Uphill Athlete Podcast

Join Uphill Athlete coaches Carolyn Parker, Alison Naney, and Maya Seckinger in conversation about helping women in gain the knowledge to support themselves in training, and build confidence in a mountain environment. 

In this episode, Scott Johnston is joined by Olga Dobranowski. Olga is a medical doctor, based out of Colorado, who has tackled some impressive mountain goals. Here some of the topics discussed: growing up and starting climbing in Poland; Polish climbing history; Olga’s early climbing days in Poland and throughout Europe; moving to the U.S.A., and settling in Colorado; the evolution of Olga’s training; orchestrating success on Aconcagua with a busy lifestyle; pre-acclimatization; light and fast; self-assessment of altitude sickness; continued success on a solo climb of Denali; Olga’s base, aerobic, and specific training; hypoxic tents and other techniques for pre-acclimatization; physiological effects of altitude. 

A question we are often asked is how to utilize our training plans through time as many people re-cycle the plans year after year. Scott Johnston and Sam Naney discuss: Knowing how to get the best possible results for each individual; the difference between a training plan and coaching; objectively evaluating training plans and progress as a self-coached athlete; and much more. 

Coach Sam Naney is joined by Nikki LaRochelle and Mike Foote: Two successful mountain athletes both highly accomplished in the ski mountaineering, ultra running, and much more. They discuss the growth and development of the skimo racing in the US and Canada and how people can get involved with the skimo racing and ski mountaineering community in North America.

Coaches Scott Johnston and Sam Naney discuss overtraining syndrome (OTS).  “Treading on the knife’s edge, there is no real road map.” Key points covered are: Over-reaching verses over-training. Learning the distinction between the sympathetic and para-sympathetic overreaching; how to modulate training to encourage over-reaching and discourage over-training; recognizing red flags for over training; the pitfalls of group youth programs; recognizing a fatigue issue versus a fitness issue within the context of overtraining; the pitfalls of HRV (heart rate variability) for useful information for modulating training; how to modulate and accept mental and emotional stress; making rest as intentional as training; advice for people who find themselves in an overtrained state.

In this episode Scott Johnston is joined by Art Muir. Art is a seventy-four year old mountain enthusiast who has worked with Uphill Athlete for several years. As an urban dweller in Chicago, Art discusses how he trains for his mountain goals and ambitions in the flat lands, as well as how he has approached his training and goals through time.

Cody Ice Climbing: No Drafting on Pick Holes!Join Uphill athlete co-founder Steve House for a discussion with UA coach John Frieh and South Fork local and guidebook writer for the area, Aaron Mulkey. In this episode they discuss the ice climbing opportunities around Cody, Wyoming. They cover: the logistics of approaching various routes; how a typical day of ice climbing unfolds; things to consider when approaching routes; being prepared for wind, rock fall, and other inclement weather while on route; the differences between Ouray, Hyalite Canyon, and the South Fork; using v-threads for descending; hit list of Cody classics; Cody as a training ground for alpine climbing and consolidating fitness goals; the importance of aerobic fitness in approaching South Fork routes.

In this episode, Scott Johnston talks with Uphill Athlete's military and tactical coach, Drew Hammond. In this episode Scott and Drew discuss: Drew’s background; using hybrid strength and endurance methods; approaches for building an aerobic base for tactical athletes; training soldiers like athletes; training philosophy; scheduling training around deployment and at while at home; creating longterm positive change in base level physiology. 

Coach Sam Naney is joined by athlete Luke Nelson and coach, and 2019 Canadian Masters National SkiMo Champion, Scott Semple for a chat about all things ski mountaineering. Sam, Luke, and Scott have a great collective history in skimo racing. Join them as they talk about skimo racing in the US and in Europe; ways to train for and get involved in skimo; dive into some particulars about the gear needed; and learn how to get out there and make the best of ski mountaineering and racing.

In this episode of the Uphill Athlete Podcast, Scott Johnston talks with professional runner, Mike Foote. They discuss Mike's training and athletic history, the process of his athletic development, injury rehab and prevention, and Mike's passion for moving quickly in the mountains.