December 1, 2025 • 35 mins
A Tahoe childhood can shape an athlete for life—and Noah McMahan proves it. At 19, he’s a Gonzaga steeplechaser who keeps his easy runs on dirt, wins Broken Arrow 11K off a Hayward Field PR, and carries hard-earned lessons from the World Mountain Running Championships in Spain. We talk about the quiet confidence it takes to recover from injuries, the patience to build fitness through a long collegiate season, and the racecraft to navigate tight European singletrack when the start line explodes.
We dig into what it means to balance D1 expectations with trail ambitions: coach buy-in, smart training blocks, and the reality of fitting a “fourth season” into a college calendar. Noah opens up about recruitment from a small Nevada school, why team culture sold him on Gonzaga, and how a kinesiology major helps him stay healthy. He breaks down the Worlds course—road surge, singletrack congestion, switchback duels—and the two changes he’d make next time: more hill-specific work and earlier positioning to avoid bottlenecks.
Gear talk includes Nike Ultrafly on race day, a rotation that’s open to Saucony for daily miles, and curiosity about adding poles for steeper 23K goals. We share inspiration from Max King, Kilian Jornet, Jim Walmsley, Ruth Croft, and the next wave of hybrid athletes bridging track, road, and mountain disciplines. If you’re a young runner considering a future in trail running—or a fan who loves the sport’s evolving pathways—you’ll hear a clear blueprint for turning college structure into a sustainable pro trajectory.
If this story resonates, follow the show, share it with a teammate, and leave a quick review on your favorite app. Your support helps us bring more emerging voices and big trail dreams to the mic.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_01 (00:00):
Welcome back to the Steep Stuff Podcast.
I'm your host, James L'Oriello,and today I am so excited to
welcome Noah McMahon to theshow.
At just 19 years old, Noah is aredshirt freshman at Gonzaga
University where he competes inthe steeple chase.
Noah actually grew up aroundLake Tahoe and comes from a
crazy lineage in our sport.
Both mom and dad weretrailrunners back in the day for
(00:22):
Solomon.
And on top of that, he went toIncline High School, where
another very famous trailrunnerin our sport had also attended.
On top of that, Noah is amultiple-time broken arrow 11K
champion and plans to move up tothe 23K in 2026.
This past year, he also competedon the U20 team at the World
Mountain Running Championship inConfranc, Spain.
(00:44):
We caught up to chat all thingsabout his college experience,
what it's like running at the D1level, and his goals for the
future.
This young gun knows that thetrails are an option and wants
to pursue trail running after hegraduates.
On top of that, we talked abouthis experience at Worlds, what
it was like getting to hang outwith and meet all the
professional trailrunners in thesport.
(01:05):
I quizzed him on all of hisfavorite stuff.
What's who's his favorite trailrunner now?
You know, like what his favoriteshoes are, what the gear is all
about, and what he wants to seefrom the sport and what gets him
excited.
So it was a fun chat.
Uh not every day do I get to geta young gun on the uh on the
show.
So I definitely got to quiz himon a bunch of stuff and just see
(01:25):
what he was interested in andsee what the the thought is on
uh the D1 scene right now, andif kids realize that like trail
running and potentially mountainrunning like is a is a career
path, which is kind of cool.
So hope you guys enjoyed thisone.
Big fan of Noah's uh withoutfurther ado, Noah McMahon.
(02:48):
So wait, Noah McMahon.
Welcome to the Deep StuffPodcast.
How's it going, dude?
Good, good.
How are you?
I'm doing great.
I really appreciate you comingon the podcast for a
conversation.
Um yeah, stoked to have this,especially after some of the you
know trail running and stuffthat you put in this past
summer.
Definitely a standout season.
Um, yeah, man.
Maybe uh just give me like afive-minute elevator pitch on
(03:09):
like your background so we getstarted.
SPEAKER_00 (03:12):
Yeah, so um, I mean, I grew up running.
My parents were runners.
Um, my dad ran in college, uh asmall school in Kentucky where
my twin brother runs now, um,which is pretty cool.
Um my mom uh didn't grow uprunning, but uh started running
when she met my dad.
They did tarathlons and trailrunning, um, where they both uh
(03:36):
ran for Solomon, which waspretty cool.
Uh so growing up we were aSolomon household.
Um started trail running, umkind of just fun races when I
was younger, a little fun runs.
Um and then in high schoolstarted cross country.
Uh well, I guess I startedmiddle school, but got serious
(03:57):
in high school after COVID.
Um and just been loving trailrunning, trail run for all my
easy days.
Um my workouts I might go to thetrack or something, but uh when
I can I'm definitely out trailrunning.
Um just growing up at Tahoe,like there's trails all around.
So I kind of kind of just trailrun wherever I can.
(04:19):
Um I like the soft surface, Ilike the challenge.
Um and then yeah, got into umBroken Arrow Sky Race uh when
that started at Palisades.
Um doing that a couple years,and then yeah, kind of went from
there, applied for the world'steam, uh, was just there and uh
(04:41):
running cross-country and trackhere, uh having having a blast
out here.
So that's been a lot of fun.
Um, but I definitely lovetrailer, definitely want to
continue that, probably continuethat post-collegiate as well.
SPEAKER_01 (04:55):
Nice, dude.
Well, you I think you would be agreat, literally like a super
great addition.
Uh shout out to Andy Wacker forTrail Team Elite when you so
choose to apply to that.
Um dude, let's talk, let's getinto like your background too
with with collegiate.
Like, so you run for Gonzaga.
Um, I think you're the onlycurrent college athlete I think
I've ever had on the podcast,which this is fun because we'll
(05:16):
get to chat all things track andfield and cross country.
Uh talk about your experience atGonzaga.
What is it like being acollegiate athlete right now?
And uh what was the recruitmentprocess like for you?
SPEAKER_00 (05:27):
Yeah, so out of high school I wasn't really
recruited.
Um it my last picks were betweenhere and St.
Mary's, uh so rivals in the uhcollege world.
But um I ran pretty well in highschool to where um the coach
(05:48):
here decided to give me achance.
Um I won high school state 10separate times, um two times in
cross country and then fourtimes twice in track.
Um so I wasn't super heavilyrecruited uh just because um
coming out of Nevada, it wasn'tsuper fast.
(06:08):
Um, but I knew I wanted to runin college.
I just didn't know where.
So I didn't decide till probablyit was like April, my senior
year.
So um kind of just waited, waspatient with it.
Um and then once getting here,uh definitely an adjustment.
I was injured all all last yearfor the first half of the year,
(06:31):
um, at least, and then kind ofjust uh got healthy, ran a
decent indoor season, uh startedoff the outdoor season pretty
rough, but then my whole goallast year was just to get
healthy, uh, which I succeededin that, and then from there,
since I was healthy, I wanted tomake U-20 steeple and nationals.
SPEAKER_01 (06:54):
Um and yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (06:58):
So that wasn't uh my first couple steeple races were
hard, definitely really hard,and um I didn't think it'd be
something um I could reallyimprove much in uh because my my
slowest race felt super hard.
But then uh just gradually, likeeach race, I was dropping 20
(07:19):
seconds off each time.
Um so I ended up qualifying forthe US Nationals, uh, U-20
Steeple Nationals at uh HaywardField.
Got to race there uh thissummer, which was actually two
days before Broken Arrow.
And so I raced there, got fourththere with a good PR, and then
(07:39):
uh drove home and raced brokenarrow.
SPEAKER_01 (07:42):
Which by the way, you won the 11k, correct?
If I remember correctly.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (07:47):
Yeah, that was uh legs are a little tired, uh
hurting from all the driving,and uh I I struggle with
Achilles stuff on and off, andso I wasn't sure how I was gonna
do in that.
Um kind of muscled through anduh took it out and was honestly
kind of scared.
So I was running a little scaredthere, but uh good race.
(08:08):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (08:08):
So how are your coaches?
They're cool with you runningtrail races?
Like, because I've heard usuallypeople get like uh give like
coaches usually give pushbackwith their their athletes
running uh trail races.
SPEAKER_00 (08:19):
Yeah, so um two of my teammates actually ran at uh
Worlds on the E20 team two yearsago.
Um so I talked to him about itand uh he he was totally alright
with it.
