The Steep Stuff Podcast
Your Source for all Things Trail, Mountain & Skyrunning
The Steep Stuff Podcast
UTMB ETC Race Companion with Rachel Tomajczyk
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A 15K can feel longer than a 100K when the course is straight up, straight down, and the field is absolutely loaded. We’re fired up for ETC in Courmayeur during UTMB week, and we’re treating it like what it’s becoming: a legitimate proving ground for mountain running specialists who live for steep climbs, fast singletrack, and fearless descents.
We dig into what makes ETC unique, starting with the course math that matters: 15K with roughly 1200 meters of gain, a big first climb, a dip, a second push to the high point, then a demanding downhill where pacing mistakes show up fast. We also talk about why this race sits at a fascinating intersection of the Golden Trail Series, the European championships scene, and the UTMB week spotlight. With OCC now stretching to a harder 60K, athletes have to choose their battles, and we debate how racing blocks like Pitz Alpine plus Sierre-Zinal can either sharpen you or leave you flat.
Then we make picks. On the women’s side, we break down the contenders and why an athlete like Courtney Coppinger has the tools to take the win, plus we look at how the American crew could surprise. On the men’s side, we lay out the matchups, the skyrunning wild cards, and why Taylor Stack feels like a true “guy to beat” pick if he gets his day. We also sneak in a few OCC predictions, including excitement around Lauren Gregory and Christian Allen.
If you like smart race previews, mountain running strategy, and honest takes on what actually wins these courses, subscribe, share this with a trail friend, and leave us a rating and review. What’s your podium prediction for ETC?
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Welcome And Quick Subscribe Request
SPEAKER_01This is the SteamStop Podcast. 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. 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. Yeah, let us know what you guys think about the podcast and hope you enjoy this episode. Thanks so much for tuning in.
Rachel Returns And Baby Countdown
SPEAKER_01All right, Rachel Tyb uh, Rachel Tabaichek, welcome back to the Steep Stuff Podcast. How's it going?
SPEAKER_00Thanks. Yeah, good. I'm doing well. Um just waiting for Baby to get here. But um I'm excited to talk through some picks for ETC.
SPEAKER_01I know, I'm so excited. I'm so excited for you guys. I know uh you said Tuesday, the baby's almost here, so this is yeah, we're in the final days. By the time this comes out, baby will probably be here, which is wild.
SPEAKER_00So I know. I really hope so. I'm kind of feeling really ready for her to just be here. So yeah, how are you doing?
SPEAKER_01I'm doing well. I'm doing well. Uh really excited for probably the most excited I may have ever been for like UTMB week, even though I'm not there. Um, I feel like there's a lot of interesting stuff to talk about and discuss. And you know, last year I just spent my time uh when I was tapering for Cirque Series Grand Targy. Uh, I spent a lot of time glued to just watching UTMB on the live stream on YouTube. Probably be doing the same thing again this year. And there's just a lot of uh it was very cool. I don't know, I just really enjoyed that. So excited to kind of try to bring that same energy to some race previews and stuff like that for this year. So I'm good. It's a short long way of saying uh I'm I'm definitely pumped to talk about ETC and and just some of the
Why ETC Could Become A Championship
SPEAKER_01some of the things around that race this year.
SPEAKER_00So yeah, yeah, it's fun because I think that it's a good sub-ultra race on that weekend, um, especially with uh OCC being a little bit longer this year and being a 60k, I think 60k instead of 50k. Um they kind of lengthened out the course. So um it is interesting because a lot of subultra people do OCC and then some of them don't, and they do ETC instead. So um it kind of splits the field a little bit, but this is still a really strong field this year for um ETC. So it's exciting to see it gaining some traction.
