July 24, 2025 • 20 mins
Meet Scott Klingonsmith, a rising star in the mountain running scene who's ready to take on one of America's most challenging ultramarathons. At just 20 years old, this Utah-based athlete brings fresh energy and strategic thinking to the grueling Speed Goat 50K.
Scott shares his fascinating journey from dabbling in ultras to deliberately focusing on shorter trail races to build speed, and now returning to test himself against the punishing 11,000 feet of elevation gain at Speed Goat. What sets Scott apart is his methodical preparation – he's been exploring the course's notorious rocky back section that has "ruined a lot of people's races," working closely with his Hoka coach Emily Schmitz to build the specific strength needed for Speed Goat's relentless terrain.
The conversation dives deep into Scott's race strategy and nutrition plan, revealing the thoughtful approach of an athlete wise beyond his years. Rather than relying on conventional gels, Scott has dialed in a liquid nutrition strategy delivering 90 grams of carbohydrates per hour, carried in a combination of waist-mounted and handheld bottles. His racing approach balances competitive ambition with practical wisdom, as he plans to maintain contact with the lead group while recognizing when to make strategic moves on the course's long descents.
Coming off an impressive top-20 finish at the US Mountain Running Championships at Sunapee, Scott represents the exciting next generation of mountain runners from the Wasatch. As host James Lariello notes, Speed Goat has historically launched the careers of Utah-based trail stars like Hayden Hawks and Christian Allen – could Scott be next? Join us for this illuminating conversation that captures both the technical preparation and the infectious enthusiasm of trail running's rising talent.
Follow Scott on IG - @scotty_ksmitty
Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello
Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
What's up, fam?
Welcome back to the steep stuffpodcast.
I'm your host, james Lariello,bringing you a pre speed goat
50k interview, this time with MrScott Klingon Smith, young gun
from the Wasatch.
Big fan of Scott's, I got firstgot to meet him last year at
Cirque Series Alta where he'shad some great finishes as a
bunch of the Cirque Series racesand the Wasatch and on top of
(00:21):
that this past yearott has uhgot himself a top 20 finish at
the us mountain runningchampionship, um at the sunupy
scramble.
Um, really fun to catch up withscott.
Talk to him about why he's soexcited about the speed goat
race, um why, uh you knowbasically his whys.
Get to know, you know hisinterests, what he wants to do
with this race, um and just howhe plans to assert himself into
(00:43):
the race from early on and uhhow he thinks he's going to have
some success.
So I hope you guys enjoy thisone.
I always love giving themicrophone to the young guns.
You guys know me with this.
So, yeah, it's going to be afun one.
Buckle up, here we go, scottKlingon Smith, it's time.
(01:13):
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.
(01:59):
We are live.
No-transcript.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Yeah, for sure yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
So before we get started, maybe give me, give me
the five minute elevator pitchfor the audience on, uh, who
Scotty is.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Alrighty.
Well, um, yeah, I'm.
I'm 20 years old, I live inUtah right now.
Um, and my focus right now isjust a lot of, a lot of sub
ultra events.
But I decided to get back,excuse me, get back into the
ultra scene and dip my toes backinto the 50 K distance and so,
(03:04):
uh, that's what I'm going to bedoing this weekend at speed go
50 K.
So pretty stoked about it.
And, uh, I've had a really goodtraining block leading up to it
and had a great coach kind ofshowing me the ropes.
So, yeah, I'm super stoked forthis weekend.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
Oh, that's exciting, man.
Now you've run um.
You've run a couple of distance, like you've over 50 K.
You've run a 55 K from what Isaw in ultra sign up and you ran
a 50 miler as well.
Are those the only two that Ithat I saw?
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Yeah, yeah, those are the only two I did.
Yeah, that 55 K about two yearsago and then the 50 miler just
like two months after that.
So I was kind of, when I wasfirst getting into trail running
, thinking, okay, maybe I'lljust go right into the ultra
scene.
But then after those, like Ienjoyed them, but I kind of
wanted to, you know, use myspeed in the shorter stuff.
(03:50):
So that's when I kind of wentinto the sub ultra, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Yeah, I mean it's kind of like these types of
races, like specifically likespeed go it's.
I mean it's advertised as 50 Kbut it runs like a 50 mile just
because it's such a long raceRight Like I think if I remember
right after looking at your 50mile time it was like six hours
and change or something likethat Like you flew uh through
that race.
So that'll be probably closerto like what your speed go in
(04:14):
range, like with a you know 50 Krace with like 11,000 feet of
climbing.
So it'll be similar to that,which is kind of crazy to think.
