#187 - Sean McCauley

You can hear it right away: Sean McCauley isn’t chasing trail running just for a result, he’s chasing a life he actually wants to live. We talk through his origin story of starting to run at six to spend time with his dad in a military family, then falling hard for mountains, movement, and the quiet mental space that comes with long days outside. From early races to big dreams, Sean shares how running becomes both an outlet and a craft he’s willing to fully commit to.

That commitment gets tested. Sean opens up about a tough college start during COVID, mental health stress, and the moment he realizes he needs to get back to the mountains to thrive. We get into what Western Colorado University gave him as a developing athlete, why that program keeps producing top trail talent, and what changes when you step from track and cross country into modern trail racing. If you’ve ever struggled with imposter syndrome, injuries, or the feeling that you’re “all in” while others see it as just a hobby, you’ll recognize the highs and lows he describes.

From there we go deep on the practical side of training for big mountain races: living in tiny Kremling, training with Eli and Tabor Hemming, learning effort-based pacing, planning long-term race strategy for goals like the UTMB OCC qualifier, and troubleshooting fueling and heat acclimation for Speedgoat 30K. Sean also shares what he learned at Broken Arrow Skyrace about positioning, staying engaged on runnable sections, and racing with confidence in stacked fields.

If you’re into trail running, ultrarunning, mountain racing, or endurance mindset, hit subscribe, share this with a training partner, and leave a rating and review so we can keep telling these stories. What part of Sean's approach are you trying to bring into your own running?

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Transcript

Subscribe, Ratings, And A Quick Welcome

SPEAKER_01 0:11

What's up, guys? Uh hey, before we get started, if you haven't already, whatever platform you're listening to this on, please hit that subscribe or follow button, whether that's Apple, Spotify, or YouTube. Uh those subscriptions go a super long way in being able to keep the podcast going and allowing me to continue to tell the stories of these amazing athletes and also do some of the race coverage and all the good stuff that we've been doing over the last few years. And also, if you haven't already, please give us a rating and a review if you haven't. Um, let us know what you guys think about the podcast and hope you enjoy this episode. Thanks so much for tuning in.

Meeting John And Setting The Stage

SPEAKER_01 0:48

All right, John McAuley. Welcome to this Deep Stuff Podcast. How's it going, man? It's going great. Yeah. How are you doing, James? I'm dude, I'm living the dream. It's uh nice warm, toasty training day in Colorado Springs, and wouldn't have it any other day than running in 90 degree heat and suffering, you know? Absolutely. Uh how are you, dude? What's uh what's going on? How's uh everything going post post broken arrow?

SPEAKER_00 1:12

It's been good. Um yeah, just putting in a big block, training towards uh speed go uh 30k and then maybe a 50k later this fall, but just been able to put in a really good block and train hard.

SPEAKER_01 1:26

Dude, I love it. Well, let's dive into it. I uh I got to meet you. I had the the pleasure of meeting yourself and and the Hemings and uh actually Tabor's family uh sitting in a plane, uh getting ready to go out to Broken Arrow. So it was it was fun to get to chat with you and uh get to learn about your story and everything. That's why I was like, oh dude, let's get you on the pod for a conversation so uh we can get the world to know more about you and your story. So I'm gonna give you the mic and and maybe uh tell me a little bit about your story, your relationship with running, how you found it, and uh maybe a little bit about your collegiate running background as well.