SPEAKER_01For sure, for sure. Yeah, I mean, I was convinced after last year, uh I kind of was under the anticipation that like linearly it would be the next like de facto championship in a lot of ways, whereas like OCC has become like kind of the de facto 50k champs, CCC the 100k, and then you know U Tim B the 100 mile. My thought is like why can't ETC just become that next like short trail um de facto championship? And like you said, it it's very true where it does, it splits up the field, like Christian Allen, right? Who's one of the best climbers in the world, generally does like VKs and things like that. You would expect to almost see him in something a little bit shorter, but he's doing OCC this year uh for the second time. And Noah Williams, another there's another male American athlete. So quite a few athletes, yeah, it seems like filtered in on the American side to the OCC versus the ETC. But I do think on an off-year, maybe 2028, we that that could be the next de facto championship on a non-worlds year, uh, where it just continues to grow and catch a lot of uh eyes and attention. Um is some notable drops this year, and we'll get into the athletes that were signed up but that won't be racing. But I feel like had we gotten a lot of these people that will be racing, that just raises the level. Like this is a super fast, super competitive race. It's pretty wild.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it really is, and it's kind of in the middle of a lot of all the races going on in Europe, too. Um, I have some friends that have been over there for a while and
Racing Three European Classics In A Block
SPEAKER_00they're staying over there. Maybe they did Pitts Alpine or series and all, and now um they're out racing ETC or getting ready for OCC. So um, yeah, definitely in the middle of all the European racing for the summer.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. What do you think about that? Like, I the way I conceptualize it is like uh, especially for a lot of the golden trail athletes that just doubled up on Pitts Alpin and series and all, and then are now they have that week, week and a half to two week layoff, and then going into something like OCC. I feel like that's a huge triple to try to put together. Yeah. Um, especially now that, like you you said, OCC is that 60k distance, and like that's not an easy race. That's a that's a brutal, brutal race. So, like, how do you conceptualize that? That's got to be much more difficult to do those three versus maybe something like adding ETC onto the end of your your your stay or your block proverbially.
SPEAKER_00Totally. Yeah, especially this year, like I was saying, the course is a little bit longer for OCC. Um, so I think that it's smart to really pick which race is your A race because all of those races are super, super competitive, especially series in all and OCC. So um I feel like it's really hard to hit all three of those races well if you do Pitts Alpine too. But um, yeah, it kind of also depends on what you're trying to do for the year if you're trying to race Golden Trail series. Um, I feel like it's smart maybe to do Pitts Alpine and Series in All, and then um yeah, just kind of get left out of ETC so that you can focus on races later on in the season. But I think three races that big in this month um is really, really difficult to recover from. And maybe there are some athletes that can do that and recover um for this month. But I think it just doesn't set you up well for being able to race well at the end of the season if you do try to hit all three of these races. So um, yeah, it kind of depends on what your strategy is for the year, what your goals are, and what you're wanting to race. But um it's definitely fun to see some athletes over there um crushing a bunch of these races.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, no, no
Sierre-Zinal Takeaways And Course Lessons
SPEAKER_01doubt. Um, I don't want to go too hard into left field here, but what was your take? Do you have any any takes or does it have to be a hot take? Could be just a takeaway from series and all over this past weekend. Like there was some the women, dude, the women absolutely friggin' annihilated. Like that was some of the best uh racing I've seen. It was also awesome to see Madelina Floria finally get her first uh series and all win. Uh well, any takeaways, anything that kind of piqued your interest?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, that was cool. I feel like um Madelina's crushed a lot of the Golden Trail series races and um always does well, I think, at series and all, but hasn't ever put together the win. So that was really cool. I think um, yeah, it was a really fast year, too. I think that so many people just ran really fast. Anna broke three, was which was really fun to see. Um that's kind of a big benchmark for women is being able to break three. Um, so that's really cool. I heard it was a cooler day than normal. Um, so that might have helped a little bit too, with some of the times being a little bit fast, um, faster than normal, but that field was absolutely stacked. And I feel like people were really, really just cruising on that course, and it was fun to see.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah, definitely. It's funny, like I that's what I heard from everyone. Yeah, cooler day, or at least it felt like it. But in the photos, people looked like they were suffering. It looked horrible.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. I mean, yeah, I think um it is tough that course. I mean, in the past, it's when you start, it's like in the 80s or something like that, and um just really, really hot down at the start because you climb and you end up going up and then ending higher than where you started at. Um, it is nice because that course, like the climb, is really shaded, like you're in the trees and stuff. But um, I think especially the past few years before they separated the men and the women, there's just so many people all around you, and it's a lot of body heat, and the sun is just beaming down at the start. So um, it's a hot start for sure. Um, and then once you get up higher, it's a little bit better. But yeah, I mean, that course is just hard to like you really have to be good at climbing, you have to be good at running fast on flat sections, and then good at descending too. So I feel like you have to be good at all the trail disciplines to really hit that race well.
SPEAKER_01Of all the things you've done, where does that rank as far as like your favorite race or course in general?
