One wrong turn can end your day, or it can reveal what you’re made of. Right after the U.S. Mountain Running Championships, we link up with Ares Reading in the airport for a quick, honest debrief on how he ran himself into fourth place and onto Team USA, right behind names like Christian Allen, Dan Curts, and Mason Coppi.

We walk the race from the opening climb to the moment Ares, Mason, and Christian all followed the wrong markers into the woods, and the split-second mental scramble that followed. Ares explains how he settled back in, where he regained ground, and why the technical downhills are still the biggest separator for him. If you care about mountain running, trail racing tactics, and what actually changes performance week to week, this conversation gets specific fast.

We also dig into training with coach Matt Daniels, including fatigue resistance sessions, long hill reps, and a hill ladder workout designed to simulate pushing hard on tired legs. Ares shares how getting dropped on technical descents at Canyons flipped a switch, why he’s leaning into more technical downhill practice, and what he’s most excited about next at Broken Arrow and beyond, with international goals on the horizon.

If you’re chasing your own breakthrough, hit play, then subscribe, share this with a trail friend, and leave a review so more runners can find the show.

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