Childhood Running And College Detours

SPEAKER_00 2:01

Absolutely, yeah. No, I deeply appreciate the chance to chat with you and be on the pod. But no, so I started running when I was six, um, really as an opportunity to spend more time with my dad. Grew up in the military and he was running every day, so let me run with him. Um and really kind of fell in love with running up and down stuff on the different like mountains in the different places we lived, whether that was Washington or El Paso, Texas, um, and then Colorado, and just the different opportunities that spending time out nature running, moving, um, provided. It kind of provided a an escape. Um, and then um just the time that I could think and feel like I could be authentically myself. Um really what it kind of clicked was I did a 5k in uh when we lived in Washington, and it was this I was I think eight, and I got second place in the age group, like the 13 and underage group, and I was like, no way I can win something for this. Like I can do well and have fun doing it. Um and then yeah, just kind of snowballed from there, high school running and then um collegiate running. I did a short stint at Grand Valley State University. Um, one semester there, had some um just mental health trials that worked through and just wasn't a good fit. I was there in the heart of COVID and um was like, I need to, I need to get back home. I need to get to the mountains, I need the mountains to play in. Um the cornfields just weren't doing it for me. So yeah, went to western Colorado for my undergrad and loved it there. Um just a chance to be in the mountains, study things that I was passionate about, run with a great team, um, a storied team, and um just learn from incredible athletes, incredible coaches, connect with different runners of different um disciplines in the sport, whether that was disciplines on the track and the cross-country or even like on the trail, um, connecting with different athletes up there. Um and then also just like schemo athletes or mountain athletes beyond just the traditional runners. And I mean, running out there was it was just fun. It was getting to work hard in the mountains and do something that I loved. Um just this movement through space and time in spaces I loved was really healthy and what I needed. And then I was able to had a chance to run and finish my eligibility at Colorado Christian University in Lakewood and run for the team there, learn what it meant to be a leader, and then also kind of being on the edge of Denver. I was like, all right, I gotta get back to the mountains and um yeah, thought about uh looked at kind of going into the military towards the end of the career and was just for the end of the collegiate career and was realizing that like my heart's not in that. It's not where I'm what I'm passionate about. And I want to just I want to keep running and pursuing this goal of like running with the best and in places that I love and beautiful spaces. And so yeah, took me to Kremlin and up here training with the Hemings and um just kind of sometimes trying to hang on for dear life and um get to run above tree line, run in the sagebrush, all the above. It's been an absolute treat and joy to train, and then also more importantly, just learn from incredible athletes.

SPEAKER_01 6:00

We will get into uh into the training because I'm sure that'll take up a lot of our conversation. But I think first and foremost, man, like trying to learn more about you as the person and kind of like your upbringing.

Discipline, Obsession, And Finding Your Thing

SPEAKER_01 6:12

I I would imagine having, especially with a parent in the military, there's a lot of uh discipline evolved around that because you don't become a person in the military without being very disciplined and structured and things like that. Would you say that rubbed off on you and the type of person you are and how you are as an athlete?

SPEAKER_00 6:31

I think to a certain extent, um I would say that there is definitely an element there, but I also think that I'm fairly obsessive just in my like when I find something I'm passionate about, I'm gonna go all in. Whether that was baseball as a kid or soccer, swimming, um, but like running is just what it clicked with the most. And so I definitely think that the discipline carried in, and then I just figured out a way to make it my own. Um and like, yeah, just the kind of that like upbringing with discipline definitely impacted it. Um but something my parents really encouraged us to do, all of my siblings, I'm one of seven, encouraged us to do growing up was like find what you are passionate about and finding something that like what makes you you. Um and then pursuing that. And so all my siblings have something different. Um, I've tried to get them to run, but they don't run. Um and I I think part of that's just seeing the way that I kind of obsess about it and have devoted my life to pursuing

Foot Care, Injuries, And Sponsor Break

SPEAKER_00 7:42

it.

SPEAKER_01 7:42

Um guys, how's your feet? Like seriously, uh how's uh how are your feet doing? Um I'm sure if you're listening to this, you're a runner or an athlete of some kind uh in one way or another. And as most athletes do, everybody struggles with injury one way or another. And foot care is like one of the most important things when it comes to injury mitigation or just dealing with injuries in general. Um, everything from plantar fasciitis, peroneal issues, uh, a lot of people deal with blisters in the sport. Uh kind of the list goes on. It's a great opportunity for me to talk about our partner, Cetist US. Um, I've been partnering with them for a couple of years now, and man, the products have just gone such a long way for me as an athlete personally. Um couple months back, I'd been dealing with some proneal issues and some planter issues on my left foot, and uh got hooked up with some of the Cetist insult, um, with the trail three feet, and man, it went such a long way in helping me rehab that foot and just helped a ton. Um, on top of that, big fan of the stocks and big believer in the socks as well. I use them all the time because they're amazing. Uh but in all seriousness, I'm sure you've seen like Jim Wadsley, Hidden Hawks, and then you know, some of the best women in the sport, like Robin Leck, um, or even on the ski side, uh Jesse Diggins rocking uh the seedest feet. And um, for me personally, it's the run-in atomic comfort. I absolutely love those socks. Um, it's got reinforced protection, it's got a great grip tip to keep the sock from kind of moving within uh the two. It's breathable and it's got great protection, especially for technical trails, for your heels and your toes. And uh above all else, it's breathable, so it's not gonna stink too bad. Uh, my wife definitely gives uh thumbs up when it comes to that. So I don't have two stinky feet or stinky socks. So if you haven't already, go online, check out cdis.us, and if you find something you like, use code SteepStuff. It's good for one use only. It's gonna get you 20% off your car and uh giving you guys the hookup. So hope you enjoy it. Check it out. CDUS.us installs and stocks. They've got the best in the game.