SPEAKER_00I love that course, I think it's fun. I feel like I haven't had a day where I've been able to put together all three of the aspects of that course, like with climbing and the flat section and the um descent. So I really I want to go back and really be able to do well on that course. Um, and I feel like too, I made the mistake last year. I don't know, maybe not a mistake because I was focused on the Golden Trail series and trying to get points there. But I did Pitts Alpine the weekend before and then series and all, and definitely felt Pitts Alpine still in my legs before that race. So um yeah, anyway, I love that course though. It's like so pretty. Switzerland is beautiful. It's hard to hold yourself back the days leading up to the race to like not go out and just run all the trails there and explore. But um, yeah, that's probably one of my favorite courses that I've raced.
SPEAKER_01Interesting. Yeah, I I I mean, for me, that's like the I mean, I think for the sport that's like the Super Bowl. And for me, that's a bucketless race. So yeah, I uh I definitely gotta get out there and go to you know, it's funny. I always laugh at this and make the little joke. I didn't know it ran from Siri to Zanal. I didn't know that before.
SPEAKER_00Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01That's that's kind of funny. That makes sense.
SPEAKER_00That is funny, yeah. It's the name. Yeah, it's in the name, but yeah, I don't think I knew until I don't know, I was going over there to race for the first time, and then it's like, oh, it makes sense.
SPEAKER_01Totally, yeah, yeah. All right, back to ETC.
Key No-Shows And Returning Contenders
SPEAKER_01Um, so we looked all over the start list. Um, probably the first thing they get into is some of the names. Um, and I'll I'll preface this with athletes that are probably gonna be that I actually have verified with that are gonna be notable uh no-shows. Um, for instance, Lucas Earl, uh Joey Hadron, um, or Hadorne, sorry, and uh Mika Bonin Russo on the men's side will not be there. Um and then on the women's side, I think we verified Madelina Florey will not be racing. And this is the only one that's not verified, but I know she has a broken foot is Ally Mack. I did not I don't think I don't think Allie's gonna be there.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I was wondering about that because um I think there were maybe some other races she was signed up for that she ended up not doing. So I didn't know whether she was landing on yeah, being able to be out there or not. Because I think too, she's always someone that um she could come off of an injury and do really well in a race, and you may not know she's not like that vocal about when she's gonna show up and when she's not. So sometimes she just appears on the start line and she's ready to crush it. But um, I hope that she heals up quickly and is able to get back in some races this year.
SPEAKER_01100%. Yeah, no, we we love Ally Mack here. She's one of our one of my favorite people. Um yeah, so other than notable um people that won't be there, I think there's some storylines of just people that are going to be returning this year. Uh, I'd say some of the bigger names on both the men's and women's side. First one would be uh Chesry of Mysteri. I probably just butchered his name. Um, sorry, buddy. Uh our our Italian friend. Um I think he was eighth at Broken Arrow. He was second here in 2025 at ETC. Um I'd say on the women's side, uh Marie Nive as well, um, who was in the top 10 last year, and she's another returner that I think will compete for the win as well.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah. I think that those are some good picks. Um also um I have been looking at kind of the European champs, especially in the up-down race, and trying to see um who's in this race from that race because I feel like they're pretty similar races. Um and uh he was fourth at the European champs, and she was, I believe, ninth at the up-down European champs. So um, yeah, and that's a huge competitive race out in Europe um that just brings together the best of the European athletes. So um, yeah, it'll be fun to see them, but I think that they are some of the two top two in that field for sure.
SPEAKER_01For sure, for sure. Um one of the things I just realized I I completely over overlooked was the course. I didn't talk about that.
SPEAKER_00Oh, yeah. Do you want
ETC Course Breakdown 15K And 1200m
SPEAKER_00to go through the course profile or um we could do that in a bit too? Okay, yeah, let's do it.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, you take it away. I'll let you talk about it.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so it's 15k. Um, so not super, super far. Pretty short course. Um, but it has 1200 meters of elevation gain. So um, it is pretty steep, uh, but not a super, super long um distance. So yeah, I think this is exactly what all those sub-Ultra athletes have been racing through the year in races like World Cup races and um some of the Golden Trail Series races. So I think that we'll see a lot of um athletes that were really have been really good at the Golden Trail Series races or European championships, those shorter trail races um come out here and crush this one.
