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What does it take to race on the edge, fix your flaws, and build a season that holds up under pressure? We dive deep with Mason Copi, fresh off a blistering run at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships and a domestic campaign that turned him from underrated to undeniable. Mason opens up about starting fast when the course rewards it, working the early road section, and the moment when cramps hit yet belief held. You’ll hear how teammates on the course and a fired-up Team USA on the sidelines fueled each surge and why chasing the podium sometimes means accepting the crash.

Then we get practical. Mason breaks down how he transformed downhill running from a fear response into an advantage using exposure reps on technical segments and a simple “monster truck” form cue. He shares the training blueprint that keeps him healthy while racing often: threshold work for speed and lactate clearance, high aerobic volume buffered by the bike, and minimalist strength focused on hips, glutes, calves, and soleus. No fluff, no gimmicks—just the boring, repeatable work that lets you push hard again next week. We also explore how rising U.S. depth—think Taylor, Cam, Christian—lifts everyone, turning rivalry into fuel.

Looking ahead, Mason maps an ambitious 2026: sharpening for the USATF Half in Atlanta, testing range at the Boston Marathon, mixing mountain classics like Big Alta and Gorge, and stepping into the unknown at Speedgoat 50K to build muscular endurance and dial nutrition. He’ll chase a WMRA team spot at Sunapee and aim for an Olympic Trials qualifier at CIM, answering the bigger question of how fast a sub-ultra mountain runner needs to be now. We close with a candid look at free agency—why sponsorship timing is tricky, what autonomy enables, and how to keep betting on yourself when the budget says camp and the goals say compete.

If this conversation moved you, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves mountain running, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find these stories. Your support helps us bring you deeper conversations with the athletes shaping the sport.

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A world champion who won’t let algorithms define her worth—Grayson Murphy joins us for a candid, sharp, and hopeful conversation about racing, health, and the future of trail running. From life in Bozeman to the first time grizzlies changed a solo run, we open with place and presence, then dive straight into how she built Wild Strides Paper Co, why multiple identities make better athletes, and how part-time sustainability work keeps her grounded in real-world impact.

Grayson breaks down her pivot from mountain classic mastery to the short trail learning curve: higher volume, more zone 2, poles, and a smarter fueling plan. She walks us through the Crohn’s diagnosis that finally explained 18 months of confusion, and how treatment helped her trust her body again. There’s craft here too. She details the simple-yet-brutal mountain classic formula—empty the tank to the top, descend like a technician—and why short trail requires an entirely new toolkit. Along the way, we unpack selection for Worlds, the value of a coach on-site, and the friendships that keep her inspired.

We also tackle the business of being an athlete. Grayson draws a clear line between athlete and influencer, shares how brands dropped her for “low engagement” after winning Worlds, and explains why she now avoids deals that hinge on reach. The conversation expands to prize purses, athlete support, and the Olympic question—what trail format would resonate, and what professionalization must include: appearance fees, better visibility, and real anti-doping. It’s a blueprint for a healthier sport and a braver career.

If this resonates, follow Grayson on Instagram, check out Wild Strides Paper Co, and share this episode with a friend who loves trail running. Leave a rating and review, hit subscribe wherever you listen, and tell us: should trail be in the Olympics?

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A young ultra runner with a mountain kid heart and a pro’s mindset—Coleman Cragun brings the heat. We dig into how he went from SUU walk-on to stacking top finishes at Canyons, Broken Arrow, Speedgoat, and Mammoth in his first year of ultras, and how mentorship from trail legend Hayden Hawks is shaping every decision. The honesty of their training partnership, from blunt fitness assessments to choosing the hardest race fields, has helped Coleman skip the usual trial-and-error and focus on the skills that actually win races.

Black Canyon 100K is the target, and Coleman breaks down the pillars of his prep: specificity on fast desert singletrack, back-to-back long runs, sweat testing to dial sodium and fluids, and the art of not leading when the opening miles go hot. He shares how he’ll choose between carbon and non-carbon shoes, why pacing by effort and heart rate matters when Bumble Bee changes the race, and how he structures 5,000-calorie days to stay durable in heavy blocks. The goal is simple and bold: keep the leaders in sight, stay patient, and make a real run at a golden ticket to Western States.

We also look ahead to a season that may pivot on one result. If he punches a ticket, Western States becomes the centerpiece—with OCC as the UTMB-week balance. If not, CCC offers a bigger Alpine canvas. Coleman’s excited by Sierre-Zinal for speed, by Cedar City’s high-low training ecosystem, and by the sport’s growing professionalism that could one day let him run full time. He’s coaching, refining, and choosing the hard line: race the best, learn fast, and build a name the right way.

If you’re into trail running, heat management, fueling strategy, Western States lore, or the mentor-mentee dynamic shaping the next generation, you’ll love this one. Subscribe, share it with a friend who lives for golden ticket drama, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show.

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