SPEAKER_00 9:47

Yeah,

High Highs, Low Lows, Keeping It Fun

SPEAKER_00 9:48

there's it's quite an element.

SPEAKER_01 9:50

How would you say uh how do you feel about that? Because like you you don't meet a lot of folks that like, for instance, like I you and I both travel a lot for races, you meet a lot of people, different areas of the country. It seems like in Colorado, Utah, the Mountain West, you meet an inordinate amount of folks that are highly dedicated to their craft, whether that's running or ski mountaineering, cycling, the list goes on. Um what does that feel like to be completely devoted? Because especially because you're very young, like you you have time to develop and grow into the athlete that you want to become. What is that like being so 150% into into something and giving it your all? You know, I don't because I I think that a lot of I get it, and a lot of our peers will get it, but a lot of people that might listen to this that might be maybe an average, just a just a hobby jogger or something like that, might not understand what it's like to completely dedicate 150% of yourself to something. It's the the highest highs and the lowest lows. And what what is that like for you?

SPEAKER_00 10:55

I mean, I think, like you said, it's the highest highs, the lowest lows. And so when you have events like GoPro or Broken Arrow where you feel like you've kind of reached like this breakthrough race of getting to race in these incredibly depth, deep fields and finally see some of the work paying off, it really builds the momentum. Um but then when you get sidelined with an injury, um, I had a number of those. I actually had one year in my collegiate career that I was fully healthy for, no um injuries there, and but like devoting your life to something and training incredibly hard, when it kind of slip, when you just watch it slip through your fingers, um it can really leave you feeling hollow and empty. And so like finding seeking to find meaning outside of that. Um so I think a lot of it that I've been able to find in the last kind of year ish, as I've reached the end of the collegiate career, and then I'm stepping into the trail world and um having some actually kind of mentored me a little bit in this, is just that finding your um being fully devoted to something and but not letting the fun get out of it, um keeping it fun and keeping it just um pure and authentic, and not taking yourself too seriously in it, taking the sport seriously, but not taking yourself seriously in it, um, and acknowledging that it's just at the end of the day, like I'm just out there having fun running in the woods with my friends. And the moment you let that go, it starts to kind of close in that you're just like you're doing this purely nominal thing. Um and so finding really really finding meaning outside of running or really finding your why within it. Um helps a lot when it's come when it comes to just that like obsession and this desire to run to be your best and to be the best that you possibly can be.

SPEAKER_01 13:19

It's good advice. Uh it's very good advice, especially getting that from mentors like Eli and and Tabor. That was something I always like took away and found um very like light and refreshing about both of them, was that like they they can have a laugh and it's like not super serious. Um, you know, obviously they take it serious because they're some of the best of the world, like the professionals, professionals, but at the same time, like it's it's nice to see like Eli can go perform like he did at the 46k, or Tabor can do what she did at the 23k or the vertical, and you know, and they both can still have a laugh and be lighthearted about it and and still share some jokes and and it's not like all super serious, you know, whereas on the professional side, you meet a lot of people that are quite quite like uh pretty pretty intense about it. So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 14:06

Yeah, you definitely that's been such a gift, and then it's I think really it's finding balance of like um there's kind of always that thought running through my head of like how how do these actions that I'm taking right now, how do they impact me in becoming a better runner and trail runner? And not really like letting that rule all the time, finding when it's time to let that kind of take the forefront, but then also like just enjoying yourself and not and that's that like not taking yourself too seriously. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:46

Let's uh okay, we can get we can get into the Kremlin life and because one of the reasons I definitely wanted to have you on is I think the most fun of having the podcast has less to do with talking to pros and covering races and stuff like that. Like I love getting energy from and having discussions with people like coming up with the sport and like people that uh are starting to make their name and and learning the sport. And you know, for you, you you embody all of those things.