SPEAKER_01For sure, for sure. Yeah, I damn, I don't know why I keep saying for sure, for sure. I don't know. I picked up that I picked that up over the last few days. I don't know why. Um yeah, this course is really compelling. I'm very excited about it. I mean, 15k for the Americans listening to this, 9.3 miles, and 1200 meters is almost 4,000 feet overt. So it's a perfect mountain classic, a perfect up-down. Um, the high point of the course is not extremely high. Um it's I think it's gonna be, like you said, something equivalent to some of the WMRA races. It reminds me a little bit um, like style-wise, of the mountain classic course from Worlds, although that was a double loop. This is just a single loop. Um, but similar kind of footing, similar kind of terrain. There's not a lot of road sections in this. It's it's more single track trail. Um and yeah, just some brutal climbing in there. Have you have you ever been to Cormayer on any of your your excursions?
SPEAKER_00No, I have not. That's one place that I definitely need to go and check out at some point. Um so it looks beautiful, but no, I haven't been been out there yet.
SPEAKER_01Same. Yeah, it's uh it looks pretty legit. I don't know. It's always most of the things I think of is like when I think of Cormayer or like athletes coming through the night um on UTMB, just completely sauced, like wanting to quit. Yeah, it looks brutal.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and I know some of those trails are really technical with UTMB or OCC, CTC, those um trails, but I'm not quite sure exactly what the trails are like um for ETC, but you've said that you've you think that they're pretty flowing. Relatively.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, flowy and tech. I'd say flowy single track with some like intermittent rock. So it depends on your like level and and like your definition of technical, if you will. I think to some of the euros, I would think that the this is a pretty fast course. Like, for instance, like I think um like Marie, for instance, last year, Marie Navet was seventh at ETC and she ran 1412. And so for a nine point, yeah, for a 9.3 mile course, 4,000 feet of Earth, that's pretty damn fast, in my opinion.
SPEAKER_00That is quick.
SPEAKER_01So yeah, I mean, obviously, altitude is not really a factor in this, um, but I would imagine you're you're moving pretty well in in some of these, you know.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, nice. Yeah, and the course too, it does look kind of like a classic mountain course. It's almost just straight up and then straight down, but there is kind of you go up and then there's a little bit of a dip, and then you climb again. So I would say there's really two climbs in this, but one really, really big climb, and then you get to the top of that, dip down a little, and then hit the peak on the next climb, and then you're kind of downhill to the finish from there. It does look like there's some rolling hills, maybe on the downhill to the finish, but um kind of once you get to that second, the top of that second
UTMB Week Hype And Protecting Energy
SPEAKER_00climb, you're you're headed down.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. I'm curious to see like how uh some of the Americans, for instance, like Taylor Stack, Sidney Peterson, Courtney Coppinger, kind of like handle their way in in this type of style, just because those athletes have done really well with the mountain classic, you know, distances on a on a world stage too. Um yeah. The other the other interesting thing that I thought was cool, which is an interesting tidbit, ETC doesn't share, or like like, for instance, like CCC and OCC will share some of the UTMB course. This one doesn't share any course with either of obviously either of those races. Um, so it's it's kind of its own sectioned kind of thing, which is neat.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, that is cool. Um yeah, yeah. And I think it's just fun too that it's part of that weekend. Um, because if people are out there watching UTMB, OCC, CCC, um, I feel like they get some exposure to the shorter trail side of things too, which is kind of fun.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. It's funny. I had I had Taylor Stack and Sidney Peterson on for pre-race interviews. And the first question I asked is like, you're just gonna race on Tuesday and then you get to hang out nucleance all day, you know, until to spectate UTMB and the rest of the races, which I think is kind of the best thing. It's you get an hour to two hours of work, and then the rest of it's kind of chill. You get to enjoy yourself.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Yeah. And a lot of times um for pro athletes, um, whatever team you're on has a big team house there or something, and you just get to hang out with teammates, and um, it sounds really fun. So that's that's just a really cool place and a special time and so much hype around these races, too. So yeah, definitely seems like a fun atmosphere.
SPEAKER_01For sure. Yeah, I've been watching uh the other day, like randomly on my YouTube algorithm. I came across like one of Francesco Poopy's videos, and it was of uh uh I guess these at the Hoka house. Yo, they have like not just one house, they have like three houses now with all their athletes. Yeah, it's pretty cool. I was very impressed with uh some of the stuff that they apparently one only one house has the coffee machine, from what I've heard.
SPEAKER_00So oh, okay. Yeah, so they're all over there in the morning.
SPEAKER_01That's the drama. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01That's funny. Yeah. All right, let's get into um oh, I don't know. Whatever else you want to move on to before we talk about uh we could do picks and things like that.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, no, we can go on to um some of the picks if yeah, I think that would be good.
