September 18, 2025 • 30 mins
Pike's Peak isn't just a mountain—it's America's Ultimate Challenge. Rising dramatically from 6,000 to 14,000 feet, this Colorado landmark draws over 2,500 runners annually from across the globe, all seeking to test their limits against its unforgiving terrain.
What makes this race truly special? As elite mountain runner Kiern Nay explains, "It's just you're constantly wondering if you're going too hard and if you're going to die." Unlike strategic ultra events where pacing and problem-solving matter, Pike's Peak demands maximum effort from start to finish—a "total red line from the gun to the top." Pull back even slightly, and the mountain makes you pay.
For Kieran, who grew up in Colorado Springs with Pike's Peak as his constant backdrop, the mountain represents both personal history and professional benchmark. After finishing an impressive fifth place in his first competitive trail race there at age 20, he returns year after year, drawn by the mountain's brutal honesty and the race's rich tradition. "You know this is a test against yourself," he reflects, highlighting why this race transcends competition to become something more profound.
The podcast explores Kieran's evolution as an athlete, from focusing on shorter mountain races to embracing longer challenges like the Grand Traverse and Speed Goat. We also dive into his upcoming adventure representing Team USA at the Continental Sky Running Championships in Mexico, where he'll race at elevations exceeding 15,000 feet. Throughout our conversation, Kieran shares insights into high-altitude training, race preparation, and building community among elite mountain runners in Colorado's Gunnison Valley.
Whether you're a dedicated trail runner or simply fascinated by what drives athletes to push their limits, this episode offers a compelling glimpse into the mind of an elite mountain runner and the iconic race that continues to define his journey. Subscribe now and join us for more inspiring conversations with the remarkable athletes who call the mountains their proving ground.
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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.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
They all start here and make their way towards the
clouds.
It's time.
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.
We are live.
I don't know, it's weird, areyou?
Are you not in monument anymore?
No, I moved.
I.
We're down in all like oldColorado city.
Uh yeah, just by like red rocks.
I shouldn't tell this on thepodcast, but yeah, we're, we're,
we are.
We are in Colorado Springs now.
Speaker 4 (02:15):
Cool, cool.
Um, that's awesome.
That's a great spot.
Cool trails down there, butyeah, monuments are pretty
special.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
It's a special place.
Cool stuff, dude.
How, how have you been?
You've been, uh, you gotta mixit up.
This year you did some brokenarrow, then you went and got on
the podium of grand traverselike you've been doing some some
really exciting and fun things,and now we're here talking
about pikes.
But, uh, how has the shape ofthe season gone for you so far?
Speaker 4 (02:39):
yeah, yeah, it's been good.
I am started the year.
I did a lot of like a lot ofvolume this winter.
A lot of stuff on skis and youknow, kept more running in
during the winter than Inormally do Um, which was pretty
fun.
It was a lot of uh, like twohour pill runs on the treadmill
and stuff like that.
Um, we still a little bit onthe skis and then, yeah, started
(03:03):
off I ran at GoPro and BrokenArrow and was kind of sick like
good bit of April and most ofMay.
So I really didn't have likethe best build going into Broken
Arrow, which I feel like Ialways feel that way.
It's like pretty early seasonbut those races weren't great.
Pretty early season but thoseraces weren't great.
(03:27):
But came back home and kind ofwent back to the drawing board
and had a really, since, comingback from Broken Arrow, had a
really good, pretty consistentbuild into Speed Goat, which is
really fun.
I think I was like 15th there,ran like a 5.55, which, given my
performance at Broken Arrow, Iwas pretty happy with that
(03:48):
because I just didn't have agreat race at Broken Arrow.
So I was pretty happy with that.
And then I ran Grand Traverselike two and a half weeks ago.
For those of you who don't know,that's a 40 mile race that runs
from crested butte up and overuh star pass, across the
mountains into aspen.
Um, so I live in gunnison andthat's, um, you know, kind of
(04:13):
the hometown race now and I'velived here for some of my eighth
winter and I've never done thatrace before, so it was cool to
get to do like the local race.
Um, I think it was uh willmurphy showed up.
He was like second at blackcanyon this year.
I had no idea who he was, um,so I kept trying to drop him on
(04:33):
the star pass climb and hedidn't drop and went on to win
and break the course record.
But I'm pretty happy with asecond place finish there.
Um, and yeah, I've been mixingup with some longer stuff and
excited to come back to Pike'sPeak and uh run these sons again
.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Absolutely, man, absolutely.
Let's talk about some of thelonger stuff.
I mean it's kind of neat to seeyou kind of change from, I mean,
for always.
You'd been for the last, likeyou know, several years, like it
was always a broken arrow 23 K.
Broken arrow, vk.
A lot of the shorter stuff.
Obviously still a broken arrow23k.
Broken arrow, vk.
A lot of the shorter stuff.
Obviously still race brokenarrow this year.
But going up to races likespeed goat, which is a bit you
(05:10):
know, as far as like averagewise, it's a much longer race
than something like a brokenarrow 23k.
Um, same with the grandtraverse.
That's a you know what is it a40 mile or 30 something, 40
something mile race?
Speaker 4 (05:39):
yeah, it's 40.
Of saw myself as doing longerstuff, but for a long time I
didn't really have much success,um, and so I just sort of stuck
to what I felt like I wasreally good at um.
I mean, I feel like justdeveloping and maturing as an
athlete that I've really come toenjoy the, the mastery element
(06:03):
of these longer races, wherethere's quite a bit of um,
there's quite a bit of uh likelogistics to figure out and
there are all these differentvariables that you're kind of
interfacing with and the raceitself.
A lot of it is about whereyou're going to spend your
effort and controlling forthings and problem solving.
(06:26):
And I've really enjoyed thoseraces where it's like you have
six hours to like work on peopleand you get to sort of be in
this like you know, no onemoment is this like particularly
hard thing.
It's a different kind of racingthan what I'm used to, where
it's just everything you haveredlining for two hours versus
like okay, actually I am goingto take it a little easier on
(06:47):
this climb or this descent andthere's a strategy to that Um
and then seeing that play out,um.
You know, I do think thoseraces can be a little bit more
strategic than, say, a VK, whereif you let people go off the
front, you're not going to seethem again.
Um, you know something like GT.
I think I was like ninth place,like 10 miles in and just
worked up to the field.
(07:08):
Um, and I like those kinds ofraces where you can have that
the space and the time to kindof work on people and the rate
limiter is not your like upperend speed, but more around your,
your durability and yourability to continue to fuel and
to and to move efficientlyacross terrain over a long
(07:29):
distance.
