September 18, 2025 • 23 mins
What does it take to conquer one of America's most grueling mountain races? Elite trail runner James Reeves takes us behind the scenes of his preparation for Pike's Peak, a race that draws over 2,500 runners annually from 46 states and eight countries to challenge themselves against the formidable Colorado mountain.
"It's just you're constantly wondering if you're going too hard and if you're going to die," Reeves explains about the race experience. "It's an ultimate mental battle." Having previously posted an impressive 2:14:55 at Pike's Peak in 2023, Reeves now returns with ambitious goals after relocating to Colorado's Gunnison Valley for optimal mountain training.
The conversation offers a fascinating glimpse into the life of a dedicated mountain athlete. Reeves shares how his recent move from Colorado Springs to the more rural Gunnison provides superior access to high-altitude training in both the Elk Mountains and San Juan ranges. This strategic relocation allows him to "drive to altitude" rather than relying on altitude tents, creating ideal conditions for Pike's Peak preparation.
Fresh off a top-five finish at the Cirque Series A-Basin race among 700 competitors, Reeves demonstrates his current fitness level despite being in the middle of a rigorous training block. His approach balances competitive drive with strategic racing: "If I had to choose running a PR or running for first place, I would choose to run for first place." This mentality reveals the tactical thinking required for mountain racing success.
Beyond Pike's Peak, Reeves details his plans for the Kodiak 50K (a UTMB World Series Major) and the USATF Half Marathon Championships in Moab. His insights into the mental aspects of endurance racing, training at altitude, and finding motivation through challenges provide valuable perspective for athletes of all levels.
Join us for this compelling conversation and discover why these mountain challenges continue to draw athletes back year after year. Ready to elevate your own running journey? Subscribe now and get inspired by more stories from the trail running elite.
Follow Brian on IG - @bwhitfield_
Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello
Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod
Use code steepstuffpod for 25% off your cart at UltimateDirection.com!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Going up.
It's just you're constantlywondering if you're going too
hard and if you're going to die.
So, like they say, it's anultimate mental battle.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Is that what keeps bringing you back, year after
year, the ultimate?
Speaker 1 (00:13):
mental battle.
Yeah, I don't care what racersshow up, even if somebody shows
up better than me.
You know this is a test againstyourself.
Everybody that's out here isdoing it and everybody's testing
themselves, and it's great.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
It's called America's Ultimate Challenge.
Each year, over 2,500 runnersflock to Manitou Springs to
challenge themselves against themountain known as Pike's Peak.
This year, runners from 46different states and eight
foreign countries have come.
They all start here and maketheir way towards the clouds.
It's time, thank you.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Ladies and gentlemen, we are live, you're doing your
thing and we got Pike's Peakright around the corner, man you
excited to come back and racethis race.
It's been since what?
(02:07):
2023?
You haven't been back.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
Yeah, I did it 22 and 23.
And then, yeah, it's been ayear off, so I'm excited to come
back.
Last year I was spectating onRuxton Avenue drinking a coffee
I think I was with you, yeah.
So it's good to be back andI'll actually be on the starting
line this year.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
So I'm excited.
Oh man, I do.
I love it, I love it.
You've made some big changesover the last few months.
You, uh, recently relocated outto the Gunnison Valley.
Um, I feel like it's just sucha special place for athletes and
so much talent has lived inthat Valley or continues to live
in that valley.
How has been the move for you?
How, how, how has that gone?
Speaker 4 (02:47):
Um, it was, it was a busy summer.
Yeah, we, uh, you know, hugelife transition, changed jobs.
We moved, we, um, you know,packed everything we owned up in
a U-Haul and, uh, drove it likefour hours West into the
mountains and, um, I've madethat move before.
When I left high school, I kindof made a similar move and, you
(03:08):
know, came to Gunnison forcollege.
But, uh, after college, youknow, we were gone, we were out
of the Gunnison Valley for fiveyears.
So to come back really doesfeel like a homecoming and it
really does feel like the rightplace to be.
For us.
It's, uh, it's just, it's home.
Um, you know, it's, it's, it'spretty nice, pretty nice place
to be up here.
And it's not for everyone,though.
(03:30):
You got those really harshwinters and, um, it's not all
sunshine and rainbows, but, uh,for us it's, it's perfect.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
So are you enjoying like more?
Cause, colorado Springs is arelative, relatively a metro
area more or less like.
Are you enjoying more?
Just like the small town vibe,like I know Gunnison, and like
the surrounding areas it's tiny,it's nice, it's, it's a small
town life.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
Yeah, it's.
I mean it's definitely a ruralcommunity, um, on paper it's
like classified as a ruralcommunity, Um, it, you know it,
just it's a slower pace of life,right, like there's.
Um, you could probably count onone hand the amount of lights
in town here, uh, like trafficlights, um, which is I think
(04:13):
it's sweet.
Uh, it, it, it's definitely atourist community and we get a
lot of people coming in and out,um and the you know the nice
seasons like summer and winter,uh, you got skiing, and then in
the summer it's just epic flyfishing and mountain biking and
trails and, you know,wildflowers and it's a total
Mecca.
But in the shoulder season, like, we're coming into here right
(04:35):
after fall, after the leavesdrop, really, and then in the
spring again it's pretty quietand it's like, just, you know,
it's just you and the locals, soit's a sweet, you know it's
just you and the locals.