Women’s Picks And American Storylines
SPEAKER_01Cool. Uh you want to go first? You want to do start with the women?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, sure. Um I think I'm going to go with I do think the woman that's ranked the highest right now is Vivian Bonzi. And she was just 13th at series and all. So I think that she's ready um to climb and descend well and crush it on that course. Um, I feel like she she's in really good shape. Um, probably next is Marie Neve. She's been really, really good in some of those sub-Ultra races this year, and really has like made a jump from last year to this year. She was already really great last year, but she's just continued to get better and better. Um, she was just 18th at series in all, uh, 10th at Broken Arrow, 9th at the European Up Down Championships, and then she's sixth in the Golden Trail series so far this year. So she's ranked pretty high in that series and has done really well in some of those races. Um and then, oh, it's such a tough pick from then, I feel like, but um let me think. I think Anna Hoffer and then Courtney Coppinger are both really, really good. I don't really know who I would pick over um both of them, but um Anna has been 15th or was 15th at the Up Down European Championship. So I think that that this course will be good for her and um some fast running. And um Courtney's had some races this year that haven't been great, but I feel like she's in a really, really good spot mentally and just um excited to keep crushing this year and um had a really good race at Pitts Alpine and then has kind of had a couple weeks to recover where she didn't go on race series and all. And so I think that she could be really ready for this race as well.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I totally agree. I could see, I think Courtney could win this race. I mean, she has all the ability in the world. Um, but like I wouldn't like if Courtney won, I wouldn't at all be surprised. I mean, especially with a lot of these athletes, most of my top five all have series and all on their legs, so it is gonna be an interesting um and I mean excluding Courtney, but it's like that's gonna be an interesting uh throughway. Like who recovers the best? I mean, it is series and all was last weekend. So, what is it two weeks, two and a half weeks? Yeah, it it but there's also that mental component. It's like, how much do you want to, you know, because there's a lot of energy with UTMB and stuff like that. Does it does that help athletes or does that, you know, kind of drain you? Because there's media requirements, all these different things you gotta do at the professional level. And it's like, well, you know, does that play a role in uh in in kind of in performance, or will it uh, you know, be a negative impact? So we'll say it's gonna be a tricky.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, totally. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It is hard sometimes to get into the zone when you're at races like that because there's so many people around you that you know or you want to talk. With and um sometimes it can be difficult to get in the racing zone if you're not careful, or you just have to be careful and plan out things the way that you know you'll do well with racing. Like maybe um you don't stay at the team house, maybe you book your own Airbnb or hotel or something like that, so that you can go hang out with your team, but also kind of get time alone. Um, so yeah, there's definitely a balance there. And I think you have to just know yourself as an athlete and what you can handle and what you need to be ready and on for that race.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. What is your take on that? Like, I know I don't want to go out too far off in left field just because it's like I it's like a tangent, but the only reason I say that is because you're you're really right. Like, um, I was very, for instance, like I was watching Francesco's video and I was very surprised to see like someone like Jim, of all people, like staying at the Hoka house. Like if I was him and I had like those means, I don't think I would. I think I would probably go do my own thing. I would pop in for coffee and say hi to people and and uh you know and hang out, but I don't think I would stay there just because uh protecting your energy, I feel like, is like super important on a race like this where it matters both monetarily and for performance.