He said it'd be a greatexperience.
Uh he's all he's big on theexperiences and everything.
So uh my coach loved me goingand running.
(08:41):
Um he also was like trying tohelp me structure training
around getting ready for worlds.
Um because I wasn't too worriedabout cross-country this year.
So I was kind of just trainingfor worlds, and then once I got
back, I kind of jumped back intocross-country, but definitely um
he was super supportive aboutit.
Uh, loved me going out, havingthe experience, getting to
(09:01):
travel like that.
SPEAKER_01 (09:02):
So cool.
I want to go back in time alittle bit.
I I heard through the grapevinein my research that you um you
went to the same high school asMichelina Censeri, right?
And took a bunch of his medicalschool records.
SPEAKER_00 (09:13):
Yeah.
Um, so our high school, smallhigh school, uh, only got about
10 to 50 kids in it.
Um and so I wouldn't say therecords are easy, they're just
not always getting broken.
Um, so he had a lot of otherrecords, and someone who was a
senior, my freshman year had acouple records, and so my whole
goal was just to break allthose.
(09:35):
Um and figured out a little bitthat I got somewhat of a range.
Um, I started doing the 400 acouple times throughout the
year, like 400 or 4x4.
Um, but it was definitely like Ithink I got his two-mile record,
is what it was.
(09:55):
Um and then throughout the yearI kept breaking my own record.
Um, but it was really cool tokind of see his records up
there, but now my name up there,uh, just to see what a great
trailrunner he's become.
Just kind of where I want to getto as well.
SPEAKER_01 (10:12):
Dude, what was it like growing up in Tahoe and
kind of living in that area?
Like it's one of the mostbeautiful training grounds on
the planet.
Like it's so cool.
Um yeah, paint that picture forme.
SPEAKER_00 (10:24):
Yeah, it's it's really great.
Um, just getting outside, I canget onto pretty much every trail
in Tahoe within a half mile ofmy house.
I just ran up onto the trailsand they all connect.
And I could go all the wayaround the lake if I wanted.
Um so when um since they ranaround the lake, I went and
watched that.
I ran with him for part of it uhto pace him just for fun.
(10:48):
Um but growing up it'sbeautiful.
Um during the winter I'll godown to lake level, run on the
trails down there.
And those are paved, but it'sbeautiful right next to the
lake, uh crystal clear.
And then uh during the summer,have like a 12-mile run down to
the lake and hop in the lakeright there.
So it's really nice.
(11:08):
Um it's challenging when I goback home now and there's that
the altitude.
Um, but uh I love summeraltitude training.
Uh that's one thing I miss uhdown here, pretty much sea
level.
So it's great to go back,beautiful.
Uh they're getting some snowright now.
Glad I'm not getting all that.
Um yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (11:28):
What's it like going to school Gonzaga?
Like I've always known Gonzagaas like a basketball school, and
it's so fun to watch you guysalways in like the uh like the
the Sweet 16 and the like thebasketball playoffs and stuff
like that.
Um what's the atmosphere likethere?
Is it a fun school?
Is it more academic?
Like, what's it all about?
SPEAKER_00 (11:46):
Yeah, so it's it's a great school.
Uh we're private, um, which ispretty cool.
It's a lot smaller.
Uh all my classes are prettysmall, but it's a great
basketball environment.
Uh go to a lot of the games.
We went to the Creighton game,uh, what was that last week?
Um when we were both rankedpretty high.
Um so it's it's really fun.
Uh there definitely is theacademic part to it, and uh they
(12:09):
do set a high standard on that.
You're an a student before theathlete.
Um, but it's it's great.
Uh our team culture is great.
Um, I think the team is reallywhy I'm here.
Um and so it's kind of cool justto see everyone.
They unfortunately did not makenationals this year, uh, but
we're looking to get back therenext year for sure.
SPEAKER_01 (12:30):
What's it like being a collegiate athlete for the
school?
Like, is it like a lot of goodresources um, you know, compared
to maybe friends that go toother schools or bigger
universities and stuff likethat?
Like, what's it like um as faras that life in general?
Maybe describe that.
SPEAKER_00 (12:45):
Yeah, it's it's really great for the resources
aspect.
Uh if I need, I can schedulewith teacher one-on-one or um
the academic help uh from theathletics department is pretty
cool as well.
Um and then we kind of can justlike um like feel out what we
(13:08):
need to do.
If we need to go talk to ateacher, go talk to athletics,
they can kind of help us withthe same thing.
Um but uh it's kind ofinteresting when we register for
classes, we have to see ouradvisor.
Whereas in bigger schools, theydon't necessarily have to, and
it's kind of cool to just get toknow someone one-on-one if we
have questions or anything.
SPEAKER_01 (13:30):
Nice.
SPEAKER_00 (13:30):
What are you studying?
I'm studying kinesiology.
I want to be like an athletictrainer, uh, kind of get to know
my body um as well, so I canmaybe improve in running in that
aspect, stay healthy.
unknown (13:43):
Nice.
SPEAKER_01 (13:43):
Dude, that's a tough major to do, especially with uh
with running.
Like that's a lot of that's alot of biology, a lot of stuff,
a lot of chemistry.
SPEAKER_00 (13:52):
Yeah, something our team kind of pride ourselves on
is we not not many people aredoing some easy major.
Um, so it's like we're studentathletes for real.
SPEAKER_01 (14:04):
Nice, nice.
All right, let's shift gears alittle bit.
I I gotta talk to you about thetrails, man.
Like what what is it about?
Well, first off, like why thetrails?
Is it more because of mom anddad and that upbringing around
Solomon and understanding trailrunning?
Like, is it more like that thatas the kind of the background?
SPEAKER_00 (14:24):
Um, yeah, I'd say part of it definitely is.
Um, but also just living inTahoe, you can't go wrong with
going on beautiful trails.
Um, but really anywhere, I justlove to I love the challenge, I
love the different terrain.
Um I can really kind of dowhatever terrain I want around
(14:45):
Tahoe, but also just like upsand downs, and you're descending
fast, you're climbing slow, butyou're climbing hard.
So it's definitely uh differentthan track or something.
And that's kind of why I loveit.
SPEAKER_01 (15:02):
What's the like atmosphere at school?
Like, do you do are do all thedudes and like know that like
trail is an opportunity, likepossibility now?
Like you don't have to try andmake it on the roads or make it
on the track.
Like there's there's actualoptions to go be a professional
trail runner, or is that more sofrom your just your background?
SPEAKER_00 (15:20):
I'd say that's more so from my background.
I know a lot of the guys kindahaven't looked into that, or um
just kind of after their collegecareer, they're kind of done.
But um, it's definitelysomething I want to look into
post-collegiate for sure.
And definitely throughout thesummers, like keep trail racing.
(15:41):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (15:41):
Yeah.
So what sticks out to you forthat?
I mean, obviously Broken Arrowis a hometown race for you.
Yeah, what else?
What else do you think you'regonna show up to in 2026?
Like, what's the what's theplan?
SPEAKER_00 (15:51):
Yeah, so I don't have too much on my radar right
now, just kind of staying readyfor track season, um, getting a
good pace right now.
But um, it's hard when I alreadyhave three seasons and that's
like a fourth season.
Um, but I definitely want tolook into some bigger races this
summer.
Um, I'm thinking of doing the23k at Broken Arrow, kind of
(16:14):
stepping up there, and kind ofjust see what else there is out
there.
Um, I know there is a lot ofraces and definitely in Colorado
and everything.
So I want to get out to those.
Um, just gotta figure it outwith uh summer training and
summer working.
SPEAKER_01 (16:28):
I'm gonna regret this because you're gonna come
kick my ass, but you shouldreally think about doing a
circle series race.
That'd be that'd be fun.
Come come do it.
SPEAKER_00 (16:35):
Yeah, that sounds fun.
I think I think um we might tryto go out and do the trans
Rockies this summer, so thatmight be another thing on there.
SPEAKER_01 (16:42):
Yeah, hell yeah, dude.
Hell yeah.
All right, I don't want to burythe lead too much because I feel
like I've gotten away from it,but I want to get I want to talk
worlds.
Like you were a selection thisyear uh to go race, it was you
20, correct?
That was the team you were on?
Yep.
Talk about that.
