September 23, 2025 • 24 mins
Noah Williams has been on fire this summer. Fresh off a breakthrough performance at Sierre-Zinal where he clocked an impressive 2:45:10 as the third American finisher, he's now setting his sights on something even bigger: gold at the Trail Running World Championships in Spain.
The conversation kicks off with Noah recounting his recent racing adventures, from Alaska's rugged terrain to the iconic trails of Switzerland. His Sierre-Zinal performance stands out as particularly special - finishing 27th in what many consider the most competitive mountain race globally. Noah breaks down how he managed to improve significantly from last year, particularly in maintaining energy through the runnable sections after the brutal climbs. "I think I just improved significantly in that stretch and I was actually catching runners rather than being caught," he explains, showing how his training is paying dividends at the highest level.
As we turn to the upcoming World Championships, Noah doesn't shy away from ambition. With teammates like David Sinclair, Eli Hemming, and veteran Max King (replacing the injured Ryan Becker), Team USA is bringing perhaps its strongest squad ever. "Gold is definitely the goal," Noah states confidently, while acknowledging the fierce competition from European powerhouses like France, Spain, and Italy. The discussion delves into course specifics, equipment choices (poles vs. no poles), and the unique challenges of representing American trail running on the world stage.
What comes through most clearly is Noah's passion for elevating American trail running and inspiring the next generation. "I just want to do it for that next generation and inspire some American trail runners to do the same and show them that we are the best in the world, or we can be," he shares, highlighting how this race transcends individual achievement. After Worlds, he'll transition to his winter life as a ski patroller and competitive skier, demonstrating the versatility that makes mountain athletes so impressive.
Follow along as Noah takes on the world's best in the Pyrenees! Share your support for Team USA and let us know your predictions for the World Championships.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
It's time.
Thank you, Ladies and gentlemen.
(01:00):
We are live, Noah Williams.
Welcome back to the Steep StuffPodcast.
How's it going, man?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
It's good.
Thanks for having me again,James.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
It's exciting to catch back up.
It's been probably about amonth, month and a half, since
we've chatted.
Since then you've had anamazing race at Series and All
You've had some great races atsome Cirque Series races as well
.
It seems like it's been areally fun summer for you.
Man races at some.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Cirque series races as well.
It's been.
It seems like it's been areally fun summer for you man.
Yeah, thanks, it's been great.
Um a lot of travel.
I've been um seeing mygirlfriend on the PCT as well,
which she just finished Um, sothat travel combined with um the
travel to races.
Like I went up to CirqueAlieska and had a great time in
Alaska with Steve and some ofthe LASBO folks and then some of
(01:50):
the Cirque Series folks theretoo, and yeah, tears and all
went well.
You know, little improvementsare great.
It didn't feel like a majorjump, but it's just.
You know, it was great to beback.
I feel like I paced it muchbetter this year, um, and yeah,
and then Cirque a basin justrecently was a good sort of tune
(02:12):
up and kind of in the middle ofa block of training there and
it went better than I expected.
So yeah, uh, feeling good forworlds.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Awesome man, it's good to hear you're feeling good
and what's the stoke levelright, like right now?
Are you really excited to goback and kind of get one back on
a world championship race?
Speaker 2 (02:29):
about Innsbruck to know that I think it's just sort
of worlds is much, yeah, muchbigger, especially worlds being
(02:53):
in Europe versus Thailand, Ithink will be a much different
experience and I think, yeah,the field's going to be really
dense and I'm really justexcited to get out there and see
the course.
At this point I think that'llgive me a much better sort of
feel for how it's going to beand then just excited to be in
that part of Spain, I think, youknow, just to experience that
culture and I've never been tothe Pyrenees.
So, brand new mountain range,yeah, there's definitely a lot
(03:15):
to be excited for.
Awesome man.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Are you going to stay out there for a bit after to
kind of explore, or are yougoing to head right back?
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Yeah, I'm going to my .
My girlfriend, emma, will beout there for the event for like
the whole four days and thenwe'll have you know, I race the
second day, so like we'll havesome, well, two days at the, you
know, just kind of hanging outin Confrank Jaka or Yaka, I
don't, I'm probably pronouncingthat wrong.
It's the town that like uh kindof a little bit outside of
(03:48):
confrank, that a lot of peopleare going to be staying, uh, so
we'll be able to sort of do ourown thing around there for the
last few days and then we'll goto the beach near Barcelona for
two days afterwards for a littlevacation.
It's nice to go, it's nice totreat it as, uh, you know, a big
race but also a vacation inspain.
So that's how I'm trying tolook at it I love it, man, I
(04:10):
love it.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
What's, um, I'm trying to think of, like, what I
want to get into specificallyfor this, if we want to do world
or talk series and all.
Because, like I was talkingit's funny I was chatting with
michelino yesterday and we weretalking about the team in
general and one of the things hebrought up and I was like man,
I do have to talk to him aboutthis was like serious at all.
I mean, you ran lights out.
245.
10 is an insane time for in thetop 30s you were 27th place or
something like that.
Third American.
(04:32):
I mean you have to be veryproud of that.
