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The Steep Stuff Podcast
Josh Potvin - Pre Broken Arrow 46K Interview
Trail running fans rejoice! Canadian elite mountain runner Josh Potvin joins the Steep Stuff podcast to share his preparation for the upcoming Broken Arrow 46K race. Coming off a victory at the Gorge Waterfall 50K, Potvin's confidence is high as he aims for a podium finish against top American competition.
In this candid conversation, Potvin reveals his meticulous training approach, including innovative heat adaptation sessions on the bike while wearing a heat suit. "It's the first time I've ever done this," he explains, describing how this method provides altitude preparation benefits without adding stress to his running volume. After previewing the course, he shares surprising insights about the terrain: "There was a lot more stuff that you could run that I was not anticipating," noting the fast downhill sections that could prove decisive on race day.
What makes Potvin's perspective particularly valuable is his strategic mindset. With a build that "couldn't have gone better," he discusses how he'll approach the notorious first lap that often sees elite runners blow up from going too hard too early. Unlike his American competitors using this as a World Championship selection race, Potvin (already selected for Team Canada) carries different pressures, potentially giving him a tactical advantage. His careful preparation extends to taper strategy, nutrition planning, and even lodging arrangements through Broken Arrow's elite housing program.
Whether you're a competitive trail runner seeking performance insights or a fan eager to understand the mental game behind elite mountain racing, this episode offers a fascinating glimpse into an athlete's final preparation for one of North America's premier sky races. Will Potvin's methodical approach pay off against a stacked field? Tune in to learn his strategy, then follow along on race day to see how it unfolds!
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What is up, fam? Welcome back to the steep stuff podcast. I'm your host, james Larriello, bringing you another broken arrow pre race episode, this one for the 46k, with none other than Mr Josh Potvin. The Canadian joined me on the pod to catch up. Super fun getting to catch up with Josh. He was actually one of the most highly requested folks for a pre race episode to have on, so it was fun to get to catch up with him and just see what how his build had been going.
Speaker 1:For those of you who might be unfamiliar with that name, josh has competed and had some great results at some of the most contentious Golden Trail Series races in North America. Josh most recently took the dub at the Gorge Waterfall 50K back in I think it was April, or maybe it was March, march, I don't know. I gotta get my calendar out for that one um. But absolute crazy finish and super stellar result there and give him a lot of confidence. Going in uh dress is also going to be competing at the world um world mountain running championship, uh in um the pyrenees in september. So this is a good little warm-up for him to see how he stacks up against some of the top American competition in the world, as well as a bunch of other contenders are going to be out there racing this race. So, without further ado, I hope you guys enjoy this one. Josh is an amazing human and it was fun getting to catch up with him and just wishing him the absolute best of luck at this race. So, without further ado, none other than Mr Josh Potvin.
Speaker 1:Josh Potvin, welcome back to the Steep Stuff podcast. How's it going, man? Thanks, james, I'm good. How are you? I'm very good, super excited to have you back on Stoked for a little chat pre-Broken Arrow. I know you're already out in Lake Tahoe or in the kind of in the Palisades area now, so it's stoked to just catch up and kind of see how things have been going. Man, awesome man, I'm excited.
Speaker 1:Yeah yeah, so tell me what's been up. We talked probably what, maybe two months ago, three months ago, probably close to a quarter ago. How's the building going, man, Are you excited to be out there?
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's really exciting to be here. I'm here a week early, which is nice. I'm fortunate to not always get to do that, so I decided to come here a week early, work a bit remote here, Super stoked. The build was like couldn't have gone better. To be honest, Nothing injury wise, nothing really came up. Things were healthy. You know things here and there, but nothing that like stopped the training. It was exactly to plan and, yeah, I'm really happy about it.
Speaker 1:So I love to hear it, man, I love to hear it. It's yeah, it's interesting. One of the things I thought was pretty cool I've been seeing on your Instagram like lots of time on the bike and lots of time in the heat, a little heat adaptation action there with the jacket and everything Maybe. Talk about that. How's that been kind of going for you? I see a lot of people doing that now.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it was the. So I did. I was doing about five days a week. I built up to five, not too much just because I was. It's the first time I've ever done this, so I didn't want to overstress my body too much and not, you know, it's a little bit experimental for my side, um, but I feel like I responded really well, like I didn't. I wasn't feeling over fatigued. I was able to, you know, recover the next day and go back to normal training on big workout days, uh, but I was doing, yeah, heatsuit on bike, mainly because I just didn't want to add extra running. Previously I was doing it on a treadmill for a bit, but I just feel like the bike allowed a little less stress on the body, keep the heart rate a little lower, but I think it was like for me, coming from sea level to an altitude race is really just the one stimulus I thought would be would help. Whether it does or doesn't, we'll find out.
