The Steep Stuff Podcast
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The Steep Stuff Podcast
#119 - Abby Stone
Meet Abby Stone, a 19-year-old trail running phenom who's rewriting the traditional path to mountain running success. After placing 19th at the prestigious Broken Arrow Skyrace 23K in her first-ever trail race, Abby made the bold decision to leave collegiate running behind and dive headfirst into the world of mountain racing.
What makes Abby's story so compelling is her refreshing perspective on competition. While she struggled with the pressure and "business" side of track and cross country, she found immediate joy on the trails. "I've never been a big racer, always hated racing like cross country and track," she explains. "And then as soon as I stepped on trails, I have the funnest time." This fundamental shift in mindset has propelled her to unexpected heights, including earning a spot on Team USA for the World Mountain Running Championships in the U20 division.
Growing up in the mountains of Utah gave Abby a natural affinity for technical terrain, complemented by her background as a climber. This multidisciplinary approach gives her a distinct advantage on challenging courses that require scrambling skills—something she hopes to leverage in future Skyrunning events. Her unique combination of steeplechase experience, climbing ability, and pure love for mountain environments positions her as an exciting talent to watch in the coming years.
Beyond racing, Abby balances her running ambitions with training to become a paramedic, eventually hoping to join search and rescue operations. This pragmatic approach to building dual careers showcases a maturity beyond her years, as she navigates the emerging opportunities for professional trail runners while maintaining perspective on long-term goals.
Follow Abby's journey as she prepares to represent the United States on the world stage, and witness firsthand how the next generation of trail runners is forging new paths in the sport. Give her a follow on Instagram at abbystone0 and let her know what you thought about this conversation!
Follow Abby on IG - @abbystone0
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What's up everybody? Welcome back to the Steep Stuff Podcast. I'm your host, james Lariello, and I'm so excited to bring you guys an episode today with Abby Stone, young gun. Just 19 years old, abby is starting to find her own on the trail scene. This year Abby jumped onto the scene with a 19th place finish at the Broken Arrow 23K. She's also been working with the trail team and was invited to go race at the WRMA final that was in Slovenia, um with the rest of the trail team and others.
Speaker 1:Um, in both the vertical and the up down um, abby's just been on an absolute tear. She just finished up a great, or actually is finishing up a great season. Just had a great race at a Cirque series, a basin as well. Um, abby's got an interesting like she's an an interesting spot in her career. This year she decided to forego collegiate track and field and go full time on the trails and pursue a trail running career. So she's part of this kind of new up and coming group of young guns that are really transitioning off the roads and off the track and trying to make a go at it at a very young age on the trail scene. So I'm really excited to see where her career is going to take her, and this was a super fun conversation, so I hope you all enjoy it. Without further ado, none other than Abby Stone.
Speaker 2:It's time.
Speaker 1:Thank you, ladies, and gentlemen, we are live Abby Stone. Welcome to the Steep Stuff Podcast. How's it going?
Speaker 2:Thank you, I'm doing good. How are you doing?
Speaker 1:I'm doing great, excited to have you on. You've had like quite a season so far and it seems like it's only getting better with your selection to go represent Team USA for the U20 and Worlds. So lots to talk about, lots to be excited about.
Speaker 2:For sure yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, welcome. You're hanging out in Colorado Springs this week, aren't you?
Speaker 2:I'm in Colorado Springs. Yeah, yeah, welcome, are you? Uh, you're hanging out in Colorado Springs this week, aren't you? I'm in Colorado Springs. Yep, is that your first?
Speaker 1:time, like running around First time out here. Yeah, trails, yeah Gorgeous. Yeah, that's cool, that's cool stuff, right.
Speaker 2:Just went to garden the gods this morning, amazing yeah.
Speaker 1:Springs are dope. Uh, there's a lot of good yeah Good mountain trails and stuff like that around. All right, let's dive into it. Maybe for the audience that might not be familiar with you, maybe give me, like the five minute elevator pitch on who is Abby Stone.
Speaker 2:Okay, yeah, my name is Abby Stone. I have been running since about seventh grade. Competitively Ran through high school and then started running at UVU. It's Utah Valley University. It's based in Orem, utah, um, just below Salt Lake Um. Ran there for about a year, broke my foot during track, so then that kind of halted some things during the steeplechase and then I randomly decided to join the Broken Arrow Sky Race. So that was my first trail race and then it plays pretty good there. And then that got me selected for the USA team for Worlds in September and so I kind of decided to choose trail over college running. And then, yeah, just been racing a couple times this summer and slowly making the transition towards show learning, so it's been really fun. Um what?