Kremling Life And Training With The Hemmings

SPEAKER_01 15:14

Um, you just had an amazing two races of broken arrow, and we'll talk about those results. But before then, talk to me about what it's like to live in Kremling, what it's like to train with Eli uh and Tabor and um Tabor's brother Taylor Scholl. Is that is that correct as well? He's kind of in the mix as well.

SPEAKER_00 15:30

Yeah, there's the I mean uh Tabor and Eli, and then yeah, Tyler, Tabor's younger brother, kind of comes in and out a little bit. He's still finishing up his eligibility at Colorado Christian, and so he's still kind of in that cross-country grind. But yeah, that's kind of a cohort. There's a few people that trickle in and out every so often, but for the most part, it's just the the three of us. Um it's been good. I think spending some time in Gemiston actually kind of helped callous me a little bit to it. Um I mean, Kremling's a town of 1,500 people, and so it can be fairly isolating. Um and then I live on the family ranch outside of town, 13 miles away, and so um it's even more isolating. But it's really just um there's an element of everything slowed down a little bit. Um, having done high school in uh Colorado Springs, and then like the last two years in Denver, it's everything's so high speed up there. And here it's slowed down a little bit, it's a little bit quieter, and so it kind of allows for this almost tunnel vision of saying, like, well, yeah, what how what can I be doing to become a better runner? And then also it's it provides these incredible opportunities. You're 30 minutes from Summit County, you're 30 minutes from Grand Lake, Grand B area, Winter Park, and then you're an hour from Steamboat. And so there's incredible diversity in the spaces you train, and you're able to get up over tree line any day of the week if you want, and also train at like 7,000 feet when you're in town. Um so really just kind of like slowing down and appreciating the little things, I think has been an incredible gift while being in this space here in Kremline.

SPEAKER_01 17:39

Hal, how do you think um, just because like man, I couldn't think of two better people to to help bring you along for that, because this is something you and I talked about on uh as we were getting ready to board the plane was wanting to professionalize and wanting to be a pro in the sport. And like I said, I couldn't think of two better people to help you with that. Maybe talk about some of the advice you've gotten from them, whether it's what races to go to, where to compete, um, you know, specific training stuff. Like maybe, maybe give us a little insight into maybe that type of advice and things like that, the guidance, if you will, from Eli and Tabor.

SPEAKER_00 18:14

Yeah, I think coming from the collegiate track and

Effort-Based Racing And Pro-Level Guidance

SPEAKER_00 18:19

like cross-world, everything there is super pace oriented. And so being able to then run with athletes like Tabor and Eli who have come out of similar worlds, whether that was the track and cross world or the triathlon world, you're they understand it. And so they can incorporate this element of like, listen, it's we're gonna this is effort-based as opposed to just being pace-based. Um, and that's been an incredible kind of insight as I've moved to or switched over to this world. And because yeah, I mean, it's super easy to say, like, oh, like I I'm not hitting this mileage. Well, yeah, you can run, like do a 10 mile trail and it's gonna take you two hours, or you can run for 10 miles on a trail and it'll take you 70 minutes because it's just buffet out and flat. Um and so stuff like that, or then also the um yeah, like pointing me towards something like speed goat or something I would have never thought of as saying, like, hey, if you want to qualify for OCC, you've got to do that a year out. You can't just like run a qualifier race and pull up in a month kind of thing. Um and so then trying to figure out that longevity there. Um and then even like I had a conversation with Eli yesterday of like, all right, well, you know, speed gives a three-hour race. Like, how am I gonna fuel? Like, how should I approach fueling for a race like that? And they're able to take those insights that they've gained from their years in the sport, um, and kind of impart that knowledge to me. And and then even say, like a broken arrow of just like you know, like this is you belong in this field, and here's how you're gonna compete in the field, and then um like the the big goal, the way they framed Broken Arrow for me, because I mean coming out of it, you're like, all right, I got like yeah, 20th and 36th, and like two of the deepest fields on US soil and subultra, but and so it's a little, it's kind of easy to get a little down about those, but at the same time, it's like all right, it's your first year, and your whole goal was to cut your teeth and get your teeth kicked in a bit. And like, that's what you did. Like, you you gotta like mess around and find out, um, to figure out where you fit in the world, and then also to see where you want to go. Because if you don't know what it takes to go where you want to go until you see it and like you see the best runners in the world compete, and you're like, oh crap, I've gotta get to that point.