So it's, uh, it's a sweetlittle, sweet little.
It's just a change of pace.
You know there's no, there's nomajor highway, like the biggest
highway that comes through hereis two is, you know, one lane
out and one lane in.
(04:56):
It's it's pretty small highway,50 there, and um, I love it,
you know, I just love it justbecause of you know what you
know, the, what you know, thetime I spent here as a college
kid, but then also, just likenow, like after living in the
big city or the big city ofColorado Springs, it's sort of
like yeah, like yeah, I'm asmall town guy, you know I'm you
(05:16):
know I love it.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
I'm glad you're happy man, I'm glad it seems like a
good fit.
I could see the smile on yourface and that makes me happy.
How, um, what do you?
The access is gonna be crazyfor you because you could get.
You know, the elks are in thenorth and you've got the san
juans just to the south.
Like what, have you beenplaying more in the elks or the
san juans?
Speaker 4 (05:34):
uh, more in the san juans, just for the I.
I would say some of thespecific slopes and everything
are kind of more lined up forpikes, just specific training.
But the Elks, as soon as youkind of top out, the higher you
go it gets a little rocky, moreof like a talus field up top and
(05:55):
more kind of scree.
The San Juans stay pretty rocklike free up top.
It's sort of like a trail allthe way to the summit.
Um, depending on where you go,obviously.
But yeah, there's, you know,and the West Oaks are great, but
um, okay, got to have a specialplace for the San Juans, you
know.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
That's amazing.
The access is so good there.
Lake city's not too far, likeit's just.
It's hard to beat man.
It's a beautiful special area.
I got to stop singing itspraises too much, I don't want
to.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Well come join us.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
I mean, it's got its ups and downs right.
There's a huge housing crisishere.
Everything's super expensiveand not a lot of availability.
There's very limited permits,even for new developments and
stuff like that with the city,so there's a ton of limitations
for growth, which is like youknow it's that's actually gonna
(06:50):
stay small, so it's sort of um.
For me it's like get in quickand kind of stake your claim,
but um yeah I think my next moveis is wyoming.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
I like, love wyoming.
Totally in love with, like withthe Idaho area.
I don't know, it's a cool spot.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
I don't know, we'll see.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
The wife would probably never check off on that
, but whatever.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
Didn't you just like buy a new home?
We just bought a house, yeah,yeah In.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
December.
So, yeah, we're.
We're here for a while.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
It's fun to dream, yeah exactly, that's exactly it,
it's uh you know what dudedream?
Speaker 3 (07:24):
yeah, exactly, that's exactly it.
It's uh, you know what dude Ialways correlate it to, like,
when I travel or do somethingfor like a race, I'm like, oh, I
love this area, I could seemyself in it.
And then I'll go to the nextplace and be like, oh, I love
this too.
Like, oh, yeah, yeah it's hardto beat uh.
All right, let's get into racing.
This past week you just passed,or literally just uh race.
This past weekend at cirqueseries, a basin took a top five
overall finish in a dude.
That was like a 700 person race.
Like that was the biggest circseries race this year.
(07:45):
How was uh?
How were the pre-race feelingsfor you?
How'd you feel throughout?
Obviously that's an amazingresult.
Like what's the uh stoke level?
Speaker 4 (07:52):
like you're fit um, yeah, going into the race, I
really I obviously want torespect the competition and the
other people on the line and youknow, just desserts to everyone
who stepped up to it.
And I got my butt kicked forsure.
But I went in with zero taper.
I am eight weeks into atraining block right now where
(08:14):
I'm kind of averaging like 16hours a week of training and
time and altitude and intervalsand blah, blah, blah.
Um, good numbers.
I'm hitting great, greatfigures in the training and um,
so I came into this race reallytired.
Um, I know a lot of otherpeople did too.
Just cause of where it sits onthe race calendar, there's sort
(08:34):
of sort of an in-between andin-between race for a lot of
people, but, um, an in-betweenrace for a lot of people.
But, um, yeah, I came in sore.
I came in just like, uh,curious to see how my legs would
do under that fatigue.
Um, and I was.
I was pretty happy.
Yeah, I came in.
Um, last year I did this race aswell and I I went out really
(08:57):
hot, kind of tried to stay withthat front group and then faded
back in the second and thirdmiles and then closed again,
eventually landing me sixth lastyear or seventh last year,
which I was happy with.
But this year I, you know, Ikind of I actually chilled back
further in the start.
I was probably in 10th or 12thplace after the first mile,
(09:20):
which was intentional.
I just kind of wanted to seewhere the legs were at and kind
of wind up to it.
And then, as you know, as wegot towards the single track and
up off the service road, I justsort of kept cranking away and
the lungs were feeling good, theshoulders and you know hips and
knee drive, everything waspopping off nicely and yeah, I
(09:41):
just kind of kept picking offpeople in the field.
Um, you know, I, I think Iworked towards the top and, uh,
maybe fifth, fifth position, uh,which was pretty good.
And then on the downhill I hadGrant Cooligan and Morgan
Elliott kind of chomping at myheels.
Grant got around me and I justwasn't super interested in
(10:04):
pushing hard on the downhill.
