Steve is joined by the Chamonix Fit master himself, Neil Maclain-Martin, to interview the legendary mountain athlete, Hillary Gerardi. Among her accomplishments as a skyrunning series champion and Mont Blanc 90 km winner, Hillary most recently set a new Fastest Known Time summiting Mont Blanc in 7 hours, 25 minutes and 28 seconds. Steve, Neil and Hillary discuss Hillary’s introduction to mountain running and how she has combined her elite running with ski touring and alpinism. Hillary and her hu...
Jul 31, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Season 3Ep. 7
In this episode, Steve and Alyssa welcome coach Will Weidman to the podcast to discuss the benefits of muscular endurance training for trail runners. The three break down what muscular endurance training looks like for trail runners, how it can be integrated into training and its importance particularly in downhill training. Will describes his positive experiences with using muscular endurance training for UTMB and Tor Des Geants and the improvement in results he found. The three discuss using g...
Jul 17, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Steve and Alyssa welcome back Coach Alexa Hasman to discuss the specifics of strength training for trail runners. They break down why trail runners should prioritize strength training and its benefits for injury prevention, climbing speed and descent durability among many others. The three discuss how to periodize strength training to fit a racing schedule as well as tapering principles and accommodating for B and C level races. Lastly, Alexa shares her top strength exercises for runners and how...
Jul 03, 2023•44 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Alyssa sits down with another special guest for the trail running series, professional runner, environmental activist and writer, Damian Hall. Damian has a wide variety of racing experience and success from a Spine Race Course Record, to a Pennine Way FKT and a 5th place finish at UTMB. He is also a coach, journalist and author of two books including We Can’t Run Away From This which examines the impact of running and racing on the climate crisis. The two discuss Damian’s trail running journey a...
Jun 20, 2023•48 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Steve and Alyssa are joined by the first special guest of the trail running podcast series, John Kelly. John is a prolific runner, data scientist and father to four. He has successfully taken on everything from Ironman World Championships, fast marathons, multi day FKTs, 200 mile races and last but not least, his two time finish of Barkley Marathons. The three kick off with John’s experiences racing and adventuring while balancing a full time job, a family of four and the subsequent time constra...
Jun 05, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Director of Coaching Chantelle Robataille and coach Alyssa Clark are back in the second episode of the trail running series. They discuss the basics of training for trail running including aerobic base building, metabolic efficiency, and proper training progression. They move into discussing and debunking common myths in training for ultras. Chantelle and Alyssa wrap up with advice on specializing your training to fit your race profile and strategies. Join the two for a lively discussion of all ...
May 22, 2023•52 min•Season 3Ep. 2
We are beginning a new educational series focused on trail running. Uphill Athlete has long coached and supported trail runners, but we are dedicating even more time and attention to this ever growing sport. Along with this podcast, we are also launching a trail running training group in June led by coaches Alexa Hasman, Brian Passenti and Alyssa Clark. We are revamping our training plans and have many experienced trail running coaches on staff available for one on one coaching. In this episode,...
May 08, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Season 3Ep. 1
In this episode, Steve and Alyssa welcome coach Martin Zhor onto the podcast to discuss tapering and the post-mountain blues. They discuss the dos and don’ts of tapering along with advice on the duration and types of workouts athletes should be focusing on during this time period. They also touch on the effect of travel during a taper period and how to account for altitude and acclimatization. Along with tapering, the three discuss the after period of a big climb and what happens next mentally a...
Mar 27, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Season 2Ep. 9
In this episode of Training for Mountaineering, Steve and Alyssa discuss the last training period before tapering, the climbing specific period. This stage follows the crucial base period, and serves to sharpen the skills a climber needs for a specific goal. Steve and Alyssa tackle how to navigate and plan this period from build up climbing trips, to training at home. They break down how a climber should distribute intensity, volume, recovery and strength throughout the week. They also touch on ...
Mar 13, 2023•57 min•Season 2Ep. 8
In this episode of Training for Mountaineering, Steve House and Alyssa Clark are joined by veteran Uphill Athlete coach, Jason Antin. The trio open by discussing the role of strength in Jason, Steve and Alyssa’s athletic careers and the purpose of strength training in the mountains. They continue with defining strength, strength training and its role in helping athletes move efficiently and safely in mountain objectives. Jason and Steve break down the three periods of strength training including...