SPEAKER_01 21:09

There's a learning curve for sure. And I think that that's um like again, on top of that, like fantastic advice to get to you know, go to Broken Arrow. And dude, I think you should be very high on those results, in my opinion, especially as a relative, you know, quote unquote rookie, if you will. I mean, especially that vertical result and the 23K as well. That that course is not easy. So to have both of those results coming away from and not even two of the, but two the two, uh when you start to look at intra indexes and UTMB scores, I'm pretty sure those are the two deepest uh short trail races that we've ever had, like in the States ever, since like the 2023 Pikespeak Asset. So I would be pretty stoked on those.

SPEAKER_00 21:47

Yeah, no, I I didn't mean that as like I'm not excited about it. I'm definitely very pleased with it. But the part of me that But you want to be the best.

SPEAKER_01 21:55

I get it.

SPEAKER_00 21:55

Yeah, exactly. Yeah, the part of me that's hungry is like, dang it.

unknown 22:00

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 22:00

Let's talk about that then.

Broken Arrow Lessons And Belonging

SPEAKER_01 22:02

Like what uh what takeaways? Like what did you learn from Broken Arrow that you could think you can apply to speed goat? What did you learn from maybe the vertical race as well? Because that's a that's a tricky course. Both of them are kind of tricky, but I'd say the vertical race is probably a bit more uh tricky racing that particular type of VK just because of the variability.

SPEAKER_00 22:20

Absolutely. Yeah. I mean, in that like vertical race, it was it felt very much like what I'm used to with like a cross-country start just starting straight up the ski hill. Um but then and also that like I've I've got to go to war to fight for this position in that first 500 meters. Um but then like once you get out of it, figuring out something that Elon had told me going in was like don't don't make your race decisions and everything based off of how you feel after the ski hill, because there's so much left in the race, and like you're you're probably gonna feel like crap going up it. And yeah, I did. And you know, then once we hit the fire road, I was just able to like find my rhythm and kind of figure out like I know that I can just kind of grind uphill and yeah, just started grinding and working my way through the field because I didn't come out of the ski hill very far up um uh in the field, and so just working my way through it. And then the I kind of the biggest takeaway that I had from it was just like when you come out of uh K22, there's the like that downhill, and so um I ran that a little gingerly, um, and I got dropped by a few guys there, and then I didn't necessarily realize like how long that flat was between there and then the last grade up to the finish at the summit, and I got a little complacent in there, and I'm just like, all right, I'm gonna like kind of yeah, like recuperate, like do an assessment of like where I stand, and then um at that point, like I just didn't go any further up in the field or and I didn't go backwards at all. But it was just it's like all right, well, if I had even if I maybe hadn't run that descent as fast as say like Jonathan Aziz who I was with, like I know that I can run really well in the flats, and so I can be with him there, or like get back to the group of guys that I was with and that I've gotten dropped by and maybe been able to compete better. And so really just like figuring out, like, okay, in those shorter subulture races, like there's just like track and cross-country, there's no place to be complacent, and um you've always kind of got to be on a little bit and fighting for position and fighting to get the most out of yourself.

SPEAKER_01 25:02

Does that did you get a little confidence out of confidence like just out of that in the sense that you're running with John Aziz, who is a five-time Pikespeak Marathon champion, and truly again, another one who's just an absolute killer. Um when you get to you're running with guys like that, that must you feel make you feel pretty confident of your level.

