Get ready for an adrenaline-pumping breakdown of the Loon Mountain Race, taking place on July 7th, 2024, in the scenic Lincoln, New Hampshire. We'll navigate the demanding six-mile course with nearly 3,000 feet of elevation gain, spotlighting the fierce competition and notable returns like the legendary Joseph Gray and his highly anticipated rematch with Tyler McCandless. Discover insider details about the USATF Vertical Mountain Running Championship selection process and how it might shake up the race dynamics.
Unearth the secrets of the burgeoning trail running scene as we spotlight rising stars transitioning from other sports, like triathlon and gravel cycling, and compare them to Eli Hemming's meteoric rise. We delve into the mentorship roles influential athletes like Andy Wacker play, guiding newcomers through contract negotiations and race strategies. On the women's front, we analyze how recent performances by Rachel Tomziak and Casey Ammen position them as frontrunners. Plus, we offer a sneak peek into the competitive tension leading up to the Kendall Mountain Race, setting the stage for an exhilarating season. Join us for expert predictions, athlete insights, and a preview of thrilling upcoming races.
Get ready for an adrenaline-pumping breakdown of the Loon Mountain Race, taking place on July 7th, 2024, in the scenic Lincoln, New Hampshire. We'll navigate the demanding six-mile course with nearly 3,000 feet of elevation gain, spotlighting the fierce competition and notable returns like the legendary Joseph Gray and his highly anticipated rematch with Tyler McCandless. Discover insider details about the USATF Vertical Mountain Running Championship selection process and how it might shake up the race dynamics.
Unearth the secrets of the burgeoning trail running scene as we spotlight rising stars transitioning from other sports, like triathlon and gravel cycling, and compare them to Eli Hemming's meteoric rise. We delve into the mentorship roles influential athletes like Andy Wacker play, guiding newcomers through contract negotiations and race strategies. On the women's front, we analyze how recent performances by Rachel Tomziak and Casey Ammen position them as frontrunners. Plus, we offer a sneak peek into the competitive tension leading up to the Kendall Mountain Race, setting the stage for an exhilarating season. Join us for expert predictions, athlete insights, and a preview of thrilling upcoming races.
Speaker 1:
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the steep stuff podcast. I'm your host, james Lauriello, and today we've got another banger of an episode for a race preview. We are going to be previewing the Loon mountain race. I am joined today with my cohost, mr Nick Tusa, excited to be here, excited to talk East coast mountain running. Bro, welcome back, dude, I am, I'm stoked. We've got dude, it's mountain championship. But dual week two weeks back to back. Oh man, dude, I think I'm going to. I'm going to use that Drake song, I think, for the for the previews. Yeah, yeah, dude.
Speaker 1:
So all right, for those of you who don't know, the Loon Mountain race is taking place this upcoming Saturday, july 7th 2024, at 730 AM for the women, 8 AM for the men. Um, it's gonna be taking place in Lincoln, new Hampshire. Uh, which is pretty sweet area. Um, loon loon takes place in like a really beautiful area. Um, the course itself is about six miles with about 2,982 feet of climbing. Um, put on by six, three endurance. So shout out to Mr Tom Hooper. Um, the prize purse. So for 557 entrance, uh, we have on the start list the prize purse is about 1500, uh, dispersed between the top three, which is pretty awesome Uh, 400 to the winner, 254, second, 100 to third, and that's obviously for both men and women. Um, they have some big news with this race. Uh, the goat himself, mr joseph gray, returns. Um, we're definitely going to have um some pretty cool rematches between joe and tyler mccandless. I feel like they've been kind of duking it out for the last, uh, for the last few years. First of the rendezvous hill climb in what 2023 um, and then gopro games. Tyler was pretty close to jo and Joe just got away. Um, yeah, there's a lot, a lot of news to talk about. So this is um, the USATF vertical mountain running championship.
