The Steep Stuff Podcast

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The Steep Stuff Podcast

James Lauriello

197 episodes

2 days ago

Send us a text Jane Maus' trail running journey embodies perseverance against formidable odds. After multiple extended injury layoffs that nearly ended her running career, she's emerged as one of America's premier mountain athletes. Her remarkable comeback culminated in earning a coveted spot on Team USA for the World Trail Running Championships in Canfranc, Spain this September. The conversation reveals how strategic racing propelled Jane to success at the fiercely competitive Broken Arrow ...

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Send us a text Jane Maus' trail running journey embodies perseverance against formidable odds. After multiple extended injury layoffs that nearly ended her running career, she's emerged as one of America's premier mountain athletes. Her remarkable comeback culminated in earning a coveted spot on Team USA for the World Trail Running Championships in Canfranc, Spain this September. The conversation reveals how strategic racing propelled Jane to success at the fiercely competitive Broken Arrow ...

Show more...

Episodes (20/197)

The Steep Stuff Podcast

Sierre Zinal Race Preview with Bailey Kowalczyk

Send us a text Nestled in the Swiss Alps, Sierre-Zinal stands as perhaps the most competitive short trail race on the planet. It's the place where mountain running meets marathon speed in a showcase of pure athletic brilliance. To help break down this iconic event, host James Lauriello welcomes the perfect co-host – Bailey Kowalczyk, who scored a remarkable 5th place finish at the race in 2022. Bailey paints a vivid picture of what makes Sierre-Zinal so special: "It has that European energy ...

2 days ago

1 hour 3 minutes

The Steep Stuff Podcast

#110 - Grant Colligan

Send us a text Grant Colligan sits down with the Steep Stuff podcast to share his fascinating journey from Michigan flatlands to Colorado mountain peaks. Despite growing up in the Midwest without access to mountains, Grant developed into an elite trail runner while maintaining his career as a metallurgist. The conversation explores how Grant's decorated collegiate running career at Colorado School of Mines (where he earned 10 All-American honors) ended abruptly—first by being tripped in his ...

3 days ago

1 hour

The Steep Stuff Podcast

#109 - Courtney Coppinger

Send us a text What happens when an elite athlete rejects pressure and runs purely for joy? Courtney Coppinger's remarkable transformation from burned-out track star to trail running standout offers a blueprint for finding success through authenticity and boundary-setting. A Kansas native and All-American steeplechaser at the University of Kansas, Courtney's path took unexpected turns after representing Team USA internationally in 2019. She candidly shares her journey through multiple "retir...

1 week ago

1 hour 11 minutes

The Steep Stuff Podcast

#108 - Sarah Carter

Send us a text From collegiate rejection to trail running triumph, Sarah Carter's story is one of extraordinary resilience and self-discovery. After being cut from her university team and told she lacked potential, Sarah transferred to Colorado State University where she rebuilt her confidence and reignited her passion for running. Our conversation dives deep into Sarah's remarkable capacity to overcome adversity – a quality that defines her athletic journey. She candidly shares the emotiona...

1 week ago

1 hour 15 minutes

The Steep Stuff Podcast

Lindsay Allison & Ryan Becker| Speedgoat 50K Pre Race Interview

Send us a text Ryan Becker and Lindsay Allison join the Steep Stuff Podcast fresh off their selection to the US Trail Running World Championship team, bringing listeners a candid glimpse into the realities of high-level mountain running while balancing demanding careers. The conversation begins with Ryan's breakthrough performance at Broken Arrow 46K—a victory made more remarkable by the circumstances surrounding it. Working 70-80 hours weekly at a new job, Ryan nearly withdrew from the race...

