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.

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