Speaker 1:
Um, there was a little bit controversy around this rate not this race, but the selection for this race Um. Originally, the selection process was supposed to be for challenge Stelina, which takes place in Italy, um, but challenge Stalina is no longer taking place um and is in the process. That selection, um. There's going to be some sort of replacement. So there's going to be a different race that the men and women um will be selected for. Um, top two men, top two women will be selected from this race. So it's only the top two get to go. Um, so it's survival of the fittest. Um, the men's race is absolutely stacked Um the women's race.
Speaker 1:
I feel like there's a few standouts, but a lot of very similar athletes, um, maybe a little bit lesser known but more from that Northeast area, that are just really stout and really strong. A lot of past winners showing up. Um, and the other storyline that I thought was interesting was going to be, um, some of the like doubling up. So, obviously, this race takes place on the seventh. The next race is, which is going to be Cirque Snowbird, takes place on the 13th. We've got Andy Wacker, cade Michael Arthur Whitehead, mickey Rosio and Rachel Tomziak are going to be doubling up for that race. So at least they're both, they're, they're on the start list for both weekends.
Speaker 1:
So I, yeah, so, um, yeah, do you want to talk about any, uh, any headlines you see, or any any, maybe even your picks? Yeah, yeah, yeah, sure, yeah. I mean, like we already talked about, super, super excited about joe gray. I mean he's won this race. I don't know how many times, but I'm sure a number. He's, joe gray's won this. I don't know how many. I think like two or three, I would imagine. So he knows this course. I mean he, he's gonna show up ready to go. I mean, I I just raced in my gopro and he absolutely threw down in the 10k and I'm expecting him to, yeah, to show up again and absolutely, absolutely give it a go. Him and tyler, like we said, I think, are really gonna go at it. Um, tyler took second at the gopro games 10k and I think I'm expecting him to take second here as well.
Speaker 1:
Uh, I think the people that are going to really compete at this race are people that live in the mountain West, that do live at elevation. Um, this race takes place, I believe I want to say like 2000 feet, maybe above sea level, something like that. Maybe peaks out at like four, yeah, it might even be less, so like that, yeah, they're going to be love in the oxygen, uh, down there. Um, and another, uh, another one that I'd like to mention um, mikhail Rocio. He just took third at broken arrow right. Yeah, he took third at broken arrow, yeah, and so third at broken arrow, right. Yeah, he took third at broken arrow, yeah, and so third at the vk, and I think he was he. Was he on the podium as well for the 23k? I think so, or he was top five. At least he was up there. Yeah, but, uh, but yeah, I have him third here as well. Uh, he's the dude can give it a go in the uphill. He's gonna leave it absolutely all out there. We saw him do it at the vk. I'm expecting him to do it here, no different. Uh, another name that we see it just about every one of these uh, sub ultra races Andy Wacker. He's been here before the godfather, he's been here before and I can't expect him. I think he's going to take it out hard with Joe. Him and Joe love to go at it expected him to be up there.
Speaker 1:
Uh, one little home cooking, little home cooking pick that I have here Grant Colligan. Yeah, I think this is his chance. I don't know if he raced Broken Arrow, he did. He raced the 23K. He did race the 23K. He was like top 15. Okay, okay, that's all. It's such a stealth field. Yeah, he might have even done a little top five, top 10, I mean, it was so close. But I think this is his chance to to hopefully get his name out there and have like a true, true breakout. I know he placed I believe it was 12th at mammoth last year, so this guy's no stranger to you know, competing with the best in the world. Yeah, a couple of their honorable mentions that I like to mention.
Speaker 1:
Another, another home cook and pick uh, tate Knight. He just raced. He's from Boulder, colorado. He just raced at Pepe's and I believe he, I believe he was top three uh there at strong uphiller. He's actually coached, or the last time I talked to him he was coached by Cam Smith. So you know that he has a strong, strong uphill uh, coached by Cam.
