Most Replayed Episode: Joseph Gray, Mountain Running’s Greatest of all Time

Send us Fan MailThe mountain running GOAT label sounds shiny until you hear what it demands day after day. Joseph Gray joins us for a wide-ranging, no-fluff talk about winning at the highest level, staying motivated deep into a long career, and how he handles the pressure of being someone other athletes look up to.We dig into why sub-ultra trail racing often gets overlooked in the US compared to ultrarunning, even when the performances are absolutely world-class. Joseph breaks down the economics of attention, how “more hours” creates more marketable drama, and why short mountain races are a different kind of suffering where you cannot hide from pace, tactics, or mistakes. He also talks candidly about media blind spots, race storytelling, and what it means when the best athletes are not the ones getting covered.Then we go where most people avoid: anti-doping in trail running. Joseph explains out-of-competition testing pools, why untested events can warp opportunity, and why programs like Quartz can create the appearance of safety without real protection. We also get practical with training for uphill running, including progressive efforts and building an aerobic engine that sustains power on steep terrain, plus the youth work he is proudest of through the Colorado Springs trail running camp for kids and Project Inspired Diversity.If this conversation hits home, subscribe, share it with a friend who loves steep trails, and leave a five-star rating and review so more people find the show.Use 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