I think I could have taken morerisky turns, but he beat me
honestly for sure and then heldMorgan off behind me but
finished the race with a goodhard uphill effort and a safe
return home with no injuries ordamage from the downhill.
I think that, uh, this close topikes, which is sort of the a
(10:26):
goal.
I just really wanted to havethat high intensity effort, see
some competition and then, um,make sure the downhill was just,
you know, safe travels.
No real, no real interest forme to push on the downhill, even
though it's a race.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
It's just sort of like I'm being selective with my
effort, so I think that's smart, very smart, and you felt I
mean, given the result, you feltpretty good above, like I mean,
most 99.9% of the races around,above true line.
So altitude wise, you feltpretty good up there.
I feel like it's always a goodstimulus for that.
Pikes, um and I knowe has beennotorious in the past for racing
(11:01):
cirque series a basin a fewweeks out from pikes, like it
seems like a lot of athletesseem to do the same thing, um,
so all things that go then forpikes that you're, the
excitement is high yeah, thingsare good.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
I got a little bit of a tight back.
Uh, just my left back, you know, is kind of kind of tight.
I think that that's could bedue to a lot of things.
I would probably most likelypoint towards fatigue and
training and just the volume I'mdoing.
But yeah, you know, we'retrying to get that loosened up.
I've got some work with thephysio soon and a massage coming
(11:32):
up before race day and then,yeah, all systems go.
I've spent a lot of time abovetree line, a lot of time at
altitude.
The fortunate thing aboutliving where I do is I can drive
up super high.
I can drive up to a controlledenvironment where, um, you know,
I don't have an altitude tent,but I can sort of drive to one,
(12:07):
um, if you will.
So, dude, I love it.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
I love it, All right.
So I'm not going to hide thestoryline here.
You're I mean dude.
I'm going to put you as theodds on favorite for this one.
Your best time on this is two1455 and 2023, where you ran
eighth place, which, outside ofyour Broken Arrow result, which
was another insane result youcranked that out of the park.
I think it's one of your best.
I don't know if you would agreewith me.
(12:30):
That's the most competitiverace still to this day top three
ever assembled on American soil.
What do you think it's going totake for you to either
replicate a performance?
Obviously, I would assumeyou're probably in better shape
this time around, because it'sbeen a few years.
You've obviously improved in alot of things.
You're a more well-roundedathlete.
Where do you think mentally?
(12:51):
Obviously, it's hard to pinthis because of weather,
altitude, there's all thesedifferent things, but what kind
of shape do you think you're ingoing into this?
Speaker 4 (13:00):
Um, obviously I'd love to to best better my time
right.
Like I'd love to take that two14 down a bit.
I think it's uh, it's a, it's afair time on the course, like I
think that that's not notsomething to shy away from.
But, um, yeah, I'd love to gounder 210 and sort of like, join
(13:22):
the big dogs.
I think that that's really themark that you know, that's
definitely like a respectablenumber, even like 211, 212 is a
much better outlook in my book.
I think I'm, you know, lookingat the other people that have
run those times and that havekind of hit those marks, I'd
(13:43):
like to think I'm at that level.
I definitely think that it'sgoing to be a very different
race this year because of thelevel of competition I had in
2023.
I was racing the entire GoldenTrail World Series and the world
mountain running, champion ofvertical and everything Like
(14:05):
there was.
There was so many people inthat race that was.
It made the race go out hot andthen it stayed hot the whole
way through.
So I think it'll be interesting, especially if it comes down to
me and Seth and maybe JoeDamore as well, if he's in that
group or I don't know how he'sfeeling.
There's a couple othercharacters that could be a
factor in this race.
I know some of my buddies aredoing it here from Gunnison and
(14:29):
from the Western Trail team, andthen you've got someone you
know, jarrett.
I don't know his last name.
He's on the trail team.
Yeah, he's good.
Yeah, another BYU kid comingout of BYU Fantastic in the D1
program.
So there's some potentialplayers that are like,
definitely going to come inready.
(14:49):
But it's a tough race.
I think if you haven't spentmuch time on this course and you
don't know what you're gettinginto, there's so many places
that the fatigue just adds upand the fatigue really builds.
And, um, having that priorknowledge and race experience is
super beneficial in a courselike this.
Um, yeah, I'd like to.
(15:12):
I'd like to be up there withthe dog fight upfront.
So we'll see where that landsme.
Um, to be honest with you, ifit comes down to like, if I had
to choose running a PR orrunning for first place, I think
I would.
I would choose to run for firstplace.
I think lining up with yourcompetition is so important.
Um, going into a race justmentally thinking time, time,
(15:33):
time is, um, it hasn't alwayspaid off for me.
So I think just going into racethe other people there is um
definitely my mentality.
What?
Speaker 3 (15:41):
what did you?
What was your mentality in 2023?
Was it more for time?
Like, were you aiming for likearound 215 or something like
that?
Like what?
Or?
Speaker 4 (15:48):
like, uh, my mentality in 23 was just I
belong here.
You know, like, just like,seeing the other guys on the
list is like, you know, I, Iknow I belong in that front pack
.
I know I belong in that frontpack.
I know I belong in that sort ofupper echelon of guys doing
these shorter distance races.
Um, even though my resume showsmostly 50 K and marathon
(16:09):
success, I think I have thespeed and the the guts to go out
with these, um, golden trailseries guys.