Speaker 1:
Getting all the schemo in this winter I was seeing him putting in like 10,000-foot vert days at A-Basin. So the guy's got it. The guy's got it. The FKT guy, yeah, yeah, you know. Another name, liam Miro. Yeah, another one that I've heard his name thrown around quite a bit Pacific Northwest guy Dude. One that I've, uh, I've heard his name thrown around quite a bit northwest guy. We're gonna dude. You know he used to run for bowerman. Really, oh, he's fucking fast, okay, so he's a marathon. We see a marathon. He's got wheels. I don't know if I think he might have been a tanker, okay, okay, yeah, he's. He's an animal dude.
Speaker 1:
Um, he's kind of was on that like trajectory with like christian allen last year. I know they both kind of went over to europe, um, and raced a little bit. Um, I, he was, he raced, yeah, he raced at worlds as well. Yeah, um, I don't know if he didn't have like a great day out at worlds, but like I mean, dude, easily one of the best in the united states. For sure, I would put him in the top 15 best. And you know, hands down, he's like picky and choosy. You don't see him on a lot of like start. I mean, I think he did race um breakneck. He went out there for that. Okay, okay, I think it kind of works better for him, especially cause if he's in Oregon, it's a little harder to compete in the mountain West. Yeah, um, I mean even the East too. That's a, that's a long trip. It's a long trip. It's really similar. It's my mom and us as well. Um, yeah, you can't sleep on him because he'll, he'll sneak up for sure. No, no, I mean, in my opinion, if you've had a usa kid on before, you're ready to go, you've been here before, oh for sure.
Speaker 1:
No stranger, uh, one, I believe he's a colorado springs guy, jonathan aziz. Yeah, dude, yeah, two-time pikes peak marathon champion, really. Oh, yeah, dude, I've, uh, I've never ran with him. I've spotted him on the trails a bunch of times like, just like, kind of come across each other. Kid is nasty dude and very dialed and I heard, I heard him mentioned on your last podcast and he has worn a USA kit before too. Yes, he was on the four 80. It was on the 40. It was on the 40 cats. You know what? He qualified with? Christina mascarinas Shout out to episode 16 of the steep stuff podcast christina mascarinas.
Speaker 1:
Um, he qualified, uh, with christina, both, of course, winning the pikes peak marathon. Um, like I said, both hometown, hometown peeps. Um, yeah, john is very dialed. John is like, very, very dialed and very, he's a very strong runner. Um, would not be surprised, um, to see him somewhere in the top five, maybe even the podium as well.
Speaker 1:
Do you know if he's ran this before, been out east running? No, I don't think so this year. I mean, he seems to be doing a little bit of different stuff this year. Like, this is the first time I've seen him. First time I saw him on the start list for the GoPro games. Did you race him? I think you might have, at the 10k. He might have been 10k or 20k, I think he. Maybe we were all the same course. It might have been the 20k, yeah, I don't know. I just I know he was at the gopro games, um, and yeah, he's. And, like I said, you're getting him this year at the us mountain running champs, like I said, could very well be. Like I said, it only takes two. It does, you know, somebody doesn't have the best day, sneak your way in and he's definitely fit enough for sure 100.
Speaker 1:
Another name, no stranger to to these races garrett corcoran. Uh, the guy, I mean, he's a wild card, like I think he can. It's a wild boy. Yeah, he's a wild boy. He can very well, absolutely. Just, he's been, like he's been at this race before he could. He could very well take second two. I would love to see that. Um, I don't know, I wonder what that like. He just seems like a have fun kind of guy. He does you know, like he doesn't seem like, like he seems like he takes it serious, but like almost, but like he still seems like he's just really enjoying his time in sport. Um, yeah, I had a, I mean dude, he had a pretty solid showing, the broken arrow, vk, I think. Think he was top 20. He was somewhere in there. It might've been a little, yeah, I, somewhere. I mean, dude, like there were so many people at that race that, like top 20 was an absolutely stellar result. Yeah, and he's like he. You know, you raised him a bunch last year at the Cirque series, like always upfront somewhere in the top guys. Yeah, yeah, he's going to go out strong.
