into athletes who are normally right in the mix. I dig into why her background on technical terrain translates so well, why her finishes look like she emptied the tank every single time, and what her path could look like with big targets like Ledro SkyRace, Quebec Mega Trail, and the bigger season narrative that ends at Sierre-Zinal. The big question I keep coming back to: are we watching a one-year heater, or the start of a truly dominant era?Then we flip to the men and I make the case that Taylor Stack might be the next great American short-trail star. The podium at Zegama matters, the way he raced matters, and I don’t think we’ve seen his ceiling yet. We also hit the Kilian Jornet conversation, what we know about the rough day and the fall, why I’m not panicking, and why I still think he’s a major factor going forward, including Western States.Listen, share this with a friend who loves the sport, and then leave a review if you want to support the show. After you hear it, what’s your prediction for Tove, Taylor, and Kilian this season?Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.usFollow James on IG - @jameslaurielloFollow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_podFollow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa
Transcribe →
#179 - Kristina Randrup
3w ago01:04:32Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailA pro trail runner who spends her days modeling blue whale populations sounds like a made-up character, but Kristina Randrup is very real and very deep in both worlds. We talk about what it’s actually like to pursue a PhD at the University of Washington while racing ultras for Brooks, and why “computer ecology” can be just as meaningful as fieldwork when the goal is conservation and truth.We get into blue whale recovery and why the numbers look radically different depending on the population. Khristina explains how blue whales were hunted to near-extinction in some regions, what carrying capacity means, and how management decisions like protections from ship strikes and entanglements lean on population status. She also breaks down the practical science behind abundance estimates, including line transect surveys and photo-based mark-recapture using fluke IDs, plus how models combine historic whaling catches with modern data.Then we swing back to trail running: growing up around Bay Area running culture, learning to love long runnable ultras, the strange magic of the Dipsy Race, and what it takes to “sell yourself” to sponsors without being weird about it. We also talk Washington training, Cirque Series Crystal Mountain, gear choices like the Brooks Cascadia Elite, and how to find balance when both school and sport demand your best.If you enjoyed this one, subscribe, share it with a friend who loves trail running or marine science, and leave a review so more people can find the show.Follow Kristina on IG - @kristina.randrupUse code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.usFollow James on IG - @jameslaurielloFollow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_podFollow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa
Transcribe →
Zegama-Aizkorri Race Companion
3w ago01:30:34Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailZegama-Aizkorri is the race that turns a mountain into a stadium. One steep Basque climb packed with cowbells, one technical day where mud can rewrite the script, and a start list so deep that a “safe” prediction still feels risky. I sit down in person with Steve Taylor to build a true Zegama race companion: equal parts course preview, culture primer, and athlete scouting report for anyone following the Golden Trail World Series.We start with what makes Zegama different. Steve shares firsthand context on the Basque Country, why the region’s identity shows up so strongly on race day, and how traditions like the Basque beret and the winner’s axe turn a finish line into something unforgettable. From there we get tactical: how pacing works on a course with sustained climbing, how the descents punish mistakes, and why weather forecasts matter as much as fitness when the trails go slick.Then we dig into the contenders and call our shots. On the men’s side, we talk Kilian Jornet’s bid for another win, Elhousine Elazzaoui’s chances to disrupt the storyline, and why names like Davide Magnini and Manu Merillas can thrive when conditions get messy. On the women’s side, we weigh the hype around Tove Alexanderson against the local firepower of Sarah Alonso, plus consistent threats like Judith Wyder and tough, technical runners like Fabiola Conti. We also shout out the American athletes in the mix, including Taylor Stack, Nicholas Turco, and Sidney Peterson.If you’re watching Zegama-Aizkorri live or catching the replay, this conversation gives you the context to understand every surge and every collapse. Subscribe, share this with a trail running friend, and leave a review with your podium picks so we can compare notes after the dust and mud settle.Follow STEVE on IG - @outdoorinsagentUse code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.usFollow James on IG - @jameslaurielloFollow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_podFollow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa
Transcribe →
#178 - Stevie Kremer