Speaker 1:I love it. I mean, did you've been historically pretty solid at altitude? I mean you've had some good finishes altitude races, so I feel like why not just keep rolling with this one right?
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, they're fun, they're a challenge and they're they're always fun, so I can get beautiful views and run in beautiful places.
Speaker 1:So yeah, how's the weather been out there? Is it supposed to be? I haven't even looked at the weather. Is it supposed to be hot on race day?
Speaker 2:no, actually it was gonna be hot all week and then so a lot of the snow. I ran the course on sunday, yesterday, um, and a lot of the snow is gone, which is good. Um, it's supposed to be cool on race day, I think. Uh, I work, I'm in celsius, up to you know, 12 degrees celsius. What is that? Six, 50 or 50?
Speaker 1:or 60. Yeah, yeah, that's about right.
Speaker 2:It's not supposed to be too warm.
Speaker 1:It's not bad at all, all right, well, forget the heat training, though. This is yeah, yeah, I know, I know so much for that, but I think it'll.
Speaker 2:I think, you know, sometimes just an extra stimulus is always it helps train in other ways, so I'm sure it'll pay off yeah.
Speaker 1:Keep that blood volume high, that's right. What's any surprises on the course? What'd you think so far? I mean, obviously it's one of the most stunningly beautiful places in the country.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:You know what?
Speaker 2:I was. So, yeah, my first time here, first time to this area, for sure, First time on the course. I was expecting it to be not, not more challenging, just there was some steep sections, but I there was a lot more stuff that you could run that I was not anticipating. Uh, there's definitely some very steep grades, that that you know. See how it goes on race day. What people do, I have no idea. I'm sure if Eli Hemming's out there he's going to run up, run up every grade possible. But, um, I'm going to play it smart and just make sure I'm not overcooking on those climbs, especially in the first lap. So, but surprisingly, some some fast downhill running to the to the fit like the finish, which is exciting. So, uh, that's exciting.
Speaker 1:It's interesting you say that like I felt. I've been on the course before I felt the same thing. I was like you know. They build it obviously and this is nothing against Broken Arrow it's an amazing race and just world-class all around. But they build it as a sky race where there is a lot of vert but it's not super technical. It's very like. Most of the entire thing is pretty much runnable.
Speaker 1:It's just a fast course, right? It's so speedy, a lot of opportunities to open it up on the downhills and descents and like kind of get gaps on people there. I gotta ask you this from a strategy perspective. Obviously the first lap, um, you know we've seen in. You know if history tells us there's epic blow-ups that occur yes people, people take it out so hot.
Speaker 1:Usually the the person leading the first lap isn't necessarily the person winning the race. Do you have a strategy going in, anything like you're going to hold back a little bit, or you plan on, like taking out hard but keeping in contact with the front pack? Like what's your strategy going in?
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's, um, I feel like the first little, like the, the first aid station. I'm going to be smart for sure, uh, but, that being said, I don't want to like, I want to put myself in a position to stay up with that the leaders as much as possible, and see where I you know where I fall in that day and um, so I don't want to get too far off the lead pack after that. First climb up to the aid station, um, it's probably like around nine kilometers or 10. Um, but yeah, you need to be smart because I think that second lap there's going to be carnage for sure.
Speaker 2:Yeah, there for sure will be, and you can really make a lot of moves if you have something on that back half to really push the pace and make your move in the race that day.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's interesting man. I think that there's a lot more opportunities in this race than people think. I think when people look at the start list, they see Eli Hemming, they see Michelino Sincero, they see David Sinclair, they see a lot of, you know, like very big names in the sport. I can't speak for Eli but, like you know, michelino is coming off an injury and he's not where he wants to be right now. Be right now. David sinclair is injured, probably not racing the 46k.
Speaker 1:So a lot of the big names that are going to be there either coming off injuries or I think it just this race in particular opens up a lot of opportunities for new faces and for people trying to make their name in the sport. Are you? I know I kind of asked you from the strategy perspective of like, oh well, how do you, how are you going to let it unfold? But I think there's opportunities for someone like you who really keen to this 50 K distance, to be able to go out and get a podium or do very well at a race like this.
Speaker 2:Appreciate that, appreciate giving me that extra confidence? No, no doubt. Yeah, my, my goal is to, to, to go podium if I can. Um, I know I'm, you know I'm lining up to some of the the in America and I'm excited for that. But I did the training, the fitness is there and all I can just is put it all out there on race day. For me now.