Uh, I noticed on Strava you'vebeen getting on the course a
little bit.
You've been exploring, I meanyou kind of you live in Provo so
you know the course is notnecessarily right in your
backyard but it's not far away.
You're able to kind of get onup there and kind of train in
the Valley.
Um, what have you thought ofthe course so far?
(04:37):
I know you've run some of theuh Cirque series races as well,
kind of on that course andaround that course.
So it's probably just kind oflike second nature to you, right
?
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Yeah, yeah, I think, um, I think I maybe have like a
little bit of an advantage goinginto speed go, just cause, yeah
, I've run some of the Cirqueseries that are on parts of the
course go up to some of thepeaks and, yeah, I did a long
run, I think it was like threeweeks ago, four weeks ago.
Um, that takes that, took me onlike the back loop that dips
(05:06):
down into AF Canyon and thengoes back up and, um, yeah, if I
was running on the right trailswhich I'm pretty sure I was
that that are going to be on thecourse, um, yeah, some of them
are pretty, pretty rocky soit'll definitely be kind of a
chunky section on the back half,but, um, I think, having run it
(05:27):
and knowing what to expect, I'mfeeling pretty prepared, so I
think it should be good.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
I think that's really smart of you.
It's actually a note that I hadmade.
Like I kind of stalked yourStrava before going into this
conversation and saw that youkind of specifically ran that
backend.
And I know just from talking toothers that have run the.
I've actually personally neverrun the court like did run the
entirety of the course.
I've been on sections of it atlike Cirque series races, but
one of the things I've heardfrom people is that the backend
kind of has given peopleproblems before.
(05:51):
So to kind of see that um onthe other side, and I think
that's probably pretty smart toat least know what you're
getting into.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Yeah, yeah, cause um, one of my buddies, he um, yeah,
I was talking to him.
I was like, hey, cause I?
He, yeah, I was talking to him.
I was like hey, because I'mpretty sure he had run Speedgo a
couple of years back and he was.
I was talking about the course,just asking for some tips.
And he's like, yeah, thislittle back loop can be pretty
rocky and kind of ruin a lot ofpeople's races.
(06:17):
And so, yeah, he sent over thiscourse GPX for me to download
on my watch.
And he's like you should getthis running before, before you
race.
And so, yeah, that's what I did.
And, um, yeah, so it'lldefinitely be gnarly that last,
that last little loop, but, um,it should be good.
So.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
I'm excited for you to take a stab at this race Like
.
You texted me months and monthsago and you're like, dude, I'm
thinking about doing the 50 K.
I was like, oh, that's a roughrace, dude.
I was like, go win the 28k orgo podium at the 28k and then
use that one like to like, buildup your career and continue to
go.
And you're like, nope, I thinkI'm going to do the 50k.
I'm proud of you for going todo it, man.
I think that there's you knowthere's a lot of opportunity
(07:00):
there.
Um, you know, to have a goodrace yourself at Sunapee a few
months ago.
I'm sure the confidence fromSunapee probably shows that you
can hang with some of the bestin the country.
Would you agree with that?
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Yeah, I mean, I think still being so young, you know,
there's definitely parts of methat are like, okay, I could
probably stick with a goodmajority of some of the top guys
, but maybe those very, very topguys, you know, maybe it might
be a little bit more difficult,but I was looking at Davidson
(07:35):
Claire's Speed Goat courserecord, I think two years ago
(07:57):
no-transcript.
So based off my training, Ithink I have a pretty good shot
at, um, yeah, sticking with thetop guys in this race and just
putting myself out there for apretty good performance.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
I think it's a smart way to go.
What, um, what's your strategy?
Are you going to obviously goout with elite pack?
Are you going to kind of justkeep them in sight, or are you
going to assert yourself intothe race right away?
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Yeah, I don't think I'll assert myself into the race
right away, but I think I wantto be hanging around probably
the top 10 group of guys, um,because I know the first, pretty
much the first 10 miles are allclimbing um, and then you get
like this five, six mile descent, um, and so I think, knowing
that I'm a pretty good descender, I I'll probably try and make
some moves there.
(08:44):
And then, yeah, just see whatmy legs have going back up
towards snowbird on that loop.
So, yeah, I think I'll justkind of play a conservative test
out the water, see what thefield is like on the first 10
mile climb and then just kind ofgo from there.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Nice, nice, climb and then just kind of go from there
, nice, nice, what um have yougot any like?
I know, christian you know, orfriends with, have you got any
like feedback from him on how torun the race or like any, any
tips and tricks, um?
Or have you talked to othersbesides your friend that like
have run the race before um,maybe at the front of the race,
that can give you, you know,some insight on like you know
how to, how to have beenprepared and just kind of you
(09:22):
know tips and tricks for raceday?
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Yeah, yeah, actually, I did DM um Christian about it,
cause I knew he had run the 50K and so I asked him a few
months back or I think maybe itwas right after I signed up.
I was like, what are some ofyou know the go-to tips and
tricks for speed?
Go, cause I know it's one ofthe gnarliest 50 Ks in the U S.
And he was like, really youjust have to prepare your legs
(09:48):
for just a bunch of up and downbecause it's just relentless,
it's.
You do a big climb, littledescent, big climb, big descent.
You know just all all these upsand downs.
And so, yeah, he just told meto train a lot of vert and just,
yeah, go to a peak, go down, goto another peak, go down.
So that's kind of what I gotfrom him.
(10:10):
And, um, yeah, I've beentalking to my coach about it too
and she's had me on a reallygood training plan.
Um, that I feel has built mylegs to be pretty suited for
this race.
So, yeah, I feel reallyprepared and I'm really excited.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
Yeah, dude, your workouts have looked good too.
Man, I saw you on the track acouple of days ago like doing
your thing and like that workoutI mean just like some of the
workouts that you've done likeyou kept the.
You know, obviously the speedis in your legs, so that's not
the issue.
It's just a matter of just, Iguess, having the durability.
How has it been working with acoach?
Is that kind of rolled overfrom like college where
(10:45):
obviously in college you know,like you work with a coach, you
do that whole thing?
Is this just more of acontinuation of that or like
what are your thoughts so farbeing coached?
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Yeah, yeah, I mean I, I love my coach.
Yeah, emily Schmitz, yeah,she's a runner for Hoka, she is
just awesome.
She, yeah, she really listensto my concerns whenever I have
something come up with with mybody or if I have like a little
injury here or there.
Um, but yeah, it's just helpedme a lot to be more structured
(11:15):
with my training, whereas when Ididn't have a coach I was just
kind of going out and justrunning kind of without a plan,
and I mean as as much fun asthat was kind of just being able
to have that freedom and dowhatever I want, it's a lot
nicer to um know that, like,like, I'm gaining a lot more
fitness gains from having acoach and a structured training
(11:38):
plan.
So, yeah, I'd much rather havea coach than not have a coach
looking back.
So, yeah, it's really nice tohave her.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
Oh, it helps a ton.
Um, let's talk, let's talk.
Nutrition for race day Likewhat do you've been, I'm sure,
especially for like a six orseven hour five somewhere, I
guess what five to seven hourrace?
Like what have you been doingfor nutrition to prepare
yourself?
Like, uh, lots of gels, liquidcalories.
Like what are you?
Speaker 2 (12:04):
doing for for that?
Yeah, it's funny Cause I, I'vebeen trying to get myself to
like gels and I've used them inthe past for races, but it's not
necessarily a taste thing, it'sjust a texture, and I just, I,
I just hate gels, and so I'vebeen resorting to liquid
calories and liquid carbs.
Um, so I've been doingtailwinds like 90 grams of carbs
(12:25):
, like their drink mix thing,and so I've been able to stomach
90 grams of carbs an hour, likepretty comfortably.
So that's probably what I'mgoing to do.
Well, that is what I'm going todo on race day, as well as um,
yeah, as well as I think I havelike one one 90 gram precision
fuel gel pack thing that I'llprobably sip on.
(12:46):
So that's my plan regardingnutrition.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
I got to ask this about the tail one just because
it always drives me crazy inthese long races.
When you got to, like, bringthe packets with you, rip the
top off, put it in the thing,are you going to have, like
bottles already ready to go thatyou can just grab at aid
stations?
Or like, are you going to playthat game where you get the pack
?
Speaker 2 (13:07):
you got to rip it off , you got to do like what's the
plan there?
this is why, right, it drives mecrazy.
Yeah, no, I get that.
Um, yeah, I mean, my planactually is to carry um, all, I
think, because I have my bottlesnext to me.
I think I'll be carrying fivewith me, five, five, five, five
500 milliliters water bottlesand, um, they're all just gonna
come with.
(13:27):
Yeah, they're all going to beall ready to go.
I'll mix stuff with the stuffand I'm just going to be having
three in my belt and then two inmy hands, cause I've been doing
a lot of running with, like,flasks in my hands and it
doesn't bother me and it makesit so I don't forget to actually
take my carbs.
So that's what I'm going to bedoing and, um, yeah, so I won't
(13:50):
have anything that I'll need topick up from aid stations.
