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Zegama-Aizkorri is the race that turns a mountain into a stadium. One steep Basque climb packed with cowbells, one technical day where mud can rewrite the script, and a start list so deep that a “safe” prediction still feels risky. I sit down in person with Steve Taylor to build a true Zegama race companion: equal parts course preview, culture primer, and athlete scouting report for anyone following the Golden Trail World Series.

We start with what makes Zegama different. Steve shares firsthand context on the Basque Country, why the region’s identity shows up so strongly on race day, and how traditions like the Basque beret and the winner’s axe turn a finish line into something unforgettable. From there we get tactical: how pacing works on a course with sustained climbing, how the descents punish mistakes, and why weather forecasts matter as much as fitness when the trails go slick.

Then we dig into the contenders and call our shots. On the men’s side, we talk Kilian Jornet’s bid for another win, Elhousine Elazzaoui’s chances to disrupt the storyline, and why names like Davide Magnini and Manu Merillas can thrive when conditions get messy. On the women’s side, we weigh the hype around Tove Alexanderson against the local firepower of Sarah Alonso, plus consistent threats like Judith Wyder and tough, technical runners like Fabiola Conti. We also shout out the American athletes in the mix, including Taylor Stack, Nicholas Turco, and Sidney Peterson.

If you’re watching Zegama-Aizkorri live or catching the replay, this conversation gives you the context to understand every surge and every collapse. Subscribe, share this with a trail running friend, and leave a review with your podium picks so we can compare notes after the dust and mud settle.

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Stevie Kremer's name is stitched into trail running history, but the part that surprised us most wasn’t the podiums. It was how she built a world-class career without letting running swallow her life whole. Stevie takes us from a childhood split between German roots and growing up in Connecticut to discovering running later than most, then finding her stride in Colorado and accidentally stumbling into the trails that would define her.

We talk about the rocket-ship years of skyrunning and mountain running when she was traveling to Europe, lining up at iconic races like Sierre-Zinal and Zagama, and winning on courses that still intimidate the best athletes in the sport. Stevie shares what it felt like to join the Salomon team during a formative era, how team camaraderie shaped her experience, and why she often flew in right before a race and left immediately after. Beneath the results is a real conversation about performance anxiety, confidence, expectations, and the quiet pressure of being asked, again and again, “Are you going to win?”

What makes this conversation stick is Stevie’s core philosophy: balance is not a compromise, it’s a strategy. She explains why teaching gave her stability, why limited time pushed her to make runs count, and why enjoying the process mattered more than following a perfect plan. If you care about trail running growth, athlete identity, mental toughness, and sustainable success in endurance sports, this one goes deep.

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He flew across the world, navigated a high-stakes visa process, got sick right before travel, and still walked away with a breakthrough weekend. We’re back with mountain running standout Kieran Nay, fresh off the WMRA World Cup in China, where he delivers a top 15 in the uphill and a top 10 in the Mountain Classic, including the surreal experience of racing on the Great Wall.

We talk through what WMRA events feel like on the ground: the organization, the media presence, and why Kieran values the series’ anti-doping focus. From there, we zoom out into the bigger trail running conversation: WMRA vs Golden Trail vs skyrunning, the push and pull between private series and federations, and whether the sport should ever try to unify under one umbrella. Along the way, Kieran shares what it’s like standing out in a new culture, troubleshooting payments with WeChat, and seeing how sport can cut through the easy narratives we tell about other countries.

Then we get practical. Kieran breaks down pacing, heart rate, and decision-making for steep VK-style efforts, plus what changed for him on technical downhills in the Mountain Classic. We dig into training in Gunnison, grade specificity, heat prep, and the mental shift that helps him race with curiosity instead of pressure. We also hit altitude tools, respiratory muscle training, and his interest in experimenting with bicarb and other marginal gains as the season ramps toward Broken Arrow, SeirSandal, Grand Traverse, and the Pikes Peak Marathon.

If you enjoy deep, honest conversations about mountain running performance and the life behind the results, subscribe, share this with a running friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

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David Norris is stacking proof-of-fitness in the most honest way possible: show up early, race hard, learn fast. We sit down to catch up right as he rolls out big spring results including a win at Big Alta 50K and a podium at Gorge Waterfalls 50K, all pointing toward a new challenge at Snowdonia 100K. If you’re curious about ultra running progression, trail running strategy, and how a mountain specialist stretches into longer distances without losing speed, this conversation goes deep on the decisions behind the calendar.

We get specific on pacing and execution. David explains why he skipped formal heat training yet still thrived at Big Alta, how he prioritized hydration (and what that did for his fueling), and when he finally committed to making a race-winning move. Then we contrast it with Gorge Waterfalls, where he races head-to-head from the gun on technical singletrack, underfuels, and detonates late. The value is in the honesty: you can hear exactly how effort, terrain, and nutrition interact when the course keeps changing under your feet.

From there we zoom out to the full mountain running picture: training in Steamboat Springs, cross-training with Nordic skiing and mountain biking, strength work realities, and the day-to-day logistics of doubles while holding down an office job. We also dig into UTMB OCC takeaways, worlds course quirks, and Mount Marathon, the Alaska classic where David is a six-time champion chasing history and maybe a sub-40 someday. If you like mountain running, trail racing, the Golden Trail Series, and smart training you can actually replicate, hit play and take notes.

If this one helps, subscribe, share it with a training partner, and leave a review so more runners can find the show. What part of your own training would you change after hearing David’s approach?

