The Steep Stuff Podcast

James Lauriello

Your Source for all Things Trail, Mountain & Skyrunning 

  1. 2d ago

    #190 - Abby Bennett, The Journey Back From Hip Labrum Surgery

    Send us Fan Mail A “clean” MRI can still leave you limping, doubting yourself, and stuck in the worst kind of uncertainty: pain without answers. James sits down with Abby Bennett for a candid, detailed update on her long road to a hip labral repair and what she wishes she knew from day one. Abby unpacks how her injury started as a weird, persistent fatigue in one leg, then escalated into deep hip pain that spread through her glute, adductors, and hamstring as her body tried to stabilize an unstable joint. We dig into why her first 1.5T MRI missed the problem, how a hip preservation specialist used better imaging and a full workup to identify labral instability plus pincer impingement, and what her surgery included: labral anchors, shaving the impingement to prevent re-tearing, and a psoas tendon lengthening that changes the rehab timeline for athletes who live in hip flexion. We also go beyond anatomy and talk about the mental weight of chronic pain, identity loss when training disappears, and the small wins that bring you back: conservative PT, pool work, short Zwift spins, strict boundaries to avoid flare-ups, and recovery basics like hitting protein goals and using collagen with vitamin C before rehab. If you’re a runner, trail runner, cyclist, or skimo athlete dealing with stubborn hip pain, this is a practical guide to advocating for the right care. Subscribe or follow, share this with a training partner who’s struggling, and leave a rating and review so we can keep telling more athlete stories like Abby’s. Follow Abby on IG - @abby.j.bennett 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

    #190 - Abby Bennett, The Journey Back From Hip Labrum Surgery
  2. Jul 30

    Daniel Antonioli & Beñat Albisu, Pre Beast of Big Creek Interview

    Send us Fan Mail They just landed in Seattle, they’ve barely had time to shake out their legs, and they’re already thinking about one thing: how a U.S. sky race will feel compared to the European skyrunning circuit. We sit down with Daniel Daniel Antonioli & Beñat Albisu for a quick, high-energy pre-race conversation as they get ready to race near Big Creek in the Olympic Mountains for the first time on American soil.  We talk travel realities and first impressions of the Pacific Northwest, plus where they’re hoping to sneak in a little exploring with only a week in town. Then we get into racing: what it’s like to line up against a strong international field, and why an out-and-back skyrace course can create a different kind of pressure and excitement when you’re literally watching competitors coming toward you on the climb. Daniel shares why he loves the simple rhythm of one big ascent and one committed descent, and Banat reflects on what it means to race abroad as a 20-year-old following the U23 skyrunning circuit.  We also zoom out to season planning, including how athletes choose between major mountain running events when schedules collide, and why ultra-technical courses like Matterhorn Ultraks Extreme can shape training priorities. If you’re into trail running, skyrunning, mountain racing tactics, and the culture that makes these races special from Italy to the Basque Country, you’ll leave with fresh motivation and a clearer sense of how pros think before the gun goes off.  Subscribe or follow, share this with a trail friend, and leave a rating and review if you want more athlete stories and race coverage. 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

  3. Jul 29

    Jackson Cole, Pre Beast of Big Creek Interview

    Send us Fan Mail A mountain race where the “trail” turns into a real cliff scramble, a town that treats race weekend like a holiday, and a new skyrace in Washington that might finally feel like Europe without the altitude excuse. We sit down with Jackson Cole fresh off Mount Marathon to unpack why Seward, Alaska draws thousands of fans, how the hype somehow matches reality, and what it feels like to go full gas to the summit in a truly competitive field.  We also get specific about what makes Mount Marathon technical, including the cliff section where route choice and local knowledge matter, and where a mistake could mean more than a lost minute. From there we pivot to Beast of Big Creek and the Olympic Peninsula, digging into why steep, rooty Washington trails are such a strong skyrunning venue, and why starting closer to sea level can make the racing fairer for international athletes. If you care about mountain running, trail racing, and skyrunning course design, there’s a lot here to sharpen how you think about terrain and competition.  Finally, we talk about the unglamorous side of a stacked season: travel fatigue, quick turnarounds, and the mindset it takes to recover well and keep racing with joy. Jackson shares why he chooses races that genuinely light the fire, how he avoids burnout, and what he has lined up next with a training block and upcoming starts like Whistler 50k and The Rut. If you like the show, subscribe, share it with a running friend, and leave a rating and review so we can keep telling these stories. Follow Jackson on IG - @jayrcolee 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