Like that is obviously a massivehonor to go represent team USA
abroad.
You got to see really the pointyend of the spear with uh just
(17:04):
the on the world scene, some ofthe greatest trailrunners on the
planet get to do their craft.
What kind of stood out to youand what was your level of
excitement to make that team?
SPEAKER_00 (17:13):
Yeah, I was super excited to make that team.
Um I hadn't made the U18 team,so I was um didn't even know
there was a U-20 team until uhnot too far out on before the
deadline, honestly.
Um, but then when I got the callthat I made the team, I was
super excited.
Um I was just looking forward tothe experience.
(17:34):
And then um once I got to schooland we started doing workouts, I
didn't think I was super fit.
So once we got there and I had apretty decent race, I figured,
okay, like I definitely do likebeing here.
I definitely uh love torepresent USA.
Um and I think there's a littlething, little things that I
(17:56):
could have done differentthroughout the race just to
improve my race a little bit,but that's in the past.
I can't really change that.
Um, but it was an amazingexperience, uh, something I
would definitely love torepresent USA again.
Um, but and step up thedistance.
SPEAKER_01 (18:13):
Yeah.
unknown (18:14):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (18:14):
Talk about the race, man, and how it unfolded.
Like, what was it like racingagainst uh people from all over
the world, man?
You know, it's like I I don'tknow, like I think it's a little
different, a little more unique,especially because at the
collegiate level, obviouslyyou're racing guys all over the
country, you know, with alldifferent, you know, levels of
ability.
This is different.
Like this is the pointy tip ofthe spear for guys your age.
(18:35):
What was that like and how didthe race unfold for you?
SPEAKER_00 (18:39):
Yeah, so um I mean it was super cool just being in
the airport, seeing all thedifferent athletes from
different countries, and thenwe're uh we went and watched the
VK and just all the athletes arethere, and the atmosphere kind
of starts building.
Um and then just throughout theweek leading up to the race, I
was kind of nervous, but uhkeeping it controlled.
(19:01):
And then throughout the race,like or build leading up to the
race that morning of I wasdefinitely nervous.
But as the race started, westarted on the road, uh, which
was interesting to me to start.
Um, but everyone went out superhard and everyone was being
super uh competitive on the lineto where we couldn't get that we
(19:22):
were supposed to have one fromeach country on the front line.
Uh we couldn't get a single guyup front.
Others wouldn't let us passthem.
Um so we were we were kind ofpacked up in the back.
Um, but it was a good roadsection to get settled in.
Um and everyone started outquick.
And I definitely stayedconservative because uh I've
been known to go out too hard.
(19:45):
Um and so on the road part,conservative, uh once we hit
single track trail, Iimmediately started passing
because it was just barely toowide.
Um and then surprisingly we'reonly like a mile in and kids
started walking.
Um so that was a littlefrustrating, definitely, uh,
(20:06):
because I knew I could have beenpushing a little harder if I
wasn't behind people walking.
SPEAKER_01 (20:13):
Okay, I gotcha.
SPEAKER_00 (20:14):
Yeah, it was uh just one big line all the way to the
front.
Um as we got it started to gettowards the top of the climb, uh
there was a little moreseparation.
And um kids were being I I guessit's the European style racing
where they kind of just try tohold you back.
Uh, because every time I triedto go past, they'd speed up too.
So I was like almost in a fullsprint trying to pass.
(20:36):
Um but at the top, I did pass acouple more people right before
the descent, and then itswitched backs all the way down.
Um and I was trying to go insideand outside of people trying to
pass, and uh I think it was thekids from Germany, possibly,
just wouldn't let me pass.
Um so as soon as we got on theroad or on like the fire road, I
(20:57):
passed there.
But um, yeah, I think it's theEuropean style of racing, they
kind of don't want you to pass,um especially in that short of a
race.
So as soon as we got on theroad, I tried to get everything
I had, but I think once we hitthe hard surface, my legs uh
felt elactic a lot more.
And uh I was just trying tofinish at that point.
It was it was uh definitely hardthat final half mile.
SPEAKER_01 (21:20):
Yeah.
Well, I mean, well fought race,dude.
And I I think it's so coolbecause you at a young age, see,
like a lot of guys in our sportdidn't really get afforded these
opportunities to be able to likerace on an international stage
and see what it's like groupedup at the front and see how fast
it goes out and see how theEuros like to race.
And I think it it's just for usin our ability, this is a very
(21:42):
nationalistic comment, but likein our ability to like compete
in the future as Americans, likeon a world stage, like it's it's
it's amazing for you guys to getto see that.
So that way you will be preparedand have those tools when the
time does come, you know,whether it's you're racing a
mountain classic or a VK orwhatever you'd be racing down
(22:02):
the line uh when you make TeamUSA.
I know I think it's pretty coolto be able to get those
experiences and get to see whatthat's like.
SPEAKER_00 (22:10):
Yeah, yeah, it definitely was.
SPEAKER_01 (22:12):
Yeah.
Um what did you take away?
Like what was your learningsfrom it?
Like, do you like any anythingyou would do differently next
time?
SPEAKER_00 (22:20):
Differently next time?
I definitely wish I had slightlymore of a uh summer of training.
I I think I had a pretty goodsummer, but um I definitely felt
a little bit out of shape.
Um and I maybe hit a little morehills.
Um and then really just kind ofraise it slightly different.
(22:41):
I still think I would have diedeither way towards the end.
Uh, but maybe go out a littleharder so I wasn't behind those
kids who were walking.
Um it was still great toexperience that.
And honestly, I can't changemuch now, but uh next time
there's a lot to take away fromit.
SPEAKER_01 (22:58):
Yeah.
How was it like with teammatesand getting to meet other
members of Team USA?
Like, did you did you make somegood relationships out of that?
Like as far as meeting the otherguys and gals?
SPEAKER_00 (23:08):
Yeah, so uh one of the guys on the team actually
goes here.
Uh he's a freshman here.
Uh so we traveled together uhthere.
We met one other guy on the teamat the train station, and then
we met the last dude there.
We met all the girls there aswell.
Uh they're all super cool.
Uh I got to see one of them racelast weekend at NXR, uh, one of
(23:28):
the girls.
Um, so it's kind of cool.
Like um, they're all committingplaces, um, and it's kind of
cool to see them do that andprogress with their running.
Um, but they're definitely likegood friends now.
Like we built a good connectionthere.
Um we were all joking, laughingthe whole time.
(23:49):
Um, so it was pretty cool.
Even the girls' team was prettyclose.
Like uh we would all hang outevery now and then while we were
there, uh, because we had acouple days there even before a
race.
SPEAKER_01 (24:02):
What was it like?
Um, did you get any access tolike, I don't know, did you get
to talk to Jim Wamsley?
Did you get to talk to Joe Gray?
Like two of the greatest, youknow, Katie Scheid's in the mix
there, like hanging out.
Like some of the best Americantrail runners of all time are
are hanging out.
Like, did you get access to anyof these people and get to talk
to them?
SPEAKER_00 (24:20):
Yeah, so I think a lot of them had their own,
they're at their own hotels orsomething.
But a lot of the US team was inour hotel, and we'd uh see them
at lunch or dinner and we'd getto hang out with them.
Um but then I think a couple ofthem doubled.
So those days we didn't see themat all.
And um, but they were prettyinviting.
(24:42):
We're at lunch or at dinner,we'd they'd sit by us and ask us
who we were, where we're from,all that.
Um, and then Tim Walmsley wassuper, super humble.
And after our race, he came upto us, said good job, um, asked
us how it went, um, and liketook a picture with us and
(25:02):
everything.
Um, we had been watching thelive streams for the other
races, so it was really cool tosee those athletes in person and
kind of meet them as well.
So cool.
SPEAKER_01 (25:13):
Anyone that stood out to you besides Jim that like
was really kind and like wouldjust, you know, like a just I
don't know.
I I sometimes we forget likejust trail runners, like these
guys and gals, like they'rethey're role models for your you
know, your class that's comingup, or people like you that want
to go become a professional inthe sport.
SPEAKER_00 (25:32):
Yeah, I mean, I'd say all of them were super nice.
Um like everyone was superinviting, um, and they all
talked to us.
So I I wouldn't say any oneperson, but they all talked to
us, all wanted to hear about ourstory and everything like that.
