#185 - Timmy Parr

Send us Fan MailHe’s 44, he’s racing almost every weekend, and he’s still winning. Timmy Parr is one of the true American mountain running legends, and he’s on a mission that sounds impossible until you hear how close he is: Project 5050, a plan to win a race in all 50 states. He’s already checked off 46, and he tells us exactly which four states remain and how he’s managing the travel, the training load, and the pressure that comes with chasing a public goal.We start with Whiteface Sky Races and get into the unglamorous truth about steep ski-run descents, DOMS, and why most runners never train at full speed on a 30% downhill. From there we zoom out into longevity in trail running and skyrunning: what changes in your 40s, how recovery slows down, and why “old man strength” can beat raw fitness through smarter pacing and better decisions. Timmy also shares how racing at altitude versus sea level affects confidence, performance, and even sleep.Then we go deep on history. Timmy walks us through his 2009 Leadville 100 win, including huge training weeks, brutal heat, the darkest mental patch of the day, and the moment the race turned. We also talk sponsorship politics, corporatization in trail racing, and why community-driven events still feel like the soul of the sport.If you love trail running, ultramarathon stories, mountain race strategy, and real talk about staying competitive as you age, this one delivers. Subscribe, share it with a running friend, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.Follow Timmy on IG - @timparr1Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.usFollow James on IG - @jameslaurielloFollow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_podFollow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa