Send us a text

The mountains beckon, and Anna Gibson answers with a fresh approach to trail running excellence. Coming off an impressive 11th place finish at the prestigious Zagama mountain marathon in Spain, Gibson shares what it's like to race through corridors of 100,000 screaming fans while tackling 9,000 feet of elevation gain.

What makes Gibson's success particularly fascinating is her training philosophy. Unlike many elite trail runners, she thrives on remarkably low mileage—typically just 40-45 weekly running miles—supplemented with strategic cycling sessions. "If I can go for two or three-hour bike rides in a week, that's six hours of training that I could not run," she explains, revealing how this cross-training approach allows her to build tremendous aerobic capacity without breaking down her body. Even when preparing for her marathon-distance race at Zagama, she topped out at just 60 miles in her highest week ever.

Working with renowned coach David Roche has helped Gibson develop this personalized approach. Their relationship embodies mutual trust, with Roche pushing her at precisely the right moments while giving her freedom to adapt the training as needed. Gibson candidly discusses her upcoming race at Sunapee, which serves as the US selection race for the Mountain Running World Championships. At 26, despite international success, she has yet to represent the United States at Worlds—something she hopes to change by qualifying for both the Vertical Kilometer and Mountain Classic teams.

As trail running continues to professionalize, Gibson offers a glimpse into this evolution through her experience with Brooks, describing their comprehensive team approach where athletes travel together and receive extensive support at international races. She also touches on her future plans, including maintaining her track career alongside her trail endeavors, showcasing the versatility that makes her one of the sport's most exciting talents.

Tune in to hear how this rising star balances multiple disciplines, navigates international racing, and approaches the challenges of competing at the highest level in mountain running.

Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello

Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod

Use code steepstuffpod for 25% off your cart at UltimateDirection.com!

Send us a text

Sydney Petersen stands at the threshold of a defining moment in her trail running career as she prepares for the Sunapee Scramble—a race that could earn her a coveted spot on Team USA. In this candid pre-race conversation, she opens up about her journey, aspirations, and the meticulous preparation leading up to this pivotal competition.

Fresh from attending the Brooks Summit with what she describes as "the most stacked trail team in the world," Sydney offers unique insights into the professional side of trail running. Her training build has been comprehensive, mixing tempo runs and flat speed work while waiting for mountain trails to melt, then transitioning to technical terrain work as conditions improved. A recent 20-mile effort—her longest run ever—has provided a crucial confidence boost heading into race week.

Sydney's refreshing perspective on race strategy reveals the mind of an elite athlete who has learned from experience: "Every time I go into a race with a really concrete plan, it never turns out well for me." Instead, she emphasizes presence, adaptability, and responding to the flow of competition in the moment. This approach seems particularly well-suited for the unpredictable nature of the Sunapee course and its formidable field of competitors, including aggressive front-runners like Allie McLaughlin.

When asked about her preference for race day conditions, her answer speaks volumes about her mental toughness: "The poorer the conditions are and just the gnarlier it is, the better." Training in the extreme climate of Colorado's Gunnison Valley at 9,000 feet has prepared her to embrace rather than fear challenging environments.

Listen in as Sydney discusses the emotional significance of potentially making Team USA after coming close but falling short of goals throughout her running career, her equipment choices for the technical East Coast trails, and her ambitious plans for the season beyond Sunapee—including competing in both events at the ultra-competitive Broken Arrow Skyrace. Her journey represents the evolving landscape of American trail running as it continues to attract world-class talent and global attention.

Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello

Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod

Use code steepstuffpod for 25% off your cart at UltimateDirection.com!

Send us a text

From track workouts to technical mountain trails, Flannery Davis Love defies conventional categorization. The current record holder on Colorado's iconic Long's Peak joins the Steep Stuff Podcast to share her unique approach to the upcoming Sunapee Scramble US Mountain Running Championship.

Flannery takes us inside her training methodology that seamlessly blends road marathoning with mountain athleticism. Rather than abandoning speed for the trails, she recently completed a "mini speed roadblock" including her first-ever track 5K at Stanford before transitioning to more specific trail workouts. This hybrid approach has her discovering that road speed translates remarkably well to downhill trail sections, while she continues working on what she considers her weakness – pushing the pace during uphill hiking sections.

The conversation dives deep into race strategy for Sunapee's challenging two-loop course. Drawing on her experience from Cirque Series races like Snowbird, Flannery reveals her plan to use the first loop as a controlled threshold effort before truly racing the second loop. "I do better later in races... it just takes me a while to really warm up and get into something," she explains, offering valuable tactical insights for listeners approaching similar race formats.

When asked what making Team USA would mean, Flannery shares a surprisingly poignant childhood connection: "I was that kid growing up where you'd ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up and I'd say I want to play for Team USA. But I wasn't talking about running, I was talking about soccer." Her journey from soccer dreams to elite mountain running showcases how athletic aspirations evolve in unexpected and beautiful ways.

Join host James Lauriello for this candid conversation about balancing multiple racing disciplines, adapting to East Coast humidity, and the ambitious calendar ahead that includes Broken Arrow and potentially the Berlin Marathon. Whether you're crossing over between road and trail or simply fascinated by high-performance mountain athletes, Flannery's practical wisdom and refreshing honesty offer something for every runner to take to the mountains.

Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello

Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod

Use code steepstuffpod for 25% off your cart at UltimateDirection.com!