I've really enjoyed thattransition.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Interesting.
That's so cool.
I'm glad you're enjoying it.
Man, what, um, what of it likepiques your interest?
As far as like races go, isthere any races that stand out
to you, like black Canyon orsomething like that?
They're like oh, I'm doing thatnext year.
Like anything in particularthat you're, you're going to go
hit.
Speaker 4 (07:45):
Yeah, I want to go to .
I think I'm at a point withrunning where I kind of want to
go see cool places and do races.
That one I feel like maybe suitme, and and two that, um, I
kind of enjoy.
I don't really feel a hugedrive to to go run like a black
(08:06):
Canyon or something like that.
Um, we have the San Juansolstice 50 miler which runs out
of Lake city and that's a, youknow, a backyard race.
For me, it's like 40 minutesfrom the course.
Um, you know, something likethat would be really cool to do.
Um, I do want to go to OCC thisnext year year, so I have some
plans to try and qualify intothat.
I think that would be reallycool and I spent some time over
(08:30):
there last summer and justreally loved the area in the
mountains and would love tobecome more familiar with that
landscape.
Other than that, I think youknow you can live in Colorado
(09:08):
but you only have a race inCalifornia or in Europe and I
think we've got pretty coolmountains here and a pretty cool
scene here and just becauseit's not on a circuit doesn't
mean it's not a race that'sworth doing.
Um, so I, I like the UTMB stuff.
Um, I think that there's a goodtrack with that.
As far as getting exposure, um,and I think you know, given that
(09:32):
I'm kind of in this mountain 50K to 50 mile phase, I think OCC
is kind of the the pointy endof the spear and that's where
you want to go, um, so I'd loveto have that experience.
But you know, for the most part, I think I want to kind of see
and test myself at races, um,that have some history, that
(09:52):
have, you know, a connection tothe place that I live in.
Um, there's so many cool racesin Colorado Imogene pass is
another good example, that'sanother good one.
So there's, there's lots of ofraces, races like that that you
know attract a good field andare, you know, big, historic
races that are really cool andclose to home that you can have
a really meaningful experienceat.
(10:14):
And I'd include Pikes Peak inthat sort of assessment.
So, you know, it's maybe notnecessarily just like the longer
races per se.
You know, I think that thosehave been kind of cool events to
sort of explore.
Um, but more races that havesome history, that have been
around for a little while, um,that you know feel compelling,
(10:36):
where the courses are cool andthey're in a cool place and it's
not uh insane to try and getout there.
I love it.
I love it.
You have a lot of history withPikes Peak man being from the
greater.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Springs area.
I love it.
I love it.
You have a lot of history withPikes Peak man, being from the
greater Springs area.
Um, I know I've asked you thisquestion before, but I feel like
, for new audience members whomight've not listened to your
first episode, can you talkabout, like, what makes this
race so special to you?
Speaker 4 (10:58):
Yeah, so I grew up in the Pikes Peak area, Um, I, uh,
we lived in the Springs forquite a while and then moved up
to Monument, which is about 20minutes North Um, when I was
about six.
Um, so I spent like the whole,you know, my whole childhood was
in that region, Um, looking upat that mountain.
(11:20):
It was kind of uh, uh, you know, just a constant presence there
up in the clouds.
And it's this really uniquemountain for colorado where you,
you know, you start at 6 000feet and you go up to 14, and so
just the size of the terrain,the fact that it is the highest
peak, um for a very longdistance, it's very prominent,
(11:41):
um has a ton of vertical release.
It's this really cool mountainand feature, to begin with, that
really defines the city and thesurrounding area.
Um gives it a lot of itscharacter.
Um, and then it was also thefirst really competitive trail
race that I ever did.
Um, I knew, probably when I wasabout 15 or 16, that mountain
(12:05):
and trail running was reallywhat I one was was good at, and
two, what I what I wanted to do.
Um, and and this was at a timewhen it was not a very popular
thing, Um, you know it was.
It was not something peoplewere getting into at a younger
age, at least in the States.
And you know I I did a year ona cross country team here in
Gunnison at Western.
(12:26):
Um, really, you know, enjoyedthat experience, but left that
to pursue trail running.
And the Pice Peak Scent in 2019was the first real like
competitive trial race that Idid and I think I was I was 20
years old.
I was in third place until thelast, like two miles.
I think I finished like fifthor something.
Um, yeah, I was 20 years old.
I was in third place until thelast, like two miles.
I think I finished like fifthor something.
(12:47):
Um, yeah, I was fifth that year.
Um, and it was this like reallycool thing to go to this race
that on this mountain.
You know I'd known about itforever growing up to do it, to
have success there and to haveit be like the launching point
of my my mountain running career.
Um, it's always been a reallymeaningful race and it's funny,
I really haven't um runparticularly faster than that
(13:10):
first one.
Um, since I started, I think.
I think I am like a two 27 thatyear and I think, the fastest
I've ever run on the mountain,it's like two 21.
So, um, you know, would love tofinally get under two 20 this
year.
But it's this really cool placethat I've come back to year
after year and it's, you know,would love to finally get under
220 this year.
But it's this really cool placethat I've come back to year
after year and it's, you know,it's the same course, it's the
same mountain.
(13:32):
Weather and conditions can kindof vary, but for the most part
it's this benchmark and that'scertainly a race that I would
classify as being a lot lessstrategic.
Um, and you know, there's some,some races where I think you
can, you can lean on yourexperience and these other
things to kind of maybe fill insome fitness gaps.
Um, you know, if there's moretechnical terrain or there are
(13:55):
places where you know you'restrong, where you can make some
distance and you've got enoughtime to wear people down, Pikes
Peak is not that.
Pikes Peak is a total red linefrom the gun to the top, and you
have to go to a.
Really, if you're going to dowell there, it's going to be
probably one of the mostdifficult races you're on.
(14:17):
All year been pulled back twoor three percent, you're gonna
lose a bunch of time on theupper mountain, and so it's this
really like honest and brutalrace that I think demands
everything of you if you want todo well, um, which is really
cool and I love going there.
I love the, the crowd that itdraws and the field that it
(14:40):
draws and, you know, in pastyears it's been very
international and you know,people that I've known from
racing in europe are telling meit's the highest they've ever
been and they're like this is socool and, um, so yeah, it's,
it's a cool thing to be a partof, it's really emblematic of
you know the place I grew up andand it's fun to, it's fun to go
back every year and give it ashot.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
Dude, that's a beautiful answer, man.
I appreciate that.