Like that is like an absolute,like killer performance man,
like yeah, that's that's, that'sgonna be, it's hard to top.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
I mean it's gonna be.
It's hard to top.
I mean it's amazing.
Well, thank you, yeah, Iappreciate that.
I feel like I, yeah, I stillhave.
I definitely feel like there'smore to do there.
Um, I taste it better, but I'mstill.
I still feel like I'm far fromnailing it.
The the climb honestly didn'tfeel that good.
I.
I was, I think.
I looked at my splits.
I was slightly ahead of lastyear at Ponchette, which is sort
of like the main steep part, um, and then it was funny, I was,
(05:12):
but I really wasn't that far.
I was almost exactly what,really wasn't that different?
Um, I was very similar atPonchette and at Chandelin
splits, wise, um, and then Ijust rolled the last section
much better.
So I think I probably improvedslightly on the climb.
But the main improvement waslike that climb call it the
(05:33):
equivalent of last year didn'ttake that as much out of me for
the runnable section towards theend, because there's a really
like once it starts to pitchdown before the, the drop into
zanol, um, there's a long, veryrunnable stretch and I think I
just improved significantly inthat stretch and I was also
(05:53):
actually catching runners ratherthan either just kind of being
in no man's land or like beingcaught more often.
So it felt mentally much betterand also it was the most
expensive 10 seconds of my lifeso far.
Uh, the, the, the two, 45,marco, you know, uh, if you go
under two 50, you get 200 Franks, and if you go to under two 45,
(06:16):
you get 400.
So I missed 200 Franks by 10seconds, but hey, stian missed
it by three.
So yeah, no, it was cool tofinish right behind Stian and
you know, got to tell him youknow, good to see you back and
it's always great seeing him.
You know his like.
(06:37):
He's such a nice bright lightin the sport, I feel like.
And obviously, yeah, we're allglad to have him back.
So, yeah, it was a good.
Last year I was staying with thetrail team up in Kranz Montana
and it was logistically a lotnicer just coming as an
individual this year to stay inZinal and then I got to do a
(07:02):
pretty short but still fun runup towards the Zinal Glacier the
next day with my buddy Jasonand yeah, so I got to like see
the valley a little bit morebecause you know, when you're in
Zanali you're just like man,there's got to be so much out
here and even just that valleythere's so many cool trails and
(07:27):
options and glaciers.
I mean it's stunning to bethere and one of these years
I'll have to stay a littlelonger afterwards.
But the other problem with thatis Switzerland's expensive.
So yeah, I decided to hop overto Chamonix for a few days with
Dan Kurtz and Remy Leroux andthat was really, really fun to
(07:48):
see, just to see Cham for thefirst time I'd never been, and
gets me psyched for potentiallya UTMB race next year.
So nice.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Do you think you'll go back to series and all next
year?
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Yeah, I think I will, and then I think I'll do OCC.
Um, yeah, because I got thatqualifier through Labarado, it's
CCC, so I can just transfer the, the entry, to OCC, I guess
Nice, nice Is what I've beentold.
I'm uh pretty new to the UTMBstuff, to be honest.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
And they seem to change it all the time too.
So hopefully, hopefully, itdoesn't change.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
And it's all right to go read the rules again.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Yeah, what, um, all right off question related to
series and all.
Do you, did you just feel like,did you change anything in your
training specifically for thisrace?
Going around like into it uh,as far as feeling more
comfortable on that climb andbeing able to transition off
that into the, into the rollersand into the descent and just
not feeling as wrecked, wouldyou just equate it to just being
(08:46):
fitter all around, like what doyou?
What do you think about that?
Speaker 2 (08:49):
I think, yeah, I think, ladder, I think being
fitter all around.
I think I definitely was lessspecific this year for Sears and
all because, um, one, yeah,pretty much after the broken
arrow, laberinto, double, it was, uh, training wise, the focus
shifted to training for, youknow, a 45 K with 12,000 feet,
(09:10):
which is what worlds will be.
So, yeah, um, less specificdidn't do so?
Yeah, I wasn't.
Yeah, I, last year I had somevery specific Sears and all you
know, the classic Killian likeflat, flat, rut or steep
climbing, flat running, steepclimbing, flat running type
thing.
Uh, I did a couple of those thatwere back and forth and, yeah,
(09:33):
I think, just overall I'mstronger and like felt like I
could run faster after thatclimb, because I think the climb
just didn't take it out of meas much, which was funny,
because I think, yeah, it feltworse, like the climb.
Actually I was worried, I wasbehind splits and I was just
(09:54):
thinking like I kind of had amental low a little before
Ponchette, thinking, man, I'mjust not on it this year, even
though I was actually slightlyahead of splits, and then things
turned around and I startedactually feeling good.
Then, once you're passingpeople, I think that changes the
mentality, so, um.
(10:14):
So by the end I was kind oflike man I could, can we make
this race a little longer?
Like can I catch a few moreguys?
Uh, so yeah, I, I think, um,yeah, it's just such a fun race,
cause it's probably going tofeel, yeah, I don't know when
I'm going to nail it, I don'tknow if I ever will, I don't.
Yeah, I mean, I I do feel likeI could go under 240 in that
(10:35):
race, though If I truly, I thinkthat would feel like nailing it
.