Speaker 1:
And then the last uh name that I'm uh noticed on the start list here Cade Michael. Uh, trail team guy. I'm sure he's probably flying there with Andy Wacker. I'm sure I've seen those two running a lot together. Uh, they actually just put a video out recently on YouTube, um, going for the, um, the mesa trail fkt. Yeah, so super fun. Uh, it seems like he's in incredible shape. I mean, if they are racing 2016, andy wacker, that is something to behold. I mean him back then, back when he set that mesa trail fkt, he was incredibly fit. Yeah, andy wacker was so you know to be keeping up with those times like this kid's got something special for sure, for sure.
Speaker 1:
Dude, that kid kind of out of nowhere, like you know. I, like I said I said this last time around, like when we were previewing broken arrow like Andy knows how to pick a man. You know, like this kid has a lot of potential in the sport. You know he did great at the GoPro games. He had some like really stellar results at a broken arrow. I mean, I don't know by his accord how he would have felt about him, but like dude, to come out and like compete like he did, a kid is good so. So don't quote me on this, but I believe I know this for a fact he's a gravel, um, he's a gravel cyclist guy. I think he's racing some gravel races this summer because he comes from a triathlon background and he's kind of giving me some Eli Hemming vibes. Like this guy probably has a ridiculous amount of volume on his body and he can push hard. So could you imagine if he like, just like cause Eli, I think, took about a year to figure it out.
Speaker 1:
So I didn't know this until, like I was like when I get bored, I go on ultra, sign up and I just sit there forever. Like apparently, um, oh man, what was that race? There was the U S mountain running champs in Oregon. Um, that's it, dude. I was so upset they got rid of that race. It was like sponsored by Nike trail and like it was like a six or seven mile route with like almost it was almost three K of fur, like it was nasty. It's awesome. So I've raced the. I've ran on the course before. Okay, yeah, I was out there a couple of years ago. It was like right after they got rid of the race and I just happened to be in the area and I do, the course is awesome. Um, so it doesn't even exist anymore. No, the race it with the Oregon 200. It's a money grab, anyway, hot take. Anyway, long story short, like I do, I have actually like reached out to them on Instagram before, like asking them if you're going to bring it back and if not, like would you sell the rights to that race? He's like I would put it on. It's like that cool. Anyway, long story short.
Speaker 1:
Um, that that was like one of eli's first races, um, where he kind of like started figuring shit out in the sport and like was not far behind joe and the boys. Um, I think andy andy was right up there. There was a zach miller race. That race, yeah, it was super competitive. So yeah, it was pretty cool. Um, and I think like kade has that like year to two to figure it out, and then you'll see that kid like and I mean having guidance by the trail team and andy wacker like he's in such a good spot, I mean he's gonna, yeah, yeah, it's one of the cool things too.
Speaker 1:
I think that andy's like really doing a great job with is like the like not just the camaraderie but like the mentorship to kind of like really help people make. Like his podcast doesn't come out yet, it'll come out in a few weeks but, um, you know, he really like does a deep dive into like what that mentorship looks like, like even like talking to people like you know a lot of the things you like the inside baseball people don't understand is like knowing your worth and like having that discussion about contracts and like being able to have that discussion with a brand and like a lot of things that like they help with um and like even introduction and like coaching and you know, or like the little things like oh, you know, should I bring gloves to this race? Should I wear gators? Should I do this? Like all the little things on how to prepare. Yeah, yeah, they like handle all that yep. So it's pretty new. Think about it. Pretty dope, run hard, yeah, uh, anyway, back on, back on the top, because I kind of got away, um, yeah, so I'd say that's a solid men's field. I can, I can handle the women's field, I field, I'll take the women's field away, go for it. So on the women's field, I'm pretty sure to talk about, like dude, like I said, there's some standout names and then there's a lot of like really similar, very strong Northeast ladies, um, so in first place I do have Rachel Tomziak. I think she's a great uphill runner. I don't think she's going to be particularly challenged in this race. In a lot of ways is because, like, maybe, um, I don't know like I think that just that experience and knowledge and I and this is the first of two weekends for her, um, I think she'll be coming out strong, hungry and ready to compete and I think she definitely can be in that top two ladies, uh, to take the dub or take to get classification, um, for this race. Um, so I have rachel on first. Shout out to rachel merrill, runner. In second, I have Casey and men.