I gotta ask you, as being beinga young gun, being a kid
growing up here and realizing ata young age do you wanted to
get into mountain running?
Who were your and this issomething I never asked you
before like, who were yourheroes at a young age in the
sport?
Like were you, did you likediscover Anton?
And we're like, yeah, that's socool.
Speaker 4 (15:22):
But like Matt Carpenter, like were you aware
of, like he was, like he wasback in the day, Okay, yeah, I
remember reading all theWikipedia articles about Matt
Carpenter and his insane AntonKuprychka blogs, which I don't
(15:46):
know if those are still upanymore, but it was all like the
crazy training that he would doaround the Springs.
Um, uh, I remember, like StevieKramer and and her, uh, her run
and it's funny she, she lives,uh in in this Valley so I see
her around occasionally and Idon't think she's any of the way
up, but, um, it was this really.
Yeah, I think you know, growingup there, like, um, Joe Gray
was also someone who I knew whenI got into running.
(16:09):
Um, you know, I just I knew whohe was from mountain running
and team USA and times on theincline and things like that and
um, it was really cool, Like Iremember that first summer that
I really pursued trail running,like he and I basically had the
same schedule and got to knowhim a bit and he was a you know,
it's really one, just anincredible athlete to look up to
(16:30):
and to like this really, youknow kind of great, great like
mentor and it's really graciouswith a lot of things.
And, yeah, I mean, ColoradoSprings is a is a great place to
.
There's definitely people I'mforgetting in this list.
The springs is a.
It's a really great place to togrow up.
If you're into mountain running, Um, cause it really there.
(16:52):
There are a lot of really,really great athletes who base
out of there.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
Yeah, it's such a special place man.
This race is so special.
I think that's like one of thethings that I just want so much
for the race in the few, in thatI just want so much for the
race in the few in the next fewyears.
It's like how do we justcontinue to build the fan base
and get the community involvedand get people excited about you
know what this race is and thetradition and the history here,
and because it's already likeone of the most iconic races on
(17:17):
the planet, um, but it's, it's.
I think the I want that zagamaslash like series and all level
people on the course cheeringwith cowbells, you know, like we
.
Speaker 4 (17:29):
That's what I want to see, oh, I'd love to see that
and you know you could.
If you could arrange to getlike, uh, have the city sponsor
it and have like free tram ridesup and, you know, like fan zone
and, you know, lowering thebarriers to access, I think that
you could maybe get more peopleout there.
Um, it's hard to replicate thatEuropean culture of mountain
(17:51):
sports and endurance sports andthe way they care about it.
It's it's just different, um,but it would be so cool to see,
you know, have that whole goldenstaircase just be lined with
people you know, grabbingchainsaws and stuff.
Like you get, uh, the greats ineurope, uh, sierra's and all
being being one of them, um, youknow, it's a it's.
(18:12):
That's a crazy atmosphere.
It'd be cool to see anythingclose to that in the states,
although I will say, like, speedgoat had a pretty good
atmosphere.
They had a free tram up to thetop, um, that big sky tram, and
so I think when you don't chargepeople to get up there, you're
gonna have more people up there,and I think that that kind of
creates a bit of that atmosphere.
(18:33):
So, if you have any sway withthe city of colorado springs,
maybe, uh, if we can get sometram rides up, we'll see.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
I'm not that influential yet.
Maybe maybe, maybe in anotheryear, but that I mean, I don't
know, maybe people on the boarduh are.
So that's something that I hopeto do in 2026.
Like, that's what I want to seeis like some sort of I have
maybe two of them, one on thegolden stairs and then one on,
like at, like bar camp, like,make bar camp, like a giant
party and just go wild.
(19:01):
That'd be awesome.
Yeah, that would be cool.
Um, all right, let's talkperformance wise and pikes
itself.
Last year you ran yourselfeighth place, ran two, 2643.
You've had some amazingfinishes at this race, like you.
You have really, like you're,very consistent on this mountain
.
What do you expect for thisyear?
Uh, I know it's always hard totell, cause it's.
You know, it's always hard totell, like, where fitness is and
(19:22):
how you feel you've beenrunning a lot of longer stuff.
So how, um, how have youtweaked, maybe tweaked in this
build, uh, for something that'sa little bit more short, um and
a little bit more high octane.
Speaker 4 (19:33):
Yeah.
So I guess the context for thiswould be I was initially signed
up to do the marathon becauseit would have fit in a lot more
with GT speed goat styletraining, and I haven't run the
marathon since it was 2021 andlike a four, four or one or
something.
So it'd be really cool to gounder four in that race.
(19:56):
It'd be really cool to go underfour in that race, um, but I am
on the team for the continentalsky running champs down at uh
Redo Volcano in um, mexico, umin like Pico de Orizaba National
Park, um, and that's like threeweeks after the ascent, um.
So I kind of made the decisionthat doing the marathon was
(20:20):
going to be, at least for me.
You know, I know some peoplewho are doing that, but I know
if I run the marathon as hard asI can, I'm going to be pretty
useless for at least two weeksand I kind of want to have a
quality build um going intoMexico, cause that's a big race,
super high altitude, umaltitude and traveling and
putting a lot into to makingthat happen.
(20:41):
And so Pike's peak this year iscertainly more of a workout, or
maybe workout to see race, if Ihad to categorize it.
So I haven't tweaked too much.
I mean I ran GT.
I think I took like three daysoff, kind of jogged back, had
like an easy like a half week oflike easy volume and then I've
(21:02):
been doing some like shorterhill repeats um, you know like
one to two minute hill repeatsuh, with like longer, like
hour-long uphill tempos um, alsokind of sprinkled in these past
like two weeks um.
So trying to get on like thespecific grade because pikes is
very, very runnable and I thinkit's easy.
(21:22):
The 14ers around here are alittle steeper and it would be
easy to get into like big hikingshape um, which I don't think
really helps you at pikes.
Um, so we'll see.
I mean had a great long runthree weeks ago, gts, 40 miles
and most of it it was above10,000 feet Um, and a lot of
(21:42):
it's above the tree line.
You're spending a couple hoursrunning above the tree line and
running pretty hard.
So you know there's a bit ofstimulus there.
Um been sleeping up high on theweekends.
You know 10, 11,000 feet when Ican Um and other than that kind
of training through this race.
So we'll see.
Like last year I was coming offSears and all and everything was
(22:04):
super fast, uphill, focused andspecific, and I ran what I
would consider a pretty averagetime for me, um.
You know, I thought if any yearI was going to have a breakout,
it was going to be last year,um, just given training.
And so this year things are alot less specific, doing more
volume and kind of longer stuff.