SPEAKER_00 25:21

Yeah, it definitely helps. It helps a lot. Of I think, I mean, just coming into the sport, there's kind of been like a little bit of imposter syndrome of do I belong here? Um, and I think honestly that's kind of been one of the biggest takeaways, whether that was a GoPro or um like yeah, the GoPro 10K, the vertical or the 23k broken arrow of just like, no, like this is I belong here and I can compete and I can throw down and have fun doing it.

SPEAKER_01 25:53

What uh what athletes do you look to, besides like Eli and Tabor, to give you inspiration? Because I think there's a lot out there of athletes that were maybe in your similar position or are in your similar position, and you see like your Mason copies of the world just get better and better and better. And now Mason's one of the best on the planet. Um, Eli, again, kind of came in. He didn't have too much of a learning curve, and then all of a sudden, boom, one of the best in the world. Uh, do you look to other athletes like that to kind of give you inspiration, hope for your development?

SPEAKER_00 26:22

Absolutely, yeah. Now there's definitely a number of athletes. I mean, like somebody like Mason Copy. There's so many strong athletes that have on the trail seed right now that have come out of the whether it's the trail or the cross-country program at Western Colorado, um, that are doing incredible things on the in the sport. And then also just yeah, so many athletes out there that have either been not the best fleet runner, and then just kept showing up every day and are doing great things, or were one of the best, and then are have continued to do that. Um there's definitely a lot of athletes out there that I look to just who just yeah, continue pursuing a sport that they love, but then also just having fun with it.

SPEAKER_01 27:14

Um do you um did you have any crossover at Western with any of our like household names like Taylor Stack or Cade or Brian Whitfield, Kieran, any of those guys did you have any crossover with in your your years at Western?

Why Western Colorado Produces Trail Talent

SPEAKER_00 27:29

Yeah. Brian actually, well, he might not know it, but he was the first I interacted with him at a cross-country skate meet. Um, and he was the first guy that threw out the idea of like the trail team to me. Um, and then also actually really like the idea of like western. Uh I was like, okay, that's a real place. Um and then no, there was definitely cross some crossover with Kieran. Um, because he had he was off the cross-country team before I was doing it, running on the trails and crushing it, and being he was also from the Springs area. And so he and I connected, Taylor and I were on the team together for a year. Um, and then Kate and I were good friends at Western as well.

SPEAKER_01 28:21

So you have the you know the everybody who was everybody who's kind of going, it's so wild, man. That program's so interesting to me to see so many of the athletes that we have that we kind of that have become household names in the sport were are very talented young men and women um that have kind of come out of Western and they're all operating at a very high level in our sport. What do you think it is about Western that uh because I've asked Josh this, I've asked every person that I've had on the podcast from Western this, and uh I get mixed answers.

SPEAKER_00 28:54

Um there's something in the water. No, uh I think it's a number of things. I I definitely think that an environment like Western to some extent almost breeds athletes who just love the balance. Um it's a very unique space, and I mean I I would get in trouble every so often for skiing or for um, but then also I would like just get up and greet the sun doing uphill laps at Cristi. Um or you just there's this a love of to some extent a love of suffering. Um because when you're out there and it's the negatives and you're just out there with the boys, um you kind of you learn, you learn to love it, whether that's on the trails or whether that's doing like a lap on trainer the long run, the winter long run route. Um it's just this like quiet simplicity um and it forces a little bit of a devotion to the sport. And I mean it's I think part of why Kremlin has clicked pretty well for me up here, it's just because it's super similar in that regard.

SPEAKER_01 30:14

Yeah, yeah, it's like a high, the high plains, very similar. You get you just like in Gunnison, you've got the San Juans to the south and the Elks to the north, east-west. Um, you know, you've got you've got a big playground around you as well. So yeah, I get it. I get it. I see the allure. Um let's shift down.

SPEAKER_00 30:32

And I think there's a oh sorry, there's a curiosity too. Um because like you said, you can see the San Juans in the distance. Here you can see the gore, and like you can see down towards summit a little bit, and or like if you get further east in the county, like you see the Indian peaks. And so there's definitely a curiosity, and it's like, all right, well, like what is it like up there or over there? Um that helps draw athletes, and I think why Western has created so many different athletes.