I guess On, I know, I meanSarah's and all is one of those
races it gives you the sense ofthe yeah, it's, it's the truly
most competitive race in thesport.
And so I'm definitely like Iknow where I stand in terms of I
(10:59):
will probably never win searsand all like that is sort of out
of the question.
But I think a sub 240, top 20,top, maybe top 15 on a certain
year, like that could be.
Yeah, that that would be uh,nailing it for me, I guess
that's confidence building time,man.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
I mean that's insane.
That's amongst the best in theworld, which is kind of cool
yeah thanks, it definitely givesme confidence going into this
weekend Sorry next weekend.
Yeah, let's talk about that.
Let's get into next weekend andget into the world's
conversation.
I think it's common knowledge.
Now it's a big time bummer.
Ryan becker's not going to becompeting with you guys this
(11:35):
year, yeah, due to injury.
So max king I know I feel so badfor ryan, uh, but max king is
going to be taking his place.
Max, you know, while we shiftkind of gears with one guy out,
one guy in.
Max also has a ton ofexperience, um, having been on
numerous worlds teams, includinghe was with you, I think.
Yeah, he was with you guys inchiang mai as well.
(11:56):
Yeah, with that leadership andthat dynamic, do you think
that's going to help you guysimmensely?
Um, you know, kind of pulltogether as a team when it comes
to I don't know just kind ofthe team formatting and things
like that yeah, I think it's.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
It's great having experience like max coming in.
Um, yeah, I mean, he's justlike a really good person and,
um, I think what's great aboutmax is he can be at a big event
like that and then we can talkabout, you know, skiing or like
we don't have to, like he, he'snot.
Some folks just nerd up, nerdout about running the whole time
(12:32):
with each other and that's fine, I'm getting, we're all gonna
have, we're gonna do that.
We're all running nerds aboutrunning the whole time with each
other and that's fine, we'reall going to do that.
We're all running nerds, trailrunning nerds for the most part.
But I think it's nice to have,yeah, folks who are just really
comfortable with that kind ofevent and that kind of pressure
and not letting it affect themtoo much.
Yeah, he definitely is the kindof guy that leads by example
(12:56):
and, yeah, it'll be exciting tosee him.
I think, yeah, we're the onlytwo returning from the Chiang
Mai team, so it'll be fun toreminisce about Chiang Mai.
And, yeah, I like Max, he'sawesome, I definitely.
But on the other hand, yeah,it's definitely.
I'm super bummed for Ryan, Ithink.
(13:16):
Yeah, I mean, speed goat wasawesome and I guess maybe I
don't know exactly know whathappened, but I think it sounds
like that might've pushed himover the edge, and um Taurus
posted um, yeah, and I mean thepost-tip is so brutal, like um,
but I've clearly he's tried ashard as he could.
I mean he was biking a ton andum, yeah, I'm sure it'll come
(13:39):
around one of these years.
Uh, ryan, it's not, it's notthe end.
Um, of course, and uh, I'mexcited to see what he does in
the future.
Um, but yeah, he definitelydeserved that spot and um, it's,
it's the right decision for theteam.
So it's a hard decision to make, though, and I respect, I
respect his uh, you knowmaturity there.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
So yeah, with the team you guys are rolling up
with.
I mean, this is amongst theteams.
This team's pretty deep.
It's hard to put expectationson things and I don't think it's
very fair to put expectationson you guys like that.
But but at the same time, it'sit's I don't want to say the
dream team, but it's prettylegit.
Like this is the the eurosshould be, should be terrified
at this point with who we'rerolling in with.
(14:19):
Um, obviously it's a littlenationalist to say that, but I
still you know I love my guys onmy team, you know, um, what do
you?
What's your expectation forthis?
How do you feel going into thisrace?
I?
Speaker 2 (14:30):
mean, yeah, I think it's fine to set those
expectations on us.
I think we're, yeah, we arecoming in just off the numbers.
I mean you could probably dosome statistical analysis on
ITRA or UTMB scores and yeah, weall sort of we certainly all
(14:51):
belong in the top 20.
I think I'm, my reach goalsI've been saying this for a
while is top 10, and if I'm top10 and two or three of those of
my teammates are ahead of me, weI mean there's no reason we
can't win gold.
So, yeah, I think gold isdefinitely the, the, um, the
goal.
I mean to we.
(15:12):
I don't feel like I felt thisway in Thailand, necessarily, I
think I didn't.
I also just didn't have as muchcontext that I didn't know the
Euro competition as well as I donow.
But knowing the Eurocompetition, I mean they're,
they're.
You know France is bringing acrazy team, uh, spain, um, italy
(15:32):
, they're always in there, um.
But I think, now that I know afew of those athletes on those
teams, now I think I know thatcertainly, you know, david and
Eli are going to be right upthere in the front group and I
think, um, if a few of the uh,you know, a few of us are
trailing a little bit back andstill in sort of top 10 striking
(15:57):
distance, I think, um, yeah, Idon't see why we can't visualize
it.
I have to.
You know, I want to see thecourse and it's like I could
visualize it happening atSierras and all right, but it's
not.