And, who knows, maybe that'llbe it, or I'll run the exact
(22:25):
same time and I'm just a two 20to two 25 guy, no matter what,
which is a fine time to beconsistent at Um, but I'd love
to to get under two 20.
That'd be a.
It'd be a really cool thing tobe able to do that this year.
So we'll see what happens.
It's not the goal race for theyear.
I've got, you know, two otherraces after it, so it is kind of
(22:45):
more of a workout for that racedown in Mexico, um, but yeah,
that's kind of what I've beendoing for it.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
So I love it.
I love it.
Talk about the sky running race.
Um, like, how did the app looklike?
How, how did you get selectedfor it to be on this team?
Um, talk about like, what it'sabout, cause it is like a, it's
a, it's a, it's a championship.
That's correct.
Speaker 4 (23:07):
Yeah, yeah.
So it's not the first time I'verun it.
I didn't know that Bartrell wasthe Continental Championships
that year, I think it was likeninth, but I do think it's
becoming a bit more of an event.
I know that Skyrunning hasreally tried to kind of rally
and rebuild.
(23:27):
That said, like these teams arenot super supported it's not
the same as, like you know, themountain running world champs
team that's going off next week.
It's not the same as, like youknow, the mountain running world
champs team that's going offnext week.
So it is.
I'd say it was a little bit moreof.
They were looking for people,especially with everyone's
(23:48):
schedules and seasons beingpretty filled out.
And my coach was connected withTravis Lavin, who I also know
he lives out in Reno and he'skind of been the point person
for the team.
She reached out, was like youshould consider doing this.
And then I also know he livesout in Reno and he's kind of
been the point person for theteam.
She reached out and was likeyou should consider doing this.
And then I was like, okay, sureI'll do it.
And flights down to Puebla wereonly like $500.
So it was pretty easy to pullthe trigger on that, um, so I'll
(24:11):
be going down there the secondweekend in October, um, and that
is a 40 K, so it's about'sabout 20 miles, um, and it gets
up to a little above 15 000 feet, um, two big climbs.
It's actually a very similarprofile to the pikes peak
marathon, um, so it's like alike a higher altitude pikes
(24:31):
peak with slightly less mileage,um, and a lot of like kind of
high, high altitude runningbetween these two volcanoes, um,
which should be super cool andit's part of the world and I've
never been to, so I'm excited toget down there and experience
that.
And, and it's technically a usteam, so that's uh, that's
(24:53):
pretty cool.
It's certainly not at the levelof, like, the mountain running
team, like a fully supportedkind of thing, um, but it's
still a cool opportunity and, um, you know, I've got some some
friends in Mexico from racing ongolden trail years and years
ago, so it'd be fun to seeAbraham or Juan Carlos, any of
those guys, um, we'll see whowho shows up, and that should be
really fun.
(25:13):
And I think Pikes Peak isprobably about as good of a
training run as you could havefor something like that around
here.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
So, so cool.
It's perfect for the build.
Man Like Pikes Peak worksamazing for something like this.
Yeah, yeah, awesome dude.
I love to hear it.
Man, I'm so excited to followalong in this race and hear more
about it.
Like it's, I've heard amazing.
I've been to Mexico.
I've never been to like Mexicocity or down to the orizaba area
and it's definitely high on mylist like that, just culturally,
food why like everything aboutmexico is so cool?
Speaker 4 (25:41):
so I'm so jealous, I'm really excited to.
I've never been um excited togo down there and then, uh yeah,
going down to chile andargentina for the bar loche utmb
race in november.
So those are kind of the two araces this is out to the race,
um, yeah, it's all it's allabout.
I need to branch up on myspanish, and by that I mean
(26:03):
learn any spanish, um, but yeah,so that'll be kind of the the
rest of the season.
So pike's peak fits in.
This is more of a workout inthe primer, but also getting to
come back to, you know, a localrace.
That means a lot to me and thenyou know I I've only missed
means a lot to me.
And then you know I, I I'veonly missed one year since that
first year I ran it because Iwas injured, um, and it's just
(26:24):
cool to show up and you know,you know the same volunteers
from year to year and it'speople that I grew up with and
you know it's cool to to comeback and still have that
connection to that place, um, soyeah excited for it.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
Well, last question Um, you have a new resident in
the Guddison Valley.
Uh, mr Brian Whitfield.
Have you guys been able to doyou guys has he been a training
partner since he's been out here?
Um, yeah, yeah, definitely.
Yeah, yeah, so so cool.
Speaker 4 (26:49):
We were uh friends in college on the mountain sports
trail running team here atWestern Um and then he was
living in Colorado Springs forawhile.
Um, I've been here for almosteight years now, um, and he
moved back, uh in June and we'reactually he's actually working
(27:10):
at the university.
We work in the same department,so we're coworkers now.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
So, funny.
Speaker 4 (27:15):
I love that.
You know we'll.
We'll wake up early on aweekday and go drive up to CV
South and run a big loop orsomething and then come back
down, get in the office and, youknow, have a meeting or
something.
So it's really cool workingtogether and training together.
And Brian is one just a greatperson and two like probably one
(27:39):
of the most talented athletesI've ever met.
I mean, he's an incrediblerunner and just so strong and
his ceiling is so high hisability to go from like on the
couch having run in two weeks tolike world-class shape and like
a six, six.
You know 10-week block, um isis pretty singular, um, so he'll
be racing this weekend.
(27:59):
We've been doing some workoutsand some runs together, um, you
know, our training overlaps alittle bit and we'll try to do
like long runs and stuff, um,but yeah, great to have him here
and excited to keep trainingtogether and you know um, he's a
great addition.
So we've got a good little grouphere between Jacob, dewey and
(28:20):
Brian and myself the three of us, you know all good friends, all
known each other forever and wetrain together quite a bit and
so it's cool to like try to becreating a bit of a training
group here in the valley forupper level mountain runners.
I mean, there's a lot of greatpeople here, like um bosh walio.
He won gt last year.
(28:40):
Um cam smith obviously lives inthe valley, joan de leon lives
in the valley.
So we've got like some heavyhitters and it would be fun to
kind of organize a bit more oflike a, like a crew for that you
know um gunnison cowboys orsomething like that.
Yeah, something like that, yeah,yeah I've had ideas knocking
around my head about that foryears and years and years.
It'd be really cool to get alittle group together and do
(29:03):
some media stuff.
And you know, then it's toughbecause you always have the
question of, like, everyone'straining is so different and so,
like, how do you really get itto be like a group thing?
