April 22, 2025 • 33 mins
Sophie Wright is a name you need to know in the American mountain running scene. Fresh off completing her collegiate career at Western Washington University—where she holds the school record in the mile—this Alaskan-born trail runner is ready to make waves on the professional circuit as a 2025 Trail Team Selection athlete.
Growing up in Palmer, Alaska provided Sophie with the perfect training environment. Surrounded by Hatcher Pass, Pioneer Peak, and Lazy Mountain, she developed technical skills on some of the most challenging terrain North America has to offer. The tight-knit Alaskan mountain running community, featuring inspirational figures like Denali Foldager-Strabel and Christy Marvin, helped shape Sophie into the competitor she is today.
Sophie's racing resume already impresses with accolades including the 2022 Cirque Series Alyeska championship and top-five finishes at the iconic Mount Marathon race. Now, with her collegiate career behind her, she's focusing entirely on mountain running with ambitious goals for 2025, including making the U.S. Mountain Running Team at the Sunapee Mountain Race and competing in prestigious events like the GoPro Games in Vail.
What makes Sophie particularly dangerous is her versatility. She combines elite track speed with technical mountain skills, excelling on uphill sections while actively working to improve her downhill capabilities. Her self-described 9/10 competitiveness extends beyond running into everyday life, fueling her drive to succeed at the highest levels of the sport.
As Sophie relocates to Colorado for summer training and joins the 2025 Trail Team under coach Andy Wacker, she represents an exciting new generation of American mountain runners poised to make an impact on the international stage. Follow her journey this season as she transitions from collegiate track star to professional mountain running talent—this is just the beginning for Sophie Wright.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
What's up, fam?
Welcome back to the Steep StuffPodcast.
I'm your host, james Lauriello.
Guys, I'm so excited to bringyou an episode today with none
other than Miss Sophie Wright.
She is a 2025 Trail TeamSelection.
You probably are familiar withthat name.
Sophie hails from Palmer, alaska.
She's an Alaskan-born mountainrunner, which is kind of my
favorite style of racing justlike hard, technical, steep
(00:22):
types of racing.
Just like hard, technical,steep types of racing and she
fits the bill.
2022 Cirque Series Alyaskidchampion, as well as top five in
last year's mountain marathonand probably going to win it one
of these years.
Sophie is a monster WesternWashington University alum,
where she actually holds therecord in the mile.
Yeah, just like so, so talented, so fast on the track and so
(00:45):
fast on the trails.
Uh, really looking forward towhere her career is going to
take her.
Uh, yeah, I hope you guysenjoyed this episode was a fun
conversation.
Talk a lot about the alaskanmountain running scene, as well
as sophie's goals for 2025,where she's going to be lining
up at some pretty competitiveraces.
So, without further ado, hopeyou enjoy it.
None other than Sophie Wright,we'll be right back.
(01:20):
Ladies and gentlemen, we arelive.
(02:09):
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think.
Sophie, right, welcome to thesteep stuff podcast.
How are you Good?
How?
Speaker 2 (03:14):
are you doing?
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Good, good, I'm so excited to have a chat like
you're uh, you're like my kindof runner, with like the
background from Alaskan mountainrunning and like you know just
a lot of like your style ofracing that you like to do, so
I'm excited to have thisconversation.
This should be a fun one.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Yeah, me too, me too.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
How's your, uh, how's your day going so far?
Speaker 2 (03:33):
It's been great.
I went on a cool trail run thismorning on.
It's called the Turnagain ArmTrail, gorgeous trail.
It overlooks Turnagain Armoutside of Anchorage Um.
Trail conditions are greatsince Anchorage has gotten like
no snow this year, so good trailrunning lately.
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Nice, nice.
So you just wrapped up school,basically right.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Yeah, it was about like two weeks ago almost.
I turned in my last.
It was for, like, my seminar,my neuroscience seminar.
I just turned my last essay inonline and it was very, you know
, anticlimactic and I was like,okay, I'm done now Cool.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Give me my degree and let me be on my way.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Exactly yeah.
They, like my university,texted my diploma to me and I
was like, oh, that's so weird.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
That's wild, do you?
Guys don't have like a formalgraduation and all that stuff?
We do, but it's in the spring,so I'll missing it for the one
of the trail team camps.
Gotcha, gotcha.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
well you're doing something better, like way more
exactly.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
I skipped I skipped my grad school graduation
because it was like during thepandemic, but I think I would
have skipped either way.
I don't know like yeah it'sjust like you know, I don't know
if you went to your high school.
One it's like why am I gonna goto my college?
Speaker 2 (04:38):
one, fair enough yeah , like you already know what's
up, right, right, right.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
So let's talk a little bit about you.
I want to get into yourbackground.
Maybe give me like the fiveminute elevator pitch on, like
what it was like growing up inalaska and then like what
introduced you to running.
Like what, what got you ontothe running scene I.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
so I grew up in palmer, and all around palmer
you have hatcher pass um on oneside, on the other side you have
pioneer peak and and then infront of you you have Lazy
Mountain and Matt Peak, and sojust growing up in the valley, I
had so many opportunities justlike go outside and play outside
, and I grew up in a very activefamily and so our idea of like
a fun Sunday was going on, youknow a four-hour hike, which is
(05:18):
how I got into it, and therunning community in Palmer is
like very tight-knit, so I wasjust kind of basically raised on
the trails and I saw olderwomen who I still race with
today.
I saw them racing and competingand I was just like so inspired
and I wanted to do that someday.
Yeah, it was just like whenit's in your backyard, it's hard
not to.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
I feel like it's like not just tradition, but like,
yeah, it's like the community,like I've heard so I've had
Denali on the podcast who waslike one of my favorite humans
ever, like such a cool person,um, but like the way she just
described the Alaskan mountainrunning scene and just the
community is, it's just veryunique and very different,
unlike anything else probably inthe lower 48.
Would you, would you agree withthat?
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Absolutely yeah.
And like Denali, she, she's oneof those women I think of like
right off the bat.
She's known me since I was likejust super little and saw me
grow up on the trails.
And it's like her and ChristyMarvin, like women like you know
them, who have made records andwon races, and it's like they
want nothing but to like supporteveryone and see everyone
succeed, and that's like whatmakes Alaskan running so special
(06:22):
.
Plus, it's like not a lot ofpeople are in the scene, I guess
, and so it's like you get toreally know everyone around you,
which is like awesome.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Yeah, yeah.
So what was like, what got youinto?
I mean, obviously there's trailrunning and then there's track
and field.
Right, obviously, you had avery I mean you're what the
record holder for the mile andat your, at your university.
So like, obviously you're anextremely talented track and
field runner.
What got you more so onto thetrack and field scene and, um,
kind of like, how did thatignite it?
Speaker 2 (06:52):
was almost like more accessible when it comes to
racing and running, cause youknow, with the long winters here
it's hard to race year round.
And I love like I'm very I'm avery competitive person, so I
needed that like to race yearround.
I love like I'm very I'm a verycompetitive person, so I needed
that like to race year round.
And I had an amazing coach inhigh school who really like
changed me as a runner andduring COVID, I think that was
like what my junior year of highschool is a very like awesome
(07:14):
time to just like sit down andtrain for track while like
having you know my easy days beon the trail, which was a good
way to like mix it up for mebecause I couldn't that.
That was the one thing aboutcollege.
I was almost losing it mentallywhen I couldn't have time to go
out on the trails, but thetrack was also a good time to
compete and feel that speedinesswhile also staying competitive.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Nice.
What was your collegeexperience like?
Some people really lovecompeting at a very high level
on the track, but also a lot ofMore particularly, a lot of
people struggle.
It's really hard for a lot offolks, whether it's from just
being burnt out and overtrained.
All these different factorscome into play.
(07:57):
What was your collegeexperience like for you?
Speaker 2 (07:59):
It was overall so amazing.