It's like it's going to takefive hours, you know, maybe even
(16:20):
five and a half, six.
It's kind of that's where I'dhave to.
So there's like a lot ofexcitement around the people in
the race, not just the, the us,but the other strong teams, and
and then I just can't picturewhere we're all going to be
right now.
But, um, but I do, I've heard,I think they were thinking just
(16:41):
under five hours for the topguys, but to me, like for 12 000
feet of climbing and descending, I mean, I, it's hard to
imagine that, running that thatquickly.
I guess we're at lowerelevation too, so I'm kind of
used to like suffering at youknow, 4,000 meters.
But um, yeah, uh, I, that'sfast, that's a really fast, like
(17:03):
12,000 feet, um, and maybe thatis how the course is.
Um, I'm excited, I'm roomingwith Michelino, so, and he's
been out there for a couple ofweeks, so definitely.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
That's a delight.
There you go.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
Yeah, very excited.
I was happy to see the roommatelist and, yeah, so excited to
hear from him about the courseand he already has given us a
lot of info over text.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
So yeah, yeah, it's interesting, I in, I mean just
from talking to him and hearingwhat he had to say about it like
very runnable, uh climbs, a lotof technical descending.
I think the runnable climbspecifically translate for
American men to do very like forAmericans in general, you know
from the runnable climbing, Ithink, to do pretty well.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Um we tend to, we tend to pitter patter and we
don't have poles.
That's our, that's the Americansort of uh trope in in
international trail, I feel like, and but I I do think that some
of us are going to be usingpoles.
I personally won't be.
I haven't been training withthem and I've been doing pretty
like very steep climbing leadingup to this or you know, during
(18:11):
this block, and I just feel likeI'd rather put my hands on my
knees and just hike super hardand and I think if it gets rocky
and technical it's sort of adisadvantage to have poles.
So, um, but I know we can likepick them up at certain spots
and drop them off.
I think too.
Anyway, these logistical thingsI have, you know, we'll, we'll
(18:32):
figure it out in a couple ofdays here.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
Cool, cool, all right .
Last question Um, if it's theday you guys want out there,
it's the day we're hoping youguys have what would that mean
to you to not just representteam USA, like you have already,
but also win a medal for teamUSA?
Speaker 2 (18:48):
I mean, yeah, it would mean a lot.
I, I just, I just think, um,there are so many runners, uh,
that have the potential for thisto be on this team in the
future and are waiting in thewings, so to speak.
I mean just thinking about thebroken arrow race being the main
(19:09):
qualifier.
Like you know, there arethere's just so many guys that
were not very far behind me atBroken Arrow in that top 10, top
20, that all of them, you know,a couple percentage points
difference in certain factors.
Just, you know they could havebeen in there and so, um, yeah,
I just want to do it for thatnext generation and, you know,
(19:33):
inspire some, some runners tosome American trail runners to
to do the same and to show themthat we are the best in the
world, or, you know, we can beit.
I think it used, it's alwaysbeen, we've always been the, you
know, I don't know the, what dothey call it?
Speaker 1 (19:51):
The ugly stepchild or the little, you could say,
little brother, you could sayyeah.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
I feel like there's always just this uh, no, I, I
mean, the Europeans areperfectly nice, they're just
they.
They do dominate and they havedominated for a while.
And yeah, and I think Worlds iscool too, because I'm probably
overlooking teams outside ofEurope as well, so I think it's
(20:19):
exciting.
Definitely nothing's guaranteed, but I think, yeah, I'm going
in trying to represent Americantrail running as best we can.
I mean, I think the flag hasall kinds of other meanings and
connotations right now and it'skind of complicated politically.
But I think what's cool aboutsport is that it can ride above
some of that political BS forlack of a better term and and,
(20:44):
uh, and sort of just rep, youknow, uh, represent, you know, I
.
I think we can sort of separatethe current political state
from and and just be patrioticin general, um, and and.
We can find common ground there.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
So yeah, it's a it is .
It's a beautiful opportunityfor fans of of the sport to come
together.
I think that's the best way toright yeah, and I, yeah, and I'm
really excited.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
It's awesome to hear that free trial is going to be
there.
That'll be great coverage andjust also, just yeah, it brings
more eyes to it, to Worldsversus UTMB, for example, and
yeah, I think Worlds is it'syeah, it's a bit more of an even
(21:29):
playing field.
I feel like I love it.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
Um, so I love it.
What's next for you?
Are you, uh, after you takeyour, after you have a little
vacation, are you going totransition, I guess, to skis
pretty soon in the next fewmonths, right?
Speaker 2 (21:41):
Yeah, yeah, we've been getting snow on the peaks
here in uh in Colorado andthat's getting me very excited
for skiing.
That it's uh, get the dusting.
I mean obviously it melts in aday or two, but but yeah, I'm uh
man.
I mean I've been thinking aboutskiing since July so I'm like,
yeah, I I think I may have saidit I'm more of a skier than a
runner.
So, yeah, I definitely focusedmore on this.
(22:04):
I I considered a something inOctober, maybe the end of
October it would be.
I would sign up last minuteprobably, and it would probably
be if the snow seems to be, youknow, uh, holding off Um.