I can just kind of run throughunless I need to stop for
something.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
So yeah, wow, that answers my next question.
So no, vest, we're going, we'regoing belts, there's a lot of,
there's some like required gearfor this race.
Do you like have that alreadyfigured out, like with the belt
as well?
Or like, what are you, what areyou going to go in through
there?
Speaker 2 (14:25):
I'm good to go out on the on the race course, but,
yeah, it would be very nice if Icould just fit everything into
my belt, because I have beenpracticing, uh, running with a
vest and it works well for me,but it just feels like it slows
me down, which I don't like, andso just having a belt makes me
feel a lot lighter and quicker.
But, yeah, I'll have to checkthat gear list to make sure that
I have all the all the gearneeded I'm totally just fucking
(14:46):
with you, dude like I honestlyjust wanted to see your face
like I, so the only requiredgear is a is a phone and like a
car.
Okay, so I just I just wanted tosee yeah I was getting nervous
for a second.
I was like, oh man, do I haveto bring like a heated blanket
or something like what's goingon here, or pants?
Speaker 1 (15:03):
or some shit like that.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
You're totally fine um, at least that's what I read.
I think it's I got it over here.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
It's phone, uh, collapsible cup and then a water
supply of a liter, which Ithink you've checked.
All those boxes, um, what kindof belt do you use that could
fit three giant bottles in thereand like not bounce or like
fall apart?
Like are you using the raidbelt?
Like what are you?
What are you rocking?
Speaker 2 (15:25):
No, it's just one of those naked belts.
Um, it can fit all three of mySolomon 500 milliliter flasks.
So, yeah, it's been reallycomfortable and, um, yeah, I
think it should work pretty well.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Nice, nice, you checked the weather for race day
.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Is it supposed to be pretty toasty or?
Um did check the weather.
I just looked up the weatherfor snowbird and last time I
checked, which was a couple daysago, so it might have changed,
I have no idea, but last time Ichecked, I think, it said the
high was like 71 and partlycloudy, so it shouldn't be too
toasty.
But obviously, going being outthere for that long with the sun
shining down, you're gonna feela lot hotter than just you know
(16:04):
71 degrees outside.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
So yeah, you get cooked in the canyon man, like I
can remember like, uh, I thinkit was cirque series out.
That was the last time I wasout there and yeah, it was it
gets.
It gets toasty, like even earlyin the morning.
It gets toasty with it's earlyin the morning.
It gets toasty with it's likeit's a little bit of humidity,
but like as soon as the sun hitsyou it's like Ooh, yeah, so
that's going to be, that'll befun.
Are you excited?
Are you pumped for this one?
This is a big deal.
(16:26):
This is like a next step inyour career, or is it all
business for you?
Speaker 2 (16:33):
I mean I don't know.
I think I'm more excited justbecause I know there's going to
be like five to ten just reallystrong runners in this race.
So I think I'm more justexcited to see if I can hang
(16:54):
with them, see if I can putmyself out there and see what
type of result that can draw.
Um, but yeah, I mean obviouslyI've been thinking to myself
about this a lot, whether I wantto try and go for, you know,
fast time or just play strategicand just kind of sit behind the
leaders until I can make a pass.
But yeah, I think I'm just kindof going in this with an open
mind and just going to enjoy itand just enjoy running in in the
(17:17):
beautiful UNS.
So it's going to be fun.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
Oh for sure, for sure , dude.
Um, one thing I want to get onbefore I let you go is uh, um,
sunapee, you had a great top 20performance.
There.
Are you?
Are you confident coming offthat Like?
Were you?
Were you excited, like, withthat result?
Like, um, obviously there was alot of unknowns.
You know, going into a racelike that, it's super stacked.
There's tons of people that arevying for those top positions.
Like, what was your?
(17:41):
You know, how did you come backfrom that?
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Yeah, I mean, um, yeah, my, my goal actually going
into the race, um was to gettop 20, just cause I knew there
were going to be tons of justreally, really just good runners
, um.
And so, yeah, yeah, coming awaywith 19th, I was pretty stoked
about it and, um, yeah, Ifinished right behind one of my
(18:05):
friends who, um coached me for ahot sec last year when I went
to the youth world running orthe youth sky running world
champs, and so it was fun torace against him.
And then then, yeah, after that, place behind, yeah, some of
the best U S trail runners.
So, yeah, I was really excitedabout that and I think, yeah, a
(18:26):
lot of confidence um has beendrawn from that as well, just
because, um, I know, if I justkeep going with this momentum at
such a young age, that I canmake big, big gains throughout,
you know, mid twenties.