2 weeks ago

42 minutes

The Steep Stuff Podcast

Scott Klingonsmith | Speedgoat 50K Pre Race Interview

Send us a text Meet Scott Klingonsmith, a rising star in the mountain running scene who's ready to take on one of America's most challenging ultramarathons. At just 20 years old, this Utah-based athlete brings fresh energy and strategic thinking to the grueling Speed Goat 50K. Scott shares his fascinating journey from dabbling in ultras to deliberately focusing on shorter trail races to build speed, and now returning to test himself against the punishing 11,000 feet of elevation gain at Spee...

2 weeks ago

20 minutes

The Steep Stuff Podcast

Robyn Lesh | Speedgoat 50K Pre Race Interview

Send us a text From defending 28K champion to 50K challenger, Robin Lesch brings her trademark consistency and strategic approach to this year's Speedgoat 50K. The mountain ultrarunner from Durango shares a refreshingly honest assessment of her racing philosophy: "I'll either blow up, and that'll be a learning, or I won't, and that'll be a learning." Robin's consistency across diverse race distances and terrains stands out in a sport where many experience dramatic performance swings. She att...

2 weeks ago

17 minutes

The Steep Stuff Podcast

Speedgoat 50K Race Companion

Send us a text The legendary Speedgoat 50k isn't just another mountain race—it's a brutal test of endurance that has humbled even the sport's greatest athletes. With 11,400 feet of climbing packed into 31 miles at altitudes reaching 11,000 feet, this Karl Meltzer creation has rightfully earned its reputation as America's toughest 50k. James and Nick dive deep into what makes this race so special, tracing its rich history through the performances of ultrarunning royalty like Kilian Jornet, An...

2 weeks ago

1 hour 3 minutes

The Steep Stuff Podcast

#107 - Alexa Aragon

Send us a text Welcome to a captivating conversation with Alexa Aragon, the rising trail running star who's taken the mountain running scene by storm. With remarkable top-10 finishes at the Broken Arrow Sky Race, Sunapee Scramble, and most recently, a second-place finish at Cirque Series Snowbird, Alexa has quickly established herself as someone the trail running world needs to watch. What makes Alexa's story particularly fascinating is her unorthodox path. Unlike many elite trail runners, s...

2 weeks ago

1 hour 2 minutes

The Steep Stuff Podcast

Barr Trail Mountain Race Elite Panel

Send us a text The steep stuff podcast delivers a fascinating glimpse into the minds of elite mountain runners in this special episode featuring the Bar Trail Mountain Race Elite Night panel. Host James Loriello brings listeners directly into the pre-race conversation with six accomplished athletes preparing to tackle one of Colorado Springs' most iconic trail races. The episode opens with crucial safety information from El Paso County Search and Rescue, highlighting the unique challenges of...

2 weeks ago

1 hour 10 minutes

The Steep Stuff Podcast

#106 - Steve White

Send us a text Steve White brings a refreshing perspective to mountain sports as both the West Coast Race Director for the Cirque Series and an accomplished athlete in his own right. Through our conversation, Steve offers a glimpse behind the curtain of what it takes to create memorable race experiences while maintaining his personal connection to mountains and movement. What sets Steve apart is his approach to adventure – less concerned with structure or external validation and more focused...

3 weeks ago

1 hour 5 minutes

The Steep Stuff Podcast

#105 - Noah Williams

Send us a text When Noah Williams crossed the finish line at Broken Arrow 46K in fourth place, beating dozens of elite international competitors, he knew something special had happened. "I felt almost out of body," he shares, describing that rare state where everything clicks perfectly into place. Just one week later, he stood on the podium at Italy's prestigious Lavaredo 80K. This conversation takes us deep into the mind of one of America's most exciting mountain runners. From his Vermont r...

1 month ago

1 hour 26 minutes

The Steep Stuff Podcast

#104 - Rena Schwartz

Send us a text The trail running world has a new star to watch, and she comes from an unexpected background. Rena Schwartz, fresh off her victory at the Mount Washington Road Race, joins the Steep Stuff Podcast to share the fascinating journey that took her from Nordic skiing champion at Dartmouth College to dominating some of America's most challenging mountain races. What makes Reena's rapid rise in trail running so remarkable is how new she is to competitive racing. After graduating from ...