And uh, my mentality then wasdefinitely like I belong in this
front group, top group.
Um, obviously Remy blew it outof the water that day, but uh, I
wasn't too far off the mark, Iguess you know you're right
there, dude.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
Is that just an ultimate motivator to go to this
race?
And just oh yeah, oh yeah.
Speaker 4 (16:35):
Huge, huge, hugely motivating Um it's.
I think it's really easy to getwhat you want and then you're
satisfied and then you have it.
But then, when you don't getwhat you want, you just have to
figure out a way to keep workingat it and figure out a way to
keep trying to achieve yourgoals, and being told no is a
great motivator.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
I agree, I agree, and you know what man.
Like I said, it's just likeyou're so close, you're so
consistent every time, but oneof these days you're going to
knock it.
You know you've already hadknocked ones out of the park,
but you know, one of these daysit's going to be a big one.
Um, all right, so after Pikes,what do you?
Got planned You'd hop in onskis.
Uh, we could take some time off, or what.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
I have two races after Pikes peak.
I'll hit the.
Uh, I'll go fly out toia and dothe kodiak 50k.
Nice, um, I think that racewill suit me really well and I'm
excited for a major, a utmb,major.
Um, I think that brings someclout and it brings some like
credibility to the race.
(17:34):
That'll be cool.
Um, and then also uh after that, depending on how I'm feeling.
The moab usatf half marathonchampionships always fun.
I've been out there like sevenyears in a row.
So, um, probably go.
Probably go put my name in thehat out there and see what
happens as long as I'm healthy,nice man, I love to hear it.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
I didn't you know what dude it wasn't until
someone said to me the other dayI didn't know, kodiak was the
uh, de facto.
I want to say I guess, guess,major championship, whatever
UTMB for this year.
So if you do well there, whatis it like?
Top 10 at a major is going toget you an auto qualifier either
into CCC or OCC.
What do you think you could dothat in 2025?
Speaker 4 (18:15):
I already have my auto qualifier into OCC for next
year because of Desert Rats 50k, so I already got that.
I earned one as well in 20,something, I don't know.
I've had two of them.
Now this is my second autoqualifier, so I've just been
sitting with them.
Uh, it's really tough to travelto france and fly yourself
there for a week or two, uh onyour own budget, especially when
(18:40):
you're uh just doing it byyourself.
But I've got my qualifiers, I'mready to go.
So if I, if I win, if I do wellat Kodiak even top 10, um, then
I get a second qualifier.
I guess I don't know how thatworks, but, um, I'm, I'm sitting
ready.
Speaker 3 (18:58):
I like to hear it.
You were in Europe for a littlebit this summer.
Was it just vacation, justenjoying time Like how was it?
Where'd you?
Speaker 4 (19:04):
guys go.
I went to.
We were in Italy, Um, my wifeand our family.
We went to Italy and webackpacked through the Dolomites
for like 10 days, Um, and thatwas fantastic.
But that's like that's a familytrip, that's dedicated purely
to family time and um, yeah,yeah.
So, oh, very good, dude, it'sbeautiful, dolmets are amazing
(19:26):
oh my goodness, I would go backin a heartbeat makes me really
want to do la veredo for sure oh, all right, I could see that.
I could definitely see thatthat's that's kind of where we
were backpacking through andthat area is just stupid pretty
it's oh yeah, it's incrediblehigh altitude well, not super
high altitude, but like altitude, so it's.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
You get a little bit of it as well.
Like it's, it's.
Speaker 4 (19:45):
It's an interesting area, like it's a cool zone it
is so gorgeous, like I've beento switzerland now and then the
dolomites, and I've been toaustrian alps, I think, um, the
dolomites take the cake, in myopinion.
I've never been to sham orchamonix, but uh, yeah, the
dolomites are really gorgeous,oh man.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
Dude, what'd you?
What'd you?
What was your take on UTMB thisyear?
Anything from that weekendstick out to you between OCC,
ccz and UTMB.
Speaker 4 (20:09):
Oh man, I I think, looking at it, uh, after kind of
testing out some road shoes andseeing Tom and Ben Demon, um,
the A6 team is looking reallynice right now.
I I think that that theproducts that they're pushing
out and the support that they'regiving some of the top guys and
gals I think they're going tobe the newest team kind of in
(20:34):
the ranks here.
So they were a huge upset, sothat was really fun to watch.
And the other thing is got togive a shout out to one of my
former training partners, jesherand small getting fifth at CCC.
That was awesome, super stokedfor him and, um, he had a great
race.
So amazing.
Speaker 3 (20:51):
Yeah, lots of takeaways.
Man, I gotta I do have to giveAsics their flowers as well.
I have to like.
That was one.
I mean, I really liked Bendemon.
I followed him less as a runnerand more as just like this
philosophical mind in the sport.
He's an interesting guy.
I think that's the reason, likeFinn and a lot of people like
him as well, just because hiswriting is very good and he's
got like a podcast called SpeedDemon Radio where he just talks
(21:17):
and I highly recommend it.
It's very interesting.
He's a very philosophical dude,but his performance is stupid,
so good, um.
So, yeah, a6 has got somethingfigured out and then tom,
obviously consummateprofessional.
