Podcast
The Steep Stuff Podcast
Hosted by James Lauriello · EN
Your Source for all Things Trail, Mountain & Skyrunning
65episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Mason Coppi - Pre Sunapee Scramble (U.S. Mountain Running Championship) Interview
Jun 400:52:23Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailA championship race can mess with your head before it ever tests your legs. We’re back with Mason Cobi on the eve of the US Mountain Running Championships at Mount Sunapee, and we get real about the early season weirdness: stacked fields, unknown fitness, and the uncomfortable shift from “underdog” to “the guy people watch” on the start line. Mason breaks down how he thinks about pressure, why being keyed off can be a disadvantage, and how he’s learning to race from a more established position without abandoning what made him dangerous in the first place. From there we go deep on mountain running tactics for a two loop course. We talk aggressive starters, when to let someone go, and how a simple pacing cap and a quick systems check can keep you from redlining early. Mason shares what he learned last year about respecting competitors, choosing the right moment to move, and why improved downhill running can completely change your options on race day. If you love short trail racing, this is the kind of practical strategy talk you can steal immediately. Then the conversation takes a turn to road speed and controlled chaos with the full Boston Marathon story. Mason shows up planning a victory lap after Gorge, decides to race anyway, and surprises himself with an OTQ and a huge PR. We also get into the experimentation side of endurance performance: super shoes, trail shoe choices for mud versus dry conditions, and the pros and cons of testing supplements like sodium bicarbonate and Nomeo, along with a clear warning about what not to try on your A race. If you’re training for a mountain race, a marathon, or both, hit play and come race-nerd with us. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves tactics, and leave a review. What’s one decision you want to make smarter on your next start line?Follow Mason on IG - @mcoppi44Reach out to Mason for Coaching - Hello to Running!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
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Tayler Peavey - Pre Sunapee Scramble (U.S. Mountain Running Championship) Interview
Jun 400:18:01Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailTwo loops can turn a “simple” mountain race into a full blown tactics problem, especially when the second lap gets more technical and the weather hints at mud. We’re joined by Taylor Peavey ahead of the US Mountain Running Championships to talk through the nerves and excitement of stepping into her first true mountain classic and why that unknown is exactly what makes it worth chasing. We get into real race strategy: how measured pacing on loop one can still keep you in position, where moves tend to happen once the course steepens up, and how to stay open minded while racing against a deep field. Taylor also shares how she thinks about course previewing, arriving a couple days early, and handling East Coast style trails that have a reputation for being slick and unforgiving. Footwear talk gets specific, because on a rainy championship day your shoe choice is part of your plan. Taylor compares what she’s liked in the Nike ACG Ultrafly and why she’s considering a lower profile option like the Nike Kiger for better control on steep descents. We also zoom out to the season, from Broken Arrow to Sierre Zinal, and what a Team USA opportunity and racing in Canada could mean for building experience ahead of bigger world team goals. If you’re into mountain running, trail racing tactics, technical descending, and the training mindset that holds up when the race gets chaotic, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a training partner, and leave a review with your best mud racing tip.Follow Tayler on IG - @taylerwithlimeUse 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
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Aimee Kohler- Pre Sunapee Scramble (U.S. Mountain Running Championship) Interview
Jun 400:22:19Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailThe East Coast trail running season flips on fast, and suddenly you’re staring down wet descents, ski-slope climbs, and a start line packed with people who have nothing to lose. We sit down with mountain runner and race director Aimee Kohler right before Sunapee to get practical about how you actually prepare for a short, brutally competitive mountain race when life is already full. She’s coming off injury, rebuilding fitness in a compressed training block, and still managing a spring race directing calendar that leaves “balance” feeling like a myth. We dig into what makes a two-loop course tricky, why loop one can bait you into going out too hot, and how Amy thinks about positioning so she can attack when the second loop gets longer and more technical. She calls out the glades descent as the make-or-break section and shares how she’s approaching pacing with restraint early so she can hammer late. If you love skyrunning, mountain running, and East Coast trail racing, you’ll recognize the stakes: the moment you hesitate, the field swarms. Then we go full gear nerd, from traction and outsole feel to what Amy plans to race in (Hoka Zinal 3) and what she trains in when the miles get longer. We wrap with her summer schedule and big goals, including Whiteface, Loon, Escarpment, and Grindstone 50K with UTMB OCC qualification on the horizon, plus a look behind the curtain at Running Kind events and the logistical chaos of directing a Backyard Ultra where you can’t predict the finish time. Subscribe, share this with a training partner, and leave a review, then tell us: do you race loop one conservative or go on the attack?Follow Aimee on IG - @aimskohLooking for more fun races in the Northeast? Check out The Running Kind ! - @therunningkind_ / The Running KindThe Running Kind Races -> @therunningkindUse 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