I came into a program that wasin the in the middle of like a
development period and I waswith like an amazing group of
girls and we were able tobasically take the team from one
spot to a completely anotherspot where it's like almost
expectation of winningconference, winning regionals,
making it to nationals.
The coaches were so amazing andof course, you have your ups
(08:23):
and downs of like.
You hold yourself to a certainexpectation of like I want to PR
every single meet and so when Iwouldn't, I'd be really like
hard on myself mentally, whichwould lead to like to some
burnout tendencies.
But especially like thelocation of Bellingham was like
amazing, to like keep me engagedof like.
Oh, you know, I don't want todo a road run, I'll go up in the
Chuckin' Nuts and do like aquick trail run.
(08:45):
Yeah, I loved college running.
It was amazing, I know.
Yeah, people have verydifferent experiences and I'm so
lucky I went into the programthat I did because it was just
such an amazing experience.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
I love to hear that Like.
It's like, like, like we said,like I just had I think it was
like I just had Bailey Kowalczykon.
We were talking about her D1experience at Clemson and it
sounded horrible.
I felt so bad for her just fromweight management, all this
different crap, and it's likeman, it's just such a bummer to
hear how some people just have areally difficult time and then
it's nice to hear folks say likeyeah, I love my experience and
(09:18):
it was awesome, so that'sexciting to hear.
I want to talk about some ofthe things that you did in
college.
Like the school record holderfor the mile is a huge accolade.
Like that's insane.
Was that a goal of yours going?
Like, how did that?
Like come come about and maybetalk about that experience and
like what it was like leading upto breaking that and then like
(09:38):
after the fact yeah well, socoming into college, I think my
you know, because in schoolyou're on a 1600.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
So you're slightly shorter than a mile and that was
like a 513 for me and so in mymind, just breaking five was my
goal and I broke it two times.
(10:07):
The first one was last year andit was coming off my cross
country season.
It was the first indoor trackmeet of the year and so I had no
expectations for myself, which,honestly, was the best part, I
think.
Like when you get to a certainamount of fitness, like your
mentality is like way biggerthan your actual fitness, and so
being relaxed and have noexpectations was very key for me
.
And I really surprised myself.
Like I remember crossing theline because it was like a 452
(10:30):
high and I was like what justhappened?
That's so crazy.
Yeah, it was amazing.
And then the same thinghappened this year where it's
like right after cross countryseason, the first indoor meet, I
broke it again, which it wasjust super fun and it was like
the most relaxed race I've everhad.
Like it literally.
Like I remember looking at oneof my assistant coaches each lap
he would give me the split andI was like solo running it and
(10:53):
just felt like I was in like thebest relaxed workout ever so.
Wow, it was awesomecongratulations.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
That is so cool.
I did do it twice.
That's that's.
That's bananas.
Are you still so now thatyou're done, like with
collegiate, like track, do youplan to still stay active on the
track or you think you'll everjump in any like track races or
like anything like that?
Like, what's your plans forthat?
Speaker 2 (11:13):
yeah, I think it'd be fun to mix it up.
I mean, andy's wife, carly, shedoes some road miles and I
think that'd be like super funto join her on some.
I'm actually doing a mile raceon Saturday, like it's a random,
like Anchorage invitesdifferent people to come in and
I'm like why not?
I still have the speed under mybelt, so that'd be fun and I
think it's fun to mix it up andyeah, racing's just a fun time.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Yeah, I don't know.
I think it's really cool Causeyou see, a lot of like like I'd
say it's more, more ladies areactive on the track side in in
the trail world, like you're ona gibson's um.
There's just so many folks thatlike come in, like uh, who's
the other girl from?
Oh my god, why is her nameblanking on me?
She's from alaska um, fromkenai uh, jesus, sorry about
(11:59):
that.
Um, yeah, you just see so manylike really strong ladies like
mixing up on the track and thetrails and like at a very high
level.
Like does that is thatinspiring for for you like, is
that something like you'd beinterested long term?
Speaker 2 (12:11):
like I don't know, I just think it's kind of cool
right yeah, absolutely, becauseI think like the trails provide
a super good like base fitness,and then it just seems fun to
continue being like reallyspeedy on the track and seeing,
yeah like anna gibson tear it upin both events is just like so
amazing and so inspiring.
So I hope to do something likethat yeah, yeah, anna's a
monster man, oh my god yeah, um,let's talk about you.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
I want to get into.
So, like you've had someserious finishes, I mean top
five amount marathon, and thenyou took the dub at the 2022
cirque series aliaska race,which is bananas.
So, like, mountain running isnot something that's new to you.
Like, you're obviously talentedat it.
Um, do you plan, like now that,like you're gonna have like a
more or less a few full season?
(12:54):
Like, are you is I guess the isthe intention something like
soon to be to make like aworld's team?
Is that like kind of the whatyou want to do right off the bat
?
Speaker 2 (13:03):
yeah, that's definitely my goal.
Um.
Want to do right off the bat?
Yeah, that's definitely my goal, Um, and I've right off the bat
.
You know, finishing up trackseason, I'm already like
spending a ton of time on thetrails, and it's not like I'm
doing any trails specificworkouts yet, but just getting
in the time on the trails it'salways in the back of my mind of
like I wouldn't be like ascompetitive as I can when I get
to sign a piece.
So that's definitely the goal.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
Dude, you're going to be dangerous.
I'm excited to follow this race.
I'm so excited.
I think a lot of girls.
Obviously, the women's race isgoing to be incredible.
Both men's and women's is goingto be incredibly stacked.
But I don't know, for instance,if folks are trying to look up
a competition on Ultra Sign Up,some of your stuff isn't on
there, which is kind of cool.
(13:44):
Nobody knows you're coming in.
This is like dark horse to gothrow down.
Like do you have?
Obviously you're a competitiveperson, you said that and we'll
talk about competition in alittle bit but like do you have
high expectations for yourself?
Like what are your thoughtsgoing into this Cause?
It's like this isn't your firstrodeo.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Like like I intentionally don't want to set
too like much like verbalexpectations for myself, even
though in the back of my head,like I do, I expect myself to
get top 10.
I almost expect myself, like Ireally want to make that team um
(14:20):
.
So it's definitely like a biggoal of mine and then, if that
doesn't happen, like on to thenext race.
I just really overall thisseason I want to make like a
name for myself, um, because thegoal I would love to like get,
you know, sponsorship down theroad and just keep competing.
And yeah, I just want to likejust compete as hard as I can
this summer and just like trainas hard as I can too.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
Super cool.
What's on the schedule besidessoon to pay?
Speaker 2 (14:46):
So that's June 1st and then the week after I'll do
the GoPro games in bail.
Um, that's June 1st, and thenthe week after I'll do the GoPro
games in Vail.
Um, that's just like a trail10k and then from there Mount
Marathon on the 4th um, and thenI'll do, I think, the A-Basin
Cirque series.
Um, I feel like I had one otherrace.
They're all kind of I'm stilllike working on my race schedule
(15:10):
, um, and then I'll do.
It's called noia ridge.
It's um an end of may race uphere, which will be like super
fun.
I love the spring races up inalaska.
So yeah, that's like kind ofthe gist of it super cool.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
What inspires you about the cirque aliaska race?
I'm just curious.
Or not aliaska, I'm sorry, thea basin race just because it's
like super high altitude, what'suh?
Speaker 2 (15:29):
yeah, I'm definitely nervous about that.
I am like altitude runningstill just like kicks my butt
every single time.
I was in boulder, like fourdays ago or something, and met
up with andy and the trail teamand I could definitely feel that
, um, but I've been to a basinlike a couple times and I just
like love the cirque series,events in general, even though
(15:49):
I've only done the one up here.
But I mean, I saw it on thecalendar and I'll be living like
based out of Littleton for thesummer and so I was like might
as well.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
Sweet, I was going to ask you that, are you so?