So, yeah, no, it's a, it's anexciting time for me, yeah no
for sure.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
I just find it really cool, cause you know Hayden
Hawks, like his first big racethat he won with speed goat,
christian Allen his first bigrace that he won with speed goat
.
So like we're just waiting forthat next, like Wasatch guy to
come out and go, I guess Utahguy to come out and I guess when
speed goat and you know kind ofstart their career and I feel
(19:06):
like you know it's gotta be youHawk call like somebody has got
to go do it.
So it's going to be exciting tosee like where things take you.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
So yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1 (19:13):
Yeah, awesome, buddy.
Well, wish you the best of luck.
Um, get after it, have a greatrace day, have a safe race, have
a fun one and, uh, hopefullywe'll be chatting afterwards,
sweet man.
Yeah, I appreciate it.
No problem, scott, awesome man.
Listen up, guys.
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What's up, fam?
Welcome back to the steep stuffpodcast.
I'm your host, james Lariello,bringing you a pre speed goat
50k interview, this time with MrScott Klingon Smith, young gun
from the Wasatch.
Big fan of Scott's, I got firstgot to meet him last year at
Cirque Series Alta where he'shad some great finishes as a
bunch of the Cirque Series racesand the Wasatch and on top of
(00:21):
that this past yearott has uhgot himself a top 20 finish at
the us mountain runningchampionship, um at the sunupy
scramble.
Um, really fun to catch up withscott.
Talk to him about why he's soexcited about the speed goat
race, um why, uh you knowbasically his whys.
Get to know, you know hisinterests, what he wants to do
with this race, um and just howhe plans to assert himself into
(00:43):
the race from early on and uhhow he thinks he's going to have
some success.
So I hope you guys enjoy thisone.
I always love giving themicrophone to the young guns.
You guys know me with this.
So, yeah, it's going to be afun one.
Buckle up, here we go, scottKlingon Smith, it's time.
(01:13):
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.
(01:59):
We are live.
No-transcript.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Yeah, for sure yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
So before we get started, maybe give me, give me
the five minute elevator pitchfor the audience on, uh, who
Scotty is.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Alrighty.
Well, um, yeah, I'm.
I'm 20 years old, I live inUtah right now.
Um, and my focus right now isjust a lot of, a lot of sub
ultra events.
But I decided to get back,excuse me, get back into the
ultra scene and dip my toes backinto the 50 K distance and so,
(03:04):
uh, that's what I'm going to bedoing this weekend at speed go
50 K.
So pretty stoked about it.
And, uh, I've had a really goodtraining block leading up to it
and had a great coach kind ofshowing me the ropes.
So, yeah, I'm super stoked forthis weekend.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
Oh, that's exciting, man.
Now you've run um.
You've run a couple of distance, like you've over 50 K.
You've run a 55 K from what Isaw in ultra sign up and you ran
a 50 miler as well.
Are those the only two that Ithat I saw?
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Yeah, yeah, those are the only two I did.
Yeah, that 55 K about two yearsago and then the 50 miler just
like two months after that.
So I was kind of, when I wasfirst getting into trail running
, thinking, okay, maybe I'lljust go right into the ultra
scene.
But then after those, like Ienjoyed them, but I kind of
wanted to, you know, use myspeed in the shorter stuff.
(03:50):
So that's when I kind of wentinto the sub ultra, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Yeah, I mean it's kind of like these types of
races, like specifically likespeed go it's.
I mean it's advertised as 50 Kbut it runs like a 50 mile just
because it's such a long raceRight Like I think if I remember
right after looking at your 50mile time it was like six hours
and change or something likethat Like you flew uh through
that race.
So that'll be probably closerto like what your speed go in
(04:14):
range, like with a you know 50 Krace with like 11,000 feet of
climbing.
So it'll be similar to that,which is kind of crazy to think.
Uh, I noticed on Strava you'vebeen getting on the course a
little bit.
You've been exploring, I meanyou kind of you live in Provo so
you know the course is notnecessarily right in your
backyard but it's not far away.
You're able to kind of get onup there and kind of train in
the Valley.
Um, what have you thought ofthe course so far?
(04:37):
I know you've run some of theuh Cirque series races as well,
kind of on that course andaround that course.
So it's probably just kind oflike second nature to you, right
?
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Yeah, yeah, I think, um, I think I maybe have like a
little bit of an advantage goinginto speed go, just cause, yeah
, I've run some of the Cirqueseries that are on parts of the
course go up to some of thepeaks and, yeah, I did a long
run, I think it was like threeweeks ago, four weeks ago.