Speaker 4 (21:29):
So yeah, and then it's great to see ruth finally
get a win there, and yeah,because I think she was second
last year, so it's just comingfull circle.
It's really cool veryincredible.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
Yeah, and then occ, yeah, all of it was just.
It was fun to follow.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
Oh yeah, jim.
Yeah, that's right, that's good.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
Yeah, so, dude.
Well, listen man, I hope youget the day you deserve at Pikes
Like I hope it's.
I hope it's an amazing day foryou and it's an experience
you'll have with you for therest of your life.
Like I hope it's like somethingtruly special for you.
Speaker 4 (21:57):
That's giving me goosebumps.
Yeah, I don't know where thatone came from.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
I got to Just a fan, dude, just a fan.
Speaker 4 (22:04):
Listen, brian.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
Thank you so much, buddy.
We'll be in touch.
Speaker 4 (22:06):
All right, james, talk to you later.
(23:09):
Thank you, I'm out.
Going up.
It's just you're constantlywondering if you're going too
hard and if you're going to die.
So, like they say, it's anultimate mental battle.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Is that what keeps bringing you back, year after
year, the ultimate?
Speaker 1 (00:13):
mental battle.
Yeah, I don't care what racersshow up, even if somebody shows
up better than me.
You know this is a test againstyourself.
Everybody that's out here isdoing it and everybody's testing
themselves, and it's great.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
It's called America's Ultimate Challenge.
Each year, over 2,500 runnersflock to Manitou Springs to
challenge themselves against themountain known as Pike's Peak.
This year, runners from 46different states and eight
foreign countries have come.
They all start here and maketheir way towards the clouds.
It's time, thank you.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Ladies and gentlemen, we are live, you're doing your
thing and we got Pike's Peakright around the corner, man you
excited to come back and racethis race.
It's been since what?
(02:07):
2023?
You haven't been back.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
Yeah, I did it 22 and 23.
And then, yeah, it's been ayear off, so I'm excited to come
back.
Last year I was spectating onRuxton Avenue drinking a coffee
I think I was with you, yeah.
So it's good to be back andI'll actually be on the starting
line this year.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
So I'm excited.
Oh man, I do.
I love it, I love it.
You've made some big changesover the last few months.
You, uh, recently relocated outto the Gunnison Valley.
Um, I feel like it's just sucha special place for athletes and
so much talent has lived inthat Valley or continues to live
in that valley.
How has been the move for you?
How, how, how has that gone?
Speaker 4 (02:47):
Um, it was, it was a busy summer.
Yeah, we, uh, you know, hugelife transition, changed jobs.
We moved, we, um, you know,packed everything we owned up in
a U-Haul and, uh, drove it likefour hours West into the
mountains and, um, I've madethat move before.
When I left high school, I kindof made a similar move and, you
(03:08):
know, came to Gunnison forcollege.
But, uh, after college, youknow, we were gone, we were out
of the Gunnison Valley for fiveyears.
So to come back really doesfeel like a homecoming and it
really does feel like the rightplace to be.
For us.
It's, uh, it's just, it's home.
Um, you know, it's, it's, it'spretty nice, pretty nice place
to be up here.
And it's not for everyone,though.
(03:30):
You got those really harshwinters and, um, it's not all
sunshine and rainbows, but, uh,for us it's, it's perfect.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
So are you enjoying like more?
Cause, colorado Springs is arelative, relatively a metro
area more or less like.
Are you enjoying more?
Just like the small town vibe,like I know Gunnison, and like
the surrounding areas it's tiny,it's nice, it's, it's a small
town life.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
Yeah, it's.
I mean it's definitely a ruralcommunity, um, on paper it's
like classified as a ruralcommunity, Um, it, you know it,
just it's a slower pace of life,right, like there's.
Um, you could probably count onone hand the amount of lights
in town here, uh, like trafficlights, um, which is I think
(04:13):
it's sweet.
Uh, it, it, it's definitely atourist community and we get a
lot of people coming in and out,um and the you know the nice
seasons like summer and winter,uh, you got skiing, and then in
the summer it's just epic flyfishing and mountain biking and
trails and, you know,wildflowers and it's a total
Mecca.
But in the shoulder season, like, we're coming into here right
(04:35):
after fall, after the leavesdrop, really, and then in the
spring again it's pretty quietand it's like, just, you know,
it's just you and the locals, soit's a sweet, you know it's
just you and the locals.
So it's, uh, it's a sweetlittle, sweet little.
It's just a change of pace.
You know there's no, there's nomajor highway, like the biggest
highway that comes through hereis two is, you know, one lane
out and one lane in.
(04:56):
It's it's pretty small highway,50 there, and um, I love it,
you know, I just love it justbecause of you know what you
know, the, what you know, thetime I spent here as a college
kid, but then also, just likenow, like after living in the
big city or the big city ofColorado Springs, it's sort of
like yeah, like yeah, I'm asmall town guy, you know I'm you
(05:16):
know I love it.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
I'm glad you're happy man, I'm glad it seems like a
good fit.
I could see the smile on yourface and that makes me happy.
How, um, what do you?
The access is gonna be crazyfor you because you could get.
You know, the elks are in thenorth and you've got the san
juans just to the south.
Like what, have you beenplaying more in the elks or the
san juans?