Is the long-term planpotentially to relocate to
Colorado, or you think you'llstay in Alaska, or yeah, the
plan in alaska, or yeah, theplan is to relocate there, like
this summer?
Okay, super cool.
Congratulations to you.
I mean like it's yeah, boulderis a cool spot, like just the
colorado front range, just likeI don't know.
It just provides so much in, uh, there's so many athletes there
(16:22):
and there's just alwayssomething to do.
You know, it's like just it'scrazy.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
So it is crazy and it's just like, yeah, the
opportunities are super cool.
And it is just like every timeI run in boulder, just like the
amount of pros I see on thetrail, and it's just like, so
casual, it's kind of wild yousee, like eli hemming and johnny
luna lima just casuallyjaunting down the road, yeah,
yeah, it's kind of weird.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
Yeah, let's um, let's talk trail team.
Because you're such a good fitfor the trail team, like, what a
solid pickup.
I always give Andy his flowersbecause, like, he always gets
like some of the like, some ofthe best talent for these teams.
What's your expectation?
Like, what do you?
What has you the most stokedfor this upcoming year?
Speaker 2 (17:04):
I'm just super stoked for almost like the team
dynamic.
I'm really excited to get toknow everyone really well and
like follow everyone and supporteveryone and just for all of us
to work together to make youknow a world's team or just to
achieve all of our goals,because it seems like a lot of
us are transitioning out ofcollege athletics and that's
going to be cool to do together,um, and figure out like running
(17:26):
outside of college on thetrails together, and I'm just
really excited about likeeverything andy does for
everyone like and theopportunities he has and just
like the trails we're gonna runtogether.
It's just gonna all be likesuper fun and I'm excited to
compete and race and the teamcamps are gonna be awesome.
I'm very excited for those.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
So yeah yeah yeah, he did.
I guess they're doing the onein grand lake again this
upcoming year, which is prettydope.
Um, yeah, it's just like Idon't know.
From the photos and fromeverything I've heard, it just
seems like those camps are where, like, the growth really comes
in a lot of you know from a lotof people, because I mean like
there's just so much you canpick up from and just so much
you can learn from differentpeople, especially andy, who's
(18:06):
like the.
You know he's like the, thewizard of uh of our sport, you
know he's like yeah he's beenaround forever.
So, yeah, super cool.
Yeah, what?
Um?
I guess you say like, are whatabout the?
Or how should I say this?
What specific uh camp are youstoked for the most?
Speaker 2 (18:25):
probably the grand lakes one, um, like because I'm
still pretty unfamiliar withcolorado and I just think the
area sounds amazing, um and likethe fact that's, you know, the
closest one, that's gonna belike super fun beginning of june
or something, or like middle ofjune.
It's just gonna be like areally good time and it's like a
gorgeous spot.
(18:46):
So that's the way super cool,super cool.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
Yeah, let's talk.
Uh, I want to get like justlike mountains in general and
mountain like mountain movement,like are you a skier as well?
Haven't grown up in Alaska.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
I snowboard, but I am also a Nordic skier, so no
downhill skiing, all of youNordic skiers.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
It's funny.
Like Ruby Lindquist, same thing, like I feel like it's like a
vibe there.
Everybody either runs in nordicskis and like some people also
tour, but I feel like nordicskiing is such a big thing in
alaska.
What?
Why?
Yeah, is it like just culture?
Speaker 2 (19:15):
yeah, it's like a big high school sport up here and
it's like if you grow up crosscountry running, I feel like all
the coaches in high school arelike, oh you run, you should
learn how to ski.
Like you're a strong person,you should try skiing.
And it was like one of the bestthings I've done.
I did it for three years inhigh school.
Then I got my fifth concussionduring one of the races.
I kind of had to slow down andnot do that too much.
(19:38):
It's a fun way to get around.
Now that I'm in Anchorage,there's way more trails here for
Nordic skiing.
It's just super fun.
It's a good way to mix uptraining when it comes to
running.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
I so it's just like super fun and it's a good way to
mix up training when it comesto running.
Yeah, I feel like you couldbuild a gigantic like aerobic
engine from just oh, totally,you could do miles and miles and
miles and have like no, likeyou could solidly get your heart
rate in zone two and just chill.
It's kind of amazing, right,yeah, I have roller skis.
I, I'm like my wife this.
(20:09):
Who is this clown?
I love it Cause you could getit's like such a good off season
training.
They're off, uh, just like youknow, like side workout.
But nobody I don't know why ithasn't caught on.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
It's like good on the knees.
That's true, that's true.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
So I saw your Instagram um earlier and you put
up a story of running in someArc'teryx shoes.
What are you running in?
What are you rocking?
Speaker 2 (20:32):
So I run in the VJs.
Are you familiar with thatbrand?
Speaker 1 (20:37):
Oh yeah, Great shoes Okay.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
Because I wasn't familiar with them until I got
them.
I went to a running store inAnchorage and I was like I need
good shoes from Mount Marathonactually and I had the Salomon
S-Labs the ones that gotdiscontinued, I'm not sure
exactly, like you know.
They had like the built-ingator and they gave me the VJs
and I love the VJs.
I don't really like them toomuch on snow, they're a little
like slippery.
(20:58):
And so then when I went toBoulder, andy had gone Artarix
shoes for the trail team and Ijust tried them out and they're
I love those shoes.
They're really good for like soI did bird ridge the other day
and so that's like two milesuphill, like 3000 or like 3,400
feet of earth, and so it's justgood for just like steep
straight to the point climbing,which was nice.
(21:19):
And then I also run in likesome Solomon gravel shoes, which
I love for like rolling trailsand stuff.
So I have like a big variety,but yeah, yeah, super cool, like
a nice quiver of shoes.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
So what shoe were you rocking?
Is it the ld4?
That's?
The only reason I ask isbecause there's a lot of like.
My best friend runs for thearcteryx team and also a good
buddy of mine, uh, adam campbelllistens to this, so I'm sure he
would get stoked to hear what.
What shoes you're rocking?
Speaker 2 (21:44):
yeah, I'm not yeah, I don't know exactly like which
arcteryx one it is I'm so bad atlike it's the LD4 probably.
Oh, okay, and I love this.
And plus, like they have goodGore-Tex and so you know it's
like here it's so mucky, it'ssnowy at the top.
You know, my feet didn't getwet.
I love them.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
Yeah, Dude, I feel like you're going to be so
prepared for something likeSunopee just because it's like
way harder.
The terrain you'll be trainingon is just so much more
difficult in a lot of ways, butalso like it's that cold
Northeast vibe where it's likerainy and just like you gotta be
ready for mud and snow and justlike the worst, the worst
terrain Like would you agreewith that?
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Yeah, yeah, when I've heard I've never been to the
East coast and so I've heard,like you know, the East Coast
cold is like nothing else andI'm like, ok, I feel like I'm
prepared, I think it'll be fineand plus, like in Anchorage area
, you have like a good amount oftrails that are like muddy or
like rolling or, just like youknow, steep straight up, and so
(22:43):
I feel like I have a goodvariety of trails to train on
and be prepared for that.
And it's like you know, I Irace around marathon where it's
you have half the mountain isjust like straight scree, so
it's like nothing can gethonestly like worse than that,
like navigational wise, you knowso nice.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
Are you more of an uphill person or down her person
?
Yeah, downhill, are you okay?
Speaker 2 (23:04):
yeah, like, and which is like funny, I don't know
like denali is a person I wantto train with for the downhill,
because it's just like I don'tknow if it's a mental block for
me or just like physically Ican't get down as fast, as you
know certain people, but Idefinitely just like power, hike
it up, like the strength is in,like my lungs and legs, I think
.
And then the downhills.
Sometimes I get like a bitscared and cautious, but I
(23:28):
that's something I really wantto work on.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
Yeah, it's such a crazy race to nail and like, get
right, but I feel like I don'tknow.