But yeah, I start my ski patrolseason in November, so, um, and
then I'll be gearing up towards, uh, the Nash nationals slash
(22:28):
world cup uh at powder um is inearly december.
So not really, I'm definitelygoing to be taking I think I'd
rather just take octobercompletely, almost completely
off from structure training.
I think it's a good time in theyear for me uh leading in, and
I really do need to build upsome energy for ski patrol.
It is not not a job to be takenlightly physically, even for
(22:52):
someone like me.
Like I need to be well restedand ready to go and contribute
to my team.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
So it's amazing.
Noah, I wish you the absolutebest of luck, man.
I hope you have a day out thereand I hope uh, I hope you guys
bring it home for team USA.
Either way, we're cheering foryou.
And a safe travels out man Allright.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
Appreciate you, james , yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
Thanks, buddy, thank you.
It's time.
Thank you, Ladies and gentlemen.
(01:00):
We are live, Noah Williams.
Welcome back to the Steep StuffPodcast.
How's it going, man?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
It's good.
Thanks for having me again,James.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
It's exciting to catch back up.
It's been probably about amonth, month and a half, since
we've chatted.
Since then you've had anamazing race at Series and All
You've had some great races atsome Cirque Series races as well
.
It seems like it's been areally fun summer for you.
Man races at some.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Cirque series races as well.
It's been.
It seems like it's been areally fun summer for you man.
Yeah, thanks, it's been great.
Um a lot of travel.
I've been um seeing mygirlfriend on the PCT as well,
which she just finished Um, sothat travel combined with um the
travel to races.
Like I went up to CirqueAlieska and had a great time in
Alaska with Steve and some ofthe LASBO folks and then some of
(01:50):
the Cirque Series folks theretoo, and yeah, tears and all
went well.
You know, little improvementsare great.
It didn't feel like a majorjump, but it's just.
You know, it was great to beback.
I feel like I paced it muchbetter this year, um, and yeah,
and then Cirque a basin justrecently was a good sort of tune
(02:12):
up and kind of in the middle ofa block of training there and
it went better than I expected.
So yeah, uh, feeling good forworlds.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Awesome man, it's good to hear you're feeling good
and what's the stoke levelright, like right now?
Are you really excited to goback and kind of get one back on
a world championship race?
Speaker 2 (02:29):
about Innsbruck to know that I think it's just sort
of worlds is much, yeah, muchbigger, especially worlds being
(02:53):
in Europe versus Thailand, Ithink will be a much different
experience and I think, yeah,the field's going to be really
dense and I'm really justexcited to get out there and see
the course.
At this point I think that'llgive me a much better sort of
feel for how it's going to beand then just excited to be in
that part of Spain, I think, youknow, just to experience that
culture and I've never been tothe Pyrenees.
So, brand new mountain range,yeah, there's definitely a lot
(03:15):
to be excited for.
Awesome man.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Are you going to stay out there for a bit after to
kind of explore, or are yougoing to head right back?
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Yeah, I'm going to my .
My girlfriend, emma, will beout there for the event for like
the whole four days and thenwe'll have you know, I race the
second day, so like we'll havesome, well, two days at the, you
know, just kind of hanging outin Confrank Jaka or Yaka, I
don't, I'm probably pronouncingthat wrong.
It's the town that like uh kindof a little bit outside of
(03:48):
confrank, that a lot of peopleare going to be staying, uh, so
we'll be able to sort of do ourown thing around there for the
last few days and then we'll goto the beach near Barcelona for
two days afterwards for a littlevacation.
It's nice to go, it's nice totreat it as, uh, you know, a big
race but also a vacation inspain.
So that's how I'm trying tolook at it I love it, man, I
(04:10):
love it.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
What's, um, I'm trying to think of, like, what I
want to get into specificallyfor this, if we want to do world
or talk series and all.
Because, like I was talkingit's funny I was chatting with
michelino yesterday and we weretalking about the team in
general and one of the things hebrought up and I was like man,
I do have to talk to him aboutthis was like serious at all.
I mean, you ran lights out.
245.
10 is an insane time for in thetop 30s you were 27th place or
something like that.
Third American.
(04:32):
I mean you have to be veryproud of that.
Like that is like an absolute,like killer performance man,
like yeah, that's that's, that'sgonna be, it's hard to top.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
I mean it's gonna be.
It's hard to top.
I mean it's amazing.
Well, thank you, yeah, Iappreciate that.
I feel like I, yeah, I stillhave.
I definitely feel like there'smore to do there.
Um, I taste it better, but I'mstill.
I still feel like I'm far fromnailing it.
The the climb honestly didn'tfeel that good.
I.
I was, I think.
I looked at my splits.
I was slightly ahead of lastyear at Ponchette, which is sort
of like the main steep part, um, and then it was funny, I was,
(05:12):
but I really wasn't that far.
I was almost exactly what,really wasn't that different?
Um, I was very similar atPonchette and at Chandelin
splits, wise, um, and then Ijust rolled the last section
much better.
So I think I probably improvedslightly on the climb.