SPEAKER_01 (25:48):
Yeah, we've got, I mean, honestly, dude, like best
sport on earth, good people,great, great humans, and they're
all awesome.
Like everybody on that team isamazing.
Um, yeah, dude, who I I guess soI want to shift gears a little
bit.
I just have so many questionsfor you.
Like in the sense of, you know,I don't get to talk to like
people more I so you in yourlike age group that are
interested in trail.
(26:08):
Like, what sticks out to youright now?
Like, what interests you aboutit?
Like what brands are youinterested in?
Like, what shoes do you wear onthe trail?
Like, what is your favoriteaspect of it?
I just have like so many thingsthat I'd be interested to learn
from you about it.
SPEAKER_00 (26:21):
Yeah, so a I liked a lot of the gear we got for uh
worlds.
It was all Nike gear.
Uh we didn't get shoes, but didyou get one uh we're in Nike
gear?
We did.
Oh, you got one, yeah.
Oh, dude.
Yeah, don't sell it, keep itbecause that thing's probably
worth it.
I'm not going to.
I heard people trying to talkabout selling it, and I I knew
exactly what it was when we gotit, and knew exactly I was
(26:45):
keeping it for forever.
SPEAKER_01 (26:47):
It's awesome.
SPEAKER_00 (26:48):
Yeah.
Um, but we're in Nike schoolhere, so I wear a lot of Nike
shoes uh just for our everydayruns.
Um I wore the Nike Ultra Fliesfor the race, um, just a bit of
a speed shoe.
Um but honestly, yeah, I loveNike shoes.
Uh they're a big brand.
Um I think my training shoes allsummer were Socney.
(27:13):
Um but I kind of just find whatfeels best when I'm finding
shoes.
Um most of the time it does endup being Nike, uh, but I also
like Hogos and Saukney, but umI'm not very picky.
I do I do like somewhat softshoes, but not too soft.
Um so that's the gear I go with.
(27:35):
Uh for like the 23k this year,I'd love to find some polls and
race with polls just with allthat comment.
But I I don't know if I have anyspecific gear I use.
Interesting.
SPEAKER_01 (27:47):
The polls, man.
Everybody's adopting the pollsthese days.
It's a popular thing.
Shout out to Sven Lacky, man.
I gotta start, I gotta talk tohim.
Um yeah, you can get some pollssent your way.
Um yeah why not like as far aslike content you consume like
from just being interested, isit more ultra?
Like, are you more interested inthe long stuff or the short
(28:09):
stuff right now?
SPEAKER_00 (28:11):
Um right now the short stuff.
Um, but I do love watching thelong stuff.
Uh it's almost every year thatwe go watch the Western States,
um, and that's great to watch,um, great to see.
Uh, but then like UTMB, I watcha lot of their um kind of like
highlights because that is asuper some super long races.
(28:32):
Um and uh definitely shorterright now, but I would like to
step it up to longer as I startto lose my speed more.
And uh yeah, I like while wewere in Spain, we watched a
couple UTMP races just just tokind of get some motivation
going.
SPEAKER_01 (28:52):
Yeah, that's cool.
That's cool.
Who's your like that's just aweird question, but like who's
your favorite trail runner rightnow?
Like who do you look to or tothat like gives you uh that gets
you stoked that's like doingsomething in the sport?
SPEAKER_00 (29:06):
Um when I was growing up, it was definitely
Max King, uh, just since myparents ran with him.
Uh Killian's another great one.
Um but then I wouldn't pick one,it's really all those Western
states guys.
Um and then also Ruth RuthCroft, uh great runner.
(29:29):
Uh she came and stayed with usfor a couple weeks before she
won the Western States, and uhthat was really cool to see.
Um I wouldn't say there's oneperson, but um definitely some
bigger names out there.
Definitely Walmsley.
Uh definitely look up to them.
Interesting.
SPEAKER_01 (29:47):
Yeah, I think I don't know.
I find it so cool.
It's always interesting to talkto folks because like I'm so in
the sport that like sometimes Idon't take a step back to say,
like, okay, like like what doother people think of this, or
what do other people findinteresting?
Um Yeah.
Man.
What um all right, as far asgoals go, like are you
interested in transitioningstraight to trails after
college?
Is there like any plans to tryand make a go of it on the
(30:10):
roads, or is it just straighttrails for you?
SPEAKER_00 (30:13):
Yeah, so I mean, well in college, I hope this
year or next year to make uhregionals for stable taste.
And then if that leads tonationals, that'd be great.
And from there see what happens.
Um but if I don't really seethat going anyway, then I'd
probably trip uh transitionspread into trails.
Um but also I want to keep someof that speed.
(30:38):
So like I know there's someathletes, not many, but they
kinda do a trail season and thenmaybe a road or track season.
So I I would love to dosomething like that.
SPEAKER_01 (30:48):
Yeah.
I mean it's a growing likesection of the sport now.
I I see it more so probably onthe women's side that I've seen
it more doable.
Like we've got McKenna Morleycoming over um, you know, from
the roads as a marathoner, andnow coming into the sport and
kind of doing both.
Um, dude, Grayson Murphy.
Uh I mean you have Christiantoo.
I think Christian is probablythe best male example of kind of
doing both on the roads and thetracks.
(31:09):
Did you get a chance to meetChristian at uh at Worlds?
SPEAKER_00 (31:12):
I believe so.
There were so many people.
He had the mullet.
SPEAKER_01 (31:15):
He was the mullet guy with the mustache and the
mullet.
SPEAKER_00 (31:18):
Yes, yeah, yeah.
Yeah, he was super nice.
SPEAKER_01 (31:21):
Dude, that's that's that's one of our great American
hopes.
Like that's our that's thefuture of our sport right there,
is probably him.
Um Taylor Stack 2, Cam Smith.
I'm see, I'm a big fan of allthese guys.
Lots of yeah, it's all cool.
Um interesting.
SPEAKER_00 (31:34):
Okay, all right.
SPEAKER_01 (31:35):
Um, so I like the goals and stuff like that.
Is there any races that stickout to you that like you'd like
to do in the next few yearsoutside of Broken Arrow?
Like, have you looked into likethe Golden Trail series or um, I
know there's like series andall, the gamma, races like that,
or maybe the Skyrunner series,but that might be a little slow
for someone like you.
Like, is there anything thatlike kind of stands out?
SPEAKER_00 (31:57):
Um, I haven't really looked that far ahead.
I know I should be looking atthat.
Um but it's kind of justbalancing seeing when my track
season actually ends and when Ican actually go into that trail
racing summer.
Um, if I'm making regionals thatcuts into my summer two, three
more weeks.
So it's I haven't looked too farahead just in case maybe I'm
(32:19):
injured coming off of trackseason or something.
But I definitely like to thinkabout those as options in these
next couple summers.
Very cool.
SPEAKER_01 (32:30):
Awesome, man.
Well, listen, we're at about 30,35 minutes now.
I think we've got a ton.
Um I think it's a good place tostart.
I'm really appreciative for youto come on the pod and have a
conversation.
Um yeah, I'm looking forward towhere the season's gonna take
you next, man.
I hope uh we get to bump intoeach other at Broken Arrow this
year.
And uh yeah, man, I'll becheering for you along the way.
And uh thanks for coming on.
SPEAKER_00 (32:51):
Yeah, sweet.
Thank you so much.
Yeah, I appreciate it, dude.
SPEAKER_01 (32:55):
Awesome.
Thanks, Ben.
What'd you guys think?
Oh man, I want to thank Noah somuch for coming on the pod.
What a brave future ahead, and Ican't wait to see uh where this
kid's career takes him.
Uh, want to thank him so muchfor coming on the show.
The best way you could supportNoah is to give him a follow on
Instagram.
You guys can find him at Noahunderscore McMahon underscore.
It's gonna be linked in the shownotes.
Definitely give him a follow anduh shoot him a message.
(33:17):
Let him know what you guysthought about the episode.
Um, sure he'd love to hear fromall of you.
Guys, uh, thanks so much foryour continued support for the
show.
Um, if you wouldn't mind givingus a five-star reading and
review on Apple, Spotify, orYouTube, wherever you consume
podcasts, definitely means theworld to me, and it's how we can
continue to tell the stories ofthese amazing athletes.