3w ago00:59:32Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailStevie Kremer's name is stitched into trail running history, but the part that surprised us most wasn’t the podiums. It was how she built a world-class career without letting running swallow her life whole. Stevie takes us from a childhood split between German roots and growing up in Connecticut to discovering running later than most, then finding her stride in Colorado and accidentally stumbling into the trails that would define her.We talk about the rocket-ship years of skyrunning and mountain running when she was traveling to Europe, lining up at iconic races like Sierre-Zinal and Zagama, and winning on courses that still intimidate the best athletes in the sport. Stevie shares what it felt like to join the Salomon team during a formative era, how team camaraderie shaped her experience, and why she often flew in right before a race and left immediately after. Beneath the results is a real conversation about performance anxiety, confidence, expectations, and the quiet pressure of being asked, again and again, “Are you going to win?”What makes this conversation stick is Stevie’s core philosophy: balance is not a compromise, it’s a strategy. She explains why teaching gave her stability, why limited time pushed her to make runs count, and why enjoying the process mattered more than following a perfect plan. If you care about trail running growth, athlete identity, mental toughness, and sustainable success in endurance sports, this one goes deep.Subscribe to Steep Stuff Podcast, share this with a friend who loves mountain races, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.Follow Stevie on IG - @steviekremerUse code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.usFollow James on IG - @jameslaurielloFollow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_podFollow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa
Transcribe →
#177 - Kieran Nay
4w ago01:13:17Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailHe flew across the world, navigated a high-stakes visa process, got sick right before travel, and still walked away with a breakthrough weekend. We’re back with mountain running standout Kieran Nay, fresh off the WMRA World Cup in China, where he delivers a top 15 in the uphill and a top 10 in the Mountain Classic, including the surreal experience of racing on the Great Wall.We talk through what WMRA events feel like on the ground: the organization, the media presence, and why Kieran values the series’ anti-doping focus. From there, we zoom out into the bigger trail running conversation: WMRA vs Golden Trail vs skyrunning, the push and pull between private series and federations, and whether the sport should ever try to unify under one umbrella. Along the way, Kieran shares what it’s like standing out in a new culture, troubleshooting payments with WeChat, and seeing how sport can cut through the easy narratives we tell about other countries.Then we get practical. Kieran breaks down pacing, heart rate, and decision-making for steep VK-style efforts, plus what changed for him on technical downhills in the Mountain Classic. We dig into training in Gunnison, grade specificity, heat prep, and the mental shift that helps him race with curiosity instead of pressure. We also hit altitude tools, respiratory muscle training, and his interest in experimenting with bicarb and other marginal gains as the season ramps toward Broken Arrow, SeirSandal, Grand Traverse, and the Pikes Peak Marathon.If you enjoy deep, honest conversations about mountain running performance and the life behind the results, subscribe, share this with a running friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.Follow Kieran on IG - @kieran_nayPhoto Credit - WMRA Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.usFollow James on IG - @jameslaurielloFollow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_podFollow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa
Transcribe →
#176 - David Norris
May 501:09:35Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailDavid Norris is stacking proof-of-fitness in the most honest way possible: show up early, race hard, learn fast. We sit down to catch up right as he rolls out big spring results including a win at Big Alta 50K and a podium at Gorge Waterfalls 50K, all pointing toward a new challenge at Snowdonia 100K. If you’re curious about ultra running progression, trail running strategy, and how a mountain specialist stretches into longer distances without losing speed, this conversation goes deep on the decisions behind the calendar.We get specific on pacing and execution. David explains why he skipped formal heat training yet still thrived at Big Alta, how he prioritized hydration (and what that did for his fueling), and when he finally committed to making a race-winning move. Then we contrast it with Gorge Waterfalls, where he races head-to-head from the gun on technical singletrack, underfuels, and detonates late. The value is in the honesty: you can hear exactly how effort, terrain, and nutrition interact when the course keeps changing under your feet.From there we zoom out to the full mountain running picture: training in Steamboat Springs, cross-training with Nordic skiing and mountain biking, strength work realities, and the day-to-day logistics of doubles while holding down an office job. We also dig into UTMB OCC takeaways, worlds course quirks, and Mount Marathon, the Alaska classic where David is a six-time champion chasing history and maybe a sub-40 someday. If you like mountain running, trail racing, the Golden Trail Series, and smart training you can actually replicate, hit play and take notes.If this one helps, subscribe, share it with a training partner, and leave a review so more runners can find the show. What part of your own training would you change after hearing David’s approach?Follow David on IG - @grandmasternorrisUse code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.usFollow James on IG - @jameslaurielloFollow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_podFollow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa
Transcribe →