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Remi Leroux - Pre Sunapee Scramble (U.S. Mountain Running Championship) Interview
Jun 400:29:25Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailSunapee is the kind of mountain race that exposes everything you try to hide, especially your downhill. We sit down with Remy LaRue to get specific about what changed in his training since last season, why he finally feels more prepared for the Sunapee Scramble, and how technical trail skills can make or break a two-loop race when the pace goes nuclear from the gun.We talk through the messy reality of getting to the start line healthy, including Remi’s Achilles issues last winter and the foot and big-toe injury that hit mid-race last year. From there, we get practical about improvement: how he’s building faster technical descents through repetition on rugged terrain, staying mentally engaged on downhills during easy runs, and developing the confidence to be efficient instead of cautious. It’s a conversation about trail running performance that goes beyond workouts and into decision-making, risk, and skill.Strategy and gear get their own spotlight. Remy shares how he thinks about positioning when the first loop leader is often not the winner, what it feels like to race from too far back, and how he plans to balance an aggressive start with a strong second lap. We also get nerdy about shoes for wet, muddy trails, including why he might race in the Brooks Cascadia 19 for grip and stability even if it’s heavier than the “optimal” choice. Plus: double-loop-specific training tweaks, the Golden Trail Series calendar, Quebec Mega Trail excitement, and what a big result would mean.If you like deep trail running talk that’s honest, tactical, and useful, hit play. Subscribe to the podcast, share this with a training partner, and leave a review so more mountain runners can find us.Follow Remi on IG - @remi_lerouxUse 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
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Gabby DeAngelis- Pre Sunapee Scramble (U.S. Mountain Running Championship) Interview
Jun 400:17:58Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailThat moment when a trail points straight down, the mud is slick, and your brain says “absolutely not” but you go anyway, laughing the whole way. That’s the vibe of our pre-race sit-down with Gabby DeAngelis as Sunapee race week finally arrives, and it’s also a perfect window into why New England trail running hooks so many people.We talk with Gabby about her unconventional path into the sport, from four years of college soccer at Siena to discovering she actually loved track workouts, then heading back to New Hampshire for grad school and running for the University of New Hampshire. She shares how hiking in the White Mountains shaped her comfort on technical terrain, why agility from soccer translates so well to rocky trails, and how she’s approaching this season while coming off a knee injury.Then we get practical: what makes the Sunapee course feel so “vintage Northeast,” how the two-lap format changes your head game, and why the steep descent can be both terrifying and ridiculously fun. Gabby also explains what it means to be part of the Marathon Sports trail team, what she’s racing in for shoes (Altra Mont Blanc Carbon), and which White Mountains routes she keeps coming back to, including a Mount Adams scramble and a redemption run after a missed turn.If you’re into trail racing, skyrunning, the White Mountains, or the growing New England mountain running scene, you’ll leave with course insight, mindset tools, and a reminder that sometimes the real opponent is the route itself. Subscribe, share this with a trail friend, and leave a review with your favorite technical descent story.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
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Kicking off the La Sportiva Green Mountain & Grandeur Peak Challenge with Anton Krupicka, Jason Dorias, Tom Goth & Kelsey Quinn
May 2900:30:02Tap 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
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The Sub Stack Short Trail News - Episode 4
May 2700:59:04Tap 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
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#181 - Simon Kearns
May 2200:58:04Tap 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
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#180 - Taylor Stack
May 2100:53:31Tap 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
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Some Thoughts on Zegama
May 2000:25:08Tap 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
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