But the main improvement waslike that climb call it the
(05:33):
equivalent of last year didn'ttake that as much out of me for
the runnable section towards theend, because there's a really
like once it starts to pitchdown before the, the drop into
zanol, um, there's a long, veryrunnable stretch and I think I
just improved significantly inthat stretch and I was also
(05:53):
actually catching runners ratherthan either just kind of being
in no man's land or like beingcaught more often.
So it felt mentally much betterand also it was the most
expensive 10 seconds of my lifeso far.
Uh, the, the, the two, 45,marco, you know, uh, if you go
under two 50, you get 200 Franks, and if you go to under two 45,
(06:16):
you get 400.
So I missed 200 Franks by 10seconds, but hey, stian missed
it by three.
So yeah, no, it was cool tofinish right behind Stian and
you know, got to tell him youknow, good to see you back and
it's always great seeing him.
You know his like.
(06:37):
He's such a nice bright lightin the sport, I feel like.
And obviously, yeah, we're allglad to have him back.
So, yeah, it was a good.
Last year I was staying with thetrail team up in Kranz Montana
and it was logistically a lotnicer just coming as an
individual this year to stay inZinal and then I got to do a
(07:02):
pretty short but still fun runup towards the Zinal Glacier the
next day with my buddy Jasonand yeah, so I got to like see
the valley a little bit morebecause you know, when you're in
Zanali you're just like man,there's got to be so much out
here and even just that valleythere's so many cool trails and
(07:27):
options and glaciers.
I mean it's stunning to bethere and one of these years
I'll have to stay a littlelonger afterwards.
But the other problem with thatis Switzerland's expensive.
So yeah, I decided to hop overto Chamonix for a few days with
Dan Kurtz and Remy Leroux andthat was really, really fun to
(07:48):
see, just to see Cham for thefirst time I'd never been, and
gets me psyched for potentiallya UTMB race next year.
So nice.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Do you think you'll go back to series and all next
year?
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Yeah, I think I will, and then I think I'll do OCC.
Um, yeah, because I got thatqualifier through Labarado, it's
CCC, so I can just transfer the, the entry, to OCC, I guess
Nice, nice Is what I've beentold.
I'm uh pretty new to the UTMBstuff, to be honest.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
And they seem to change it all the time too.
So hopefully, hopefully, itdoesn't change.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
And it's all right to go read the rules again.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Yeah, what, um, all right off question related to
series and all.
Do you, did you just feel like,did you change anything in your
training specifically for thisrace?
Going around like into it uh,as far as feeling more
comfortable on that climb andbeing able to transition off
that into the, into the rollersand into the descent and just
not feeling as wrecked, wouldyou just equate it to just being
(08:46):
fitter all around, like what doyou?
What do you think about that?
Speaker 2 (08:49):
I think, yeah, I think, ladder, I think being
fitter all around.
I think I definitely was lessspecific this year for Sears and
all because, um, one, yeah,pretty much after the broken
arrow, laberinto, double, it was, uh, training wise, the focus
shifted to training for, youknow, a 45 K with 12,000 feet,
(09:10):
which is what worlds will be.
So, yeah, um, less specificdidn't do so?
Yeah, I wasn't.
Yeah, I, last year I had somevery specific Sears and all you
know, the classic Killian likeflat, flat, rut or steep
climbing, flat running, steepclimbing, flat running type
thing.
Uh, I did a couple of those thatwere back and forth and, yeah,
(09:33):
I think, just overall I'mstronger and like felt like I
could run faster after thatclimb, because I think the climb
just didn't take it out of meas much, which was funny,
because I think, yeah, it feltworse, like the climb.
Actually I was worried, I wasbehind splits and I was just
(09:54):
thinking like I kind of had amental low a little before
Ponchette, thinking, man, I'mjust not on it this year, even
though I was actually slightlyahead of splits, and then things
turned around and I startedactually feeling good.
Then, once you're passingpeople, I think that changes the
mentality, so, um.
(10:14):
So by the end I was kind oflike man I could, can we make
this race a little longer?
Like can I catch a few moreguys?
Uh, so yeah, I, I think, um,yeah, it's just such a fun race,
cause it's probably going tofeel, yeah, I don't know when
I'm going to nail it, I don'tknow if I ever will, I don't.
Yeah, I mean, I I do feel likeI could go under 240 in that
(10:35):
race, though If I truly, I thinkthat would feel like nailing it
.
I guess On, I know, I meanSarah's and all is one of those
races it gives you the sense ofthe yeah, it's, it's the truly
most competitive race in thesport.
And so I'm definitely like Iknow where I stand in terms of I
(10:59):
will probably never win searsand all like that is sort of out
of the question.
But I think a sub 240, top 20,top, maybe top 15 on a certain
year, like that could be.
Yeah, that that would be uh,nailing it for me, I guess
that's confidence building time,man.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
I mean that's insane.
That's amongst the best in theworld, which is kind of cool
yeah thanks, it definitely givesme confidence going into this
weekend Sorry next weekend.
Yeah, let's talk about that.
Let's get into next weekend andget into the world's
conversation.
I think it's common knowledge.
Now it's a big time bummer.
Ryan becker's not going to becompeting with you guys this
(11:35):
year, yeah, due to injury.