But you know, I thinkorganizing a, a run once a week
where everyone shows up,something like that, would be
really awesome.
Speaker 3 (29:18):
So so cool, so cool.
It's a cool place, dude.
I love it.
Well listen, karen, wishing youthe absolute best of luck on
race day, man.
I hope it's an amazing day foryou.
Um, definitely, um, yeah, I'mjust gonna be cheering you on
and I can't wait to learn moreabout this race, uh, in October,
and wishing you the best ofluck at that as well.
Speaker 4 (29:40):
Yeah, and wishing you the best of luck at that as
well.
Yeah, appreciate it.
Thanks so much, james, and yeah, we'll see you out there and
hopefully it's a good day and weget under 220.
That'd be really awesome.
Speaker 3 (29:46):
Absolutely, man Appreciate you.
Thank you, man Yep.
Speaker 4 (29:48):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
We'll see you next time.
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.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
They all start here and make their way towards the
clouds.
It's time.
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.
We are live.
I don't know, it's weird, areyou?
Are you not in monument anymore?
No, I moved.
I.
We're down in all like oldColorado city.
Uh yeah, just by like red rocks.
I shouldn't tell this on thepodcast, but yeah, we're, we're,
we are.
We are in Colorado Springs now.
Speaker 4 (02:15):
Cool, cool.
Um, that's awesome.
That's a great spot.
Cool trails down there, butyeah, monuments are pretty
special.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
It's a special place.
Cool stuff, dude.
How, how have you been?
You've been, uh, you gotta mixit up.
This year you did some brokenarrow, then you went and got on
the podium of grand traverselike you've been doing some some
really exciting and fun things,and now we're here talking
about pikes.
But, uh, how has the shape ofthe season gone for you so far?
Speaker 4 (02:39):
yeah, yeah, it's been good.
I am started the year.
I did a lot of like a lot ofvolume this winter.
A lot of stuff on skis and youknow, kept more running in
during the winter than Inormally do Um, which was pretty
fun.
It was a lot of uh, like twohour pill runs on the treadmill
and stuff like that.
Um, we still a little bit onthe skis and then, yeah, started
(03:03):
off I ran at GoPro and BrokenArrow and was kind of sick like
good bit of April and most ofMay.
So I really didn't have likethe best build going into Broken
Arrow, which I feel like Ialways feel that way.
It's like pretty early seasonbut those races weren't great.
Pretty early season but thoseraces weren't great.
(03:27):
But came back home and kind ofwent back to the drawing board
and had a really, since, comingback from Broken Arrow, had a
really good, pretty consistentbuild into Speed Goat, which is
really fun.
I think I was like 15th there,ran like a 5.55, which, given my
performance at Broken Arrow, Iwas pretty happy with that
(03:48):
because I just didn't have agreat race at Broken Arrow.
So I was pretty happy with that.
And then I ran Grand Traverselike two and a half weeks ago.
For those of you who don't know,that's a 40 mile race that runs
from crested butte up and overuh star pass, across the
mountains into aspen.
Um, so I live in gunnison andthat's, um, you know, kind of
(04:13):
the hometown race now and I'velived here for some of my eighth
winter and I've never done thatrace before, so it was cool to
get to do like the local race.
Um, I think it was uh willmurphy showed up.
He was like second at blackcanyon this year.
I had no idea who he was, um,so I kept trying to drop him on
(04:33):
the star pass climb and hedidn't drop and went on to win
and break the course record.
But I'm pretty happy with asecond place finish there.
Um, and yeah, I've been mixingup with some longer stuff and
excited to come back to Pike'sPeak and uh run these sons again
.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Absolutely, man, absolutely.
Let's talk about some of thelonger stuff.
I mean it's kind of neat to seeyou kind of change from, I mean,
for always.
You'd been for the last, likeyou know, several years, like it
was always a broken arrow 23 K.
Broken arrow, vk.
A lot of the shorter stuff.
Obviously still a broken arrow23k.
Broken arrow, vk.
A lot of the shorter stuff.
Obviously still race brokenarrow this year.
But going up to races likespeed goat, which is a bit you
(05:10):
know, as far as like averagewise, it's a much longer race
than something like a brokenarrow 23k.
Um, same with the grandtraverse.
That's a you know what is it a40 mile or 30 something, 40
something mile race?
Speaker 4 (05:39):
yeah, it's 40.
Of saw myself as doing longerstuff, but for a long time I
didn't really have much success,um, and so I just sort of stuck
to what I felt like I wasreally good at um.
I mean, I feel like justdeveloping and maturing as an
athlete that I've really come toenjoy the, the mastery element
(06:03):
of these longer races, wherethere's quite a bit of um,
there's quite a bit of uh likelogistics to figure out and
there are all these differentvariables that you're kind of
interfacing with and the raceitself.
A lot of it is about whereyou're going to spend your
effort and controlling forthings and problem solving.
(06:26):
And I've really enjoyed thoseraces where it's like you have
six hours to like work on peopleand you get to sort of be in
this like you know, no onemoment is this like particularly
hard thing.
It's a different kind of racingthan what I'm used to, where
it's just everything you haveredlining for two hours versus
like okay, actually I am goingto take it a little easier on
(06:47):
this climb or this descent andthere's a strategy to that Um
and then seeing that play out,um.
You know, I do think thoseraces can be a little bit more
strategic than, say, a VK, whereif you let people go off the
front, you're not going to seethem again.
Um, you know something like GT.
I think I was like ninth place,like 10 miles in and just
worked up to the field.
(07:08):
Um, and I like those kinds ofraces where you can have that
the space and the time to kindof work on people and the rate
limiter is not your like upperend speed, but more around your,
your durability and yourability to continue to fuel and
to and to move efficientlyacross terrain over a long
(07:29):
distance.
I've really enjoyed thattransition.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Interesting.
That's so cool.
I'm glad you're enjoying it.
Man, what, um, what of it likepiques your interest?
As far as like races go, isthere any races that stand out
to you, like black Canyon orsomething like that?
They're like oh, I'm doing thatnext year.
Like anything in particularthat you're, you're going to go
hit.
Speaker 4 (07:45):
Yeah, I want to go to .
I think I'm at a point withrunning where I kind of want to
go see cool places and do races.
That one I feel like maybe suitme, and and two that, um, I
kind of enjoy.
I don't really feel a hugedrive to to go run like a black
(08:06):
Canyon or something like that.
Um, we have the San Juansolstice 50 miler which runs out
of Lake city and that's a, youknow, a backyard race.
For me, it's like 40 minutesfrom the course.
Um, you know, something likethat would be really cool to do.