Speaker 1:a summer.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's been a really fun summer. Yeah, outside of running, I'm a yoga teacher. I'm learning I guess learning is a weird weird, but training to be a paramedic. So I'm going to EMT school just in like a month, um, and then I'll go to the paramedic school, like in January hopefully. So, yeah, that's me.
Speaker 1:Very cool, Very cool, Uh. So let's talk. Let's talk a little bit about just getting started with like track and field, UVU and stuff like that running uh at the collegiate level. Like, what was it like for you coming out of high school, transitioning to college? Was it a whole recruiting process for you? Was it an easy process? How did it work for you?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I had a hard time picking what college. I didn't decide until June after I'd already graduated. And then, yeah, I got recruited by UV uvu, ran there for a year. I loved it. Team was amazing. Um kind of struggled through my freshman year like I got pneumonia during cross so I only raced like twice and then raced one track season or one track race and then broke my foot. So all besides that, it was great. Oh my gosh are.
Speaker 1:Were you on a team with Oakley Olsen?
Speaker 2:I was yes.
Speaker 1:Big fan of Oakley.
Speaker 2:Yeah, oakley actually invited me to Lake Tahoe because she was racing Broken Arrow and I wasn't even going to plan to race because the wait list was so long and I'm like you know what, might as well try to get on it. So, like a week before the race, I got off the wait list. So that's when I decided to race. So she's, yeah, she got me into the steeplechase, got me into trails, love her.
Speaker 1:All right. So I'm going to throw you a question that I ask every steepler that comes to the trails. What is it about the steeple that you think makes because it seems like steeplechase runners are just so good at trail running? What is it that you think makes them good trail runners? Like coming from the steeplechase at trail running.
Speaker 2:What is it that you think makes them good trail runners, like coming from the steeplechase? Yeah, it's funny, the crossover. I think, like it's a gritty race, it's a hard race. Um, I think, just like that strength of steeplechase that you have to have translates really well to trails, um, attracts that like same grittiness of people, and so I think that's the crossover in my head. Yeah, it is interesting.
Speaker 1:Yeah, they're all good, like there's yeah, nobody, nobody's bad, that comes from this. People chase like talented. That's kind of crazy. All right, so let's talk a little bit about Broken Arrow. I feel like that's a. That's a touch point we got to get into. Being only 19 years old. You enter your first Broken Arrow VK and 23k. You get top 20 in the 23K, which is a Golden Trail Series race. Did you have any expectations for race day? Like, did you have any idea what to expect? Like, did you just pretty much like walk into it kind of blind, like what, what? What was? Like well, I guess, what were the emotions and everything kind of going into this race? Like did you? How are you feeling?
Speaker 2:It was kind of a wild experience. So I was only planning to race the VK and then the 23K had a super long wait list. Like there was no way I was going to get into it. And then all weekend, like I'm talking to everybody, everyone's doing the 23K and I'm like, have all this FOMO, I'm like I want to do it too in spots that they had like day of registration and you had to get there at like four in the morning. So I just decided on a whim the night before like okay, I'm just gonna try to get into it, like might as well, you know. So got there at like four in the morning, waited like an hour and then just got into the race the day of.
Speaker 2:So I had zero expectations. Like I've never done a race longer than like a 10 K, like on a road too. So like I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Um, so yeah, the whole time I was just having fun, just kind of treated it like a normal, just fun run in the mountains. So yeah, honestly, it didn't really feel like a race, like I was just having fun on the whole time.
Speaker 1:So yeah, like what did you think as far I mean, obviously you got to take a little bit of a taste of it in the vk the day before like the mass star and it's like so competitive and everybody, who's everybody is there did you get into? Like how was it racing other ladies like was it? Like did you especially because there's a lot of europeans there, like in european, like europeans run very aggressive, like it's a little bit different than the American scene?
Speaker 1:in some ways, um, or were you? Were you by yourself in no man's land, like? How did the race unfold for you is what I'm trying to find out yeah.