    Jackson Cole, Pre Beast of Big Creek Interview
  4. Jul 29

    Josh Potvin, Pre Beast of Big Creek Interview

    Send us Fan Mail A fast sky race can look simple on paper until you add singletrack bottlenecks, an out-and-back with traffic, and a technical finish that punishes sloppy footwork. We sit down with Canadian trail runner Josh Potvin for a quick, focused catch-up before Beast Of Big Creek, starting with what training has looked like from Vancouver and why this has been one of his most consistent years ever. From there, Josh breaks down Quebec Mega Trail: the heat, the ruthless technical sections, and the mindset shift that lets you walk away proud when you execute well even if the placing wasn’t the headline goal. We also talk about the Canadian team selection process for short trail, what it takes to put yourself in the conversation, and how results plus timing can shape your season. Then we shift to something new for Josh: joining the Merrell trail running team. He shares what surprised him about the team culture, how support matters when races go sideways, and which Merrell shoes he’s been using for long runs, technical trail days, and faster efforts. We close with his Beast Of Big Creek strategy, why steep Pacific Northwest terrain is the perfect prep, plus a real-world look at 100K recovery and turning the legs around for the next block as he eyes Whistler UTMB and an OCC ticket. If you enjoy athlete stories, practical race prep, and honest talk about what actually works, subscribe, share this with a running friend, and leave a quick rating and review. Follow Josh on IG - @jjpotvin 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

    Josh Potvin, Pre Beast of Big Creek Interview
  5. Jul 28

    Carmen Pelar Graves, Pre Beast of Big Creek Interview

    Send us Fan Mail 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. Follow Carmen on IG - @carmenpelar 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

    Carmen Pelar Graves, Pre Beast of Big Creek Interview
  6. Jul 28

    Kalie McCrystal, Pre Beast of Big Creek Interview

    Send us Fan Mail A technical FKT at home can be more than a big day out. For Kalie McCrystal, it’s a proving ground for the skills that matter when the terrain gets steep, exposed, and unforgiving, and a stepping stone toward bigger goals like the Matterhorn speed record. We talk through her Tantalus Traverse FKT in the Tantalus Range across from Squamish, BC, a bucket-list alpine line that mixes runnable trail with moraines, snowfields, glaciers, route finding, and a crux that often includes multiple rappels. Kallie shares what “safe and fast” actually looks like on big mountain terrain: choosing the right weather window, deciding whether to rope up, and carrying just enough gear to manage risk while still moving efficiently. We also get honest about the unglamorous stuff that decides the day, like under-eating, bonking late, and planning water stops when there’s no resupply. From there, we shift into racing and why a skyrunning course can feel simpler than an FKT: fewer moving parts, less navigation, and more room to truly test fitness. Kallie previews Beast of Big Creek, talks about the joy of racing with friends, and lays out what’s ahead in Europe, including Trofeo Kima and an ambitious push to bring women’s times closer to men’s on iconic technical records. If you care about alpine running, technical scrambling, mountain race strategy, and the next wave of women pushing the ceiling in the sport, this one’s for you. Subscribe or follow the show, share this with a mountain friend, and leave a rating and review so we can keep telling these stories. Follow Kalie on IG - @kalie_mcc 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

    Kalie McCrystal, Pre Beast of Big Creek Interview
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Your Source for all Things Trail, Mountain & Skyrunning 

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