SPEAKER_00Totally. Yeah, I think it is hard. Usually when I've done Golden Trail series races, um, I'm not necessarily with my maryl teammates um during those races, but golden trail series kind of like puts you all together as athletes. And um, if I can, I try to just be outside a little bit of that and kind of book my own things and do my own thing instead of having to be on the schedule of everybody else or feeling like I have to go to the shakeout runs and like run way too fast or way too hard before the race. So um I think for myself, being able to take a step back and kind of be a little bit more on my own is really helpful. Um, but that really only works if you're comfortable with a place that you're racing in. Um when I've gone over to China or Japan to race, I'm not as comfortable driving over there or things like that. So then it is helpful to kind of have like transportation set up through Golden Trail series or through a team or something like that. Um, so yeah, it kind of depends on the place, but I do like having a little bit of separation myself. Um, but other athletes love just like being in the team atmosphere, and that's really like life-giving to them. So yeah, you just have to know yourself.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. There's something to be said about protecting your energy. I definitely, yeah, I definitely agree with you. Um I'll go with my picks. Um, I'm gonna start with I had a top five, so I'm just gonna roll through them. I'm gonna go fifth, Sydney Peterson. Sydney's been going through a gauntlet of a season. Zagama, Plitz Alpin, uh, series and all, broken arrow, and uh she's been learning, growing, developing. And I think Sydney's primed for a great, you know, I think this would be a great race for her. Um fourth, I'm gonna go Vivian Banzai. Um, like you said, 13th at series and all, which was amongst the I think she has the highest series and all finish in this race. Um she was also fifth at the Mont Blanc 23K, and she was third at ETC in 2024. Um in third place, I'm gonna go Courtney Coppinger. I think um I don't know, I could see Courtney from third to one. I think it could all happen. Um 12th at Alpen uh Pittsclaveshire had a great race there. She was 17th at Broken Arrow and 14th at Worlds in the Mountain Classic last year. Um in second, I'm gonna go Alice Gaggy. Um I was on the fence about this one. Like I was kind of like flipping between. Like I it's uh like I could see Courtney beating her, and I could see her beating Courtney. Um she was fifth at the county half, 36th at series and all just last week, 19th at Worlds in 2025 in the Mountain Classic, and she was 18th at series and all in 2025. She also has a higher UTMB index than I think she is the second or third highest out of the group. Um, but I feel like that's all like you can't go off a B, you know, it's kind of funny to go off a UTMB index. So I don't know. I that was just a guess on that one. And then first, I'm gonna go with Marie Nive. Um she was seventh at ETC in 2025, so she knows the course well. She ran a blazingly fast 141. She was 11th at Worlds in the Mountain Classic last year, ninth at Eurochamps this year in the Classic. I'd say of all her results, the 10th at Broken Arrow 23K impressed me. Coming from uh France and then uh especially racing at altitude, I thought that was very impressive and doing well because Broken Arrow was as deep as it gets this year. Um and then she was just 18th at series and all uh last week and she ran through nine there, which is pretty solid. So um that's all I have for the women.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah. No, those are good picks for the women. Um, yeah, definitely some exciting um some excitement built around the women's race um for that. And yeah, we do have some uh other Americans that I wanted to mention. Um, Sam Lewis and Janelle Lynx are also in that race too. So I'm excited to see um how all the American women do.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah. Yeah, Sam specifically. I'm supposed to have her on the show tomorrow morning, and I'm excited to catch up with the show with her.
Men’s Picks And Sky Running Form
SPEAKER_01Um I think she she trains like she splits down between Boulder and Idaho, correct? Something like that.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, she's um in school in Idaho. Um so yeah, but uh her parents aren't in Boulder, so she gets to come to Bouldersome too. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01I think she had she put down, she had a solid race at series and all, and uh yeah, I think Sam has the opportunity to do really well. So excited for her to uh to throw down and and Janelle is always a uh she in the media on the media side, like I'm always trying to get her on the podcast. She's impossible to get in touch with. So yeah. If anyone listens to this and knows Janelle, Janelle, I would love to interview you.
SPEAKER_00I don't think she loves the uh publicity as much.
SPEAKER_01But yeah, no, I don't think she has an Instagram. Or I don't at least yeah, I'm pretty sure she doesn't.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Um yeah, she I think she could be in the race and she could definitely be there and crush it, and you kind of never know if she's gonna be there or not. So yeah. Um but she's she's on the start list, so yeah. Um what about for the men? Who are your picks for them?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so I'm gonna go top five. I'll start with uh fifth. We'll uh go with Andre Rostan, uh Italian. In uh third, I'm gonna go Finlay Grant, who was eighth at this race in 2025. In third, I'm gonna go Tom Spencer. Um Tom, interesting guy. Oh, actually, you know, I'll start with Finlay. Sorry, he was eighth at this race in 2025. He's a Skyrunner uh from Great Britain. Um he was third at Skyrace Gorge Jutarne this year and seventh at Colomaro. Um he has gone head to head with my first or my third place choice, Tom Spencer, uh, a lot this year, who's also a fell, uh kind of a fell slash skyrunner from the UK. Um he was just 35th at Series and all. Um he was second at the Fletter Trail Sky Race this year, second at Sky Race at Gorgeous Dutarne, and third at Colamaro. So he's got a few head-to-heads with Finlay and has beaten them um every time that they've been head to head, which is why I have him ahead. Um and second, I'm gonna go with Chesare Mysteri. Um Chesare second in 2025, uh, and eighth at Broken Arrow, which is another great, like I the Euros come over and like do really well at Broken Arrow. It's really impressive. Um and then first I'm gonna go Taylor Stack. I think Taylor Stack just absolutely drops the hammer on people and demolishes this course. Uh I have a funny feeling, especially because I don't think he had the days he wanted at Plitz, Alpen Glacier, or series and all. Um and he uh you know he was third at Sigama, he has all the ability in the world, and he's really, really good at the mountain classic. Like I think people forget that he was you know second at um 2024 US Mountain Running Champs behind Christian. He was uh third behind Mason uh in 2025 at uh Sunapee. He yeah, he's really really and then he was like 12th at world. So yeah, I think uh I think Taylor's gonna, yeah, I he's the he's the guy to beat at this race, in my opinion.
