Robin Vieira Brower Pre Whiteface Skyrace Interview

A double loop can turn a mountain race into a mind game fast. We sit down with Robin Vieira Brower right as Whiteface Sky Race week kicks off to talk through what changes when you know you have to climb the same mountain twice and still have the legs to descend it. Robin shares why she’d normally rather disappear into a point-to-point style course, and how she plans to use lap one as a live course study so she can be more intentional and efficient when it’s time to go again.

We also get honest about what makes East Coast skyrunning feel uniquely brutal: steep grades, quad-crushing descents, and long stretches where “running” turns into fast hiking. Robin breaks down how she thinks about pacing that first downhill, why hiking-heavy terrain gives her a mental break from flat-speed turnover, and what it’s like to race when you might be alone for big chunks of the day. That solitude can mess with your confidence, but it can also sharpen focus if you stay present and commit to racing your own race.

On the practical side, we talk gear and prep: choosing between trusted Norda trail shoes and a more structured option for security, squeezing in a travel-day shakeout, and how much course scouting is helpful without tipping into overthinking. Robin also explains why she’s keeping nutrition steady rather than experimenting, and why a solid, controlled day matters after months of injury setbacks and life stress. If you care about skyrunning strategy, mountain running mindset, and smart comeback racing, this one’s for you. 
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Transcript

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Whiteface Sky Race Week Check-In

SPEAKER_00 0:55

Alright, Robin Vieira Brower. Welcome back to the Steep Stuff Podcast. How's it going?

SPEAKER_01 1:00

It's going well. Yeah, good to be back.

SPEAKER_00 1:02

Yeah, so so excited to catch up with you. It is Whiteface Sky Race Week. I can't believe uh we are finally here, July the 4th. Uh how are you feeling going into the race?

SPEAKER_01 1:15

I am feeling excited. I'm feeling yeah, I'm feeling I'm excited to go uphill. It's been a while since I've I've been doing a fair amount of like flatter races and some of my bigger vert races earlier in the season that I was planning, but I had to take people to the injury. Um so I'm excited to just be out there running up a mountain twice. Twice? And uh feeling feeling good. It'll be fun to this is my first first like race race on the east coast, so it'll be fun to check out some race and neutrine currently.

SPEAKER_00 1:52

So well get ready, get ready for some DOMs. I uh I raced on the East Coast last week, and I don't think I've been that sore in years. I was kind of surprised. I was like, oh my god, the uh some of the some of the grades are pretty brutal. Um I gotta ask you about the course and what your thoughts are on this because this is you've raced kind of all over the world, you've done a lot of you know very um well-known national or world skyrading, like on the world skyrading tour. Um this course is much different, it's a double loop. How does that make you feel kind of going into something like that? Because that's gonna be a bit more of a challenge, probably.

Double Loop Pacing And Psychology

SPEAKER_01 2:27

Yeah, you know, I think it's interesting mentally. I would much rather just know that once I set out on the course, I'm not gonna it's not gonna come back around to the start again, obviously. Like I love to just check out and be feeling like I'm deep in the mountains. You know, you you do you put the work in to get up high in a sky race and then to don't have to come back down until nearing the end of the race, so that's the the big reward. But this will be a mental challenge for sure to pace myself, especially on the first downhill, um, given what you just said, especially. Um, because I know that once once I hit the first downhill, I tend to just want to open up, and that's where I make up time in the past. So I'm trying to pace myself on the first lap. Also learn a little bit about the course as I'm doing the first lap so that come second lap, I can just be more mindful and like know what to expect and know when I can get to you know higher gear or whatnot. But it'll be a mental challenge, which is part of it and new for me with guide racing for sure, and about the course of other people, but I think there's also some benefits that can come from it too. Like I just said, like learning a little bit about the course in the first lap. Um, it'll also be interesting to have everyone start at the same time, so you won't really be able to. I mean, I'm sure you know bibs may be like look different and whatnot, but that always gets me when there's people starting at the same time and you don't know who's gonna who you're really competing against, like if you're not paying super close attention. So it'll be a good mental challenge. And yeah, yeah, I'm excited.

