Contributors

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Host

James Lauriello

Host of the Steep Stuff Podcast, Professional Mountain Runner - La Sportiva & Sidas 


Originally a flat lander from South Florida, I didn’t discover “the mountains”, until my senior year of undergrad in 2013; when I ventured out to the San Juan, Mountains in Southern Colorado on a field camp course to finish my degree in geology. 

The Colorado high peaks left a lasting impression on me, and it wasn’t long after that, I found myself a Colorado resident trying to combine my passion for running with the thrills and adventure of playing in the mountains. The mountains are natures greatest arena, and I’ve been fortunate enough to live in a place where I can test myself year after year. They provide the ultimate motivation as a place to seek growth both personally and athletically.

Guests

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Guest

Abby Bennett

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Guest

Allie (McLaughlin) Avatar

Allie McLaughlin is an American female mountain runner, world champion at the World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships. McLaughlin was gold medal with the national team at senior level at the 2017 World Mountain Running Championships. In 2020 McLaughlin won the US Trail marathon championships

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Christian Allen

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Grayson Murphy

Grayson Murphy is an American mountain, road, and track runner. Representing the United States, she is a two-time world champion in mountain running, as well as a five-time US national champion in mountain running and one-time US national champion in the vertical kilometer.

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Guest

Joseph Gray

Joseph Gray (born January 20, 1984) is an American world champion runner who competes mostly in trail, mountain and snowshoe races. He won the World Mountain Running Championships in 2016. He is the first Black American to not only make the Team USA World Mountain Running Team, but also the first Black American to win the USA National Mountain Running Championships and the World Mountain Running Championships.

Gray was voted the greatest male mountain runner of all time by a poll conducted by the World Mountain Running Association.


Guest appearance on:

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Makena Morley

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Mason Coppi

’m Mason Coppi.

I was born and raised in Southern California, went to school in South Carolina, started my trail running career in Central New York, and currently live and train in Lakewood, Colorado. Having bounced around so many different places, I don’t fit neatly into the traditional West Coast Best Coast or Beast Coast mindsets. Really, I like to think of myself as America’s Sweetheart, feeling tied to a wide range of trail types and trail communities across the U.S.

Both as a coach and an athlete, my goals are to push the boundaries of the sport, all while promoting fun and life balance! I approach training both scientifically and passionately. I love experimenting with new training methodologies and love just getting out and enjoying the mountains.

Outside of running, my interests include baking bread, cycling, dancing, karaoke, magical realism novels, illustration, and moka pot coffee.

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Michelino Sunseri

Michelino Sunseri is an ultrarunner from Kings Beach, California. Sunseri has been a professional ultramarathoner since 2018. Michelino famously set the Grand Teton FKT in September of 2024. 

https://www.michelinosunseri.com/
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Noah Williams

Growing up in Norwich, VT I have always been adventuring in the mountains on skis and on foot. Now living in Leadville, CO those interests have transferred to ski mountaineering and trail running. I am motivated by the beauty and solitude that the mountains and canyons of the American West can offer. Keep exploring; it's human!

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Sydney Petersen