SPEAKER_00So nice, yeah. All right, um, I think for me, yeah. Um I just was thinking of top three, but Cesare uh Mystery, uh, I think he was fourth at European champs, eighth at Broken Arrow. I think he could do really well on this course. Um, Jan Torea Oyer, I think is maybe how you pronounce it, but he won the updown at European champs this year and was um 12th at Pitts Alpine. So I think he could do really, really well here. And then um I think Taylor Stack, like you were saying, I think that he has the capability to win this race. I know he's had a couple tough races over in Europe, but um, hopefully he's had a couple weeks or a week or so to recover from those. And um, sometimes those first races are just really hard uh coming over from the US, and then uh, you know, it's a ton of travel, it's a ton on your body, changing time zones and things. So um I still have a lot of faith in him that he could do really well in this race, especially after taking a little bit of rest, um, if he's able to rest in between. Um I guess I'll do maybe an honorable mention um since I only had top three, but Tom Spencer, I do think, could do well in this race. He uh has really been crushing the Sky Runner World Series this year. He was third at Kalamaro and then second at Sky Race is Gorgeous Dutarne. Um, and he's sixth in a series right now. So um he's one that I would definitely keep my eye on and um watch for him to be up there on this course too.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Yeah, I think the men's the men's race is gonna be exciting. I think, yeah, I I think Finlay and Tom, I I do think we're gonna see maybe two Brits in the top, top five, top
Bold Predictions For OCC Standouts
SPEAKER_01ten. Um and I I am like cautiously optimistic for the Americans in this race. Like I really do think Taylor, I think at least in the men, we get unless Taylor has like a really, really bad day. I think Taylor's easily a top 10, top five pick for this race. Like I said, I would I would not be surprised to see him win it. And I then on the women's side, like I really think Courtney's got the ability to win this race. I think Sydney has the ability to get in the top five, top ten, do well at this race as well. Um, and I think Sam could have a great day as well. So I I think the Americans and Janelle, if Janelle's in this race, if she is racing, you can never count out Janelle Lynx. Um so yeah, I think the I think though there might be some American surprises in this race.
SPEAKER_00So yeah, yeah, I'm excited to see how they all are able to throw down at this race, and um, I'll definitely be cheering them on for sure.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, for sure, for sure. Damn it, I said it again. Um I think that's all I have. Anything? Do you have anything to add in? Any hot takes, anything that you want to throw? Any OCC predictions? I know we this is an ETC preview, but anything that you think for OCC, anybody to watch out for?
SPEAKER_00Oh, I mean, I really think um Lauren Gregory could crush OCC. I know um this is kind of her first time there, um, but I think she's in really good shape. I think that she could do really well. She's been training hard for that one. So I think um that's who I'm really excited for, at least on the women's side, um, being able to see her out there and crush that course. And then um, I'm excited for Christian Allen too. I think that he's had um already some good races over in Europe, and so I think it'll be fun to to watch him race as well.