SPEAKER_00 4:07

This one's a unique one. I mean, not unique in any way, but like if the field is is because it's a holiday weekend, because of Quebec Mega Trail, it's a little bit more of a condensed field. I mean, I I I don't think it's grandiose to say you're definitely the odds on favorite for this race. And you're gonna find yourself probably alone a lot if you're not you know racing against the men, probably or in that mix with the men. Does that provide a little bit more of a different kind of mental challenge for you that you'll probably be alone a lot in this?

SPEAKER_01 4:35

It does. I love I love racing for the women. Like it's it's one of the reasons I love to go out and do what I do. Um and it's just it's so fun in a different way. So if that is the case, what you just described, it'll be another like layer of challenge, the mental challenge to this for sure. Um, I mean, there's definitely good times where in the past, like I remember when I was racing in um Ireland back in the fall, there's like super thick mist and teeny tiny little orange flags are up there, and you're just like running connecting these orange flags best you can and there's nobody around you. This will probably be different unless a bunch of clouds of mist roll roll in, you never know, but um yeah, just being mindful to race my race and my pace, um, and not feeling uneasy when I'm by myself, because that that creeps in for sure. If you don't have anyone to like pace against or there's

Racing Alone And Staying Steady

SPEAKER_01 5:34

not anybody behind you, sometimes like running or racing against other women just like start you know cheering the person on or chatting, or just there's like a camaraderie that fills even when you're competing against each other. So if that's if I'm if it's the case where I'm alone, it'll be a good mental challenge, and also just a good reminder to like settle in, enjoy where I am, enjoy the fact that I'm there, and race my race.

SPEAKER_00 5:58

Taking the taking the scenery and those 40% ski runs.

SPEAKER_01 6:03

Yeah, oof.

Hiking Heavy Course And Downhill Risk

SPEAKER_00 6:05

On that topic of pain, um this course is a unique one in the sense where once you're off the road in the first half mile, you are hiking, and you're hiking most of the course. Um not a lot of running. I can remember Dan Kurtz and Andy Wacker both telling me when they raced this race for the U.S. Mountain Running Championship a few years back. There's like no running. It's more or less like entirely hiking. How do you feel about a race? Like, does that would you feel more at home with a more of a running race because you've been doing faster stuff? Um, or do you think you'll feel right at home kind of doing some of the more hikey, uh, slower uh effort-paced running, if you will?

SPEAKER_01 6:44

If you had asked me this question a year ago, I would have said for sure, without a doubt, I feel more at home doing the more hikey, less running races. But because I've been training and like working on it, I think I've told you this before, like my my challenge will forever be just increasing like turnover speed, and I've definitely been practicing that for the past eight months, which is partially why I was injured. But um yes, so I feel excited to have the less runable sections of this course because that's where that's where like I have the most fun and I feel the most like alive, just hands on thighs, like pushing uphill. I also really appreciate a course that offers that terrain because it gets you just like a mental break from just pushing turnover speed on flats. Um and then of course I love going down stuff like that. That's my I say that now when we chat after this race. I'm probably gonna go back on that stigma just with how aggressive the downhill is. But um, yeah, I'm excited to it hiking fast uphill in a race provides a very different uh perspective to the course and to people around you and just how your body's feeling because it's a totally different type of pain and and sensation and like enjoyment, I think, than just pushing running skills the entire time. I love it. I'm looking forward to it.

SPEAKER_00 8:09

Well,

Training Shift Toward Faster Turnover

SPEAKER_00 8:10

what's the shoe of choice? Did you bring a couple different shoes with you, or do you have one that you're particularly sad on?

SPEAKER_01 8:16

Yeah, I have um I brought some Nordas with me that I usually race in and they I just love them. They make me feel fast and uh light on my feet. They also have good grip. Um and then I brought a pair of rectarics with me too that I haven't raced in yet, but I just like when I lace them up, I feel quite like stung and secure. They're not quite as like light and responsive as the Nordas are. So I was just gonna like bring both pairs and go for a little jog and see which one felt felt right.

SPEAKER_00 8:49

I like that. Yeah, if if all goes to plan, you'll be uh you'll be in New York today. Do you I I I hate like running on travel days. Do you force yourself to kind of get out for a jog when you get there, or you kind of just take the whole day off?

