Episodes
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...
Published 06/05/23
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...
Published 05/22/23
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...
Published 05/08/23
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...
Published 03/27/23
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...
Published 03/13/23
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...
Published 02/27/23
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...
Published 02/27/23
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...
Published 02/13/23
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...
Published 01/30/23
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...
Published 01/16/23
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 [email protected] or visit us at...
Published 12/26/22
Episode 2 of the Winter 22-23 Season Training for Mountaineering, this is the first in this multi-part series where we are kicking off a major series 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...
Published 12/05/22
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....
Published 11/21/22
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...
Published 08/15/22
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.
Published 08/08/22
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...
Published 08/01/22
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...
Published 06/20/22
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.
Published 06/13/22
In the mountains, so many things are beyond our control; weather, snow conditions, avalanche hazard, rock quality, injury and illness to mention some of the more common.  How one deals with them is what can make the difference between a little adventure and tragedy.  Scott Johnston is joined by Kylee Toth dive into how experience and fitness allowed she and two companions to handle a recent unplanned bivouac during a scouting missing for their planned Bugaboo to Rogers Pass ski traverse.   A...
Published 06/06/22
In this episode, Scott Johnston talks with UA coach Nikki LaRochelle about her 1st place finish among co-ed teams and 4th place overall at the 2022  Grand Traverse ski mountaineering race in Colorado.  Nikki managed this impressive feat of endurance only 6 months (roughly) after the birth of second child. We discuss her training as well as balancing motherhood, working and training.
Published 05/30/22
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. 
Published 05/23/22
Scott Johnston and Uphill Athlete coach Jack Kuenzle discuss Jack's recent "Fastest Known Time" record on Mount Shasta, his background in the Navy SEALs, and more about the strategies he uses for moving quick over mountain terrain. Note: this was recorded before Jack's FKT on Mt Hood a few weeks later. 
Published 05/02/22
In this episode, Scott Johnston is joined by Pete Dickinson -- staff physical therapist for Uphill Athlete, and the US Ski Team. The two discuss tendon injuries, the physiology of the injury process, and sign posts for their proper rehabilitation.
Published 04/18/22
In this episode, Uphill Athlete coach Nikki LaRochelle hosts this episode where she  interviews Scott Johnston. They discuss Scott's diverse background in a number of different sports and career paths, as well as some of the major take-aways Scott has learned over 60 years of being an athlete and a coach. 
Published 04/11/22
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...
Published 04/08/22