Speaker 2:so I actually didn't start with the elite woman, um, because I registered like the day of I couldn't get into that um. So I was kind of running with like some 40 year old men most of the time and then I kind of like after six miles I was running by myself the whole time. So it kind of didn't feel like a race in that sense, just because I was just out in the mountains, normally like how I am, and so, yeah, competitively, like I didn't really get a taste of that in that race. Um, but just being in that environment, especially like finishing, and I'm like oh Whoa, there's some big, big names here. So, yeah, that was cool.
Speaker 1:So that's nuts, that even that makes the like the you're. Honestly, that makes your finish even crazier, because the fact that, like your top 20 and you didn't even start with the elite women who all started what a couple of minutes ahead of you. So you had to reel some of these people in and, like you know, you don't have anybody to key off of other than, like old dudes. Like it's kind of crazy, it's kind of crazy.
Speaker 1:Like um, so yeah, that I mean, that's amazing. So what did it feel like after? Like did you? Were you like automatically hooked? Like oh my gosh, I love this sport? Were you like like, I don't know, I feel like for some people, they try the sport and they're like okay, like this is something I can immediately, especially if you have early success. You're like okay, I can immediately figure out how to get good at this. Was it something like that where you got kind of bit by the bug?
Speaker 2:oh, immediately, like even before that race, just the whole trail environment I got addicted to so fast, like everyone there is so cool. It's kind of a different feeling of coming from like a college running where, like the competition is not as like fun and light-hearted, like it's more like businessy and like you're just there to race, which is fun in of itself. But yeah, the trail world is so fun and so I got addicted very fast. Um, yeah, and after that race, just talking to people, I'm like, okay, I think this is what I want to do. Like I kind of found my niche in running, so open my eyes a lot now.
Speaker 1:So I know you've been kind of hanging out with the trail team and we'll get into like your Germany adventure as well. Um, but maybe talk about like was that how you got kind of like hooked up with Andy Wacker and that group, with the trail team? Is that kind of how you got introduced to them?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so going back to Oakley, um, like that first day, the Thursday we got there, the trail team met up for a shakeout run, and so they're like I met everybody, um, and that's when I met Andy Wacker and kind of talked throughout the weekend, not like a ton Um, and then he just reached out like a couple of weeks before Germany. I was like hey, like want to come to our trail training camp and then race. So yeah, that's kind of when I met everybody and got that connection.
Speaker 1:So super cool. Thank you, oakley. Yeah, oakley is amazing and like Andy's the man. Like Andy, yeah, I feel like he's just how he has brought so many new people into the sport and, just in his own way, continues to grow the sport, which is really cool, and contribute.
Speaker 2:No, it's incredible. Yeah, he's doing big things.
Speaker 1:Let's talk. Let's talk Germany. Like what was that experience? Like, Cause, not only did you get to, you obviously raced over there, um, and also we kind of had your camp. What was the camp like? How did that? How did that roll out?
Speaker 2:Well, the camp was amazing. We had an incredible group of people. Um, I felt very young, like everybody has all this experience, so it was really cool to learn from everybody, um, and just be around like an elite group of trail runners. Um, yeah, that was incredible. So gorgeous there.
Speaker 2:I've never been to Europe, so I was really excited to get some at least go to Europe before worlds, just kind of get that experience of traveling over there, dealing with the jet lag and everything. And then, yeah, getting to race with all them too was huge. Um, getting that experience, international racing, racing with all the Europeans the Europeans are crazy, crazy. They're so fast, it's insane. Um, yeah, I was intimidating for sure, like that first race, just standing on the start line and I'm just looking around I'm like, oh my gosh, like these are like all like pro trail runners, like they're huge, big names, um, but it's cool just to have no expectations, like I really have nothing to base anything off of. So it's cool just to have no expectations, like I really have nothing to base anything off of. So it's fun just to throw myself in those races and just have fun and see what I can do.
Speaker 1:So super cool, that's cool. What about, so, the trip itself? Maybe talk about like where, like location wise, and like what you guys did, like as far as different runs that you would do as a group, and like you know, just the community you get to build, like eating dinner together and spending time together and like building this camaraderie. Like what is that like?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so it was in Garmisch, germany. I had no idea Germany was like a cool mountain place I don't think most of it is but kind of in the South part of Germany, kind of on the outside. So we all stayed in the hotels together right there. And then, yeah, first day it's called the Wink. It's this big, like 14 mile run, so gorgeous. Yeah, all ran together and then just spend the rest of the day like when, ice bathing in the river, eating dinner together, taking some fun photo shoots. Um, next day did another cool run. I forget what it's called, all the German words, I can never remember them. Um, absolutely gorgeous run, but you lunch at like the top of this big peak and then wrote the tram down, which is really fun. Um, yeah, gorgeous runs, gorgeous, gorgeous. I'm like trying to think what else what about the uh?
Speaker 1:so let's talk about the team component a little bit so like you guys, do you branch off for separate runs? Everybody kind of runs together. Like, will they? Like, does andy like plan the route? Like the day before, like hey, tomorrow we're gonna go do this and we'll do this as a group. Like how does I guess? Like how does it structured from these camps and like, yeah, so to get out of it yeah, andy planned the runs um, so we'd all just kind of run together.
Speaker 2:Um. Obviously, guys are a lot faster, so kind of split up in little groups, but I'll kind of go up the top together. Um team component was huge, like again, I think there's just a such a good group of people. They're all super supportive. We all became like friends immediately, which is really cool. Yeah, amazing community.
Speaker 1:I loved it Very cool. So from there you guys go and you race. What are we about? A week, week and a half removed now from the WMRA vertical World Cup final, correct? Yes, so that's the WMRA um vertical world cup final, correct? Yes, so that's 5.7 miles, 4,100 feet. It's a beast of an uphill race. Let's talk about that. Like I obviously went pretty well for you, um, but you get top 20, top 25, like you did. It had a great result. What was it like racing over there against the Europeans, like I said, like they're very aggressive. It's just different, different style of racing. Like, how did that unfold for you?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so the first day, um, which was like the 5.7 with like the super steep um that, yeah, that was steep, it was hard, but super cool. Um, you kinda you climb for about three miles and then it opened up to like these grass fields and so it was just a kind of a fast mile right before the very finish, um, so that was kind of fun, kind of felt like cross country. Everyone got a little speed in them. Um, yeah, it's interesting seeing like the Europeans different tactics, like a lot of them are really strong climbers. Um, fast power hikers would surprise me.
Speaker 2:Like I'll be running and like I'm getting passed by this European just power hiking next to me. Like it's crazy. Um, yeah, so that kind of taught me a lot like when to hike, when to run. It was really cool. Yeah, amazing race, kind of running through the clouds. We finished at the top, um, there for a couple hours just hanging out with everybody. So, yeah, really cool. Next day, um, about the same mileage, like a little less deep, so it's a lot faster, kind of rolling up and down more like a classic style, and it was a little bit of struggle.
Speaker 1:I was a little more dead, but it was, it was fast, it was fun so, oh, so you did, I didn't realize that you, so you did back to back. You raced the. So the, the mountain classic, if you will, and the vertical.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah.
Speaker 1:That's so, is that? I mean? Obviously track and field is a little bit different. Where do you I don't think you do, you don't do back to back days in track and field, Like, is this the first time you've done like back to back on something like that, especially for, like, a mountain race?
Speaker 2:Yeah, not mountain races like track. Not mountain races like track you can get away with doing back to back like a 1500 one day, 800 the next day, like it's not too bad. But these are like hour, hour and a half hard races where you're just like going hard the whole time. So it's a little hard to double back on them. But I think the next day, having like more of the downhill and the speed, kind of got away with it a little more, um, but I definitely struggled more on the second day. But it was fun.
Speaker 1:How do you, how do you think the climbing light transfers for you, especially coming from like a track and field backgrounds, um like, is climbing more your jam or is descending more your jam? Like what do you what?
Speaker 2:do you?
Speaker 1:like better.
Speaker 2:I have always been, like ever since high school, like hill workouts are my jam, like that's where I thrive off of Um, and like leading up into it, ever since I broke my foot, my doctor was like hey, like for the next few weeks don't run on roads, just dance off surfaces. I'm like all right, like I'll just be on trails. So I just run trails all over like May and June, um, so I got kind of a really good climbing base at the beginning of the summer and then I've kind of just been building off of that the whole summer. So climbing, I would say like is my strong suit, um, and then the downhill. Like I still do have some of that track speed like hasn't been that long, so that's been helpful to kind of have that turnover for the downhill still working on it, like just getting over that fear I trip lot, yeah we all do once or twice a week, but one step at a time very cool.
Speaker 1:How does it change your perspective on the sport now that you've gotten to? Because you gotta remember like people come into the sport. Yeah, maybe somebody will race a broken arrow in their first year, but very few individuals get the opportunity to go race abroad in their first year especially. Uh something, uh something for like a WRMA, like world cup final stuff, like that Like it's really sets you up for for for a very bright future in the sport. Like, how has it maybe changed your perspective at all?
Speaker 2:Oh, it's been huge. I, my eyes have been opened up so much to running, like there's so much more to running than just cross country and track. Surprise, surprise, um, yeah, I didn't realize, honestly, how competitive trail running and mountain running is until I got into it. I'm like, oh, this is hard, like I think you hear like people like, oh, they went pro trail runner because they weren't fast enough on track or road, but it's like a completely different sport, like terrain, completely different, like I mean running's running at the end of the day, but it honestly feels like a whole nother sport. So it's really interesting.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's crazy. What now after? So now I guess I'll double back. So you obviously made the world's team. You're going to be going to compete at the U20 division for the world's team in just a few weeks. Did you get any advice maybe? So I know Oakley was last year the collegiate US national title holder and did you get maybe some advice from her even though she didn't go over to compete at a world's like a world's like event maybe any advice from any peers to be able to go over? Like how do you feel about like kind of going to represent Team USA?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so Oakley actually kind of the reason I applied for the U-20 team, because she did it when she was my age. She applied for it so she went to Thailand for the world.
Speaker 2:That's right. Um. So yeah, she's been huge mentoring me through this whole trail experience. Um, so I've gotten a ton of advice from her and just getting that confidence built up, especially because I realized a lot of the u20 it may have changed now, but a lot of them don't have a ton of experience trail racing just because some of them are coming out of high school, you know, early in college, like there's not really a ton of time for that. So I'm kind of excited to kind of build that confidence of having like a few trail races in me and bringing that to the world championships. Um, of course, like the Europeans have been doing it forever, so that's a different story, but yeah, it'll be cool, I'm excited.
Speaker 1:It's crazy. Like it's I mean, it's the biggest stage in our sport, more or less like for short trail at least, for, like what we do. Like it's it's pretty cool. Um, do you have any expectation or is it just going to be like, all right, let's just see what happens? Like I, almost like myself, I don't even know how to approach a race like that, just because it's like, do you just do your best or you, like, have competitive aspirations? It's like I don't know, you know it's. It's kind of difficult right with just how deep these fields are yeah, it's like a whole different, like I've never.
Speaker 2:My first time racing international was like a week ago, so it's kind of I don't really know what to expect, honestly. Um, and this will even be different because it's like I'll be on the oldest side of people who I'm racing were, as last week, I was the youngest by like a couple of years. So, yeah, it'll be completely different than what I've ever done before. Um, I think my whole thing with trails, like I've before trails, I've never been a big racer, always hated racing like cross country and track Um. And then as soon as I stepped on trails like've never been a big racer, always hated racing like cross country and track Um. And then as soon as I stepped on trails, like have the funnest time. So it's kind of interesting going into a race where I'm actually like excited to race. Like it's kind of a weird feeling to me because normally I'm like dreading races. So, being excited to race, I'm pretty stoked about that.
Speaker 1:Let's unpack that a little bit Cause, like I don't think the average person listening to this might not understand. Like like you kind of glossed on it in the beginning of the conversation where you said like track and field is business, Like it's a different, different sport in a lot of ways, whereas like trail running is, I mean, at the pointy tip of the spear. Trail running is very competitive, but it's also dialed back in its own way. When you step on a start line, for you there are no nerves. Now, I guess, is that, is that true? Like, how does maybe talk about that like, or are you nervous, like at all, to race?
Speaker 2:yeah, I think it's kind of a different type of nerves honestly, like cross country and track. There was just so much expectation I probably put mostly on myself, honestly, um, but trails and it might change later, I hope it doesn't as much but Chelsea's like you're just open, you're exposed, you're not like in a stadium where everyone's like watching you and every second of a 200 you know like. I think that's why I love it. Just I'm not as nervous when I'm just out in the mountains, like for high school, I'd like go trail running just to get away and just have fun. So I think that's kind of that root of that just keeps the nerves out.
Speaker 1:So I know you went to UVU. Are you originally from Utah as well?
Speaker 2:Yeah, born and raised in Orem, so oh, wow, okay, so you're like.