Speaker 4 (05:34):
uh, more in the san juans, just for the I.
I would say some of thespecific slopes and everything
are kind of more lined up forpikes, just specific training.
But the Elks, as soon as youkind of top out, the higher you
go it gets a little rocky, moreof like a talus field up top and
(05:55):
more kind of scree.
The San Juans stay pretty rocklike free up top.
It's sort of like a trail allthe way to the summit.
Um, depending on where you go,obviously.
But yeah, there's, you know,and the West Oaks are great, but
um, okay, got to have a specialplace for the San Juans, you
know.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
That's amazing.
The access is so good there.
Lake city's not too far, likeit's just.
It's hard to beat man.
It's a beautiful special area.
I got to stop singing itspraises too much, I don't want
to.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Well come join us.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
I mean, it's got its ups and downs right.
There's a huge housing crisishere.
Everything's super expensiveand not a lot of availability.
There's very limited permits,even for new developments and
stuff like that with the city,so there's a ton of limitations
for growth, which is like youknow it's that's actually gonna
(06:50):
stay small, so it's sort of um.
For me it's like get in quickand kind of stake your claim,
but um yeah I think my next moveis is wyoming.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
I like, love wyoming.
Totally in love with, like withthe Idaho area.
I don't know, it's a cool spot.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
I don't know, we'll see.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
The wife would probably never check off on that
, but whatever.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
Didn't you just like buy a new home?
We just bought a house, yeah,yeah In.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
December.
So, yeah, we're.
We're here for a while.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
It's fun to dream, yeah exactly, that's exactly it,
it's uh you know what dudedream?
Speaker 3 (07:24):
yeah, exactly, that's exactly it.
It's uh, you know what dude Ialways correlate it to, like,
when I travel or do somethingfor like a race, I'm like, oh, I
love this area, I could seemyself in it.
And then I'll go to the nextplace and be like, oh, I love
this too.
Like, oh, yeah, yeah it's hardto beat uh.
All right, let's get into racing.
This past week you just passed,or literally just uh race.
This past weekend at cirqueseries, a basin took a top five
overall finish in a dude.
That was like a 700 person race.
Like that was the biggest circseries race this year.
(07:45):
How was uh?
How were the pre-race feelingsfor you?
How'd you feel throughout?
Obviously that's an amazingresult.
Like what's the uh stoke level?
Speaker 4 (07:52):
like you're fit um, yeah, going into the race, I
really I obviously want torespect the competition and the
other people on the line and youknow, just desserts to everyone
who stepped up to it.
And I got my butt kicked forsure.
But I went in with zero taper.
I am eight weeks into atraining block right now where
(08:14):
I'm kind of averaging like 16hours a week of training and
time and altitude and intervalsand blah, blah, blah.
Um, good numbers.
I'm hitting great, greatfigures in the training and um,
so I came into this race reallytired.
Um, I know a lot of otherpeople did too.
Just cause of where it sits onthe race calendar, there's sort
(08:34):
of sort of an in-between andin-between race for a lot of
people, but, um, an in-betweenrace for a lot of people.
But, um, yeah, I came in sore.
I came in just like, uh,curious to see how my legs would
do under that fatigue.
Um, and I was.
I was pretty happy.
Yeah, I came in.
Um, last year I did this race aswell and I I went out really
(08:57):
hot, kind of tried to stay withthat front group and then faded
back in the second and thirdmiles and then closed again,
eventually landing me sixth lastyear or seventh last year,
which I was happy with.
But this year I, you know, Ikind of I actually chilled back
further in the start.
I was probably in 10th or 12thplace after the first mile,
(09:20):
which was intentional.
I just kind of wanted to seewhere the legs were at and kind
of wind up to it.
And then, as you know, as wegot towards the single track and
up off the service road, I justsort of kept cranking away and
the lungs were feeling good, theshoulders and you know hips and
knee drive, everything waspopping off nicely and yeah, I
(09:41):
just kind of kept picking offpeople in the field.
Um, you know, I, I think Iworked towards the top and, uh,
maybe fifth, fifth position, uh,which was pretty good.
And then on the downhill I hadGrant Cooligan and Morgan
Elliott kind of chomping at myheels.
Grant got around me and I justwasn't super interested in
(10:04):
pushing hard on the downhill.
I think I could have taken morerisky turns, but he beat me
honestly for sure and then heldMorgan off behind me but
finished the race with a goodhard uphill effort and a safe
return home with no injuries ordamage from the downhill.
I think that, uh, this close topikes, which is sort of the a
(10:26):
goal.
I just really wanted to havethat high intensity effort, see
some competition and then, um,make sure the downhill was just,
you know, safe travels.
No real, no real interest forme to push on the downhill, even
though it's a race.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
It's just sort of like I'm being selective with my
effort, so I think that's smart, very smart, and you felt I
mean, given the result, you feltpretty good above, like I mean,
most 99.9% of the races around,above true line.
So altitude wise, you feltpretty good up there.
I feel like it's always a goodstimulus for that.
Pikes, um and I knowe has beennotorious in the past for racing
(11:01):
cirque series a basin a fewweeks out from pikes, like it
seems like a lot of athletesseem to do the same thing, um,
so all things that go then forpikes that you're, the
excitement is high yeah, thingsare good.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
I got a little bit of a tight back.