That would be absolutelystupendous, awesome, and
(33:40):
incredible.
And very last but not least, itis the holidays.
If you guys are thinking aboutgetting something for your loved
ones, definitely check out brandpartner ultimate direction.
It's gonna get you 25% off asthe code Steep Stuff Pod.
That's one word Steep Stuff Podfor 25% off your carton
ultimately.com.
Guys, I have a ton of stuffcoming down the pipeline.
It is the running event week, soTRE week.
(34:02):
Uh so stuff's gonna be droppinguh as we go.
Um but yeah, definitely a lot ofstuff planned over the next
couple weeks uh that should be alot of fun.
Definitely some good stuff beinglined up now.
So thanks so much for tuning in.
Thanks so much for coming on.
Appreciate it.
Welcome back to the Steep Stuff Podcast.
I'm your host, James L'Oriello,and today I am so excited to
welcome Noah McMahon to theshow.
At just 19 years old, Noah is aredshirt freshman at Gonzaga
University where he competes inthe steeple chase.
Noah actually grew up aroundLake Tahoe and comes from a
crazy lineage in our sport.
Both mom and dad weretrailrunners back in the day for
(00:22):
Solomon.
And on top of that, he went toIncline High School, where
another very famous trailrunnerin our sport had also attended.
On top of that, Noah is amultiple-time broken arrow 11K
champion and plans to move up tothe 23K in 2026.
This past year, he also competedon the U20 team at the World
Mountain Running Championship inConfranc, Spain.
(00:44):
We caught up to chat all thingsabout his college experience,
what it's like running at the D1level, and his goals for the
future.
This young gun knows that thetrails are an option and wants
to pursue trail running after hegraduates.
On top of that, we talked abouthis experience at Worlds, what
it was like getting to hang outwith and meet all the
professional trailrunners in thesport.
(01:05):
I quizzed him on all of hisfavorite stuff.
What's who's his favorite trailrunner now?
You know, like what his favoriteshoes are, what the gear is all
about, and what he wants to seefrom the sport and what gets him
excited.
So it was a fun chat.
Uh not every day do I get to geta young gun on the uh on the
show.
So I definitely got to quiz himon a bunch of stuff and just see
(01:25):
what he was interested in andsee what the the thought is on
uh the D1 scene right now, andif kids realize that like trail
running and potentially mountainrunning like is a is a career
path, which is kind of cool.
So hope you guys enjoyed thisone.
Big fan of Noah's uh withoutfurther ado, Noah McMahon.
(02:48):
So wait, Noah McMahon.
Welcome to the Deep StuffPodcast.
How's it going, dude?
Good, good.
How are you?
I'm doing great.
I really appreciate you comingon the podcast for a
conversation.
Um yeah, stoked to have this,especially after some of the you
know trail running and stuffthat you put in this past
summer.
Definitely a standout season.
Um, yeah, man.
Maybe uh just give me like afive-minute elevator pitch on
(03:09):
like your background so we getstarted.
SPEAKER_00 (03:12):
Yeah, so um, I mean, I grew up running.
My parents were runners.
Um, my dad ran in college, uh asmall school in Kentucky where
my twin brother runs now, um,which is pretty cool.
Um my mom uh didn't grow uprunning, but uh started running
when she met my dad.
They did tarathlons and trailrunning, um, where they both uh
(03:36):
ran for Solomon, which waspretty cool.
Uh so growing up we were aSolomon household.
Um started trail running, umkind of just fun races when I
was younger, a little fun runs.
Um and then in high schoolstarted cross country.
Uh well, I guess I startedmiddle school, but got serious
(03:57):
in high school after COVID.
Um and just been loving trailrunning, trail run for all my
easy days.
Um my workouts I might go to thetrack or something, but uh when
I can I'm definitely out trailrunning.
Um just growing up at Tahoe,like there's trails all around.
So I kind of kind of just trailrun wherever I can.
(04:19):
Um I like the soft surface, Ilike the challenge.
Um and then yeah, got into umBroken Arrow Sky Race uh when
that started at Palisades.
Um doing that a couple years,and then yeah, kind of went from
there, applied for the world'steam, uh, was just there and uh
(04:41):
running cross-country and trackhere, uh having having a blast
out here.
So that's been a lot of fun.
Um, but I definitely lovetrailer, definitely want to
continue that, probably continuethat post-collegiate as well.
SPEAKER_01 (04:55):
Nice, dude.
Well, you I think you would be agreat, literally like a super
great addition.
Uh shout out to Andy Wacker forTrail Team Elite when you so
choose to apply to that.
Um dude, let's talk, let's getinto like your background too
with with collegiate.
Like, so you run for Gonzaga.
Um, I think you're the onlycurrent college athlete I think
I've ever had on the podcast,which this is fun because we'll
(05:16):
get to chat all things track andfield and cross country.
Uh talk about your experience atGonzaga.
What is it like being acollegiate athlete right now?
And uh what was the recruitmentprocess like for you?
SPEAKER_00 (05:27):
Yeah, so out of high school I wasn't really
recruited.
Um it my last picks were betweenhere and St.
Mary's, uh so rivals in the uhcollege world.
But um I ran pretty well in highschool to where um the coach
(05:48):
here decided to give me achance.
Um I won high school state 10separate times, um two times in
cross country and then fourtimes twice in track.
Um so I wasn't super heavilyrecruited uh just because um
coming out of Nevada, it wasn'tsuper fast.
(06:08):
Um, but I knew I wanted to runin college.
I just didn't know where.
So I didn't decide till probablyit was like April, my senior
year.
So um kind of just waited, waspatient with it.
Um and then once getting here,uh definitely an adjustment.
I was injured all all last yearfor the first half of the year,
(06:31):
um, at least, and then kind ofjust uh got healthy, ran a
decent indoor season, uh startedoff the outdoor season pretty
rough, but then my whole goallast year was just to get
healthy, uh, which I succeededin that, and then from there,
since I was healthy, I wanted tomake U-20 steeple and nationals.
SPEAKER_01 (06:54):
Um and yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (06:58):
So that wasn't uh my first couple steeple races were
hard, definitely really hard,and um I didn't think it'd be
something um I could reallyimprove much in uh because my my
slowest race felt super hard.
But then uh just gradually, likeeach race, I was dropping 20
(07:19):
seconds off each time.
Um so I ended up qualifying forthe US Nationals, uh, U-20
Steeple Nationals at uh HaywardField.
Got to race there uh thissummer, which was actually two
days before Broken Arrow.
And so I raced there, got fourththere with a good PR, and then
(07:39):
uh drove home and raced brokenarrow.
SPEAKER_01 (07:42):
Which by the way, you won the 11k, correct?
If I remember correctly.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (07:47):
Yeah, that was uh legs are a little tired, uh
hurting from all the driving,and uh I I struggle with
Achilles stuff on and off, andso I wasn't sure how I was gonna
do in that.
Um kind of muscled through anduh took it out and was honestly
kind of scared.
So I was running a little scaredthere, but uh good race.
(08:08):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (08:08):
So how are your coaches?
They're cool with you runningtrail races?
Like, because I've heard usuallypeople get like uh give like
coaches usually give pushbackwith their their athletes
running uh trail races.
SPEAKER_00 (08:19):
Yeah, so um two of my teammates actually ran at uh
Worlds on the E20 team two yearsago.
Um so I talked to him about itand uh he he was totally alright
with it.
He said it'd be a greatexperience.
Uh he's all he's big on theexperiences and everything.
So uh my coach loved me goingand running.
(08:41):
Um he also was like trying tohelp me structure training
around getting ready for worlds.
Um because I wasn't too worriedabout cross-country this year.
So I was kind of just trainingfor worlds, and then once I got
back, I kind of jumped back intocross-country, but definitely um
he was super supportive aboutit.
Uh, loved me going out, havingthe experience, getting to
(09:01):
travel like that.
SPEAKER_01 (09:02):
So cool.
I want to go back in time alittle bit.
I I heard through the grapevinein my research that you um you
went to the same high school asMichelina Censeri, right?
And took a bunch of his medicalschool records.
SPEAKER_00 (09:13):
Yeah.
Um, so our high school, smallhigh school, uh, only got about
10 to 50 kids in it.