Fifth place, that's amazing.
Like you're going to one ofthese days you'll probably nail
it Like that's so cool.
Are you a roots or a cliffsperson?
Oh, cliffs, cliffs yeah,interesting.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
But I'd be open to like mix it up, okay, all right.
Yeah, the only person I've everknown to take the roots is I
think it was ally mac and likehad success.
Yeah, yeah, interesting, whichI feel like the cliffs work good
if you like get your goodposition on the road, you know.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
So you only have like two or three women in front of
you on the cliffs yeah, yeah, Ifeel like for someone like you
like it's probably that worksout really well, because you
could probably get out and awayfrom people with your road speed
and your turnover and then justbe able to get into the climb.
You could find a rhythm.
So, yeah, yeah, well, I think Imight do a mount marathon like
preview this year.
So we'll talk.
(24:20):
We'll talk more about that oh,awesome, yeah, yeah um, all
right, so let's get into somelike I try to keep these as like
just uh, get to know you kindof episodes for the trail team,
so I do want to get into someinteresting questions.
I'm you kind of already saidyou're a very competitive person
, but like I want to hear itfrom you, like like on a level
of like one to 10, like, how doyou view yourself competitively?
Speaker 2 (24:42):
Probably like nine Well let's hear it.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
Are you like a person that like can't like lose a
board game kind of person orlike can't be passed on a hike,
like like?
Let's hear it.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
Yeah, like when it comes to board games.
I hate losing board games andlike I will play dirty to like
try to win, or it's like I'm not.
I'm not a gracious loser eitherwhen it comes to like like me
and my fiance I got engaged thissummer.
We play Rummy all the time andI lose a lot of it and it's just
not pretty when I lose.
So and it's like.
(25:12):
So it's like on and off thetrail.
I'm just competitive, but Iused to be.
I had a twin sister and we usedto be very competitive, like
with our grades and academics inschool, which maybe like wasn't
the best, but we still kind ofare.
Speaker 1 (25:26):
That's funny, right?
Yeah, let's talk.
I want to talk music.
Are you?
Do you listen to music and likeworkouts like what's your,
what's your pump-up song?
Speaker 2 (25:35):
oh, um, I definitely.
Yeah, currently my pump-up songis lose my breath by desney's
child.
Um, good song, but I feel likeI have a lot of different like
pump-up songs, but sometimes,like especially maybe it's just
for track races.
Since I get so, I get way morenervous for track races than
trail.
I'll listen to just really calmmusic.
(25:57):
Like Gregory Allen, I squawklike that's my go-to track music
.
But for trails I'm down to likehide myself up however much I
need, but for trail I'm like youneed to calm down, you know.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
Let's talk about nervousness on a start line.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
So you don't, you don't really get nervous for
trail races that's interesting,not too much, because I know
like, regardless, I'm gonna havelike a lot of fun.
Um, I don't know for track,like track races, if I'm not
feeling it, I'm not really gonnahave a fun time, um, and for
trail, it's just like theenvironment, it's competitive,
but at the same time you have.
And for trail, it's just likethe environment, it's
competitive, but at the sametime you have people doing it
(26:32):
for fun and like the crowdwatching.
They just want you to have agood time, basically.
And then, like you'll see it,if you come to mount marathon
this summer, it's just like itfeels like you're in the middle
of a festival while racing,which is like the best feeling.
And then for track, it's justlike you don't have that
background noise to distract youalmost yeah, ooh, that's
interesting.
Okay.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
Yeah, Is there any races Cause, like I mean, I feel
like Mount Marathon is likesuch a pinnacle race for so many
people, Like it's justsomething that a lot of people
put on their bucket list orsomething.
Is there a bucket list racethat you are interested in that
you haven't?
You know that you were going towant to put on.
Speaker 2 (27:15):
I'm not sure yet.
I yeah, I'd have to think aboutthat, all right, all right.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
Well, just as like I'm like kind of a recruiter for
Pike's peak, so like if youever want to do that.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
We're going to come and get you.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
Yeah, come, come, race bikes.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
Yeah, that's in September, right it's in
September.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
And it's like a half marathon.
Speaker 1 (27:33):
So there's two.
There's two distances.
There's the ascent, which islike the go straight up Pike's
peak it is a half marathondistance.
And then there's the marathon,which is you just turn back down
and have to run downhill,whereas, like I, personally
think the ascent's a little morefun because you don't have to
run downhill, but yeah, it'sdifferent.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
I mean I'll be in town.
I feel like it's one of thosethings.
Speaker 1 (27:53):
This is like an idea we've been throwing around.
Like I wanted to put togetherlike a series and like have
Pike's peak mountain I knowMatthias from Mount Marathon has
been like open to this is likedoing like a series of like, not
like a golden trail but like aclassics where we have, like
Mount Washington, pike's peak,mount Marathon and like.
So it's, it gives like a seriesfor points that you can kind of
(28:14):
accumulate and it would besomething kind of fun.
So it's you don't have.
Like it's an alternative tosome of the other race series,
which would be fun.
So that'd be awesome that wouldbe cool, Do you, uh, coming into
the sport?
Obviously, you see, youprobably consume a lot of media
and see a lot of the differentraces and stuff like that.
Is the golden trail seriessomething you're interested in,
Like?
Is there anything that's likepiqued your interest on?
(28:34):
Like, where you want to competeagainst some of the best
competition in the in the world?
Is that something you want todo?
Speaker 2 (28:40):
Totally, I feel like golden trail series is something
I'm going to do, like next year, if I can like.
I definitely want to get go tomore international races.
Um, just because thecompetition seems amazing and,
yeah, it seems like an amazingopportunity.
Speaker 1 (28:54):
Super cool.
Yeah, there's some great stuffthere and it's just like, like
you said, it's like the abilityto, if you want to race the best
in the sport, that's the youknow kind of the place to do it
and Europe is dope too.
Like Europe is wild, like thosepeople they take it so much
different.
Like it's almost like you're Iguess you're Alaska, right, but
it's just like because therelike a just a crazier higher
(29:15):
level, right, oh yeah, so allright.
Well, I think we're windingdown now.
Sophie, I want to say thank youso much for coming on the
podcast.
This is a great conversation.
Um, yeah, thank you definitelywant to wish you the absolute
best of luck and uh, yeah, we'llbe, we'll be talking again,
we'll be talking before prettysoon, api, and uh, yeah, yeah,
I'm, I'm really excited forwhere your career is going to
take you and it's it's going tobe fun to watch you grow in the
(29:37):
sport Super cool.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
Yeah, thank you so much.
You're so good to chat.
Speaker 1 (29:40):
Yeah, take care, thank you.
What'd you guys think?
Oh man, what a fun episode.
I want to thank Sophie so muchfor coming on the podcast.
Um, although this was a shortone, really looking forward to,
uh, having her back on to talkabout some of races she's going
(30:02):
to be doing over the next fewmonths.
So excited to have thatconversation, especially around
Mount Marathon and races likethat.
Like, oh man, it's that's thebest style of mountain racing,
in my opinion is races like that.
So stoked to have moreconversations in the future.
Guys, before you get going, hopon Instagram.
Give Sophie a follow.
You can find her at rightSophie underscore, that's right.
Wri GH, g, h, t.
Sophie underscore.
Give her a follow.
Let her know what you guysthought about the episode and
wish her some luck on herupcoming season.
(30:22):
She's got a lot to do.
It's going to be pretty fun.
It's going to be somecompetitive racing and I'm sure
she would appreciate some wordsof kindness from the audience.
So, before you get going,wherever you guys listen to this
podcast whether it be Apple,spotify, youtube or I don't know
what else Give us a five-starrating and review.
I'd really appreciate that.
(30:43):
We're trying to grow this thinginto one of the biggest
podcasts on the scene, coveringthe scene, and the only way I
can do that is with the lovefrom you guys and get noticed.