Um, that takes that, took me onlike the back loop that dips
(05:06):
down into AF Canyon and thengoes back up and, um, yeah, if I
was running on the right trailswhich I'm pretty sure I was
that that are going to be on thecourse, um, yeah, some of them
are pretty, pretty rocky soit'll definitely be kind of a
chunky section on the back half,but, um, I think, having run it
(05:27):
and knowing what to expect, I'mfeeling pretty prepared, so I
think it should be good.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
I think that's really smart of you.
It's actually a note that I hadmade.
Like I kind of stalked yourStrava before going into this
conversation and saw that youkind of specifically ran that
backend.
And I know just from talking toothers that have run the.
I've actually personally neverrun the court like did run the
entirety of the course.
I've been on sections of it atlike Cirque series races, but
one of the things I've heardfrom people is that the backend
kind of has given peopleproblems before.
(05:51):
So to kind of see that um onthe other side, and I think
that's probably pretty smart toat least know what you're
getting into.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Yeah, yeah, cause um, one of my buddies, he um, yeah,
I was talking to him.
I was like, hey, cause I?
He, yeah, I was talking to him.
I was like hey, because I'mpretty sure he had run Speedgo a
couple of years back and he was.
I was talking about the course,just asking for some tips.
And he's like, yeah, thislittle back loop can be pretty
rocky and kind of ruin a lot ofpeople's races.
(06:17):
And so, yeah, he sent over thiscourse GPX for me to download
on my watch.
And he's like you should getthis running before, before you
race.
And so, yeah, that's what I did.
And, um, yeah, so it'lldefinitely be gnarly that last,
that last little loop, but, um,it should be good.
So.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
I'm excited for you to take a stab at this race Like
.
You texted me months and monthsago and you're like, dude, I'm
thinking about doing the 50 K.
I was like, oh, that's a roughrace, dude.
I was like, go win the 28k orgo podium at the 28k and then
use that one like to like, buildup your career and continue to
go.
And you're like, nope, I thinkI'm going to do the 50k.
I'm proud of you for going todo it, man.
I think that there's you knowthere's a lot of opportunity
(07:00):
there.
Um, you know, to have a goodrace yourself at Sunapee a few
months ago.
I'm sure the confidence fromSunapee probably shows that you
can hang with some of the bestin the country.
Would you agree with that?
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Yeah, I mean, I think still being so young, you know,
there's definitely parts of methat are like, okay, I could
probably stick with a goodmajority of some of the top guys
, but maybe those very, very topguys, you know, maybe it might
be a little bit more difficult,but I was looking at Davidson
(07:35):
Claire's Speed Goat courserecord, I think two years ago
(07:57):
no-transcript.
So based off my training, Ithink I have a pretty good shot
at, um, yeah, sticking with thetop guys in this race and just
putting myself out there for apretty good performance.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
I think it's a smart way to go.
What, um, what's your strategy?
Are you going to obviously goout with elite pack?
Are you going to kind of justkeep them in sight, or are you
going to assert yourself intothe race right away?
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Yeah, I don't think I'll assert myself into the race
right away, but I think I wantto be hanging around probably
the top 10 group of guys, um,because I know the first, pretty
much the first 10 miles are allclimbing um, and then you get
like this five, six mile descent, um, and so I think, knowing
that I'm a pretty good descender, I I'll probably try and make
some moves there.
(08:44):
And then, yeah, just see whatmy legs have going back up
towards snowbird on that loop.
So, yeah, I think I'll justkind of play a conservative test
out the water, see what thefield is like on the first 10
mile climb and then just kind ofgo from there.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Nice, nice, climb and then just kind of go from there
, nice, nice, what um have yougot any like?
I know, christian you know, orfriends with, have you got any
like feedback from him on how torun the race or like any, any
tips and tricks, um?
Or have you talked to othersbesides your friend that like
have run the race before um,maybe at the front of the race,
that can give you, you know,some insight on like you know
how to, how to have beenprepared and just kind of you
(09:22):
know tips and tricks for raceday?
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Yeah, yeah, actually, I did DM um Christian about it,
cause I knew he had run the 50K and so I asked him a few
months back or I think maybe itwas right after I signed up.
I was like, what are some ofyou know the go-to tips and
tricks for speed?
Go, cause I know it's one ofthe gnarliest 50 Ks in the U S.
And he was like, really youjust have to prepare your legs
(09:48):
for just a bunch of up and downbecause it's just relentless,
it's.
You do a big climb, littledescent, big climb, big descent.
You know just all all these upsand downs.
And so, yeah, he just told meto train a lot of vert and just,
yeah, go to a peak, go down, goto another peak, go down.
So that's kind of what I gotfrom him.