SPEAKER_01I talked to Christian today, I had him on for a pre-race, pre-OCC interview, and I think his head is in a really good place. He's got the family there with him, he's got the the whole the whole Allen clan. Um he seemed like he and he I feel like since Sunnepe, um we got I got some background information on this because we we called his Sunopee race, and I I was kind of surprised to see him fall back a little bit and get third. Um that was his second, I think first or second uphill workout that he had done season uh because he was dealing with a stress stress reaction. So I think now with good results at Pitts Alpin Glacier and then now series and all getting the American record. Um yeah, I think it is the American. I'm pretty sure it was the American record. I know he's first American, something like that. Yeah, yeah. But uh yeah, I think he's starting to come into his own a little bit uh for the season and things are starting to fire in all cylinders, and yeah, I wouldn't be surprised. And he I think he's more aware this year. Like he said something to me in the interview of usually I just go out what what I think is easy, and it tends out to be super hard. And he's like, I don't like to let people go because I don't feel like they're gonna come back to me. Um he's like, I have to be patient and race my own race this year. So if he he's talking the talk, but if he if he actually executes on what he's saying, you're talking about someone that yeah, for sure has the ability to win the race. So I think he uh he has all the potential to do it. Um I feel like he's the you know, we've had Eli come along and and win a race like this. Obviously, Jim's a generational talent, and I think Christian's got all the talent in the world, so it would be if it would fit for him to be able to pull this off.
SPEAKER_00So yeah, I think so too. And I love that his family's over there with him and all his kids. I think that probably helps him um more than anything, like just kind of keeping life a little bit more normal, even though when you're even though you're in the middle of some big races and um kind of having your family over there for support and being able to distract yourself from just thinking about running all the time. Um, it looks like they're having some fun adventures and building some good family memories. So I think that helps them a lot. Um, and yeah, I'm excited to see them out on that course.
SPEAKER_01Big time. Yeah, it does. I feel like it takes some pressure off. And yeah, it's gonna be interesting. I mean, like you said too, with Lauren, I think Lauren is another one that's got all the ability in the world. Like I think she can beat Judith on this course. Um, you know, Sarah Alonzo, Naomi Lang. I'm curious to see the Tovey Lauren Gregory matchup because Toby's so far unbeaten. Yeah, I think if anybody could do it, Lauren Gregory for sure. Let's let's you know, yeah, why not?
SPEAKER_00So those I feel like those two are kind of my top two picks on the women's side is um Tove versus Lauren and um just seeing who has a good day out there. But they've both had really incredible seasons so far. So um, yeah, I know Tove's been in really good shape. I think Lauren's in really good shape, and um, yeah, it'll be fun to see them out there on the course. I think Tovey maybe has a little bit more experience with the longer stuff, but um I feel like Lauren just has this natural ability to do really well in these long races, even though she doesn't have a ton of experience in them. So um I wouldn't count her out even though uh she's newer to the distance.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. I think McKenna is McKenna in this race too.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I think she is, yeah. I'd be curious about it. She's another one to keep your eye on. Yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's just it's another one where, yeah, it's uh it's a pick'em, you know. But I think I think you're you're very safe in with the with those few. Um, yeah, I yeah, I'd hate to be doing free trail fantasy because I'm gonna lose every time I would never get it real.
SPEAKER_00So it is hard. There's just so many people in the mix, and um it kind of comes down to whose day it is when you're that close together. So um, yeah, definitely gonna be a fun one to watch. And I think it'll be a pretty close race too.
SPEAKER_01For sure. Yeah. Well, I think that's all I got. Um, if that's that if that's good for you, that's good for me. Yeah, so cool.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, sounds good.
SPEAKER_01Well, thank Rachel. Thank you so much for coming on. Uh, I think this is gonna be the last one for probably a while because we've got the baby coming.
SPEAKER_00Um, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01Giant congratulations.
SPEAKER_00Obviously, we'll thank you. Yeah, we're ready, so I'm excited. Yeah, but I will see you hopefully soon-ish. But yeah.
SPEAKER_01Awesome. Interrupting
Cetus Insoles And Foot Care Tips
SPEAKER_01this episode to talk to you guys about Cetus Insoles, official partner of the Steep Stuff Podcast. How many of you athletes out there wear insoles? I do. Not only do I get a little performance boost, a whole lot of foot comfort, but I also get about a quarter inch to a half inch of height boost, which is a win-win-win, if you ask me. Doesn't matter, run, ski, outdoor, multi-sport, and daily life. Cetus insoles have something for everyone. I alternate between the three feet protect and the three feet low to give me optimal comfort on uneven and technical terrain. Check them out online at CDUS.us. Cedus is the official football care partner of Western States and UTMB. Cetus, your foot company. 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, Cetus 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 Cetus insults. Um 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 socks 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 Womsley, Hidden Hawks, and then you know, some of the best women in the sport, like Robin Lesh, um, or even on the ski side, uh Jesse Diggins rocking uh the Stetus 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 strip to keep the sock from kind of moving within uh the shoe. 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 CDS.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. CDS.us installs and stocks, they've got the best in the game.