Um, I do want to go to OCC thisnext year year, so I have some
plans to try and qualify intothat.
I think that would be reallycool and I spent some time over
(08:30):
there last summer and justreally loved the area in the
mountains and would love tobecome more familiar with that
landscape.
Other than that, I think youknow you can live in Colorado
(09:08):
but you only have a race inCalifornia or in Europe and I
think we've got pretty coolmountains here and a pretty cool
scene here and just becauseit's not on a circuit doesn't
mean it's not a race that'sworth doing.
Um, so I, I like the UTMB stuff.
Um, I think that there's a goodtrack with that.
As far as getting exposure, um,and I think you know, given that
(09:32):
I'm kind of in this mountain 50K to 50 mile phase, I think OCC
is kind of the the pointy endof the spear and that's where
you want to go, um, so I'd loveto have that experience.
But you know, for the most part, I think I want to kind of see
and test myself at races, um,that have some history, that
(09:52):
have, you know, a connection tothe place that I live in.
Um, there's so many cool racesin Colorado Imogene pass is
another good example, that'sanother good one.
So there's, there's lots of ofraces, races like that that you
know attract a good field andare, you know, big, historic
races that are really cool andclose to home that you can have
a really meaningful experienceat.
(10:14):
And I'd include Pikes Peak inthat sort of assessment.
So, you know, it's maybe notnecessarily just like the longer
races per se.
You know, I think that thosehave been kind of cool events to
sort of explore.
Um, but more races that havesome history, that have been
around for a little while, um,that you know feel compelling,
(10:36):
where the courses are cool andthey're in a cool place and it's
not uh insane to try and getout there.
I love it.
I love it.
You have a lot of history withPikes Peak man being from the
greater.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Springs area.
I love it.
I love it.
You have a lot of history withPikes Peak man, being from the
greater Springs area.
Um, I know I've asked you thisquestion before, but I feel like
, for new audience members whomight've not listened to your
first episode, can you talkabout, like, what makes this
race so special to you?
Speaker 4 (10:58):
Yeah, so I grew up in the Pikes Peak area, Um, I, uh,
we lived in the Springs forquite a while and then moved up
to Monument, which is about 20minutes North Um, when I was
about six.
Um, so I spent like the whole,you know, my whole childhood was
in that region, Um, looking upat that mountain.
(11:20):
It was kind of uh, uh, you know, just a constant presence there
up in the clouds.
And it's this really uniquemountain for colorado where you,
you know, you start at 6 000feet and you go up to 14, and so
just the size of the terrain,the fact that it is the highest
peak, um for a very longdistance, it's very prominent,
(11:41):
um has a ton of vertical release.
It's this really cool mountainand feature, to begin with, that
really defines the city and thesurrounding area.
Um gives it a lot of itscharacter.
Um, and then it was also thefirst really competitive trail
race that I ever did.
Um, I knew, probably when I wasabout 15 or 16, that mountain
(12:05):
and trail running was reallywhat I one was was good at, and
two, what I what I wanted to do.
Um, and and this was at a timewhen it was not a very popular
thing, Um, you know it was.
It was not something peoplewere getting into at a younger
age, at least in the States.
And you know I I did a year ona cross country team here in
Gunnison at Western.
(12:26):
Um, really, you know, enjoyedthat experience, but left that
to pursue trail running.
And the Pice Peak Scent in 2019was the first real like
competitive trial race that Idid and I think I was I was 20
years old.
I was in third place until thelast, like two miles.
I think I finished like fifthor something.
Um, yeah, I was 20 years old.
I was in third place until thelast, like two miles.
I think I finished like fifthor something.
(12:47):
Um, yeah, I was fifth that year.
Um, and it was this like reallycool thing to go to this race
that on this mountain.
You know I'd known about itforever growing up to do it, to
have success there and to haveit be like the launching point
of my my mountain running career.
Um, it's always been a reallymeaningful race and it's funny,
I really haven't um runparticularly faster than that
(13:10):
first one.
Um, since I started, I think.
I think I am like a two 27 thatyear and I think, the fastest
I've ever run on the mountain,it's like two 21.
So, um, you know, would love tofinally get under two 20 this
year.
But it's this really cool placethat I've come back to year
after year and it's, you know,would love to finally get under
220 this year.
But it's this really cool placethat I've come back to year
after year and it's, you know,it's the same course, it's the
same mountain.
(13:32):
Weather and conditions can kindof vary, but for the most part
it's this benchmark and that'scertainly a race that I would
classify as being a lot lessstrategic.
Um, and you know, there's some,some races where I think you
can, you can lean on yourexperience and these other
things to kind of maybe fill insome fitness gaps.
Um, you know, if there's moretechnical terrain or there are
(13:55):
places where you know you'restrong, where you can make some
distance and you've got enoughtime to wear people down, Pikes
Peak is not that.
Pikes Peak is a total red linefrom the gun to the top, and you
have to go to a.
Really, if you're going to dowell there, it's going to be
probably one of the mostdifficult races you're on.
(14:17):
All year been pulled back twoor three percent, you're gonna
lose a bunch of time on theupper mountain, and so it's this
really like honest and brutalrace that I think demands
everything of you if you want todo well, um, which is really
cool and I love going there.
I love the, the crowd that itdraws and the field that it
(14:40):
draws and, you know, in pastyears it's been very
international and you know,people that I've known from
racing in europe are telling meit's the highest they've ever
been and they're like this is socool and, um, so yeah, it's,
it's a cool thing to be a partof, it's really emblematic of
you know the place I grew up andand it's fun to, it's fun to go
back every year and give it ashot.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
Dude, that's a beautiful answer, man.
I appreciate that.
I gotta ask you, as being beinga young gun, being a kid
growing up here and realizing ata young age do you wanted to
get into mountain running?
Who were your and this issomething I never asked you
before like, who were yourheroes at a young age in the
sport?
Like were you, did you likediscover Anton?
And we're like, yeah, that's socool.
Speaker 4 (15:22):
But like Matt Carpenter, like were you aware
of, like he was, like he wasback in the day, Okay, yeah, I
remember reading all theWikipedia articles about Matt
Carpenter and his insane AntonKuprychka blogs, which I don't
(15:46):
know if those are still upanymore, but it was all like the
crazy training that he would doaround the Springs.
Um, uh, I remember, like StevieKramer and and her, uh, her run
and it's funny she, she lives,uh in in this Valley so I see
her around occasionally and Idon't think she's any of the way
up, but, um, it was this really.
Yeah, I think you know, growingup there, like, um, Joe Gray
was also someone who I knew whenI got into running.
