The Steep Stuff Podcast

James Lauriello
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Running
  • Updated weekly

Your Source for all Things Trail, Mountain & Skyrunning 

  1. #184 - Karina Andersen

    13 hr ago

    #184 - Karina Andersen

    Send us Fan Mail Karina Andersen’s season doesn’t start with a perfect training block, it starts with a hard reset. After closing out her track era at Colorado School of Mines, she steps away from school for breathing room, takes on Denali, and then spends months living in Chamonix to see what a true mountain town feels like day to day. We talk about the real pressure that can come with places like Chamonix and Boulder, where it’s easy to feel like you have to “earn” your time there with constant vert, big objectives, and public training proof. Then the comeback gets loud. Karina spends the winter going all-in on ski mountaineering with almost zero running, and still shows up in Asia to race the Penang Sky Race in Malaysia and the Ueda Sky Race in Japan, taking 4th and 8th. We break down what heat and humidity do to pacing, why concrete downhills can shred your quads, how mud changes risk and speed, and why uphill fitness can return faster than downhill durability when you’ve been on skis for months. The most important part is the mental side. Karina shares what it’s like to carry a tough DNF and panic mid-race, then rebuild confidence by changing the goal from “place” to “stay present.” We also get into her 2026-focused skyrunning plans, thoughts on UTMB and Golden Trail, and a wild new skill: learning to paraglide in Annecy, with a long-term dream of hike-and-fly racing like Red Bull X-Alps. If you’re into skyrunning, trail running, mountain racing, ski mountaineering, or just figuring out the next chapter, this one hits. Subscribe, share it with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.us Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod Follow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa

    42 min
  2. #183 - Jen Day Denton

    2 days ago

    #183 - Jen Day Denton

    Send us Fan Mail Some athletes chase attention. Jen Day Denton chases a feeling, and somehow ends up rewriting what’s possible on the map. We talk with the Steep Stuff Podcast’s “FKT Queen” about how a non professional, mom first approach can still produce world class fastest known time performances across the Mountain West, from Lone Peak to long linkups and iconic summit days. Jen grew up in Utah with the mountains as her backyard, but she didn’t come up through competitive running or the racing scene. She shares how life changes after divorce opened tiny windows of time, and how those hours became a lifeline: running, crying, healing, and eventually discovering that curiosity can turn into real mountain speed records. We dig into her Grand Teton effort, why some mountains feel sacred, and how record flagging and community politics can complicate what should be a simple day outside. We also break down The WURL in the Wasatch Range, including route finding, fueling lessons, support strategy, and what it’s like to move through terrain that’s both brutal and deeply personal. Then we jump to Pico de Orizaba as part of her long game toward Everest, and she opens up about a serious paragliding accident, the rehab grind, and the hard earned perspective that comes with risk. If you care about mountain running, FKTs, endurance mindset, and the human stories behind the GPX files, this one is for you. Subscribe, share this with a mountain friend, and leave a review with the peak you’d most want to run in a single push. Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.us Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod Follow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa

    52 min
  3. The Sub Stack Short Trail News - Episode 5 - Broken Arrow & Sunapee Scramble Recap

    3 days ago

    The Sub Stack Short Trail News - Episode 5 - Broken Arrow & Sunapee Scramble Recap

    Send us Fan Mail Broken Arrow is no longer “a big US race” and Sunapee is no longer “just a championship weekend.” These two stops are starting to feel like proof that trail running and mountain running in North America has entered a new era: deeper fields, smarter tactics, better coverage, and performances that hold up on the world stage. We sit down together to unpack what we saw across the US Mountain Running Championships at Sunapee and the Broken Arrow Skyrace festival, from pacing strategy on runnable early miles to the chaos of steep ski-hill starts at altitude. We talk about why these courses demand real planning, how athletes can make huge moves after the opening climb, and why knowing the terrain can be as valuable as fitness. Along the way, we dig into the “don’t believe elites when they say they are injured” phenomenon and how cross-training like skiing and biking can still produce world-class race days. We also nerd out on what great storytelling looks like for the sport, including Broken Arrow’s next-level live stream and the tech behind it, plus how commentary can help fans understand what is happening in real time. Then we get into the results and the human stories: breakthrough performances, veteran longevity, and comeback wins that make you want to lace up your shoes immediately. If you care about trail running results, mountain running tactics, the Golden Trail Series ecosystem, or where the US scene is headed next, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves the sport, and leave a review with the most impressive performance from the weekend. Follow Rachel on IG - @rachrunsworld Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.us Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod Follow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa

    1hr 15min
  4. #182 - Marshall Graybill

    4 days ago

    #182 - Marshall Graybill

    Send us Fan Mail You can learn a lot about mountain running by talking to someone who didn’t grow up logging endless run miles. Marshall Graybill comes to the sport through cycling and ski mountaineering, with all the fitness those sports build and all the baggage they can bring, too. We get honest about what it feels like to line up for a race after crashes and concussions, how fear shows up in specific scenarios, and why trail running can feel like a mental reset compared to crit racing chaos.  Marshall also lives a double life that a lot of driven athletes will recognize: he’s deep into a PhD focused on underwater robotics, studying alternative propulsion inspired by marine organisms. That time pressure forces a different training mindset, and we talk about how to stay competitive with shorter, harder sessions, how to avoid the Strava comparison trap, and how to pick races that fit real life. If you’re chasing endurance performance with limited hours, this one is packed with relatable strategy.  We also swap stories from skimo culture in Colorado, the intensity of local “world cup” style races, and the frustrating reality of canceled events and narrow qualification paths now that skimo is an Olympic sport. Then we jump to Marshall’s surprise 25K win at the Waterville Trail Running Festival in Ireland, where navigation, farm crossings, and under-flagged trails turn a race into a problem-solving mission. We wrap with Broken Arrow plans, pacing lessons at altitude, and why the community keeps bringing him back.  If you enjoy conversations on trail running, mountain running, skimo training, altitude racing, and balancing sport with a demanding career, subscribe, share this with a training partner, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Follow Marshall on IG - @marshallgraybill Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.us Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod Follow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa

    52 min
  5. Inside The 2026 Merrell Skyrunner U.S. National Series

    18 Jun

    Inside The 2026 Merrell Skyrunner U.S. National Series

    Send us Fan Mail Skyrunning is back on U.S. soil, and we wanted to make the details impossible to miss. James Lauriello sits down with Eti Rodriguez (Managing Director, Skyrunner World Series), Ben Stark (Brand Manager, Merrell), and Louis Down (Media and Communications, Skyrunner) for a roundtable on what the new Merrell Skyrunner U.S. National Series is, why the timing finally makes sense, and how this season can grow a real skyrunning fan base in the United States. We get into the big questions first: why it has been so hard to establish consistent skyrunning races in the U.S., what role organizers and permitting play, and why the country’s terrain is actually the perfect argument for a national series. From steep coastal climbs to big mountain routes and Alaska-level wildness, skyrunning thrives when courses demand more than runnable trail. Eddie and Louie also clarify the skyrunning vs trail running distinction and why that niche identity is a strength, not a limitation. On the brand side, Ben explains why Merrell is leaning in globally and what that means for athletes and spectators at U.S. stops. Expect community-forward activations, athlete interactions, and demo opportunities featuring key Merrell trail and mountain running shoes, plus a big push at Beast of Big Creek where the World Series and National Series meet. We also talk about live stream potential, the race lineup (Whiteface Sky Race, Beast of Big Creek, Sitka Skyline Scramble, and the Kismet Cliff Run final), and how rankings and prize money work, including a $20,000 purse at the final. If you care about technical mountain racing, short and steep sufferfests, and a clearer pathway for U.S. skyrunners, this one sets the stage. Subscribe, share this with a training partner, and leave a review with your pick for the must-watch race of the series. Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.us Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod Follow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa

    30 min
  6. Broken Arrow 23K Race Companion

    17 Jun

    Broken Arrow 23K Race Companion

    Send us Fan Mail $102,200 on the line, a Nike livestream, staggered elite starts, and a start list so deep we joke we’d need a hundred pre-race interviews to cover it. Broken Arrow 23K is lining up like a mini all-star event for trail running and mountain running, and we’re here to call the shots before the gun goes off. We dig into why this prize purse matters and why we want payouts like this to become the benchmark for marquee races that draw international talent. Then we get practical: 14.25 miles, about 4,500 feet of climbing, a lot of fast running, and the late-race terrain where things can finally get spicy. We also talk broadcast and logistics, including the staggered starts for elite women and men and what that means for how the race unfolds and how you should watch it. From there, it’s pure storyline season. On the women’s side we’re fired up about Ninka Brinkman’s return, McKenna Morley’s step up into a brutally stacked field, and the long list of podium-level threats who could turn this into a total coin flip. On the men’s side we look at the tacticians and the burners, what happened last year, and why Elhousine Elazzaoui, Patrick Kipngeno, and a rising American contingent make the tactics just as interesting as the fitness. Finally, we lock in our top-five picks for both races and explain exactly what would have to happen for our calls to be right. If you’re watching Broken Arrow 23K live, listen first, make your own picks, and come back to tell us what we got wrong. Subscribe, share this with a trail running friend, and leave a review so we can keep bringing the hype with better and better coverage. Contact our CoHost Steve Taylor for Commercial Insurance Needs Direct - (970)-384-8338 Email - steve.taylor@glenwoodins.com Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.us Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod Follow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa

    37 min
  7. Broken Arrow 46K Race Companion

    17 Jun

    Broken Arrow 46K Race Companion

    Send us Fan Mail Two loops can turn a fast mountain race into a straight up psychological experiment. Broken Arrow 46K is the perfect example: you rip a demanding first lap, punish your quads on the descent, and then get asked to climb back into the pain cave all over again. We’re back with Steve Taylor to preview how this ultramarathon-style trail race really plays out when pacing mistakes start compounding and the second loop becomes the only thing that matters. We dig into the stakes, including the prize money, and then get specific on the men’s field: why Eli Hemming looks like the clear favorite, what it would take for someone like Chad Hall to actually break him, and how racers like Noel Williams, Brian Whitfield, and Cole Campbell fit into the front pack math. We also go deep on sleepers and high-variance names, from Jared Hazen’s upside to under-the-radar threats like Matt Chorney, Matt Zupan, Mikey Mitchell, and Nicholas Turko. If you like race strategy, we talk through where separation is likely to happen and why this course rewards patience more than ego. Then we shift to what might be the main event: the women’s race. We make the case that the women’s field is deeper, talk Rachel Drake’s form, Dani Moreno’s toughness coming off injury, and why Jasmine Louther and Leah Yingling make the triple crown storyline so interesting. We also debate whether the women can dip under last year’s winning time and what kind of day it takes to earn a podium at Broken Arrow 46K. Subscribe for more race previews, share this with a friend who’s lining up at Broken Arrow, and leave a review if you want more picks, more sleepers, and more honest takes. Who’s on your podium and what’s your spiciest prediction? Contact our CoHost Steve Taylor for Commercial Insurance Needs Direct - (970)-384-8338 Email - steve.taylor@glenwoodins.com Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.us Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod Follow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa

    29 min
  8. Broken Arrow Ascent Race Companion

    17 Jun

    Broken Arrow Ascent Race Companion

    Send us Fan Mail Broken Arrow isn’t just another race weekend anymore, it’s the point in the season where trail running feels like it snaps into full focus. Steve Taylor joins me to talk through why this stop has exploded into a true international destination in North America, how the venue and spectator access change the vibe, and why the growing prize purse keeps pulling the fastest names into one start list. If you’re tracking the road from Broken Arrow to Western States, Hardrock, and UTMB, this is the moment where storylines start to lock in. We zoom in on the Broken Arrow Ascent and get specific about what makes this course weirdly brutal: the full-gas ski hill start, the fast road and singletrack sections that reward speed strength, and the reality that a “vertical” can still punish you for racing like it’s a 3-minute effort. We talk pacing, tactics, and why this format can favor athletes with big VO2 engines, while still demanding legit climbing legs once the lactic hits and the finish gets close. Then we get into the fun debate: is this the race of the roadies, or do mountain specialists still own the day? We dig into the crossover trend, what it does for the sport’s visibility, and why trail running remains a skill even on runnable terrain. From the stacked women’s matchup to the men’s field depth and our podium picks, you’ll walk away with clear names to watch and a sharper sense of how the Ascent is likely to unfold. If you like the breakdown, subscribe, share the episode with a trail buddy, and leave a quick review. Contact our CoHost Steve Taylor for Commercial Insurance Needs Direct - (970)-384-8338 Email - steve.taylor@glenwoodins.com Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.us Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod Follow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa

    1 hr
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About

Your Source for all Things Trail, Mountain & Skyrunning 

Information

  • Creator
    James Lauriello
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    341
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Steep Stuff Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Steep Stuff Podcast

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