Speaker 1:
Okay, she was first place at Loon in 23. She was first at the soon a piece scramble this year. Now, it wasn't as competitive this year. Soon to be. As you know, last year was like the up down and the vertical for the U S mountain running selections. This year was stout, stout crowd, but like not what it was last year. And she was actually third at the Broken Arrow 23K in 2019. She's pretty good, wow, yeah. So she could very well.
Speaker 1:
I think, like I said, she'll compete for the podium 100%. In third place, I have Sarah Berkey. She was fifth at the RUT 28K last year and she actually won this year the Mount Ashland hill climb in oregon. So, yeah, she, she's another one like very similar to casey, like kind of like both in that, in that realm. You know where she from, is she? Uh, I think she's, I think she's from the pacific northwest and write it down, um.
Speaker 1:
In fourth place, I have mary, uh, sketch bryant. Uh, she was fifth at loon in 2022 and she's a sixth place jfk finisher in 2022 and like, really hasn't done much since then, but like, if she is anywhere near that type of level of shape, she could definitely compete for the top five 100, you know, um. And in fifth I have katie sick. Um, similar results. I didn't write a lot of them down, um, but very strong athlete as well. So that's kind of what I have mixed up in the women's contingent.
Speaker 1:
Okay, one one that I'll mention, that, uh, that you miss, lauren gregory. Yes, she's another east coaster. I believe she's put on a usa kit before too and made a team, so should be no stranger. Yes, coaster ready to go solid, solid. Yeah, dude, the like this is going to be a really fun women, right, women's race. I think this is going to be fun to follow along, whereas the men's side like. So, on the men's side, I've got obviously the greatest of all time, mr joseph gray, in first place, not to not to fanboy too hard. Um, in second place I have tyler mccandless. Um, I just, I don't know.
Speaker 1:
I think joe, although he is 40 years old this year, will continue to now. Now he's going to be smashing. I think he's going to be smashing the normal records, but I think now he's going to be smashing like absolutely obliterating masters records. Yeah, he hasn't shown his age whatsoever, whatsoever. So it's like we can't even like question the 40. Yeah, dude, I don't know. I don't think he's gonna slow down to his 50. Dude, who knows he's gonna be beating all these young whippersnappers? Um, in third place I've got meke rosio. Um, he's another one that, like I said, it's gonna be doubling up. He'll be, he'll be here this weekend and then he's also on the list for cirque snowbird. Um, the kid can run uphill. Dude, he's really, you know, like you saw him take it to Christian and like they just duped it out so left it all out there. Yeah, it's going to be really fun to see, to see him do that.
Speaker 1:
And fourth, I have John Aziz. I think John is a really strong up pillar. I don't know, like I said, it's it's kind of a toss up in that top five. Yeah, um, same, like I said, andy Wacker could be in that mix. Cade Michael like I've kind of got them all like mixed up in the top seven. Um, and I do have Grant Cooligan sneaking in there as well. I think he'll. He's, without a doubt, in the top 10. Yeah, absolutely. Um. Another couple of few other names I've got in there. Arthur White I know he's been running reps up and down Mount Victoria out there at peak one. That's actually where I met him. Kid's really good. Yeah, garrett Corcoran as well.
Speaker 1:
Wild boy Can't count him out, dude, I would love to see him just like sneak into the top three, and he might very well. I mean, the kid guy he was qualified for, he ran. What was it? The marathon, right? It wasn't the kid guy, he was qualified for, he ran. What was it the marathon? Right? It wasn't the uphill, it was. I'm pretty sure he ran the 42k at war. Oh, yes, he did. Yeah, he's sneaky good man.