Feb 27, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 7
In this episode, Steve and Alyssa talk with return guest, Chantelle Robitaille, on the base period of training for Mountaineering. They discuss the importance of the base period, the main principles behind base training as well as the strength component. They explore how to work around limited gym access as well as adaptations if athletes live in flat areas. Steve explains his own experience with weighted uphill climbs and training muscular endurance for upper and lower body. In closing, the tri...
Feb 13, 2023•58 min•Season 2Ep. 6
In this episode, Steve House, Alyssa Clark and Physical Therapist Pete Dickinson dive into the foundations of physical performance from a pre-habilitation perspective. They examine when an athlete should begin heavier training loads, injury prevention, strength assessment, when to visit a Physical Therapist, common mistakes that lead to injury, and several other topics. Pete offers his top 3 favorite exercises for injury prevention and helps athletes to understand when it's training fatigue and ...
Jan 30, 2023•55 min•Season 2Ep. 5
In this episode, Steve House, Alyssa Clark and Alexa Hasman discuss the psychology of mountain sports particularly focusing on risk taking and fear. They dig into mental preparation, overcoming fear, dealing with doubt and the psychology behind risk taking. Steve shares personal anecdotes from his time as a professional climber at the sharp end of the sport, with Alyssa speaking about her experiences in ultra running, and Alexa explaining the science behind the how and why. They offer tools and ...
Jan 16, 2023•59 min•Season 2Ep. 4
In this episode, Steve House, Chantelle Robitaille and Alyssa Clark continue with the discussion of the fundamentals of Mountaineering with a focus on establishing training zones. They explore the different methods of aerobic threshold testing, assessing test results and cover how and why we set training zones. They also touch on common mistakes to avoid and how these fundamental components of training will help you be your mountain best. Write to us at coach@uphillathlete.com or visit us at uph...
Dec 26, 2022•46 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Episode 2 of the Winter 22-23 Season This is the first in a multi-part series where we are kicking off a major seeason of educational material on the podcast. Our goal is to discuss the steps of training for a mountaineering objective and give you actionable items to take with you on your training. In this first episode, we will focus on Aerobic Training Fundamentals and how you can set yourself up for success from the first step. Plus we have a big introduction to make today, Chantelle Robitail...
Dec 05, 2022•58 min•Season 2Ep. 2
We are back! In this episode, Steve House (Uphill Athlete Co-Founder) and Alyssa Clark (Uphill Athlete Coach) sit down to talk about the evolution of Uphill Athlete. From the continuation of sound training principles, to stories of the mountains, to the future of Uphill Athlete, we cover it all. Join us on climbing a new mountain with a team who are ready to take on the challenge and help you be your mountain best. Please rate, review and subscribe to our podcast on all podcast platforms. If you...
Nov 21, 2022•52 min•Season 2Ep. 1
In this episode Scott Johnston welcomes his long-time friend and fellow sexagenarian climber Jim Nelson. Jim and Scott discuss Jim's latest guide book. Classic Cascade Climbs. Jim, with co authors Tom Sjolseth and David Whitelaw have just published a follow up to his 2 previous Selected Climbs books. This one; Classic Cascade Climbs, published by The Mountaineers Books is sure to fire the imagination of even the most seasoned climber. While giving plenty of relevant beta for the climbs the kille...
Aug 15, 2022•49 min
In this episode, Scott Johnston is joined by David Goettler. David is a member of the North Face Athlete Team, a professional mountain guide, and an accomplished alpinist. Fresh off of Everest after his successful summit without the use of supplemental oxygen, the duo discuss David's physical and mental preparation, embracing suffering, use of intermittent hypoxic training for preparation, and David's new approach for acclimatization this year that was a major factor in his success.