Speaker 1:As a Canadian going to this race, what is your thoughts?
Speaker 2:Because this is an.
Speaker 1:American selection for Worlds, right or for Worlds, it's our American selection race. What's your take on that? You could potentially play spoiler to somebody's day. Obviously there's the top four selection, but something like that, but it's I don't know. It's almost like it's not necessarily do or die for someone like you, right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and there's probably not as much on the line. I'm already on the Canadian team team for worlds in spain this year, which is which is exciting, but I think again, I treat it like any other race. Um, you know, it's, it's a, it's a. Whether it's a world race or not, it's a, it's broken arrow, it's a big event. Uh, there's always fast athletes here, um, and I'm, you know, gonna go and go in with it with the same mentality as I would for any race. Um, that being said, I probably don't have that pressure where I need to feel like I need to give, you know, everything I got to to to win or bust kind of thing. Like I, I want to still play strong and not, you know, not completely crash to the finish. So I don't blame you uh, so that might that might.
Speaker 2:That might end up in my favor.
Speaker 1:No, I I agree, man I agree, I so, like you. You mentioned the word pressure at a race like this. Like I know, when I'm in like races like this, I stay away, dude. Like at least like up until my race. Like I don't, I don't like to go to things, I don't like to be involved with anything, I just want to be in my own bubble. I think last time I was at broken arrow, it was was like right when the Tour de France show dropped on Netflix and I literally just stayed in my hotel room and just binged that until race day, like what is your strategy?
Speaker 1:Like not strategy, but like what's your approach? Do you like go like mingle with people, like hang out with friends, or do you just kind of like stay in and just taper and just hide until race day?
Speaker 2:I'm definitely not a high person, but I'm not going to be overly social. I'm actually staying in Broken Arrow's elite housing program, which is great. There's a family that's hosting and I'm with another athlete, nicholas Turco, who's trying to make the American team, so it's been wonderful staying with him and, yeah, I think we're both kind of very calm people so he's got a good energy to be around, so I think that's been wonderful, um, to get to know him. Um, so I probably won't be doing too much more socializing outside of that. Um, it's taper from here, not really. Yeah, just chill. I agree, just chill.
Speaker 1:How do you approach taper like this going in, do you just have? I mean, are you going to do anything to keep the blood volume high? Do you pick pickups or any like strides, like anything in particular you have between here now and Saturday?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'll do a little workout tomorrow, probably just on something flat, four by four minutes, just something to pick up the pace a bit, nothing too intense really, and then from Tuesday onwards, just as I feel, just some easy running, uh, slowly work it down to, you know, to 20 minutes. Um, if I don't feel good that day, I'll take a rest day. Like, at this point, you can't really, you can only do more damage.
Speaker 1:You can only screw it up, yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's better just to like I've come to the. You know, if I'm just mentally tired one day, I'll just I'll take it off because it's you know go for a walk or do something different, just keep the body moving.
Speaker 1:Yeah, how's the food scene? Have you like explored at all, like, like, as far as like dinners and stuff like that, or are you at home staying in the place and cooking?
Speaker 2:Yeah, just staying in right now. It's the family's so wonderful. They eating together, uh, prepping meals together every night, so it's it's actually been quite nice. It feels like you're kind of at a home and not traveling, which is quite relaxing actually. So I've been very, very fortunate for the event, for for supporting athletes.
Speaker 1:That's so nice man. It's funny you say that like there's something like we've been looking into at Pike's Peak, like to try and bring it like adopt, like a program like that. I think it's so such a cool thing right To have you know people from the local community like support athletes and you know it's I don't know. I feel like it's more immersive instead of just going and staying in a hotel and doing that thing. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2:Totally. Yeah, yeah, I agree, and you get to know locals, uh, and they do parry up with other athletes which could manage that. Now, broken Arrow just has a really good race director and they just do it so well that they're able to handle it. But I'd support it in all races if they could handle it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, big time. Brandon Madigan. I mean, he's world-class. He creates one of the best races on the planet. Let's talk nutrition, so it might be a little bit cooler of a day. What's your nutrition strategy for a race like this?
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's a good point. I'm still working through all the details, just with the temperature being a little bit different than I was expecting, but I will probably. I will still. Probably, because of altitude, I'll probably easily still go through a liter an hour Like. That's just like kind of my comfortable zone with liquid intake, um, and I feel like I've even just running out here on the weekend. Um, I would easily went for two and a half, two and a half liters over two hours. I was just so thirsty. So, um, a lot of water, uh, carbs, you know the usual, probably around 100 if on the race day like this, um is probably where it's going to sit right and and a little bit bump up the sodium levels too, um, depending on how hot it is. So, yeah, that's kind of the plan, um, so I'll definitely be stopping that. To get the water intake I'll definitely have to stop at one of the aid stations, so I have to figure out how I'm going to manage that still.