SPEAKER_01 31:03

In training, is it a little uh a little easy to get carried away kind of in those peaks? Because I know like long, slow days in the mountains don't necessarily always translate to, you know, obviously you're gonna be hitting certain workouts and you know, a lot of threshold work and things like that. Is it easy to kind of get lost in the mountains doing that thing, or do you still find it, you know, pretty nice to be able to do workouts and stuff like that on the dirt roads or wherever in Kremlin?

SPEAKER_00 31:29

Yeah, I think there's a there's a good balance of both. Um and like in the training of just enjoying it. And um, I mean, Saturday we went up over Wheeler Pass from Copper to Breck over the 10 mile range and back. And so like you're able to kind of get in almost like a focused long run of like this is I mean, it's a very appliquable applicable long run to speed go where you've just got like two big climbs, two big descents, and it's like three hours. And um yeah, there's it's definitely a balance um and enjoyment, and it's definitely a fine line to walk,

Why Speedgoat 30K And Heat Prep

SPEAKER_00 32:15

though.

SPEAKER_01 32:15

Yeah, dude, talk to me about the allure for speed go because that's uh that's a long way to go, man. That's that's a long, hard, difficult, brutal race. And usually it takes a couple, I'm sure Eli can attest to this. Uh it takes a couple times to figure out. What uh what what has you intrigued about that that race in that course? Or I'm sorry, not the 50k, the 30k.

SPEAKER_00 32:35

Yeah, uh, I mean the 30k, it's I know it's a little bit longer than broken arrow. And I think with that similarity to like just the race distance, even though it's an additional like four miles, there's an element of like, well, I don't feel like I necessarily stuck the landing at Broken Arrow, had some GI issues there, and all I want to stick to the landing, get in a longer race, as I maybe consider like doing a 50k later. Um kind of like a nice in-between distance. There's also the draw of like, you know, everybody I've ever talked to has kind of always said you've got to like fear and have a healthy respect of speed goat. And um I know that it's helped create some of the best names in the sport um from the US, and that it's also some of one of the hardest kind of like spots to race in the US or hardest courses. And definitely that fearing that it's one of the hardest courses kind of gets me going. Um, because I like doing hard things.

SPEAKER_01 33:48

No, I like that. And it, I mean, dude, it's it should be a good confidence booster as well, too. Like coming off of something that's like stupid deep in broken arrow, like everything else is gonna feel easy after that. You know what I'm saying? Like you've got a good opportunity to compete for the podium, if not the top five here. So either way, that'll give you a you know, solid confidence boost rolling into whatever you do later in the summer, you know?

SPEAKER_00 34:08

Absolutely. Yeah, I'm really stoked about that opportunity. And then um, I mean, I kind of think uh like I said a little earlier, it's just that it's really just the whole goal of the year is to cut my teeth and to learn as much as possible. And so I can't think of a better place to learn than speed go.

SPEAKER_01 34:27

Yeah. It gets hot in that canyon. Have you uh been playing around at all? Because I know Eli is like a a tinkerer when it comes to figuring out the heat stuff because I know that that's that's always been that's presents challenges for a lot of athletes. Um are you doing time in the sauna? Any like extra little secret sauce to get yourself ready for the heat in in the Wasatch?

SPEAKER_00 34:46

Oh yeah, definitely. There's I'm a tinkerer as well when it comes to like most things in the sport. And so yeah, playing around with the sauna and um different elements and training of just just trying to become more acclimatized to the heat in some capacity.

SPEAKER_01 35:05

Very cool. And what would it mean to you to to do well and maybe win a race like this or get on the podium?

SPEAKER_00 35:11

I think it would continue to help with like that feeling that I belong in the sport um and that I can throw down. Um and I think it would just be a big confidence boost, and um I'm gonna get to share it with my mom and little sister, and they're gonna go out with me instead of just getting to share a sport that I love and something like that with people that I love is gonna be an even greater impact than like doing something like that. Um I'd rather just like I'm gonna give it my all. Um but I really what gets I what gets me excited is sharing a sport that I love with people. Um and I'm just gonna go have fun and yeah, try my best.