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Barkley Marathons is famous for suffering, but Max King explains the part most people miss: it’s a puzzle that rewards cooperation as much as fitness. We talk about why he’s drawn to deep-woods, off-trail navigation, how the old-school “tear a page from a hidden book” checkpoints actually make sense, and what it takes to build the kind of year-to-year knowledge that can move you from survival to real progress. If you’ve ever wondered why even elite runners struggle there, Max makes it painfully clear.

We also get into a major career shift: after a long run with Salomon, Max joins Kylas Fuga and breaks down what he wanted from a sponsor at this stage of his career. We talk trail running shoes in the details that matter, including durability, outsole grip, and why he’s leaning into more cushioning as he gets older. He shares what he’s using now, what he still wants for more aggressive terrain, and how he hopes the brand will reach the American trail running market through better distribution and hands-on demos.

From there, we zoom out to longevity, recovery, and the realities of coming back from injury. Max walks through his meniscus tear, what helped him return, and why rebuilding true world-championship fitness can take longer than simply running again. We also tackle the growth of trail running, the pull between UTMB-style races and World Championships, and Max’s blunt take on anti-doping: when someone cheats, it doesn’t feel theoretical, it feels like stealing from friends.

If you like smart, honest conversations about ultrarunning, adventure racing, and the future of the sport, subscribe, share this with a training partner, and leave a rating and review so more people can find the show.

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She’s calling in from the backcountry of Utah with a Starlink connection, fresh off slot canyons, desert miles, and yet another FKT. Erin Tun is back, and our catch-up quickly turns into a deep look at what it actually takes to move fast in the mountains when the air is thin and the consequences are real.

We dig into Erin’s four-month South America push anchored by altitude training in Quito, Ecuador, where repeat climbs and local trail running community support helped set the table for bigger goals. From Cotopaxi and other 5,000 meter peaks to the main objective, Aconcagua, Erin breaks down the real-world mechanics of a fastest known time attempt: scouting versus full summits, choosing lines, managing snow and scree, and why a perfect weather window can disappear overnight. She also describes what performance feels like above 21,000 to 22,000 feet, where “going hard” often means relentless efficiency and not stopping, not running a pretty pace.

From there, the lens widens to the Seven Summits record path, including why Kilimanjaro might be next and what makes an Everest speed record uniquely complicated: oxygen choices, north versus south side routes, political access, permits, and the funding reality behind big peaks. We also talk sponsorship in a way most podcasts skip, including Erin’s move to Tava, her hands-on role testing prototypes, and how building a sustainable career as a modern mountain athlete now includes storytelling, not just results. If you want the behind-the-scenes version of these adventures, Erin and Chris are launching a YouTube channel to show what Instagram can’t.

If you like this kind of mountain running, high altitude training, and adventure athlete problem-solving, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

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She steps away from competition for years because of serious health issues then returns with a top-five at Transgrancanaria and an audacious Sierra project that looks more like an alpinist’s dream than a runner’s itinerary. Olivia Amber joins us from Bishop, California to talk about building a comeback that’s less about hype and more about durability, curiosity, and doing hard things for the right reasons.

We dig into how a Midwest childhood and an All-American Nordic skiing background shaped her engine, her grit, and her love for long days. From there, we get practical about life on the Bishop and Mammoth corridor: altitude training, endless vert, technical trails, the climbing community, and why that access changes what’s possible week to week. Olivia also breaks down big wall climbing, the mental side of exposure, and the “systems” skills that matter when mistakes have real consequences.

Then we go deep on Normans 13, the open-ended FKT linking 13 Sierra 14ers with huge climbing, talus, cross-country travel, and a brief 5.9 crux at 14,000 feet. Olivia explains her north-to-south strategy, how she planned logistics and resupplies, what sleep deprivation actually felt like over multiple days, and why the experience hit differently than racing. We also hear what it was like joining Kilian Jornet during his attempt and what she’s learning from The North Face team across running and climbing.

Subscribe for more mountain running stories, share this with a friend who loves big objectives, and leave a review if you want to help the show grow. What part of Normans 13 sounds harder to you: the fifth-class terrain, the sleep loss, or the endless talus?

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A top European trail runner lands in the US, strings together races and workouts across the West, and leaves with a clearer view of what makes American trail running culture feel so alive. We sit down with Marcel Höche, professional athlete for the Adidas Terrex team, right after his spring swing that includes Big Alta and a podium at the Lake Sonoma 50K. Along the way, he breaks down what surprised him most: the speed of the fields, the variety of terrain, and the post-race community rituals that turn a hard day into a shared celebration.

Marcel walks us through the reality of racing Lake Sonoma, a course that looks runnable until you feel how “relentless” it is, plus how weather swings and mud can become an advantage if you thrive in rough conditions. We also talk training and travel, including his time in Cedar City with Hayden Hawks, syncing workouts with his coach and finding the right terrain without ego. If you care about trail running performance, mountain running preparation, and the small decisions that shape a season, this conversation is full of practical insights.

Then we go behind the curtain on pro team support with Adidas Terrex: travel planning, housing, physio, chefs, media help, experienced crewing, and why removing that mental load can change how you race. Marcel is also candid about the pressure that can come with resources, his coaching relationship with Dmitry Mityaev, and a training approach that prioritizes heavy strength work and high-quality sessions over piling on “junk miles.” If you’re building toward big goals like UTMB week races, steep European mountain events, or long ultras, you’ll find plenty to steal for your own plan.

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