Speaker 1:But that was. So that was my next question Cause, obviously, for someone like you coming out, it's not like you could bring a crew with you. It's a little bit hard, right, it's a little more tricky, and it's like do you carry your your drink mixes with you or, and try to figure it out that way, like it's almost like you know, like not having that crew is you have to almost be um more crafty right to try and make sure you can keep up with it yeah, so at least the crew's only allowed at the midpoint for all athletes, so everyone's on an equal playing field there too.
Speaker 2:And one of the homeowners here, yanni, who's hosting us, is going to hand me some bottles, which is good. So, then I'll probably just fill up at some point one of the other aides maybe half a bottle, just get out if I need it. Yeah, so I'll have to sort that out. Cool, cool, stop for the 20 seconds, whatever it takes, yeah, yeah, that's worth it. It's worth it 100, 100 dude.
Speaker 1:I can't wait to see how this is gonna play out. It's gonna be. This is gonna be a fast race, it's gonna be. But I think the cool thing is like we're gonna see some new, a lot of new faces maybe not the same ones that we're used to seeing up front. I think it's gonna be, uh, shake out in a couple of different ways.
Speaker 1:This is my guess. I don't know Like. I think the people, people are expecting to like win this race. Might not. It might be different characters up front with that. What would it mean to you to make a podium at a race like this, like this is obviously the biggest stage in our sport, or one of the biggest stages.
Speaker 2:I know the listeners probably can't see it, but I'm smiling right now Just asking the question. Uh, no, it would be phenomenal, like it's. You know, we always that's kind of the goal at any of these races is you? You try to put yourself out there to to win one of the biggest races that you know in in in the states. For that I'm I'm joining to um this week. Um, I don't, I don't know how to put it into words, to be honest.
Speaker 2:Um, I just I'd be thrilled it would be yeah, it'd be a dream it also and also just, it'll just be that extra confidence as I go into into worlds, because I know a lot of these, all these athletes that are going to be racing, are going to be there and it just helps me put it into perspective of where my fitness is and as I built, built to that that race in september amazing.
Speaker 1:Last question what uh shoes are gonna be rocking on race?
Speaker 2:day I'm doing the S lab Genesis Genesis.
Speaker 1:Is that the new one they just came out with? They've been talking.
Speaker 2:It's been out for a bit. Uh, no, that's, that's. Uh, it's like the Courtney DeWalter shoe. Uh, I like it cause it's it's got a lot of, it's like got a good amount of cushion no plate or anything, but if I feel like the rock protection is good on it too, it's got good stability. So for anything technical and rocky like this, you can just you can bomb over any of that downhill which I think is going to be needed what do you think actually?
Speaker 1:I got one more question for you. What do?
Speaker 2:you think?
Speaker 1:is going to. Now that you've seen the course, what do you think is going to suit your strengths the most more of this descents or more of the climbing?
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's a, uh, that's a. I was. I actually think the the descents might be a little bit stronger for me. Um, just because I on the on the race, the race course on the weekend, I did the, some of those descents are are quite steep and, um, you know, a little bit steeper than maybe what I've been training on. But, um, that being said, you can only make up. I feel like you can only make up so much time on those at steep terrain, whereas on the descent I think you can really do some damage.
Speaker 1:No, I agree, it's interesting. I was just having this conversation with Dan before Sunapee as well. It's. It's funny seeing seeing I shouldn't say funny it's interesting seeing, um, people come out from sea level to race at altitude when you're used to climbing in a certain way, whereas, like it seems like altitude is the great equalizer for people. On on, like when it comes to ascending, like either know how to do it or it's like your people, I've seen like people freak out, like where it's, like it's, it's really a big delimiter for folks. So I think that the way that I actually like, actually operate is to take advantage of those dissents. Like there's opportunities there to make up a ton of time, whereas, like with the ascending, like you know, it's either there or it's not. You know, yeah, so cool man Good advice, James.
Speaker 2:Appreciate it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, appreciate it, josh, wishing you the absolute best of luck. My friend, it's going to be really fun to follow along. Hope you have an amazing day out there. This is going to come out this week. I'll get this out in the next two days. So, yeah, I appreciate it, man.
Speaker 2:Awesome, yeah, nice chatting, and we'll look forward to chatting again. Absolutely Okay. See you, james, see you.
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