Yeah, that would mean a lot.
That would be kind of dope.
So give us a five-star ratingreview, give us a rating.
Let us know what episode's yourfavorite, what you like.
Maybe share it, share it around, tell your friends, uh, you
(31:05):
know.
Tell your parents, tell, telleverybody, yeah, um, and then,
very last but not least, thisepisode is brought to you by
ultimate direction.
Usa can't do this without theirsupport.
Uh means the world to me.
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(32:09):
All right, have a great rest ofyour week.
I've got more to Thank you.
What's up, fam?
Welcome back to the Steep StuffPodcast.
I'm your host, james Lauriello.
Guys, I'm so excited to bringyou an episode today with none
other than Miss Sophie Wright.
She is a 2025 Trail TeamSelection.
You probably are familiar withthat name.
Sophie hails from Palmer, alaska.
She's an Alaskan-born mountainrunner, which is kind of my
favorite style of racing justlike hard, technical, steep
(00:22):
types of racing.
Just like hard, technical,steep types of racing and she
fits the bill.
2022 Cirque Series Alyaskidchampion, as well as top five in
last year's mountain marathonand probably going to win it one
of these years.
Sophie is a monster WesternWashington University alum,
where she actually holds therecord in the mile.
Yeah, just like so, so talented, so fast on the track and so
(00:45):
fast on the trails.
Uh, really looking forward towhere her career is going to
take her.
Uh, yeah, I hope you guysenjoyed this episode was a fun
conversation.
Talk a lot about the alaskanmountain running scene, as well
as sophie's goals for 2025,where she's going to be lining
up at some pretty competitiveraces.
So, without further ado, hopeyou enjoy it.
None other than Sophie Wright,we'll be right back.
(01:20):
Ladies and gentlemen, we arelive.
(02:09):
Listen up, guys.
The Steep Stuff Podcast isbrought to you by Ultimate
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Guys, I am so excited UD justdropped their new RaceVest 6L
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already increasingly expensivetrail running environment.
So hop on ultimate directioncom, get yourself a new vest, a
pack or any hydration solutionand let me know what you guys
think.
Sophie, right, welcome to thesteep stuff podcast.
How are you Good?
How?
Speaker 2 (03:14):
are you doing?
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Good, good, I'm so excited to have a chat like
you're uh, you're like my kindof runner, with like the
background from Alaskan mountainrunning and like you know just
a lot of like your style ofracing that you like to do, so
I'm excited to have thisconversation.
This should be a fun one.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Yeah, me too, me too.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
How's your, uh, how's your day going so far?
Speaker 2 (03:33):
It's been great.
I went on a cool trail run thismorning on.
It's called the Turnagain ArmTrail, gorgeous trail.
It overlooks Turnagain Armoutside of Anchorage Um.
Trail conditions are greatsince Anchorage has gotten like
no snow this year, so good trailrunning lately.
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Nice, nice.
So you just wrapped up school,basically right.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Yeah, it was about like two weeks ago almost.
I turned in my last.
It was for, like, my seminar,my neuroscience seminar.
I just turned my last essay inonline and it was very, you know
, anticlimactic and I was like,okay, I'm done now Cool.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Give me my degree and let me be on my way.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Exactly yeah.
They, like my university,texted my diploma to me and I
was like, oh, that's so weird.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
That's wild, do you?
Guys don't have like a formalgraduation and all that stuff?
We do, but it's in the spring,so I'll missing it for the one
of the trail team camps.
Gotcha, gotcha.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
well you're doing something better, like way more
exactly.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
I skipped I skipped my grad school graduation
because it was like during thepandemic, but I think I would
have skipped either way.
I don't know like yeah it'sjust like you know, I don't know
if you went to your high school.
One it's like why am I gonna goto my college?
Speaker 2 (04:38):
one, fair enough yeah , like you already know what's
up, right, right, right.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
So let's talk a little bit about you.
I want to get into yourbackground.
Maybe give me like the fiveminute elevator pitch on, like
what it was like growing up inalaska and then like what
introduced you to running.
Like what, what got you ontothe running scene I.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
so I grew up in palmer, and all around palmer
you have hatcher pass um on oneside, on the other side you have
pioneer peak and and then infront of you you have Lazy
Mountain and Matt Peak, and sojust growing up in the valley, I
had so many opportunities justlike go outside and play outside
, and I grew up in a very activefamily and so our idea of like
a fun Sunday was going on, youknow a four-hour hike, which is
(05:18):
how I got into it, and therunning community in Palmer is
like very tight-knit, so I wasjust kind of basically raised on
the trails and I saw olderwomen who I still race with
today.
I saw them racing and competingand I was just like so inspired
and I wanted to do that someday.
Yeah, it was just like whenit's in your backyard, it's hard
not to.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
I feel like it's like not just tradition, but like,
yeah, it's like the community,like I've heard so I've had
Denali on the podcast who waslike one of my favorite humans
ever, like such a cool person,um, but like the way she just
described the Alaskan mountainrunning scene and just the
community is, it's just veryunique and very different,
unlike anything else probably inthe lower 48.
Would you, would you agree withthat?
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Absolutely yeah.
And like Denali, she, she's oneof those women I think of like
right off the bat.
She's known me since I was likejust super little and saw me
grow up on the trails.
And it's like her and ChristyMarvin, like women like you know
them, who have made records andwon races, and it's like they
want nothing but to like supporteveryone and see everyone
succeed, and that's like whatmakes Alaskan running so special
(06:22):
.
Plus, it's like not a lot ofpeople are in the scene, I guess
, and so it's like you get toreally know everyone around you,
which is like awesome.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Yeah, yeah.
So what was like, what got youinto?
I mean, obviously there's trailrunning and then there's track
and field.
Right, obviously, you had avery I mean you're what the
record holder for the mile andat your, at your university.
So like, obviously you're anextremely talented track and
field runner.
What got you more so onto thetrack and field scene and, um,
kind of like, how did thatignite it?
Speaker 2 (06:52):
was almost like more accessible when it comes to
racing and running, cause youknow, with the long winters here
it's hard to race year round.
And I love like I'm very I'm avery competitive person, so I
needed that like to race yearround.
I love like I'm very I'm a verycompetitive person, so I needed
that like to race year round.
And I had an amazing coach inhigh school who really like
changed me as a runner andduring COVID, I think that was
like what my junior year of highschool is a very like awesome
(07:14):
time to just like sit down andtrain for track while like
having you know my easy days beon the trail, which was a good
way to like mix it up for mebecause I couldn't that.
That was the one thing aboutcollege.
I was almost losing it mentallywhen I couldn't have time to go
out on the trails, but thetrack was also a good time to
compete and feel that speedinesswhile also staying competitive.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Nice.
What was your collegeexperience like?
Some people really lovecompeting at a very high level
on the track, but also a lot ofMore particularly, a lot of
people struggle.
It's really hard for a lot offolks, whether it's from just
being burnt out and overtrained.
All these different factorscome into play.
(07:57):
What was your collegeexperience like for you?
Speaker 2 (07:59):
It was overall so amazing.
I came into a program that wasin the in the middle of like a
development period and I waswith like an amazing group of
girls and we were able tobasically take the team from one
spot to a completely anotherspot where it's like almost
expectation of winningconference, winning regionals,
making it to nationals.
The coaches were so amazing andof course, you have your ups
(08:23):
and downs of like.
You hold yourself to a certainexpectation of like I want to PR
every single meet and so when Iwouldn't, I'd be really like
hard on myself mentally, whichwould lead to like to some
burnout tendencies.
But especially like thelocation of Bellingham was like
amazing, to like keep me engagedof like.
Oh, you know, I don't want todo a road run, I'll go up in the
Chuckin' Nuts and do like aquick trail run.
(08:45):
Yeah, I loved college running.