Uh, just my left back, you know, is kind of kind of tight.
I think that that's could bedue to a lot of things.
I would probably most likelypoint towards fatigue and
training and just the volume I'mdoing.
But yeah, you know, we'retrying to get that loosened up.
I've got some work with thephysio soon and a massage coming
(11:32):
up before race day and then,yeah, all systems go.
I've spent a lot of time abovetree line, a lot of time at
altitude.
The fortunate thing aboutliving where I do is I can drive
up super high.
I can drive up to a controlledenvironment where, um, you know,
I don't have an altitude tent,but I can sort of drive to one,
(12:07):
um, if you will.
So, dude, I love it.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
I love it, All right.
So I'm not going to hide thestoryline here.
You're I mean dude.
I'm going to put you as theodds on favorite for this one.
Your best time on this is two1455 and 2023, where you ran
eighth place, which, outside ofyour Broken Arrow result, which
was another insane result youcranked that out of the park.
I think it's one of your best.
I don't know if you would agreewith me.
(12:30):
That's the most competitiverace still to this day top three
ever assembled on American soil.
What do you think it's going totake for you to either
replicate a performance?
Obviously, I would assumeyou're probably in better shape
this time around, because it'sbeen a few years.
You've obviously improved in alot of things.
You're a more well-roundedathlete.
Where do you think mentally?
(12:51):
Obviously, it's hard to pinthis because of weather,
altitude, there's all thesedifferent things, but what kind
of shape do you think you're ingoing into this?
Speaker 4 (13:00):
Um, obviously I'd love to to best better my time
right.
Like I'd love to take that two14 down a bit.
I think it's uh, it's a, it's afair time on the course, like I
think that that's not notsomething to shy away from.
But, um, yeah, I'd love to gounder 210 and sort of like, join
(13:22):
the big dogs.
I think that that's really themark that you know, that's
definitely like a respectablenumber, even like 211, 212 is a
much better outlook in my book.
I think I'm, you know, lookingat the other people that have
run those times and that havekind of hit those marks, I'd
(13:43):
like to think I'm at that level.
I definitely think that it'sgoing to be a very different
race this year because of thelevel of competition I had in
2023.
I was racing the entire GoldenTrail World Series and the world
mountain running, champion ofvertical and everything Like
(14:05):
there was.
There was so many people inthat race that was.
It made the race go out hot andthen it stayed hot the whole
way through.
So I think it'll be interesting, especially if it comes down to
me and Seth and maybe JoeDamore as well, if he's in that
group or I don't know how he'sfeeling.
There's a couple othercharacters that could be a
factor in this race.
I know some of my buddies aredoing it here from Gunnison and
(14:29):
from the Western Trail team, andthen you've got someone you
know, jarrett.
I don't know his last name.
He's on the trail team.
Yeah, he's good.
Yeah, another BYU kid comingout of BYU Fantastic in the D1
program.
So there's some potentialplayers that are like,
definitely going to come inready.
(14:49):
But it's a tough race.
I think if you haven't spentmuch time on this course and you
don't know what you're gettinginto, there's so many places
that the fatigue just adds upand the fatigue really builds.
And, um, having that priorknowledge and race experience is
super beneficial in a courselike this.
Um, yeah, I'd like to.
(15:12):
I'd like to be up there withthe dog fight upfront.
So we'll see where that landsme.
Um, to be honest with you, ifit comes down to like, if I had
to choose running a PR orrunning for first place, I think
I would.
I would choose to run for firstplace.
I think lining up with yourcompetition is so important.
Um, going into a race justmentally thinking time, time,
(15:33):
time is, um, it hasn't alwayspaid off for me.
So I think just going into racethe other people there is um
definitely my mentality.
What?
Speaker 3 (15:41):
what did you?
What was your mentality in 2023?
Was it more for time?
Like, were you aiming for likearound 215 or something like
that?
Like what?
Or?
Speaker 4 (15:48):
like, uh, my mentality in 23 was just I
belong here.
You know, like, just like,seeing the other guys on the
list is like, you know, I, Iknow I belong in that front pack
.
I know I belong in that frontpack.
I know I belong in that sort ofupper echelon of guys doing
these shorter distance races.
Um, even though my resume showsmostly 50 K and marathon
(16:09):
success, I think I have thespeed and the the guts to go out
with these, um, golden trailseries guys.
And uh, my mentality then wasdefinitely like I belong in this
front group, top group.
Um, obviously Remy blew it outof the water that day, but uh, I
wasn't too far off the mark, Iguess you know you're right
there, dude.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
Is that just an ultimate motivator to go to this
race?
And just oh yeah, oh yeah.
Speaker 4 (16:35):
Huge, huge, hugely motivating Um it's.
I think it's really easy to getwhat you want and then you're
satisfied and then you have it.
But then, when you don't getwhat you want, you just have to
figure out a way to keep workingat it and figure out a way to
keep trying to achieve yourgoals, and being told no is a
great motivator.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
I agree, I agree, and you know what man.
Like I said, it's just likeyou're so close, you're so
consistent every time, but oneof these days you're going to
knock it.
You know you've already hadknocked ones out of the park,
but you know, one of these daysit's going to be a big one.
