The fastest way to fall back in love with running might be to become a beginner again. Carmen Graves knows what it feels like to chase mastery: high school sprinter, college soccer and track standout, then a decade-long professional grind in the steeplechase that took her to US Trials. After years of the same build-ups and the same track-season patterns, she wanted something new, so she stepped onto the trails and embraced the discomfort of learning from scratch.

We talk through what really changes when you go from track to trail running and skyrunning: pacing that’s dictated by vertical gain, the mental focus of technical terrain, and the surprisingly hard skill of switching from hiking to running mid-climb. Carmen shares what she learned at the Broken Arrow Skyrace, why going out hot can wreck the final climbs, and how she’s adjusting her training for Beast of Big Creek. We also get into her strengths so far, including speed on flatter trail courses, confidence on downhills, and the areas she’s targeting most as she builds mountain-specific fitness.

Carmen opens up about nutrition and why fueling has felt like a smooth transition, plus how small systems like gel flasks can make race day cleaner and simpler. She lays out a smart long-term plan too: sharpen in sub-ultra distances first, chase races like the Cirque Series and USATF Trail Championships, then move toward ultras when the foundation is solid. We also dive into what it’s like joining the Merrell athlete team, her go-to shoes, and how mentorship from Andy Wacker helps guide a new chapter.

If you’re curious about transitioning from track and field to trail racing, training for vert, or rebuilding motivation after years of competing, this conversation is packed with honest lessons and practical takeaways. Subscribe, share this with a running friend, and leave a rating and review so we can keep telling these athlete stories.

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