Um and so I wouldn't say therecords are easy, they're just
not always getting broken.
Um, so he had a lot of otherrecords, and someone who was a
senior, my freshman year had acouple records, and so my whole
goal was just to break allthose.
(09:35):
Um and figured out a little bitthat I got somewhat of a range.
Um, I started doing the 400 acouple times throughout the
year, like 400 or 4x4.
Um, but it was definitely like Ithink I got his two-mile record,
is what it was.
(09:55):
Um and then throughout the yearI kept breaking my own record.
Um, but it was really cool tokind of see his records up
there, but now my name up there,uh, just to see what a great
trailrunner he's become.
Just kind of where I want to getto as well.
SPEAKER_01 (10:12):
Dude, what was it like growing up in Tahoe and
kind of living in that area?
Like it's one of the mostbeautiful training grounds on
the planet.
Like it's so cool.
Um yeah, paint that picture forme.
SPEAKER_00 (10:24):
Yeah, it's it's really great.
Um, just getting outside, I canget onto pretty much every trail
in Tahoe within a half mile ofmy house.
I just ran up onto the trailsand they all connect.
And I could go all the wayaround the lake if I wanted.
Um so when um since they ranaround the lake, I went and
watched that.
I ran with him for part of it uhto pace him just for fun.
(10:48):
Um but growing up it'sbeautiful.
Um during the winter I'll godown to lake level, run on the
trails down there.
And those are paved, but it'sbeautiful right next to the
lake, uh crystal clear.
And then uh during the summer,have like a 12-mile run down to
the lake and hop in the lakeright there.
So it's really nice.
(11:08):
Um it's challenging when I goback home now and there's that
the altitude.
Um, but uh I love summeraltitude training.
Uh that's one thing I miss uhdown here, pretty much sea
level.
So it's great to go back,beautiful.
Uh they're getting some snowright now.
Glad I'm not getting all that.
Um yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (11:28):
What's it like going to school Gonzaga?
Like I've always known Gonzagaas like a basketball school, and
it's so fun to watch you guysalways in like the uh like the
the Sweet 16 and the like thebasketball playoffs and stuff
like that.
Um what's the atmosphere likethere?
Is it a fun school?
Is it more academic?
Like, what's it all about?
SPEAKER_00 (11:46):
Yeah, so it's it's a great school.
Uh we're private, um, which ispretty cool.
It's a lot smaller.
Uh all my classes are prettysmall, but it's a great
basketball environment.
Uh go to a lot of the games.
We went to the Creighton game,uh, what was that last week?
Um when we were both rankedpretty high.
Um so it's it's really fun.
Uh there definitely is theacademic part to it, and uh they
(12:09):
do set a high standard on that.
You're an a student before theathlete.
Um, but it's it's great.
Uh our team culture is great.
Um, I think the team is reallywhy I'm here.
Um and so it's kind of cool justto see everyone.
They unfortunately did not makenationals this year, uh, but
we're looking to get back therenext year for sure.
SPEAKER_01 (12:30):
What's it like being a collegiate athlete for the
school?
Like, is it like a lot of goodresources um, you know, compared
to maybe friends that go toother schools or bigger
universities and stuff likethat?
Like, what's it like um as faras that life in general?
Maybe describe that.
SPEAKER_00 (12:45):
Yeah, it's it's really great for the resources
aspect.
Uh if I need, I can schedulewith teacher one-on-one or um
the academic help uh from theathletics department is pretty
cool as well.
Um and then we kind of can justlike um like feel out what we
(13:08):
need to do.
If we need to go talk to ateacher, go talk to athletics,
they can kind of help us withthe same thing.
Um but uh it's kind ofinteresting when we register for
classes, we have to see ouradvisor.
Whereas in bigger schools, theydon't necessarily have to, and
it's kind of cool to just get toknow someone one-on-one if we
have questions or anything.
SPEAKER_01 (13:30):
Nice.
SPEAKER_00 (13:30):
What are you studying?
I'm studying kinesiology.
I want to be like an athletictrainer, uh, kind of get to know
my body um as well, so I canmaybe improve in running in that
aspect, stay healthy.
unknown (13:43):
Nice.
SPEAKER_01 (13:43):
Dude, that's a tough major to do, especially with uh
with running.
Like that's a lot of that's alot of biology, a lot of stuff,
a lot of chemistry.
SPEAKER_00 (13:52):
Yeah, something our team kind of pride ourselves on
is we not not many people aredoing some easy major.
Um, so it's like we're studentathletes for real.
SPEAKER_01 (14:04):
Nice, nice.
All right, let's shift gears alittle bit.
I I gotta talk to you about thetrails, man.
Like what what is it about?
Well, first off, like why thetrails?
Is it more because of mom anddad and that upbringing around
Solomon and understanding trailrunning?
Like, is it more like that thatas the kind of the background?
SPEAKER_00 (14:24):
Um, yeah, I'd say part of it definitely is.
Um, but also just living inTahoe, you can't go wrong with
going on beautiful trails.
Um, but really anywhere, I justlove to I love the challenge, I
love the different terrain.
Um I can really kind of dowhatever terrain I want around
(14:45):
Tahoe, but also just like upsand downs, and you're descending
fast, you're climbing slow, butyou're climbing hard.
So it's definitely uh differentthan track or something.
And that's kind of why I loveit.
SPEAKER_01 (15:02):
What's the like atmosphere at school?
Like, do you do are do all thedudes and like know that like
trail is an opportunity, likepossibility now?
Like you don't have to try andmake it on the roads or make it
on the track.
Like there's there's actualoptions to go be a professional
trail runner, or is that more sofrom your just your background?
SPEAKER_00 (15:20):
I'd say that's more so from my background.
I know a lot of the guys kindahaven't looked into that, or um
just kind of after their collegecareer, they're kind of done.
But um, it's definitelysomething I want to look into
post-collegiate for sure.
And definitely throughout thesummers, like keep trail racing.
(15:41):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (15:41):
Yeah.
So what sticks out to you forthat?
I mean, obviously Broken Arrowis a hometown race for you.
Yeah, what else?
What else do you think you'regonna show up to in 2026?
Like, what's the what's theplan?
SPEAKER_00 (15:51):
Yeah, so I don't have too much on my radar right
now, just kind of staying readyfor track season, um, getting a
good pace right now.
But um, it's hard when I alreadyhave three seasons and that's
like a fourth season.
Um, but I definitely want tolook into some bigger races this
summer.
Um, I'm thinking of doing the23k at Broken Arrow, kind of
(16:14):
stepping up there, and kind ofjust see what else there is out
there.
Um, I know there is a lot ofraces and definitely in Colorado
and everything.
So I want to get out to those.
Um, just gotta figure it outwith uh summer training and
summer working.
SPEAKER_01 (16:28):
I'm gonna regret this because you're gonna come
kick my ass, but you shouldreally think about doing a
circle series race.
That'd be that'd be fun.
Come come do it.
SPEAKER_00 (16:35):
Yeah, that sounds fun.
I think I think um we might tryto go out and do the trans
Rockies this summer, so thatmight be another thing on there.
SPEAKER_01 (16:42):
Yeah, hell yeah, dude.
Hell yeah.
All right, I don't want to burythe lead too much because I feel
like I've gotten away from it,but I want to get I want to talk
worlds.
Like you were a selection thisyear uh to go race, it was you
20, correct?
That was the team you were on?
Yep.
Talk about that.
Like that is obviously a massivehonor to go represent team USA
abroad.
You got to see really the pointyend of the spear with uh just
(17:04):
the on the world scene, some ofthe greatest trailrunners on the
planet get to do their craft.
What kind of stood out to youand what was your level of
excitement to make that team?
SPEAKER_00 (17:13):
Yeah, I was super excited to make that team.
Um I hadn't made the U18 team,so I was um didn't even know
there was a U-20 team until uhnot too far out on before the
deadline, honestly.
Um, but then when I got the callthat I made the team, I was
super excited.
Um I was just looking forward tothe experience.
(17:34):
And then um once I got to schooland we started doing workouts, I
didn't think I was super fit.
So once we got there and I had apretty decent race, I figured,
okay, like I definitely do likebeing here.
I definitely uh love torepresent USA.