Um, all right, so after Pikes,what do you?
Got planned You'd hop in onskis.
Uh, we could take some time off, or what.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
I have two races after Pikes peak.
I'll hit the.
Uh, I'll go fly out toia and dothe kodiak 50k.
Nice, um, I think that racewill suit me really well and I'm
excited for a major, a utmb,major.
Um, I think that brings someclout and it brings some like
credibility to the race.
(17:34):
That'll be cool.
Um, and then also uh after that, depending on how I'm feeling.
The moab usatf half marathonchampionships always fun.
I've been out there like sevenyears in a row.
So, um, probably go.
Probably go put my name in thehat out there and see what
happens as long as I'm healthy,nice man, I love to hear it.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
I didn't you know what dude it wasn't until
someone said to me the other dayI didn't know, kodiak was the
uh, de facto.
I want to say I guess, guess,major championship, whatever
UTMB for this year.
So if you do well there, whatis it like?
Top 10 at a major is going toget you an auto qualifier either
into CCC or OCC.
What do you think you could dothat in 2025?
Speaker 4 (18:15):
I already have my auto qualifier into OCC for next
year because of Desert Rats 50k, so I already got that.
I earned one as well in 20,something, I don't know.
I've had two of them.
Now this is my second autoqualifier, so I've just been
sitting with them.
Uh, it's really tough to travelto france and fly yourself
there for a week or two, uh onyour own budget, especially when
(18:40):
you're uh just doing it byyourself.
But I've got my qualifiers, I'mready to go.
So if I, if I win, if I do wellat Kodiak even top 10, um, then
I get a second qualifier.
I guess I don't know how thatworks, but, um, I'm, I'm sitting
ready.
Speaker 3 (18:58):
I like to hear it.
You were in Europe for a littlebit this summer.
Was it just vacation, justenjoying time Like how was it?
Where'd you?
Speaker 4 (19:04):
guys go.
I went to.
We were in Italy, Um, my wifeand our family.
We went to Italy and webackpacked through the Dolomites
for like 10 days, Um, and thatwas fantastic.
But that's like that's a familytrip, that's dedicated purely
to family time and um, yeah,yeah.
So, oh, very good, dude, it'sbeautiful, dolmets are amazing
(19:26):
oh my goodness, I would go backin a heartbeat makes me really
want to do la veredo for sure oh, all right, I could see that.
I could definitely see thatthat's that's kind of where we
were backpacking through andthat area is just stupid pretty
it's oh yeah, it's incrediblehigh altitude well, not super
high altitude, but like altitude, so it's.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
You get a little bit of it as well.
Like it's, it's.
Speaker 4 (19:45):
It's an interesting area, like it's a cool zone it
is so gorgeous, like I've beento switzerland now and then the
dolomites, and I've been toaustrian alps, I think, um, the
dolomites take the cake, in myopinion.
I've never been to sham orchamonix, but uh, yeah, the
dolomites are really gorgeous,oh man.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
Dude, what'd you?
What'd you?
What was your take on UTMB thisyear?
Anything from that weekendstick out to you between OCC,
ccz and UTMB.
Speaker 4 (20:09):
Oh man, I I think, looking at it, uh, after kind of
testing out some road shoes andseeing Tom and Ben Demon, um,
the A6 team is looking reallynice right now.
I I think that that theproducts that they're pushing
out and the support that they'regiving some of the top guys and
gals I think they're going tobe the newest team kind of in
(20:34):
the ranks here.
So they were a huge upset, sothat was really fun to watch.
And the other thing is got togive a shout out to one of my
former training partners, jesherand small getting fifth at CCC.
That was awesome, super stokedfor him and, um, he had a great
race.
So amazing.
Speaker 3 (20:51):
Yeah, lots of takeaways.
Man, I gotta I do have to giveAsics their flowers as well.
I have to like.
That was one.
I mean, I really liked Bendemon.
I followed him less as a runnerand more as just like this
philosophical mind in the sport.
He's an interesting guy.
I think that's the reason, likeFinn and a lot of people like
him as well, just because hiswriting is very good and he's
got like a podcast called SpeedDemon Radio where he just talks
(21:17):
and I highly recommend it.
It's very interesting.
He's a very philosophical dude,but his performance is stupid,
so good, um.
So, yeah, a6 has got somethingfigured out and then tom,
obviously consummateprofessional.
Speaker 4 (21:29):
So yeah, and then it's great to see ruth finally
get a win there, and yeah,because I think she was second
last year, so it's just comingfull circle.
It's really cool veryincredible.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
Yeah, and then occ, yeah, all of it was just.
It was fun to follow.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
Oh yeah, jim.
Yeah, that's right, that's good.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
Yeah, so, dude.
Well, listen man, I hope youget the day you deserve at Pikes
Like I hope it's.
I hope it's an amazing day foryou and it's an experience
you'll have with you for therest of your life.
Like I hope it's like somethingtruly special for you.
Speaker 4 (21:57):
That's giving me goosebumps.
Yeah, I don't know where thatone came from.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
I got to Just a fan, dude, just a fan.
Speaker 4 (22:04):
Listen, brian.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
Thank you so much, buddy.
We'll be in touch.
Speaker 4 (22:06):
All right, james, talk to you later.
(23:09):
Thank you, I'm out.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.