So max king I know I feel so badfor ryan, uh, but max king is
going to be taking his place.
Max, you know, while we shiftkind of gears with one guy out,
one guy in.
Max also has a ton ofexperience, um, having been on
numerous worlds teams, includinghe was with you, I think.
Yeah, he was with you guys inchiang mai as well.
(11:56):
Yeah, with that leadership andthat dynamic, do you think
that's going to help you guysimmensely?
Um, you know, kind of pulltogether as a team when it comes
to I don't know just kind ofthe team formatting and things
like that yeah, I think it's.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
It's great having experience like max coming in.
Um, yeah, I mean, he's justlike a really good person and,
um, I think what's great aboutmax is he can be at a big event
like that and then we can talkabout, you know, skiing or like
we don't have to, like he, he'snot.
Some folks just nerd up, nerdout about running the whole time
(12:32):
with each other and that's fine, I'm getting, we're all gonna
have, we're gonna do that.
We're all running nerds aboutrunning the whole time with each
other and that's fine, we'reall going to do that.
We're all running nerds, trailrunning nerds for the most part.
But I think it's nice to have,yeah, folks who are just really
comfortable with that kind ofevent and that kind of pressure
and not letting it affect themtoo much.
Yeah, he definitely is the kindof guy that leads by example
(12:56):
and, yeah, it'll be exciting tosee him.
I think, yeah, we're the onlytwo returning from the Chiang
Mai team, so it'll be fun toreminisce about Chiang Mai.
And, yeah, I like Max, he'sawesome, I definitely.
But on the other hand, yeah,it's definitely.
I'm super bummed for Ryan, Ithink.
(13:16):
Yeah, I mean, speed goat wasawesome and I guess maybe I
don't know exactly know whathappened, but I think it sounds
like that might've pushed himover the edge, and um Taurus
posted um, yeah, and I mean thepost-tip is so brutal, like um,
but I've clearly he's tried ashard as he could.
I mean he was biking a ton andum, yeah, I'm sure it'll come
(13:39):
around one of these years.
Uh, ryan, it's not, it's notthe end.
Um, of course, and uh, I'mexcited to see what he does in
the future.
Um, but yeah, he definitelydeserved that spot and um, it's,
it's the right decision for theteam.
So it's a hard decision to make, though, and I respect, I
respect his uh, you knowmaturity there.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
So yeah, with the team you guys are rolling up
with.
I mean, this is amongst theteams.
This team's pretty deep.
It's hard to put expectationson things and I don't think it's
very fair to put expectationson you guys like that.
But but at the same time, it'sit's I don't want to say the
dream team, but it's prettylegit.
Like this is the the eurosshould be, should be terrified
at this point with who we'rerolling in with.
(14:19):
Um, obviously it's a littlenationalist to say that, but I
still you know I love my guys onmy team, you know, um, what do
you?
What's your expectation forthis?
How do you feel going into thisrace?
I?
Speaker 2 (14:30):
mean, yeah, I think it's fine to set those
expectations on us.
I think we're, yeah, we arecoming in just off the numbers.
I mean you could probably dosome statistical analysis on
ITRA or UTMB scores and yeah, weall sort of we certainly all
(14:51):
belong in the top 20.
I think I'm, my reach goalsI've been saying this for a
while is top 10, and if I'm top10 and two or three of those of
my teammates are ahead of me, weI mean there's no reason we
can't win gold.
So, yeah, I think gold isdefinitely the, the, um, the
goal.
I mean to we.
(15:12):
I don't feel like I felt thisway in Thailand, necessarily, I
think I didn't.
I also just didn't have as muchcontext that I didn't know the
Euro competition as well as I donow.
But knowing the Eurocompetition, I mean they're,
they're.
You know France is bringing acrazy team, uh, spain, um, italy
(15:32):
, they're always in there, um.
But I think, now that I know afew of those athletes on those
teams, now I think I know thatcertainly, you know, david and
Eli are going to be right upthere in the front group and I
think, um, if a few of the uh,you know, a few of us are
trailing a little bit back andstill in sort of top 10 striking
(15:57):
distance, I think, um, yeah, Idon't see why we can't visualize
it.
I have to.
You know, I want to see thecourse and it's like I could
visualize it happening atSierras and all right, but it's
not.
It's like it's going to takefive hours, you know, maybe even
(16:20):
five and a half, six.
It's kind of that's where I'dhave to.
So there's like a lot ofexcitement around the people in
the race, not just the, the us,but the other strong teams, and
and then I just can't picturewhere we're all going to be
right now.
But, um, but I do, I've heard,I think they were thinking just
(16:41):
under five hours for the topguys, but to me, like for 12 000
feet of climbing and descending, I mean, I, it's hard to
imagine that, running that thatquickly.
I guess we're at lowerelevation too, so I'm kind of
used to like suffering at youknow, 4,000 meters.
But um, yeah, uh, I, that'sfast, that's a really fast, like
(17:03):
12,000 feet, um, and maybe thatis how the course is.
Um, I'm excited, I'm roomingwith Michelino, so, and he's
been out there for a couple ofweeks, so definitely.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
That's a delight.