It was amazing, I know.
Yeah, people have verydifferent experiences and I'm so
lucky I went into the programthat I did because it was just
such an amazing experience.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
I love to hear that Like.
It's like, like, like we said,like I just had I think it was
like I just had Bailey Kowalczykon.
We were talking about her D1experience at Clemson and it
sounded horrible.
I felt so bad for her just fromweight management, all this
different crap, and it's likeman, it's just such a bummer to
hear how some people just have areally difficult time and then
it's nice to hear folks say likeyeah, I love my experience and
(09:18):
it was awesome, so that'sexciting to hear.
I want to talk about some ofthe things that you did in
college.
Like the school record holderfor the mile is a huge accolade.
Like that's insane.
Was that a goal of yours going?
Like, how did that?
Like come come about and maybetalk about that experience and
like what it was like leading upto breaking that and then like
(09:38):
after the fact yeah well, socoming into college, I think my
you know, because in schoolyou're on a 1600.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
So you're slightly shorter than a mile and that was
like a 513 for me and so in mymind, just breaking five was my
goal and I broke it two times.
(10:07):
The first one was last year andit was coming off my cross
country season.
It was the first indoor trackmeet of the year and so I had no
expectations for myself, which,honestly, was the best part, I
think.
Like when you get to a certainamount of fitness, like your
mentality is like way biggerthan your actual fitness, and so
being relaxed and have noexpectations was very key for me
.
And I really surprised myself.
Like I remember crossing theline because it was like a 452
(10:30):
high and I was like what justhappened?
That's so crazy.
Yeah, it was amazing.
And then the same thinghappened this year where it's
like right after cross countryseason, the first indoor meet, I
broke it again, which it wasjust super fun and it was like
the most relaxed race I've everhad.
Like it literally.
Like I remember looking at oneof my assistant coaches each lap
he would give me the split andI was like solo running it and
(10:53):
just felt like I was in like thebest relaxed workout ever so.
Wow, it was awesomecongratulations.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
That is so cool.
I did do it twice.
That's that's.
That's bananas.
Are you still so now thatyou're done, like with
collegiate, like track, do youplan to still stay active on the
track or you think you'll everjump in any like track races or
like anything like that?
Like, what's your plans forthat?
Speaker 2 (11:13):
yeah, I think it'd be fun to mix it up.
I mean, andy's wife, carly, shedoes some road miles and I
think that'd be like super funto join her on some.
I'm actually doing a mile raceon Saturday, like it's a random,
like Anchorage invitesdifferent people to come in and
I'm like why not?
I still have the speed under mybelt, so that'd be fun and I
think it's fun to mix it up andyeah, racing's just a fun time.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Yeah, I don't know.
I think it's really cool Causeyou see, a lot of like like I'd
say it's more, more ladies areactive on the track side in in
the trail world, like you're ona gibson's um.
There's just so many folks thatlike come in, like uh, who's
the other girl from?
Oh my god, why is her nameblanking on me?
She's from alaska um, fromkenai uh, jesus, sorry about
(11:59):
that.
Um, yeah, you just see so manylike really strong ladies like
mixing up on the track and thetrails and like at a very high
level.
Like does that is thatinspiring for for you like, is
that something like you'd beinterested long term?
Speaker 2 (12:11):
like I don't know, I just think it's kind of cool
right yeah, absolutely, becauseI think like the trails provide
a super good like base fitness,and then it just seems fun to
continue being like reallyspeedy on the track and seeing,
yeah like anna gibson tear it upin both events is just like so
amazing and so inspiring.
So I hope to do something likethat yeah, yeah, anna's a
monster man, oh my god yeah, um,let's talk about you.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
I want to get into.
So, like you've had someserious finishes, I mean top
five amount marathon, and thenyou took the dub at the 2022
cirque series aliaska race,which is bananas.
So, like, mountain running isnot something that's new to you.
Like, you're obviously talentedat it.
Um, do you plan, like now that,like you're gonna have like a
more or less a few full season?
(12:54):
Like, are you is I guess the isthe intention something like
soon to be to make like aworld's team?
Is that like kind of the whatyou want to do right off the bat
?
Speaker 2 (13:03):
yeah, that's definitely my goal.
Um.
Want to do right off the bat?
Yeah, that's definitely my goal, Um, and I've right off the bat
.
You know, finishing up trackseason, I'm already like
spending a ton of time on thetrails, and it's not like I'm
doing any trails specificworkouts yet, but just getting
in the time on the trails it'salways in the back of my mind of
like I wouldn't be like ascompetitive as I can when I get
to sign a piece.
So that's definitely the goal.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
Dude, you're going to be dangerous.
I'm excited to follow this race.
I'm so excited.
I think a lot of girls.
Obviously, the women's race isgoing to be incredible.
Both men's and women's is goingto be incredibly stacked.
But I don't know, for instance,if folks are trying to look up
a competition on Ultra Sign Up,some of your stuff isn't on
there, which is kind of cool.
(13:44):
Nobody knows you're coming in.
This is like dark horse to gothrow down.
Like do you have?
Obviously you're a competitiveperson, you said that and we'll
talk about competition in alittle bit but like do you have
high expectations for yourself?
Like what are your thoughtsgoing into this Cause?
It's like this isn't your firstrodeo.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Like like I intentionally don't want to set
too like much like verbalexpectations for myself, even
though in the back of my head,like I do, I expect myself to
get top 10.
I almost expect myself, like Ireally want to make that team um
(14:20):
.
So it's definitely like a biggoal of mine and then, if that
doesn't happen, like on to thenext race.
I just really overall thisseason I want to make like a
name for myself, um, because thegoal I would love to like get,
you know, sponsorship down theroad and just keep competing.
And yeah, I just want to likejust compete as hard as I can
this summer and just like trainas hard as I can too.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
Super cool.
What's on the schedule besidessoon to pay?
Speaker 2 (14:46):
So that's June 1st and then the week after I'll do
the GoPro games in bail.
Um, that's June 1st, and thenthe week after I'll do the GoPro
games in Vail.
Um, that's just like a trail10k and then from there Mount
Marathon on the 4th um, and thenI'll do, I think, the A-Basin
Cirque series.
Um, I feel like I had one otherrace.
They're all kind of I'm stilllike working on my race schedule
(15:10):
, um, and then I'll do.
It's called noia ridge.
It's um an end of may race uphere, which will be like super
fun.
I love the spring races up inalaska.
So yeah, that's like kind ofthe gist of it super cool.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
What inspires you about the cirque aliaska race?
I'm just curious.
Or not aliaska, I'm sorry, thea basin race just because it's
like super high altitude, what'suh?
Speaker 2 (15:29):
yeah, I'm definitely nervous about that.
I am like altitude runningstill just like kicks my butt
every single time.
I was in boulder, like fourdays ago or something, and met
up with andy and the trail teamand I could definitely feel that
, um, but I've been to a basinlike a couple times and I just
like love the cirque series,events in general, even though
(15:49):
I've only done the one up here.
But I mean, I saw it on thecalendar and I'll be living like
based out of Littleton for thesummer and so I was like might
as well.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
Sweet, I was going to ask you that, are you so?
Is the long-term planpotentially to relocate to
Colorado, or you think you'llstay in Alaska, or yeah, the
plan in alaska, or yeah, theplan is to relocate there, like
this summer?
Okay, super cool.
Congratulations to you.
I mean like it's yeah, boulderis a cool spot, like just the
colorado front range, just likeI don't know.
It just provides so much in, uh, there's so many athletes there
(16:22):
and there's just alwayssomething to do.
You know, it's like just it'scrazy.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
So it is crazy and it's just like, yeah, the
opportunities are super cool.
And it is just like every timeI run in boulder, just like the
amount of pros I see on thetrail, and it's just like, so
casual, it's kind of wild yousee, like eli hemming and johnny
luna lima just casuallyjaunting down the road, yeah,
yeah, it's kind of weird.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
Yeah, let's um, let's talk trail team.