Um and I think there's a littlething, little things that I
(17:56):
could have done differentthroughout the race just to
improve my race a little bit,but that's in the past.
I can't really change that.
Um, but it was an amazingexperience, uh, something I
would definitely love torepresent USA again.
Um, but and step up thedistance.
SPEAKER_01 (18:13):
Yeah.
unknown (18:14):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (18:14):
Talk about the race, man, and how it unfolded.
Like, what was it like racingagainst uh people from all over
the world, man?
You know, it's like I I don'tknow, like I think it's a little
different, a little more unique,especially because at the
collegiate level, obviouslyyou're racing guys all over the
country, you know, with alldifferent, you know, levels of
ability.
This is different.
Like this is the pointy tip ofthe spear for guys your age.
(18:35):
What was that like and how didthe race unfold for you?
SPEAKER_00 (18:39):
Yeah, so um I mean it was super cool just being in
the airport, seeing all thedifferent athletes from
different countries, and thenwe're uh we went and watched the
VK and just all the athletes arethere, and the atmosphere kind
of starts building.
Um and then just throughout theweek leading up to the race, I
was kind of nervous, but uhkeeping it controlled.
(19:01):
And then throughout the race,like or build leading up to the
race that morning of I wasdefinitely nervous.
But as the race started, westarted on the road, uh, which
was interesting to me to start.
Um, but everyone went out superhard and everyone was being
super uh competitive on the lineto where we couldn't get that we
(19:22):
were supposed to have one fromeach country on the front line.
Uh we couldn't get a single guyup front.
Others wouldn't let us passthem.
Um so we were we were kind ofpacked up in the back.
Um, but it was a good roadsection to get settled in.
Um and everyone started outquick.
And I definitely stayedconservative because uh I've
been known to go out too hard.
(19:45):
Um and so on the road part,conservative, uh once we hit
single track trail, Iimmediately started passing
because it was just barely toowide.
Um and then surprisingly we'reonly like a mile in and kids
started walking.
Um so that was a littlefrustrating, definitely, uh,
(20:06):
because I knew I could have beenpushing a little harder if I
wasn't behind people walking.
SPEAKER_01 (20:13):
Okay, I gotcha.
SPEAKER_00 (20:14):
Yeah, it was uh just one big line all the way to the
front.
Um as we got it started to gettowards the top of the climb, uh
there was a little moreseparation.
And um kids were being I I guessit's the European style racing
where they kind of just try tohold you back.
Uh, because every time I triedto go past, they'd speed up too.
So I was like almost in a fullsprint trying to pass.
(20:36):
Um but at the top, I did pass acouple more people right before
the descent, and then itswitched backs all the way down.
Um and I was trying to go insideand outside of people trying to
pass, and uh I think it was thekids from Germany, possibly,
just wouldn't let me pass.
Um so as soon as we got on theroad or on like the fire road, I
(20:57):
passed there.
But um, yeah, I think it's theEuropean style of racing, they
kind of don't want you to pass,um especially in that short of a
race.
So as soon as we got on theroad, I tried to get everything
I had, but I think once we hitthe hard surface, my legs uh
felt elactic a lot more.
And uh I was just trying tofinish at that point.
It was it was uh definitely hardthat final half mile.
SPEAKER_01 (21:20):
Yeah.
Well, I mean, well fought race,dude.
And I I think it's so coolbecause you at a young age, see,
like a lot of guys in our sportdidn't really get afforded these
opportunities to be able to likerace on an international stage
and see what it's like groupedup at the front and see how fast
it goes out and see how theEuros like to race.
And I think it it's just for usin our ability, this is a very
(21:42):
nationalistic comment, but likein our ability to like compete
in the future as Americans, likeon a world stage, like it's it's
it's amazing for you guys to getto see that.
So that way you will be preparedand have those tools when the
time does come, you know,whether it's you're racing a
mountain classic or a VK orwhatever you'd be racing down
(22:02):
the line uh when you make TeamUSA.
I know I think it's pretty coolto be able to get those
experiences and get to see whatthat's like.
SPEAKER_00 (22:10):
Yeah, yeah, it definitely was.
SPEAKER_01 (22:12):
Yeah.
Um what did you take away?
Like what was your learningsfrom it?
Like, do you like any anythingyou would do differently next
time?
SPEAKER_00 (22:20):
Differently next time?
I definitely wish I had slightlymore of a uh summer of training.
I I think I had a pretty goodsummer, but um I definitely felt
a little bit out of shape.
Um and I maybe hit a little morehills.
Um and then really just kind ofraise it slightly different.
(22:41):
I still think I would have diedeither way towards the end.
Uh, but maybe go out a littleharder so I wasn't behind those
kids who were walking.
Um it was still great toexperience that.
And honestly, I can't changemuch now, but uh next time
there's a lot to take away fromit.
SPEAKER_01 (22:58):
Yeah.
How was it like with teammatesand getting to meet other
members of Team USA?
Like, did you did you make somegood relationships out of that?
Like as far as meeting the otherguys and gals?
SPEAKER_00 (23:08):
Yeah, so uh one of the guys on the team actually
goes here.
Uh he's a freshman here.
Uh so we traveled together uhthere.
We met one other guy on the teamat the train station, and then
we met the last dude there.
We met all the girls there aswell.
Uh they're all super cool.
Uh I got to see one of them racelast weekend at NXR, uh, one of
(23:28):
the girls.
Um, so it's kind of cool.
Like um, they're all committingplaces, um, and it's kind of
cool to see them do that andprogress with their running.
Um, but they're definitely likegood friends now.
Like we built a good connectionthere.
Um we were all joking, laughingthe whole time.
(23:49):
Um, so it was pretty cool.
Even the girls' team was prettyclose.
Like uh we would all hang outevery now and then while we were
there, uh, because we had acouple days there even before a
race.
SPEAKER_01 (24:02):
What was it like?
Um, did you get any access tolike, I don't know, did you get
to talk to Jim Wamsley?
Did you get to talk to Joe Gray?
Like two of the greatest, youknow, Katie Scheid's in the mix
there, like hanging out.
Like some of the best Americantrail runners of all time are
are hanging out.
Like, did you get access to anyof these people and get to talk
to them?
SPEAKER_00 (24:20):
Yeah, so I think a lot of them had their own,
they're at their own hotels orsomething.
But a lot of the US team was inour hotel, and we'd uh see them
at lunch or dinner and we'd getto hang out with them.
Um but then I think a couple ofthem doubled.
So those days we didn't see themat all.
And um, but they were prettyinviting.
(24:42):
We're at lunch or at dinner,we'd they'd sit by us and ask us
who we were, where we're from,all that.
Um, and then Tim Walmsley wassuper, super humble.
And after our race, he came upto us, said good job, um, asked
us how it went, um, and liketook a picture with us and
(25:02):
everything.
Um, we had been watching thelive streams for the other
races, so it was really cool tosee those athletes in person and
kind of meet them as well.
So cool.
SPEAKER_01 (25:13):
Anyone that stood out to you besides Jim that like
was really kind and like wouldjust, you know, like a just I
don't know.
I I sometimes we forget likejust trail runners, like these
guys and gals, like they'rethey're role models for your you
know, your class that's comingup, or people like you that want
to go become a professional inthe sport.
SPEAKER_00 (25:32):
Yeah, I mean, I'd say all of them were super nice.
Um like everyone was superinviting, um, and they all
talked to us.
So I I wouldn't say any oneperson, but they all talked to
us, all wanted to hear about ourstory and everything like that.
SPEAKER_01 (25:48):
Yeah, we've got, I mean, honestly, dude, like best
sport on earth, good people,great, great humans, and they're
all awesome.
Like everybody on that team isamazing.
Um, yeah, dude, who I I guess soI want to shift gears a little
bit.
I just have so many questionsfor you.
Like in the sense of, you know,I don't get to talk to like
people more I so you in yourlike age group that are
interested in trail.
(26:08):
Like, what sticks out to youright now?
Like, what interests you aboutit?
Like what brands are youinterested in?
Like, what shoes do you wear onthe trail?
Like, what is your favoriteaspect of it?
I just have like so many thingsthat I'd be interested to learn
from you about it.
SPEAKER_00 (26:21):
Yeah, so a I liked a lot of the gear we got for uh
worlds.
It was all Nike gear.
Uh we didn't get shoes, but didyou get one uh we're in Nike
gear?
We did.
Oh, you got one, yeah.
Oh, dude.
Yeah, don't sell it, keep itbecause that thing's probably
worth it.
I'm not going to.
I heard people trying to talkabout selling it, and I I knew
exactly what it was when we gotit, and knew exactly I was
(26:45):
keeping it for forever.
SPEAKER_01 (26:47):
It's awesome.
SPEAKER_00 (26:48):
Yeah.
Um, but we're in Nike schoolhere, so I wear a lot of Nike
shoes uh just for our everydayruns.
Um I wore the Nike Ultra Fliesfor the race, um, just a bit of
a speed shoe.
Um but honestly, yeah, I loveNike shoes.
Uh they're a big brand.
Um I think my training shoes allsummer were Socney.
(27:13):
Um but I kind of just find whatfeels best when I'm finding
shoes.
Um most of the time it does endup being Nike, uh, but I also
like Hogos and Saukney, but umI'm not very picky.
I do I do like somewhat softshoes, but not too soft.
Um so that's the gear I go with.
(27:35):
Uh for like the 23k this year,I'd love to find some polls and
race with polls just with allthat comment.
But I I don't know if I have anyspecific gear I use.
Interesting.
SPEAKER_01 (27:47):
The polls, man.
Everybody's adopting the pollsthese days.
It's a popular thing.
Shout out to Sven Lacky, man.
I gotta start, I gotta talk tohim.
Um yeah, you can get some pollssent your way.
Um yeah why not like as far aslike content you consume like
from just being interested, isit more ultra?
Like, are you more interested inthe long stuff or the short
(28:09):
stuff right now?
SPEAKER_00 (28:11):
Um right now the short stuff.
Um, but I do love watching thelong stuff.
Uh it's almost every year thatwe go watch the Western States,
um, and that's great to watch,um, great to see.
Uh, but then like UTMB, I watcha lot of their um kind of like
highlights because that is asuper some super long races.
(28:32):
Um and uh definitely shorterright now, but I would like to
step it up to longer as I startto lose my speed more.
And uh yeah, I like while wewere in Spain, we watched a
couple UTMP races just just tokind of get some motivation
going.
SPEAKER_01 (28:52):
Yeah, that's cool.
That's cool.
Who's your like that's just aweird question, but like who's
your favorite trail runner rightnow?
Like who do you look to or tothat like gives you uh that gets
you stoked that's like doingsomething in the sport?
SPEAKER_00 (29:06):
Um when I was growing up, it was definitely
Max King, uh, just since myparents ran with him.
Uh Killian's another great one.
Um but then I wouldn't pick one,it's really all those Western
states guys.
Um and then also Ruth RuthCroft, uh great runner.
(29:29):
Uh she came and stayed with usfor a couple weeks before she
won the Western States, and uhthat was really cool to see.
Um I wouldn't say there's oneperson, but um definitely some
bigger names out there.
Definitely Walmsley.
Uh definitely look up to them.
Interesting.
SPEAKER_01 (29:47):
Yeah, I think I don't know.
I find it so cool.
It's always interesting to talkto folks because like I'm so in
the sport that like sometimes Idon't take a step back to say,
like, okay, like like what doother people think of this, or
what do other people findinteresting?
Um Yeah.
Man.
What um all right, as far asgoals go, like are you
interested in transitioningstraight to trails after
college?
Is there like any plans to tryand make a go of it on the
(30:10):
roads, or is it just straighttrails for you?
SPEAKER_00 (30:13):
Yeah, so I mean, well in college, I hope this
year or next year to make uhregionals for stable taste.
And then if that leads tonationals, that'd be great.
And from there see what happens.
Um but if I don't really seethat going anyway, then I'd
probably trip uh transitionspread into trails.
Um but also I want to keep someof that speed.
(30:38):
So like I know there's someathletes, not many, but they
kinda do a trail season and thenmaybe a road or track season.
So I I would love to dosomething like that.
SPEAKER_01 (30:48):
Yeah.
I mean it's a growing likesection of the sport now.
I I see it more so probably onthe women's side that I've seen
it more doable.
Like we've got McKenna Morleycoming over um, you know, from
the roads as a marathoner, andnow coming into the sport and
kind of doing both.
Um, dude, Grayson Murphy.
Uh I mean you have Christiantoo.
I think Christian is probablythe best male example of kind of
doing both on the roads and thetracks.
(31:09):
Did you get a chance to meetChristian at uh at Worlds?
SPEAKER_00 (31:12):
I believe so.
There were so many people.
He had the mullet.
SPEAKER_01 (31:15):
He was the mullet guy with the mustache and the
mullet.
SPEAKER_00 (31:18):
Yes, yeah, yeah.
Yeah, he was super nice.
SPEAKER_01 (31:21):
Dude, that's that's that's one of our great American
hopes.
Like that's our that's thefuture of our sport right there,
is probably him.
Um Taylor Stack 2, Cam Smith.
I'm see, I'm a big fan of allthese guys.
Lots of yeah, it's all cool.
Um interesting.
SPEAKER_00 (31:34):
Okay, all right.
SPEAKER_01 (31:35):
Um, so I like the goals and stuff like that.
Is there any races that stickout to you that like you'd like
to do in the next few yearsoutside of Broken Arrow?
Like, have you looked into likethe Golden Trail series or um, I
know there's like series andall, the gamma, races like that,
or maybe the Skyrunner series,but that might be a little slow
for someone like you.
Like, is there anything thatlike kind of stands out?
SPEAKER_00 (31:57):
Um, I haven't really looked that far ahead.
I know I should be looking atthat.
Um but it's kind of justbalancing seeing when my track
season actually ends and when Ican actually go into that trail
racing summer.
Um, if I'm making regionals thatcuts into my summer two, three
more weeks.
So it's I haven't looked too farahead just in case maybe I'm
(32:19):
injured coming off of trackseason or something.
But I definitely like to thinkabout those as options in these
next couple summers.
Very cool.
SPEAKER_01 (32:30):
Awesome, man.
Well, listen, we're at about 30,35 minutes now.
I think we've got a ton.
Um I think it's a good place tostart.
I'm really appreciative for youto come on the pod and have a
conversation.
Um yeah, I'm looking forward towhere the season's gonna take
you next, man.
I hope uh we get to bump intoeach other at Broken Arrow this
year.
And uh yeah, man, I'll becheering for you along the way.
And uh thanks for coming on.
SPEAKER_00 (32:51):
Yeah, sweet.
Thank you so much.
Yeah, I appreciate it, dude.
SPEAKER_01 (32:55):
Awesome.
Thanks, Ben.
What'd you guys think?
Oh man, I want to thank Noah somuch for coming on the pod.
What a brave future ahead, and Ican't wait to see uh where this
kid's career takes him.
Uh, want to thank him so muchfor coming on the show.
The best way you could supportNoah is to give him a follow on
Instagram.
You guys can find him at Noahunderscore McMahon underscore.
It's gonna be linked in the shownotes.
Definitely give him a follow anduh shoot him a message.
(33:17):
Let him know what you guysthought about the episode.
Um, sure he'd love to hear fromall of you.
Guys, uh, thanks so much foryour continued support for the
show.
Um, if you wouldn't mind givingus a five-star reading and
review on Apple, Spotify, orYouTube, wherever you consume
podcasts, definitely means theworld to me, and it's how we can
continue to tell the stories ofthese amazing athletes.
That would be absolutelystupendous, awesome, and
(33:40):
incredible.
And very last but not least, itis the holidays.
If you guys are thinking aboutgetting something for your loved
ones, definitely check out brandpartner ultimate direction.
It's gonna get you 25% off asthe code Steep Stuff Pod.
That's one word Steep Stuff Podfor 25% off your carton
ultimately.com.
Guys, I have a ton of stuffcoming down the pipeline.
It is the running event week, soTRE week.
(34:02):
Uh so stuff's gonna be droppinguh as we go.
Um but yeah, definitely a lot ofstuff planned over the next
couple weeks uh that should be alot of fun.
Definitely some good stuff beinglined up now.
So thanks so much for tuning in.
Thanks so much for coming on.
Appreciate it.
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