(16:09):
Um, you know, I just I knew whohe was from mountain running
and team USA and times on theincline and things like that and
um, it was really cool, Like Iremember that first summer that
I really pursued trail running,like he and I basically had the
same schedule and got to knowhim a bit and he was a you know,
it's really one, just anincredible athlete to look up to
(16:30):
and to like this really, youknow kind of great, great like
mentor and it's really graciouswith a lot of things.
And, yeah, I mean, ColoradoSprings is a is a great place to
.
There's definitely people I'mforgetting in this list.
The springs is a.
It's a really great place to togrow up.
If you're into mountain running, Um, cause it really there.
(16:52):
There are a lot of really,really great athletes who base
out of there.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
Yeah, it's such a special place man.
This race is so special.
I think that's like one of thethings that I just want so much
for the race in the few, in thatI just want so much for the
race in the few in the next fewyears.
It's like how do we justcontinue to build the fan base
and get the community involvedand get people excited about you
know what this race is and thetradition and the history here,
and because it's already likeone of the most iconic races on
(17:17):
the planet, um, but it's, it's.
I think the I want that zagamaslash like series and all level
people on the course cheeringwith cowbells, you know, like we
.
Speaker 4 (17:29):
That's what I want to see, oh, I'd love to see that
and you know you could.
If you could arrange to getlike, uh, have the city sponsor
it and have like free tram ridesup and, you know, like fan zone
and, you know, lowering thebarriers to access, I think that
you could maybe get more peopleout there.
Um, it's hard to replicate thatEuropean culture of mountain
(17:51):
sports and endurance sports andthe way they care about it.
It's it's just different, um,but it would be so cool to see,
you know, have that whole goldenstaircase just be lined with
people you know, grabbingchainsaws and stuff.
Like you get, uh, the greats ineurope, uh, sierra's and all
being being one of them, um, youknow, it's a it's.
(18:12):
That's a crazy atmosphere.
It'd be cool to see anythingclose to that in the states,
although I will say, like, speedgoat had a pretty good
atmosphere.
They had a free tram up to thetop, um, that big sky tram, and
so I think when you don't chargepeople to get up there, you're
gonna have more people up there,and I think that that kind of
creates a bit of that atmosphere.
(18:33):
So, if you have any sway withthe city of colorado springs,
maybe, uh, if we can get sometram rides up, we'll see.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
I'm not that influential yet.
Maybe maybe, maybe in anotheryear, but that I mean, I don't
know, maybe people on the boarduh are.
So that's something that I hopeto do in 2026.
Like, that's what I want to seeis like some sort of I have
maybe two of them, one on thegolden stairs and then one on,
like at, like bar camp, like,make bar camp, like a giant
party and just go wild.
(19:01):
That'd be awesome.
Yeah, that would be cool.
Um, all right, let's talkperformance wise and pikes
itself.
Last year you ran yourselfeighth place, ran two, 2643.
You've had some amazingfinishes at this race, like you.
You have really, like you're,very consistent on this mountain
.
What do you expect for thisyear?
Uh, I know it's always hard totell, cause it's.
You know, it's always hard totell, like, where fitness is and
(19:22):
how you feel you've beenrunning a lot of longer stuff.
So how, um, how have youtweaked, maybe tweaked in this
build, uh, for something that'sa little bit more short, um and
a little bit more high octane.
Speaker 4 (19:33):
Yeah.
So I guess the context for thiswould be I was initially signed
up to do the marathon becauseit would have fit in a lot more
with GT speed goat styletraining, and I haven't run the
marathon since it was 2021 andlike a four, four or one or
something.
So it'd be really cool to gounder four in that race.
(19:56):
It'd be really cool to go underfour in that race, um, but I am
on the team for the continentalsky running champs down at uh
Redo Volcano in um, mexico, umin like Pico de Orizaba National
Park, um, and that's like threeweeks after the ascent, um.
So I kind of made the decisionthat doing the marathon was
(20:20):
going to be, at least for me.
You know, I know some peoplewho are doing that, but I know
if I run the marathon as hard asI can, I'm going to be pretty
useless for at least two weeksand I kind of want to have a
quality build um going intoMexico, cause that's a big race,
super high altitude, umaltitude and traveling and
putting a lot into to makingthat happen.
(20:41):
And so Pike's peak this year iscertainly more of a workout, or
maybe workout to see race, if Ihad to categorize it.
So I haven't tweaked too much.
I mean I ran GT.
I think I took like three daysoff, kind of jogged back, had
like an easy like a half week oflike easy volume and then I've
(21:02):
been doing some like shorterhill repeats um, you know like
one to two minute hill repeatsuh, with like longer, like
hour-long uphill tempos um, alsokind of sprinkled in these past
like two weeks um.
So trying to get on like thespecific grade because pikes is
very, very runnable and I thinkit's easy.
(21:22):
The 14ers around here are alittle steeper and it would be
easy to get into like big hikingshape um, which I don't think
really helps you at pikes.
Um, so we'll see.
I mean had a great long runthree weeks ago, gts, 40 miles
and most of it it was above10,000 feet Um, and a lot of
(21:42):
it's above the tree line.
You're spending a couple hoursrunning above the tree line and
running pretty hard.
So you know there's a bit ofstimulus there.
Um been sleeping up high on theweekends.
You know 10, 11,000 feet when Ican Um and other than that kind
of training through this race.
So we'll see.
Like last year I was coming offSears and all and everything was
(22:04):
super fast, uphill, focused andspecific, and I ran what I
would consider a pretty averagetime for me, um.
You know, I thought if any yearI was going to have a breakout,
it was going to be last year,um, just given training.
And so this year things are alot less specific, doing more
volume and kind of longer stuff.
And, who knows, maybe that'llbe it, or I'll run the exact
(22:25):
same time and I'm just a two 20to two 25 guy, no matter what,
which is a fine time to beconsistent at Um, but I'd love
to to get under two 20.
That'd be a.
It'd be a really cool thing tobe able to do that this year.
So we'll see what happens.
It's not the goal race for theyear.
I've got, you know, two otherraces after it, so it is kind of
(22:45):
more of a workout for that racedown in Mexico, um, but yeah,
that's kind of what I've beendoing for it.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
So I love it.
I love it.
Talk about the sky running race.
Um, like, how did the app looklike?
How, how did you get selectedfor it to be on this team?
Um, talk about like, what it'sabout, cause it is like a, it's
a, it's a, it's a championship.
That's correct.
Speaker 4 (23:07):
Yeah, yeah.