(10:10):
And, um, yeah, I've beentalking to my coach about it too
and she's had me on a reallygood training plan.
Um, that I feel has built mylegs to be pretty suited for
this race.
So, yeah, I feel reallyprepared and I'm really excited.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
Yeah, dude, your workouts have looked good too.
Man, I saw you on the track acouple of days ago like doing
your thing and like that workoutI mean just like some of the
workouts that you've done likeyou kept the.
You know, obviously the speedis in your legs, so that's not
the issue.
It's just a matter of just, Iguess, having the durability.
How has it been working with acoach?
Is that kind of rolled overfrom like college where
(10:45):
obviously in college you know,like you work with a coach, you
do that whole thing?
Is this just more of acontinuation of that or like
what are your thoughts so farbeing coached?
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Yeah, yeah, I mean I, I love my coach.
Yeah, emily Schmitz, yeah,she's a runner for Hoka, she is
just awesome.
She, yeah, she really listensto my concerns whenever I have
something come up with with mybody or if I have like a little
injury here or there.
Um, but yeah, it's just helpedme a lot to be more structured
(11:15):
with my training, whereas when Ididn't have a coach I was just
kind of going out and justrunning kind of without a plan,
and I mean as as much fun asthat was kind of just being able
to have that freedom and dowhatever I want, it's a lot
nicer to um know that, like,like, I'm gaining a lot more
fitness gains from having acoach and a structured training
(11:38):
plan.
So, yeah, I'd much rather havea coach than not have a coach
looking back.
So, yeah, it's really nice tohave her.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
Oh, it helps a ton.
Um, let's talk, let's talk.
Nutrition for race day Likewhat do you've been, I'm sure,
especially for like a six orseven hour five somewhere, I
guess what five to seven hourrace?
Like what have you been doingfor nutrition to prepare
yourself?
Like, uh, lots of gels, liquidcalories.
Like what are you?
Speaker 2 (12:04):
doing for for that?
Yeah, it's funny Cause I, I'vebeen trying to get myself to
like gels and I've used them inthe past for races, but it's not
necessarily a taste thing, it'sjust a texture, and I just, I,
I just hate gels, and so I'vebeen resorting to liquid
calories and liquid carbs.
Um, so I've been doingtailwinds like 90 grams of carbs
(12:25):
, like their drink mix thing,and so I've been able to stomach
90 grams of carbs an hour, likepretty comfortably.
So that's probably what I'mgoing to do.
Well, that is what I'm going todo on race day, as well as um,
yeah, as well as I think I havelike one one 90 gram precision
fuel gel pack thing that I'llprobably sip on.
(12:46):
So that's my plan regardingnutrition.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
I got to ask this about the tail one just because
it always drives me crazy inthese long races.
When you got to, like, bringthe packets with you, rip the
top off, put it in the thing,are you going to have, like
bottles already ready to go thatyou can just grab at aid
stations?
Or like, are you going to playthat game where you get the pack
?
Speaker 2 (13:07):
you got to rip it off , you got to do like what's the
plan there?
this is why, right, it drives mecrazy.
Yeah, no, I get that.
Um, yeah, I mean, my planactually is to carry um, all, I
think, because I have my bottlesnext to me.
I think I'll be carrying fivewith me, five, five, five, five
500 milliliters water bottlesand, um, they're all just gonna
come with.
(13:27):
Yeah, they're all going to beall ready to go.
I'll mix stuff with the stuffand I'm just going to be having
three in my belt and then two inmy hands, cause I've been doing
a lot of running with, like,flasks in my hands and it
doesn't bother me and it makesit so I don't forget to actually
take my carbs.
So that's what I'm going to bedoing and, um, yeah, so I won't
(13:50):
have anything that I'll need topick up from aid stations.
I can just kind of run throughunless I need to stop for
something.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
So yeah, wow, that answers my next question.
So no, vest, we're going, we'regoing belts, there's a lot of,
there's some like required gearfor this race.
Do you like have that alreadyfigured out, like with the belt
as well?
Or like, what are you, what areyou going to go in through
there?
Speaker 2 (14:25):
I'm good to go out on the on the race course, but,
yeah, it would be very nice if Icould just fit everything into
my belt, because I have beenpracticing, uh, running with a
vest and it works well for me,but it just feels like it slows
me down, which I don't like, andso just having a belt makes me
feel a lot lighter and quicker.
But, yeah, I'll have to checkthat gear list to make sure that
I have all the all the gearneeded I'm totally just fucking
(14:46):
with you, dude like I honestlyjust wanted to see your face
like I, so the only requiredgear is a is a phone and like a
car.