SPEAKER_01 36:08

All right.

Next Races, Shoes And Socks

SPEAKER_01 36:09

Last, well, I got a couple questions left for you. I'd say one more is uh I saw you with Black Canyon 50k. Obviously, that's a long ways away. Uh, what do you got between Speed Goat and Black Canyon?

SPEAKER_00 36:21

Um I'm looking at Snowbase in 58k. Um, try to get a qualifier for OCC or at least take a first stab at it. I know the 50k is a distance to be respected, and um I feel I believe that that's a distance that I could do really well at um just seeing how I handle training and the volume. And then um looking at maybe like the half marathon, like trail champs out in Moab. Um try to find something in October probably. Um yeah, just some good training. Um I haven't really nailed them that far out in the season yet.

SPEAKER_01 37:13

Nice. What kind of shoes are you rocking these days, dude? Are you are you like an Adidas guy because uh because them, them too?

SPEAKER_00 37:21

Um so I actually worked at uh Colorado Running Company in the springs for a while, and then also at Runners of Slakewood up in Lakewood. And so coming out of this shoe, the run specialty industry, I've got a vast array um of shoes. So I've got some prodigio pros, some Cascadia Elites, some normals, uh speed goats, a pair of North Face, um a pair of Keens.

SPEAKER_01 37:54

A Scott in your mind with the Keens.

SPEAKER_00 37:57

Uh that and being a uh athlete who's trying to figure out ways to make it work. Free shoes are free shoes.

SPEAKER_01 38:07

Fair enough.

SPEAKER_00 38:08

Um yeah.

SPEAKER_01 38:10

What do you what are you rocking sock wise? You try Cetus yet? I'm this is like my new my new jam now, asking everybody what to do for socks and insoles. Absolutely, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 38:19

No, I I haven't made it to CDUS yet. Um yeah, but I've just got Swift Wix, smart walls. Um yeah.

SPEAKER_01 38:30

All right, we'll hook you up. We'll send you some socks. We got you. It's what I'm gonna start doing for all the guests. That's great. Thanks. Uh I had a last question for you. Oh, that was what it was.

The Deeper Why And Final Sendoff

SPEAKER_01 38:39

It was a deep question. Why do you do this, dude? Is it to be the best and want to become a pro? There's got to be more to it, though. Like why, why, what is your why right now?

SPEAKER_00 38:48

Um I think I've touched on it a little bit every so often throughout this conversation, but I would really say that it's like that plays it out of wanting to become be one of the best. But really what it is, and I've found is that I love moving through space and time and seeing how far I can push my body and um using yeah, just the using the gift and the tools that God gave me to explore. And um yeah, it's just this love of the sport. And then also to I think it's something that I've figured out, whether it's in my academic pursuits, athletic pursuits, is just finding ways to be the best that I possibly can be, um and never settling for less and um a continual pursuit of being the best that I can be. Um because I know at some point that this sport will end, and or that and at least in the competitive sense, this sport will end. And um acknowledging the fact that like at some point that's all gonna like the results will all fade. But I know that if I can walk away from it at whenever that time is, knowing that I gave everything that I had to be the best that I could be, that I can walk away with my head held high. Um and knowing that I was doing what I was passionate about, what I loved, um, and sharing it with people that I care about and helping to just grow the sport and love people well.

SPEAKER_01 40:50

That was a beautiful answer, man. Sean Macaulay, I'm such a fan. I cannot wait to see where your career takes you, buddy. I'm so happy that I'm the one who got you on first. So, you know, just uh take a little bragging rights for that when you become one of the biggest names in the sport. Um, yeah, dude, thank you so much. Best of luck at Speed Go. We'll be in touch, obviously. Hit me up uh if you want to get some runs in next time you're in the springs. Um yeah, dude. Appreciate your time and uh wishing you the best of luck.

SPEAKER_00 41:17

Of course, James. Appreciate the time and the chance to chat. And absolutely, let's catch the miles. Let's do it, dude. Convert. Appreciate you. Yeah, I'm gonna do it.