SPEAKER_01 9:04

I this week has been interesting for me in general. It's been like a little bit of a push to get pre-ru pre-race runs in during the week because I've been work in workshops with Boisville all week in the office. So I've been like I've been on the I'm used to and I've been on the train of like squeezing the run-in when can, sort of. So I'm just gonna continue that mindset when we get to New York. Um I'm gonna get out for a 50-minute like shake out at some strides. And then tomorrow will be like super, super mellow and pre-race day.

SPEAKER_00 9:37

Do you are you kind of person that like wants to see the course ahead of time, or are you like uh just seeing it whenever whenever you get a chance?

SPEAKER_01 9:43

It depends on it. I like I like looking at it. Um in and in in in these types of races, like just looking uphill and kind of seeing what what's to come. But I do like to get out on the course a little bit. I don't feel like you'd need to like do the entire you know course per se, but um and then I do a lot of digging. I look at a lot of YouTube videos, look at what people have done in the past and kind of posted and put out there just to get an idea for what the terrain has to offer and what's to come, and then hopefully that makes me feel as prepared as I can. Um but I think there's a balance between like over-preparing and under-preparing for sure. So I'm hoping to strike that balance a little bit.

SPEAKER_00 10:25

Second to last question. Um, if it turns out to be an

Shoes Travel Runs And Course Recon

SPEAKER_00 10:29

easier day for you given competition level, uh are you gonna like I don't like to take swings in races just because for certain things, right? Like uh Michelino always tells me, don't get cute, like don't uh don't try different nutrition, don't do anything different than you normally would. But this might be an opportunity for a bit more of a training race for you, or you know, opportunities to take swings just because if you make mistakes, it it shouldn't impact you too much in a field like this. Um is there any any plans to make any switch ups or change anything and practice something you might not be able to practice uh for like other races that might be more A-objectives?

SPEAKER_01 11:03

Yeah, for me, this is really I'm treating this race as like like I'm I'm not really paying attention to the fact I'm not looking too much too much into the competition. So I'm treating it just as like how can I show up, run my run, feel how my body feels. Like I said, I've been dealing with some injuries for the past few months, so this is kind of my first race back. Um, I plan to practice the mental side, practice the nutrition side. I'm not gonna mess any, I'm not gonna change anything up drastically with my nutrition, pre-during and post, and just use this as a great, great, great opportunity for like a really solid day out in the mountains in new terrain. Um and like hone in on the details before, during and after. Essentially, like I'm treating it as like a really solid race, right? Because I I need that for the rest of like for what's to come and next season. Um and excited to see who else shows up. Like I I hope we get some last second. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 12:07

Yeah, I'm hoping uh hoping we start getting some more people in there. I know the mountain race will have Timmy Parr, which he was originally not signed up, so that's good. There'll be some people trickling in, but we we shall see.

SPEAKER_01 12:17

So we shall see.

SPEAKER_00 12:18

Yeah. All right, last question. What would it mean for you to win this race? I feel like it's a huge, huge stepping stone, huge block, especially going into for the final with the prize money, and there's a lot of things at stake with this.

SPEAKER_01 12:33

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah, I what would it mean? I mean, it would mean to me, it would mean a ton, a

Comeback Goals And What A Win Means

SPEAKER_01 12:42

lot, simply because of kind of where I've been, the roller coaster to get here, to get to like back to feeling healthy. I've been juggling a lot personally, um, and then just trying to find balance throughout it all with training consistency and of course listening to my body. So it would mean it would mean you know, like like success and and perseverance through all of that. Um, and then certainly it would tee me up nicely mentally for what's to come for the rest of the series. Um there there's some big races coming up after this in the series with B stuff next, and that that starting lineup is is is pretty stacked. So um yeah, it would mean a lot. And at the same time, though, I'm I'm I'm going into this with a pretty like steady headspace and not trying to focus like too much on the outcome and like truly just leaning into a day to go have fun and wrap up some mountains.

SPEAKER_00 13:49

That's right. Just most importantly, have fun.

SPEAKER_01 13:51

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:51

Well, Robin, wishing you the best of luck on your race on Saturday. Thank you so much for taking some time out of your uh in-between flights for us to chat and uh yeah, safe travels, and I can't wait to see how race day unfolds for you.

SPEAKER_01 14:03

Appreciate it. Yeah, of course. Good to see you. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 14:06

Yeah, you too.