Because you're such a good fitfor the trail team, like, what a
solid pickup.
I always give Andy his flowersbecause, like, he always gets
like some of the like, some ofthe best talent for these teams.
What's your expectation?
Like, what do you?
What has you the most stokedfor this upcoming year?
Speaker 2 (17:04):
I'm just super stoked for almost like the team
dynamic.
I'm really excited to get toknow everyone really well and
like follow everyone and supporteveryone and just for all of us
to work together to make youknow a world's team or just to
achieve all of our goals,because it seems like a lot of
us are transitioning out ofcollege athletics and that's
going to be cool to do together,um, and figure out like running
(17:26):
outside of college on thetrails together, and I'm just
really excited about likeeverything andy does for
everyone like and theopportunities he has and just
like the trails we're gonna runtogether.
It's just gonna all be likesuper fun and I'm excited to
compete and race and the teamcamps are gonna be awesome.
I'm very excited for those.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
So yeah yeah yeah, he did.
I guess they're doing the onein grand lake again this
upcoming year, which is prettydope.
Um, yeah, it's just like Idon't know.
From the photos and fromeverything I've heard, it just
seems like those camps are where, like, the growth really comes
in a lot of you know from a lotof people, because I mean like
there's just so much you canpick up from and just so much
you can learn from differentpeople, especially andy, who's
(18:06):
like the.
You know he's like the, thewizard of uh of our sport, you
know he's like yeah he's beenaround forever.
So, yeah, super cool.
Yeah, what?
Um?
I guess you say like, are whatabout the?
Or how should I say this?
What specific uh camp are youstoked for the most?
Speaker 2 (18:25):
probably the grand lakes one, um, like because I'm
still pretty unfamiliar withcolorado and I just think the
area sounds amazing, um and likethe fact that's, you know, the
closest one, that's gonna belike super fun beginning of june
or something, or like middle ofjune.
It's just gonna be like areally good time and it's like a
gorgeous spot.
(18:46):
So that's the way super cool,super cool.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
Yeah, let's talk.
Uh, I want to get like justlike mountains in general and
mountain like mountain movement,like are you a skier as well?
Haven't grown up in Alaska.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
I snowboard, but I am also a Nordic skier, so no
downhill skiing, all of youNordic skiers.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
It's funny.
Like Ruby Lindquist, same thing, like I feel like it's like a
vibe there.
Everybody either runs in nordicskis and like some people also
tour, but I feel like nordicskiing is such a big thing in
alaska.
What?
Why?
Yeah, is it like just culture?
Speaker 2 (19:15):
yeah, it's like a big high school sport up here and
it's like if you grow up crosscountry running, I feel like all
the coaches in high school arelike, oh you run, you should
learn how to ski.
Like you're a strong person,you should try skiing.
And it was like one of the bestthings I've done.
I did it for three years inhigh school.
Then I got my fifth concussionduring one of the races.
I kind of had to slow down andnot do that too much.
(19:38):
It's a fun way to get around.
Now that I'm in Anchorage,there's way more trails here for
Nordic skiing.
It's just super fun.
It's a good way to mix uptraining when it comes to
running.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
I so it's just like super fun and it's a good way to
mix up training when it comesto running.
Yeah, I feel like you couldbuild a gigantic like aerobic
engine from just oh, totally,you could do miles and miles and
miles and have like no, likeyou could solidly get your heart
rate in zone two and just chill.
It's kind of amazing, right,yeah, I have roller skis.
I, I'm like my wife this.
(20:09):
Who is this clown?
I love it Cause you could getit's like such a good off season
training.
They're off, uh, just like youknow, like side workout.
But nobody I don't know why ithasn't caught on.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
It's like good on the knees.
That's true, that's true.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
So I saw your Instagram um earlier and you put
up a story of running in someArc'teryx shoes.
What are you running in?
What are you rocking?
Speaker 2 (20:32):
So I run in the VJs.
Are you familiar with thatbrand?
Speaker 1 (20:37):
Oh yeah, Great shoes Okay.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
Because I wasn't familiar with them until I got
them.
I went to a running store inAnchorage and I was like I need
good shoes from Mount Marathonactually and I had the Salomon
S-Labs the ones that gotdiscontinued, I'm not sure
exactly, like you know.
They had like the built-ingator and they gave me the VJs
and I love the VJs.
I don't really like them toomuch on snow, they're a little
like slippery.
(20:58):
And so then when I went toBoulder, andy had gone Artarix
shoes for the trail team and Ijust tried them out and they're
I love those shoes.
They're really good for like soI did bird ridge the other day
and so that's like two milesuphill, like 3000 or like 3,400
feet of earth, and so it's justgood for just like steep
straight to the point climbing,which was nice.
(21:19):
And then I also run in likesome Solomon gravel shoes, which
I love for like rolling trailsand stuff.
So I have like a big variety,but yeah, yeah, super cool, like
a nice quiver of shoes.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
So what shoe were you rocking?
Is it the ld4?
That's?
The only reason I ask isbecause there's a lot of like.
My best friend runs for thearcteryx team and also a good
buddy of mine, uh, adam campbelllistens to this, so I'm sure he
would get stoked to hear what.
What shoes you're rocking?
Speaker 2 (21:44):
yeah, I'm not yeah, I don't know exactly like which
arcteryx one it is I'm so bad atlike it's the LD4 probably.
Oh, okay, and I love this.
And plus, like they have goodGore-Tex and so you know it's
like here it's so mucky, it'ssnowy at the top.
You know, my feet didn't getwet.
I love them.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
Yeah, Dude, I feel like you're going to be so
prepared for something likeSunopee just because it's like
way harder.
The terrain you'll be trainingon is just so much more
difficult in a lot of ways, butalso like it's that cold
Northeast vibe where it's likerainy and just like you gotta be
ready for mud and snow and justlike the worst, the worst
terrain Like would you agreewith that?
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Yeah, yeah, when I've heard I've never been to the
East coast and so I've heard,like you know, the East Coast
cold is like nothing else andI'm like, ok, I feel like I'm
prepared, I think it'll be fineand plus, like in Anchorage area
, you have like a good amount oftrails that are like muddy or
like rolling or, just like youknow, steep straight up, and so
(22:43):
I feel like I have a goodvariety of trails to train on
and be prepared for that.
And it's like you know, I Irace around marathon where it's
you have half the mountain isjust like straight scree, so
it's like nothing can gethonestly like worse than that,
like navigational wise, you knowso nice.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
Are you more of an uphill person or down her person
?
Yeah, downhill, are you okay?
Speaker 2 (23:04):
yeah, like, and which is like funny, I don't know
like denali is a person I wantto train with for the downhill,
because it's just like I don'tknow if it's a mental block for
me or just like physically Ican't get down as fast, as you
know certain people, but Idefinitely just like power, hike
it up, like the strength is in,like my lungs and legs, I think
.
And then the downhills.
Sometimes I get like a bitscared and cautious, but I
(23:28):
that's something I really wantto work on.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
Yeah, it's such a crazy race to nail and like, get
right, but I feel like I don'tknow.
Fifth place, that's amazing.
Like you're going to one ofthese days you'll probably nail
it Like that's so cool.
Are you a roots or a cliffsperson?
Oh, cliffs, cliffs yeah,interesting.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
But I'd be open to like mix it up, okay, all right.
Yeah, the only person I've everknown to take the roots is I
think it was ally mac and likehad success.
Yeah, yeah, interesting, whichI feel like the cliffs work good
if you like get your goodposition on the road, you know.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
So you only have like two or three women in front of
you on the cliffs yeah, yeah, Ifeel like for someone like you
like it's probably that worksout really well, because you
could probably get out and awayfrom people with your road speed
and your turnover and then justbe able to get into the climb.