There you go.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
Yeah, very excited.
I was happy to see the roommatelist and, yeah, so excited to
hear from him about the courseand he already has given us a
lot of info over text.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
So yeah, yeah, it's interesting, I in, I mean just
from talking to him and hearingwhat he had to say about it like
very runnable, uh climbs, a lotof technical descending.
I think the runnable climbspecifically translate for
American men to do very like forAmericans in general, you know
from the runnable climbing, Ithink, to do pretty well.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Um we tend to, we tend to pitter patter and we
don't have poles.
That's our, that's the Americansort of uh trope in in
international trail, I feel like, and but I I do think that some
of us are going to be usingpoles.
I personally won't be.
I haven't been training withthem and I've been doing pretty
like very steep climbing leadingup to this or you know, during
(18:11):
this block, and I just feel likeI'd rather put my hands on my
knees and just hike super hardand and I think if it gets rocky
and technical it's sort of adisadvantage to have poles.
So, um, but I know we can likepick them up at certain spots
and drop them off.
I think too.
Anyway, these logistical thingsI have, you know, we'll, we'll
(18:32):
figure it out in a couple ofdays here.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
Cool, cool, all right .
Last question Um, if it's theday you guys want out there,
it's the day we're hoping youguys have what would that mean
to you to not just representteam USA, like you have already,
but also win a medal for teamUSA?
Speaker 2 (18:48):
I mean, yeah, it would mean a lot.
I, I just, I just think, um,there are so many runners, uh,
that have the potential for thisto be on this team in the
future and are waiting in thewings, so to speak.
I mean just thinking about thebroken arrow race being the main
(19:09):
qualifier.
Like you know, there arethere's just so many guys that
were not very far behind me atBroken Arrow in that top 10, top
20, that all of them, you know,a couple percentage points
difference in certain factors.
Just, you know they could havebeen in there and so, um, yeah,
I just want to do it for thatnext generation and, you know,
(19:33):
inspire some, some runners tosome American trail runners to
to do the same and to show themthat we are the best in the
world, or, you know, we can beit.
I think it used, it's alwaysbeen, we've always been the, you
know, I don't know the, what dothey call it?
Speaker 1 (19:51):
The ugly stepchild or the little, you could say,
little brother, you could sayyeah.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
I feel like there's always just this uh, no, I, I
mean, the Europeans areperfectly nice, they're just
they.
They do dominate and they havedominated for a while.
And yeah, and I think Worlds iscool too, because I'm probably
overlooking teams outside ofEurope as well, so I think it's
(20:19):
exciting.
Definitely nothing's guaranteed, but I think, yeah, I'm going
in trying to represent Americantrail running as best we can.
I mean, I think the flag hasall kinds of other meanings and
connotations right now and it'skind of complicated politically.
But I think what's cool aboutsport is that it can ride above
some of that political BS forlack of a better term and and,
(20:44):
uh, and sort of just rep, youknow, uh, represent, you know, I
.
I think we can sort of separatethe current political state
from and and just be patrioticin general, um, and and.
We can find common ground there.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
So yeah, it's a it is .
It's a beautiful opportunityfor fans of of the sport to come
together.
I think that's the best way toright yeah, and I, yeah, and I'm
really excited.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
It's awesome to hear that free trial is going to be
there.
That'll be great coverage andjust also, just yeah, it brings
more eyes to it, to Worldsversus UTMB, for example, and
yeah, I think Worlds is it'syeah, it's a bit more of an even
(21:29):
playing field.
I feel like I love it.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
Um, so I love it.
What's next for you?
Are you, uh, after you takeyour, after you have a little
vacation, are you going totransition, I guess, to skis
pretty soon in the next fewmonths, right?
Speaker 2 (21:41):
Yeah, yeah, we've been getting snow on the peaks
here in uh in Colorado andthat's getting me very excited
for skiing.
That it's uh, get the dusting.
I mean obviously it melts in aday or two, but but yeah, I'm uh
man.
I mean I've been thinking aboutskiing since July so I'm like,
yeah, I I think I may have saidit I'm more of a skier than a
runner.
So, yeah, I definitely focusedmore on this.
(22:04):
I I considered a something inOctober, maybe the end of
October it would be.
I would sign up last minuteprobably, and it would probably
be if the snow seems to be, youknow, uh, holding off Um.
But yeah, I start my ski patrolseason in November, so, um, and
then I'll be gearing up towards, uh, the Nash nationals slash
(22:28):
world cup uh at powder um is inearly december.
So not really, I'm definitelygoing to be taking I think I'd
rather just take octobercompletely, almost completely
off from structure training.
I think it's a good time in theyear for me uh leading in, and
I really do need to build upsome energy for ski patrol.
It is not not a job to be takenlightly physically, even for
(22:52):
someone like me.
Like I need to be well restedand ready to go and contribute
to my team.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
So it's amazing.
Noah, I wish you the absolutebest of luck, man.
I hope you have a day out thereand I hope uh, I hope you guys
bring it home for team USA.
Either way, we're cheering foryou.
And a safe travels out man Allright.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
Appreciate you, james , yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
Thanks, buddy, thank you.
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