Speaker 1:
Um, tate knight as well. I think, you know, I, this could be tate's breakthrough race. I, you know, tate's solid man, possible, you know, and I think it's time, it's about time he kind of takes that step forward. I would imagine. Yeah, he told me he wants this. I mean he wants to represent USA someday.
Speaker 1:
I know I mentioned that on I believe it was the Meet the Minotaur race preview that we thought he was going to go to but didn't. Also, kyle Richardson did not show. That one Did not show up. God damn it, kyle Richardson. But yeah, but no, I think he wants it and he's ready to go. He's already out there running around the East Coast, so he's definitely going to be there. It sounds like yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:
And then last, I have Liam Miro sneaking in there. Like I said, he's another one that I believe he's no, because Joe would be the course record holder on the Narnar but he's got like multiple top three times. In fact that's where I learned his name, because he would go and kick the shit out of everybody at NARNAR and I was like, who is this kid? Shout out to him Is he a Nike guy? Still, he's a Nike athlete, dude, nike's been invested man. Christian Allen, basically this past two weeks. At Broken Arrow he talked about his Nike sponsorship and then shout out Caleb Olson. At broken arrow, he talked about, you know, his Nike sponsorship and then shout out Caleb Olson, caleb Olson, yeah, yeah, yeah, dude, they're just. They have Bailey um on the women's side like just some absolute killers. Liam, I'm trying to think who else like they have? They don't have Preston Cates anymore. I think he left a few really solid. Well, they still have.
Speaker 1:
What's her name on the golden trail series? She's not there this or she's hasn't been racing this year. But, um, why am I blanking on her name? Because she hasn't been, uh, racing this year. I'm blanking too like oh, nicky, yeah, oh, my gosh, yeah, I haven't you really heard from her. Yeah, yeah, I think she's focused on marathons right now. She's a killer. She's on like kipchoge's team or something. What the fuck? That's why it's crazy to think like a trail athlete would be like that high level crossover. No, what's even crazier is she took up running in 2020, like like she was a field hockey. She was field hockey. What? Yeah, so she just like hit the. Literally within the first two years she ran like a sub 225 marathon. Like that's just, that's like a sub 225 marathon. Like that's just that's pure talent. Nothing else unbelievable to be excited to see her hopefully back on yeah series soon. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:
This past weekend, dude, I was really surprised and I don't want to get too far off on attention, but like dude, el hussein is for real, bro, oh wow, what the fuck? Yeah, he's not messing around more seconds. It's yeah, yeah, like I don't through. I mean, remy's gonna have to pull something out of his hat. I think, oh yeah, because, like Patrick and Patrick coming back too, oh yeah, no, remy finally has some real competition.
Speaker 1:
Like this isn't just like Remy's going to take it and go. I don't think he's going to do it this year. Man, he wins mammoth. Unless he wins, what's the other one? That's like headlands, which he very well could. I mean, yeah, to be fair, he did start his trail season a little later than everybody else, so that could be a benefit for him. It could be later in the season we could see. I don't know, I do patrick's so strong this year I think whatever he needed to figure out, he figured out and he's dude, lethal, like just feeling that on a start line I was like whoa, like he's so good. And then El Housine is just like a little cannonball. The kid is nasty. So, yeah, we're going to find out. I think it might be between El Housine and Patrick this year, but it's going to be fun to follow along.
Speaker 1:
All right, on that note, that was the Loon Mountain Race preview for this upcoming weekend, saturday July 7th already, jesus, um, god, dude, we're already through the summer almost. This is really sad. Um, all right, thanks guys. Um, also, keep a lookout. We're going to be previewing the Kendall mountain race, little fun one that we didn't tell you guys, but we're going to do a little hometown race that we're going to we're going to preview next. So thank you everybody, thank you.