1 month ago

34 minutes

The Steep Stuff Podcast

Broken Arrow Ascent Preview

Send us a text Welcome to a special preview of what might be the most competitive mountain race ever assembled on American soil. As the Broken Arrow Skyrace approaches, we're diving deep into the Ascent competition (formerly known as the VK) where the stakes couldn't be higher – the top four American men and women will earn spots on Team USA for the World Mountain Running Championships. The star power in this year's field is simply astounding. Patrick Kipngeno returns to defend his title aga...

1 month ago

50 minutes

The Steep Stuff Podcast

Broken Arrow 46K Race Preview

Send us a text The mountain running world turns its attention to Palisades Tahoe this week for what promises to be an epic showdown at the Broken Arrow 46K. This isn't just any race – it's a Team USA selection event that has attracted virtually every elite mountain runner in the country, creating what might be the most competitive field ever assembled on American soil. The race itself presents a formidable challenge: approximately 28 miles with a punishing 9,000 feet of vertical gain over tw...

1 month ago

37 minutes

The Steep Stuff Podcast

Broken Arrow 23K Race Preview

Send us a text The trail running universe's spotlight turns to Squaw Valley as the Broken Arrow Sky Race earns its rightful place on the prestigious Golden Trail World Series. James Lauriello and Nick Tusa dive deep into this watershed moment for American mountain running, breaking down why this recognition has been long overdue and what makes this race so special. The hosts explore the fascinating dynamics of the 23K course with its 4,500 feet of vertical gain over roughly 14.5 miles. They ...

1 month ago

32 minutes

The Steep Stuff Podcast

Sam Lewis - Pre Broken Arrow 46K Interview

Send us a text Sam Lewis brings a wealth of experience to the starting line of the Broken Arrow 46K, having represented Team USA three times internationally and competed in the 23K version of this iconic mountain race twice before. In this compelling conversation, she shares the meticulous preparation that has her feeling "in the best shape of my life" heading into one of the season's most competitive events. Training from her temporary base in Boulder, Colorado has given Lewis the mountain-...

1 month ago

23 minutes

The Steep Stuff Podcast

Denali Strabel - Pre Broken Arrow 46K Interview

Send us a text Denali Strabel returns to the Steep Stuff Podcast for a deeply personal conversation about her journey back to the Broken Arrow 46K Skyrace after a five-year hiatus. The Alaskan mountain runner opens up about the transformative path that led her here – through pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and the heartbreaking loss of her twin sister. From the moment she arrived at the race venue, Denali's connection to this special place is palpable. Since 2008, she's been drawn to these m...

1 month ago

17 minutes

The Steep Stuff Podcast

Dani Moreno - Pre Broken Arrow 46K Interview

Send us a text A broken bone can shatter more than just your foot – it can fracture your confidence. When professional Adidas Terrex athlete Dani Marino suffered a cuboid fracture (the rare "nutcracker fracture") during OCC last year, the physical damage was just the beginning. The psychological barrier of running downhill again loomed larger than any mountain course. This conversation captures a pivotal moment in Marino's comeback journey. Fresh off a confidence-building performance at the ...

1 month ago

53 minutes

The Steep Stuff Podcast

Oakley Olson - Pre Broken Arrow VK & 23K Interview

Send us a text Meet Oakley Olson, a rising star in the trail running world who's breaking barriers between collegiate track and mountain racing. Fresh from her NCAA steeplechase season and now a Trail Team Elite selection for 2025, Oakley joins us just days before tackling both the Vertical Kilometer and 23K races at Broken Arrow Skyrace. Oakley's story is remarkable – from showing up at her first trail camp in worn-out road shoes to finishing top-10 at the US Mountain Running Championships ...

1 month ago

19 minutes