So it's not the first time I'verun it.
I didn't know that Bartrell wasthe Continental Championships
that year, I think it was likeninth, but I do think it's
becoming a bit more of an event.
I know that Skyrunning hasreally tried to kind of rally
and rebuild.
(23:27):
That said, like these teams arenot super supported it's not
the same as, like you know, themountain running world champs
team that's going off next week.
It's not the same as, like youknow, the mountain running world
champs team that's going offnext week.
So it is.
I'd say it was a little bit moreof.
They were looking for people,especially with everyone's
(23:48):
schedules and seasons beingpretty filled out.
And my coach was connected withTravis Lavin, who I also know
he lives out in Reno and he'skind of been the point person
for the team.
She reached out, was like youshould consider doing this.
And then I also know he livesout in Reno and he's kind of
been the point person for theteam.
She reached out and was likeyou should consider doing this.
And then I was like, okay, sureI'll do it.
And flights down to Puebla wereonly like $500.
So it was pretty easy to pullthe trigger on that, um, so I'll
(24:11):
be going down there the secondweekend in October, um, and that
is a 40 K, so it's about'sabout 20 miles, um, and it gets
up to a little above 15 000 feet, um, two big climbs.
It's actually a very similarprofile to the pikes peak
marathon, um, so it's like alike a higher altitude pikes
(24:31):
peak with slightly less mileage,um, and a lot of like kind of
high, high altitude runningbetween these two volcanoes, um,
which should be super cool andit's part of the world and I've
never been to, so I'm excited toget down there and experience
that.
And, and it's technically a usteam, so that's uh, that's
(24:53):
pretty cool.
It's certainly not at the levelof, like, the mountain running
team, like a fully supportedkind of thing, um, but it's
still a cool opportunity and, um, you know, I've got some some
friends in Mexico from racing ongolden trail years and years
ago, so it'd be fun to seeAbraham or Juan Carlos, any of
those guys, um, we'll see whowho shows up, and that should be
really fun.
(25:13):
And I think Pikes Peak isprobably about as good of a
training run as you could havefor something like that around
here.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
So, so cool.
It's perfect for the build.
Man Like Pikes Peak worksamazing for something like this.
Yeah, yeah, awesome dude.
I love to hear it.
Man, I'm so excited to followalong in this race and hear more
about it.
Like it's, I've heard amazing.
I've been to Mexico.
I've never been to like Mexicocity or down to the orizaba area
and it's definitely high on mylist like that, just culturally,
food why like everything aboutmexico is so cool?
Speaker 4 (25:41):
so I'm so jealous, I'm really excited to.
I've never been um excited togo down there and then, uh yeah,
going down to chile andargentina for the bar loche utmb
race in november.
So those are kind of the two araces this is out to the race,
um, yeah, it's all it's allabout.
I need to branch up on myspanish, and by that I mean
(26:03):
learn any spanish, um, but yeah,so that'll be kind of the the
rest of the season.
So pike's peak fits in.
This is more of a workout inthe primer, but also getting to
come back to, you know, a localrace.
That means a lot to me and thenyou know I I've only missed
means a lot to me.
And then you know I, I I'veonly missed one year since that
first year I ran it because Iwas injured, um, and it's just
(26:24):
cool to show up and you know,you know the same volunteers
from year to year and it'speople that I grew up with and
you know it's cool to to comeback and still have that
connection to that place, um, soyeah excited for it.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
Well, last question Um, you have a new resident in
the Guddison Valley.
Uh, mr Brian Whitfield.
Have you guys been able to doyou guys has he been a training
partner since he's been out here?
Um, yeah, yeah, definitely.
Yeah, yeah, so so cool.
Speaker 4 (26:49):
We were uh friends in college on the mountain sports
trail running team here atWestern Um and then he was
living in Colorado Springs forawhile.
Um, I've been here for almosteight years now, um, and he
moved back, uh in June and we'reactually he's actually working
(27:10):
at the university.
We work in the same department,so we're coworkers now.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
So, funny.
Speaker 4 (27:15):
I love that.
You know we'll.
We'll wake up early on aweekday and go drive up to CV
South and run a big loop orsomething and then come back
down, get in the office and, youknow, have a meeting or
something.
So it's really cool workingtogether and training together.
And Brian is one just a greatperson and two like probably one
(27:39):
of the most talented athletesI've ever met.
I mean, he's an incrediblerunner and just so strong and
his ceiling is so high hisability to go from like on the
couch having run in two weeks tolike world-class shape and like
a six, six.
You know 10-week block, um isis pretty singular, um, so he'll
be racing this weekend.
(27:59):
We've been doing some workoutsand some runs together, um, you
know, our training overlaps alittle bit and we'll try to do
like long runs and stuff, um,but yeah, great to have him here
and excited to keep trainingtogether and you know um, he's a
great addition.
So we've got a good little grouphere between Jacob, dewey and
(28:20):
Brian and myself the three of us, you know all good friends, all
known each other forever and wetrain together quite a bit and
so it's cool to like try to becreating a bit of a training
group here in the valley forupper level mountain runners.
I mean, there's a lot of greatpeople here, like um bosh walio.
He won gt last year.
(28:40):
Um cam smith obviously lives inthe valley, joan de leon lives
in the valley.
So we've got like some heavyhitters and it would be fun to
kind of organize a bit more oflike a, like a crew for that you
know um gunnison cowboys orsomething like that.
Yeah, something like that, yeah,yeah I've had ideas knocking
around my head about that foryears and years and years.
It'd be really cool to get alittle group together and do
(29:03):
some media stuff.
And you know, then it's toughbecause you always have the
question of, like, everyone'straining is so different and so,
like, how do you really get itto be like a group thing?
But you know, I thinkorganizing a, a run once a week
where everyone shows up,something like that, would be
really awesome.
Speaker 3 (29:18):
So so cool, so cool.
It's a cool place, dude.
I love it.
Well listen, karen, wishing youthe absolute best of luck on
race day, man.
I hope it's an amazing day foryou.
Um, definitely, um, yeah, I'mjust gonna be cheering you on
and I can't wait to learn moreabout this race, uh, in October,
and wishing you the best ofluck at that as well.
Speaker 4 (29:40):
Yeah, and wishing you the best of luck at that as
well.
Yeah, appreciate it.
Thanks so much, james, and yeah, we'll see you out there and
hopefully it's a good day and weget under 220.
That'd be really awesome.
Speaker 3 (29:46):
Absolutely, man Appreciate you.
Thank you, man Yep.
Speaker 4 (29:48):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
We'll see you next time.
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