Okay, so I just I just wanted tosee yeah I was getting nervous
for a second.
I was like, oh man, do I haveto bring like a heated blanket
or something like what's goingon here, or pants?
Speaker 1 (15:03):
or some shit like that.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
You're totally fine um, at least that's what I read.
I think it's I got it over here.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
It's phone, uh, collapsible cup and then a water
supply of a liter, which Ithink you've checked.
All those boxes, um, what kindof belt do you use that could
fit three giant bottles in thereand like not bounce or like
fall apart?
Like are you using the raidbelt?
Like what are you?
What are you rocking?
Speaker 2 (15:25):
No, it's just one of those naked belts.
Um, it can fit all three of mySolomon 500 milliliter flasks.
So, yeah, it's been reallycomfortable and, um, yeah, I
think it should work pretty well.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Nice, nice, you checked the weather for race day
.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Is it supposed to be pretty toasty or?
Um did check the weather.
I just looked up the weatherfor snowbird and last time I
checked, which was a couple daysago, so it might have changed,
I have no idea, but last time Ichecked, I think, it said the
high was like 71 and partlycloudy, so it shouldn't be too
toasty.
But obviously, going being outthere for that long with the sun
shining down, you're gonna feela lot hotter than just you know
(16:04):
71 degrees outside.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
So yeah, you get cooked in the canyon man, like I
can remember like, uh, I thinkit was cirque series out.
That was the last time I wasout there and yeah, it was it
gets.
It gets toasty, like even earlyin the morning.
It gets toasty with it's earlyin the morning.
It gets toasty with it's likeit's a little bit of humidity,
but like as soon as the sun hitsyou it's like Ooh, yeah, so
that's going to be, that'll befun.
Are you excited?
Are you pumped for this one?
This is a big deal.
(16:26):
This is like a next step inyour career, or is it all
business for you?
Speaker 2 (16:33):
I mean I don't know.
I think I'm more excited justbecause I know there's going to
be like five to ten just reallystrong runners in this race.
So I think I'm more justexcited to see if I can hang
(16:54):
with them, see if I can putmyself out there and see what
type of result that can draw.
Um, but yeah, I mean obviouslyI've been thinking to myself
about this a lot, whether I wantto try and go for, you know,
fast time or just play strategicand just kind of sit behind the
leaders until I can make a pass.
But yeah, I think I'm just kindof going in this with an open
mind and just going to enjoy itand just enjoy running in in the
(17:17):
beautiful UNS.
So it's going to be fun.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
Oh for sure, for sure , dude.
Um, one thing I want to get onbefore I let you go is uh, um,
sunapee, you had a great top 20performance.
There.
Are you?
Are you confident coming offthat Like?
Were you?
Were you excited, like, withthat result?
Like, um, obviously there was alot of unknowns.
You know, going into a racelike that, it's super stacked.
There's tons of people that arevying for those top positions.
Like, what was your?
(17:41):
You know, how did you come backfrom that?
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Yeah, I mean, um, yeah, my, my goal actually going
into the race, um was to gettop 20, just cause I knew there
were going to be tons of justreally, really just good runners
, um.
And so, yeah, yeah, coming awaywith 19th, I was pretty stoked
about it and, um, yeah, Ifinished right behind one of my
(18:05):
friends who, um coached me for ahot sec last year when I went
to the youth world running orthe youth sky running world
champs, and so it was fun torace against him.
And then then, yeah, after that, place behind, yeah, some of
the best U S trail runners.
So, yeah, I was really excitedabout that and I think, yeah, a
(18:26):
lot of confidence um has beendrawn from that as well, just
because, um, I know, if I justkeep going with this momentum at
such a young age, that I canmake big, big gains throughout,
you know, mid twenties.
So, yeah, no, it's a, it's anexciting time for me, yeah no
for sure.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
I just find it really cool, cause you know Hayden
Hawks, like his first big racethat he won with speed goat,
christian Allen his first bigrace that he won with speed goat
.
So like we're just waiting forthat next, like Wasatch guy to
come out and go, I guess Utahguy to come out and I guess when
speed goat and you know kind ofstart their career and I feel
(19:06):
like you know it's gotta be youHawk call like somebody has got
to go do it.
So it's going to be exciting tosee like where things take you.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
So yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1 (19:13):
Yeah, awesome, buddy.
Well, wish you the best of luck.
Um, get after it, have a greatrace day, have a safe race, have
a fun one and, uh, hopefullywe'll be chatting afterwards,
sweet man.
Yeah, I appreciate it.
No problem, scott, awesome man.
Listen up, guys.
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