Aug 08, 2022•1 hr 8 min
In the episode, Scott Johnston talks with Damon Tedford who recently returned from successful climbs of both Mt Everest and Lhotse. While Damon and Scott have been in sporadic communication over the past couple of years using our phone consultation service he has been completely self-coached, using first our book Training for the New Alpinism to create his own training plan for the first couple of training cycles. For this final training build up prior to the Everest-Lhotse trip he bought and us...
Aug 01, 2022•1 hr 14 min
In this episode, Scott Johnston is once again joined by US Army Captain Vince Paikowski, winner (with Alastair Keys) of the 2021 Best Ranger competition. Last year these two military athletes trained using the tried and test Uphill Athlete methods. This year Vince either personally coached or supplied these same training methods to a number of different teams preparing for the 2022 Best Ranger comp. When the dust settled this year, teams using these Uphill Athlete based training approach placed ...
Jun 20, 2022•1 hr
Nikki LaRochelle is joined by fellow Uphill Athlete coach Mike Foote in interviewing ultra running phenom, Clare Gallagher, a major contender in the ultra running scene.
Jun 13, 2022•58 min
Scott Johnston discusses the evolution of the Uphill Athlete muscular endurance programming that has become a staple in the training of mountain athletes. Learn about the physiology, the intent, and the successful implementation of muscular endurance work in a variety of mountain pursuits.
May 23, 2022•47 min
Our Chamonix Mountain Fit at home strength program has been immensely popular with everyone who has tried it. But what many do not realize is that we add more content to the program every year. In 2022 we added three new follow-along, physical-therapist-led workouts that we dubbed Chamonix Mountain Fit LITE. These workouts are shorter and great for athletes breaking back into strength training as well as high-level athletes needing mid-season strength workouts to keep those stabilizer muscles an...
Apr 08, 2022•26 min
By using the Uphill Athlete training philosophy of building a big aerobic base Vince broke with tradition and with his partner, Alastair Keys, won the US Army's Best Ranger competition in 2021 -- a multi-day ordeal that challenges the endurance, strength, and tactical abilities of the top athletes in the Army Rangers. Scott and Vince discuss how endurance base training was crucial for his success.
Apr 04, 2022•1 hr 11 min
In this episode, Scott Johnston is joined by UA-coached athlete Brian Carlock. They discuss the background and evolution of Brian's athletic development and understanding of training, and his experience with coaching.
Feb 21, 2022•1 hr 4 min
Uphill Athlete Coaches Carolyn Parker, Maya Seckinger, Nikki LaRochelle, and Karen Bockel take up the question of how to balance being the best at all the different things. Join the community by joining this important conversation.
Dec 13, 2021•19 min
In this installment of the Uphill Athlete Podcast co-founder Steve House talks to Yoga Instructor Bree Dillon about their new joint venture: A recovery-focused yoga practice for athletes. The heart of the series is four classes that build into one another and allow you to progress on your own schedule. Level 1 starts at 30-minutes and Level 4 is 45 minutes in duration. For athletes who need to work on a specific area, we built out four body-area-specific video-based yoga blocks: Neck and Shoulde...
Dec 06, 2021•29 min
Training will never produce the desired results if you don't allow sufficient recovery between training bouts for the desired adaptations to occur. Uphill Athlete coach Scott Johnston discusses how to understand the feedback your body is giving you on your recovery status. With the proliferation of devises that can easily overwhelm us with data many athletes over-rely on these metrics. Do they work as well what your own body is telling you? Not if you pay attention. Listen and learn to Scott's p...
Nov 03, 2021•45 min
Several years ago UA coach Scott Johnston helped Adrian Ballinger and his partner Cory Richards prepare for his successful ascent of Mt Everest's North Ridge without the use of supplemental bottled oxygen. In this episode the two of us discuss the training and preparation process for attempting big mountains, and having realistic expectations while on expedition.. Adrian is an IFMGA certified mountain guide and the owner of Alpenglow Expeditions. Adrian has lead over one-hundred fifty internatio...
Oct 18, 2021•52 min
A fascinating chat with three of our Female Uphill Athlete coaches. This time they dive into considerations for training with their reproductive cycle. The panel consists of three female coaches each in their 20’s, 30’s, or 50’s.
Oct 05, 2021•35 min