You could find a rhythm.
So, yeah, yeah, well, I think Imight do a mount marathon like
preview this year.
So we'll talk.
(24:20):
We'll talk more about that oh,awesome, yeah, yeah um, all
right, so let's get into somelike I try to keep these as like
just uh, get to know you kindof episodes for the trail team,
so I do want to get into someinteresting questions.
I'm you kind of already saidyou're a very competitive person
, but like I want to hear itfrom you, like like on a level
of like one to 10, like, how doyou view yourself competitively?
Speaker 2 (24:42):
Probably like nine Well let's hear it.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
Are you like a person that like can't like lose a
board game kind of person orlike can't be passed on a hike,
like like?
Let's hear it.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
Yeah, like when it comes to board games.
I hate losing board games andlike I will play dirty to like
try to win, or it's like I'm not.
I'm not a gracious loser eitherwhen it comes to like like me
and my fiance I got engaged thissummer.
We play Rummy all the time andI lose a lot of it and it's just
not pretty when I lose.
So and it's like.
(25:12):
So it's like on and off thetrail.
I'm just competitive, but Iused to be.
I had a twin sister and we usedto be very competitive, like
with our grades and academics inschool, which maybe like wasn't
the best, but we still kind ofare.
Speaker 1 (25:26):
That's funny, right?
Yeah, let's talk.
I want to talk music.
Are you?
Do you listen to music and likeworkouts like what's your,
what's your pump-up song?
Speaker 2 (25:35):
oh, um, I definitely.
Yeah, currently my pump-up songis lose my breath by desney's
child.
Um, good song, but I feel likeI have a lot of different like
pump-up songs, but sometimes,like especially maybe it's just
for track races.
Since I get so, I get way morenervous for track races than
trail.
I'll listen to just really calmmusic.
(25:57):
Like Gregory Allen, I squawklike that's my go-to track music
.
But for trails I'm down to likehide myself up however much I
need, but for trail I'm like youneed to calm down, you know.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
Let's talk about nervousness on a start line.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
So you don't, you don't really get nervous for
trail races that's interesting,not too much, because I know
like, regardless, I'm gonna havelike a lot of fun.
Um, I don't know for track,like track races, if I'm not
feeling it, I'm not really gonnahave a fun time, um, and for
trail, it's just like theenvironment, it's competitive,
but at the same time you have.
And for trail, it's just likethe environment, it's
competitive, but at the sametime you have people doing it
(26:32):
for fun and like the crowdwatching.
They just want you to have agood time, basically.
And then, like you'll see it,if you come to mount marathon
this summer, it's just like itfeels like you're in the middle
of a festival while racing,which is like the best feeling.
And then for track, it's justlike you don't have that
background noise to distract youalmost yeah, ooh, that's
interesting.
Okay.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
Yeah, Is there any races Cause, like I mean, I feel
like Mount Marathon is likesuch a pinnacle race for so many
people, Like it's justsomething that a lot of people
put on their bucket list orsomething.
Is there a bucket list racethat you are interested in that
you haven't?
You know that you were going towant to put on.
Speaker 2 (27:15):
I'm not sure yet.
I yeah, I'd have to think aboutthat, all right, all right.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
Well, just as like I'm like kind of a recruiter for
Pike's peak, so like if youever want to do that.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
We're going to come and get you.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
Yeah, come, come, race bikes.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
Yeah, that's in September, right it's in
September.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
And it's like a half marathon.
Speaker 1 (27:33):
So there's two.
There's two distances.
There's the ascent, which islike the go straight up Pike's
peak it is a half marathondistance.
And then there's the marathon,which is you just turn back down
and have to run downhill,whereas, like I, personally
think the ascent's a little morefun because you don't have to
run downhill, but yeah, it'sdifferent.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
I mean I'll be in town.
I feel like it's one of thosethings.
Speaker 1 (27:53):
This is like an idea we've been throwing around.
Like I wanted to put togetherlike a series and like have
Pike's peak mountain I knowMatthias from Mount Marathon has
been like open to this is likedoing like a series of like, not
like a golden trail but like aclassics where we have, like
Mount Washington, pike's peak,mount Marathon and like.
So it's, it gives like a seriesfor points that you can kind of
(28:14):
accumulate and it would besomething kind of fun.
So it's you don't have.
Like it's an alternative tosome of the other race series,
which would be fun.
So that'd be awesome that wouldbe cool, Do you, uh, coming into
the sport?
Obviously, you see, youprobably consume a lot of media
and see a lot of the differentraces and stuff like that.
Is the golden trail seriessomething you're interested in,
Like?
Is there anything that's likepiqued your interest on?
(28:34):
Like, where you want to competeagainst some of the best
competition in the in the world?
Is that something you want todo?
Speaker 2 (28:40):
Totally, I feel like golden trail series is something
I'm going to do, like next year, if I can like.
I definitely want to get go tomore international races.
Um, just because thecompetition seems amazing and,
yeah, it seems like an amazingopportunity.
Speaker 1 (28:54):
Super cool.
Yeah, there's some great stuffthere and it's just like, like
you said, it's like the abilityto, if you want to race the best
in the sport, that's the youknow kind of the place to do it
and Europe is dope too.
Like Europe is wild, like thosepeople they take it so much
different.
Like it's almost like you're Iguess you're Alaska, right, but
it's just like because therelike a just a crazier higher
(29:15):
level, right, oh yeah, so allright.
Well, I think we're windingdown now.
Sophie, I want to say thank youso much for coming on the
podcast.
This is a great conversation.
Um, yeah, thank you definitelywant to wish you the absolute
best of luck and uh, yeah, we'llbe, we'll be talking again,
we'll be talking before prettysoon, api, and uh, yeah, yeah,
I'm, I'm really excited forwhere your career is going to
take you and it's it's going tobe fun to watch you grow in the
(29:37):
sport Super cool.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
Yeah, thank you so much.
You're so good to chat.
Speaker 1 (29:40):
Yeah, take care, thank you.
What'd you guys think?
Oh man, what a fun episode.
I want to thank Sophie so muchfor coming on the podcast.
Um, although this was a shortone, really looking forward to,
uh, having her back on to talkabout some of races she's going
(30:02):
to be doing over the next fewmonths.
So excited to have thatconversation, especially around
Mount Marathon and races likethat.
Like, oh man, it's that's thebest style of mountain racing,
in my opinion is races like that.
So stoked to have moreconversations in the future.
Guys, before you get going, hopon Instagram.
Give Sophie a follow.
You can find her at rightSophie underscore, that's right.
Wri GH, g, h, t.
Sophie underscore.
Give her a follow.
Let her know what you guysthought about the episode and
wish her some luck on herupcoming season.
(30:22):
She's got a lot to do.
It's going to be pretty fun.
It's going to be somecompetitive racing and I'm sure
she would appreciate some wordsof kindness from the audience.
So, before you get going,wherever you guys listen to this
podcast whether it be Apple,spotify, youtube or I don't know
what else Give us a five-starrating and review.
I'd really appreciate that.
(30:43):
We're trying to grow this thinginto one of the biggest
podcasts on the scene, coveringthe scene, and the only way I
can do that is with the lovefrom you guys and get noticed.
Yeah, that would mean a lot.
That would be kind of dope.
So give us a five-star ratingreview, give us a rating.
Let us know what episode's yourfavorite, what you like.
Maybe share it, share it around, tell your friends, uh, you
(31:05):
know.
Tell your parents, tell, telleverybody, yeah, um, and then,
very last but not least, thisepisode is brought to you by
ultimate direction.
Usa can't do this without theirsupport.
Uh means the world to me.
Guys, use a steep stuff pod.
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announcement, the officialbreakdown, the official sale of
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Now we've got a bunch of themin stock and we're going to be
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(32:09):
All right, have a great rest ofyour week.
I've got more to Thank you.
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