Speaker 1:So I find that really cool, just because not necessarily, I don't know Between Europe Sorry, orem and Salt Lake, there's always a strong mountain running and trail running contingent. There's a lot of people that you can look to from that area. Mountain running is a thing, is what I'm trying to say. It's not quite Boulder, but like you kind of get immersed and understand what it is from a young age, I would imagine. Is that correct?
Speaker 2:Oh for sure. Yeah, like we were always out trail running. I never like there's not a ton of trail races. Well, I guess there's Cirque series. I didn't really know about a ton of trail races, I guess on my end Um, um, but like we were always competitive with like the strava segments up on like trails. Like tim oakley has the record on one side, I have the record on the other side, so it's kind of fun just like do little records throughout the mountains. Um, yeah, it's a great place to go trail running. Um christian allen, he's also from oram, he'll also be in world.
Speaker 2:So yeah we got a good community of trails.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that hair, the hair and the mustache that's iconic. Yeah, interesting guy, interesting, so cool, I don't know. I just find it really interesting. I always like to trace things back to like roots, just because you know. I feel like when you get exposed to these things at a young age and learn them at a young age, it's almost like the Europeans in a lot of ways. You grow up in the mountains and it just teaches you so many things that the average person from a different part of the country might not know, and it really morphs people in the young ages as a good mountain runner, which is kind of evident in yourself, which is pretty cool, so it's definitely neat. Let's talk about a race you're going to do tomorrow. So you're racing Cirque Series A Basin, correct?
Speaker 2:Yes, I am, I'm excited.
Speaker 1:Is that your first Cirque Series race?
Speaker 2:So I did Snowbird back in the beginning of July. Okay, that was a rough race, I'm not going to lie. It was kind of the same time, like the night before, where I was kind of deciding between still continuing to run with UVU in college and trying to pursue trails. So I went into that race very stressed out of my mind so didn't really get to enjoy it. So I'm excited to just be able to run and have fun tomorrow in the Cirque series. So yeah, it's so much fun, yeah they're.
Speaker 1:They like are, in my opinion, like the best. I mean, if you like the mountain classic distance, just like the best, purest version of a track, meet in the mountains, like that's as close as you're going to get. I think that's the best way to describe it. Yeah, I was at Targhee last weekend and while I didn't have the race, I wanted like just that course, like the courses are just so fun and just the ability just to try and get the best out of yourself is awesome, so you're in for a treat and it's a good field.
Speaker 1:Like Courtney Coppinger is going to be there, there's going to be a lot of really strong men and women, so it'll be For sure.
Speaker 2:No, I'm stoked, it'll be fun.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So you kind of hit on something a few minutes ago about this decision or not you want to continue your you know your track career or track and cross country career at college, or make that decision to go to trails. Like I feel like this is a massive decision to make, like maybe kind of unpack that a little bit, like what was that like for you? It must have been extremely hard.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's been honestly a wild couple months. Um. So even before broken arrow, after I broke my foot where I wasn't running for a couple months, I kind of started to question even like continuing to run in the ncaa anyways, like I know, I've always like I want to run for my whole life. That's not a question, um. But I just honestly didn't love like the business side of it and just all that pressure and expectation to like perform in order to be on the team or like get a scholarship or all of that. So that was already kind of in the back of my mind. I was just going to go through this next year and then kind of reevaluate it anyways.
Speaker 2:And then, after getting selected, I went back and forth with some coaches. It just kind of wasn't working out. So eventually I just decided like okay, I think I'm just going to be done and just focus on trails. And honestly it worked with my career path anyways, because I want to go to paramedic school. That wasn't going to work with running in college anyways, so I'd have to go to the nursing program. I don't want to be a nurse, so it would just add on years in time. So that worked out great, um, but it was a big decision, like a lot of stress leading into that, but also, at the same time, like, yeah, it felt like my life was like falling apart all at once. But it kind of just fell into place. Everything just kind of worked out. So, yeah, it was a wild few months, but I'm happy where I'm at, I'm happy with my decision.
Speaker 1:So yeah, do you feel like a weight has lifted off now?
Speaker 2:Like, do you feel just, like oh, definitely, yeah, it sounds like it. I mean, it sounds.
Speaker 1:Obviously, like at 19 years old I'm old. I I mean obviously like at 19 years old I'm old, I'm 34. And I think about like, oh my gosh, like to have been 19 years old and think about to make decisions like that, like it's a big decision to make. So, yeah, I got to applaud you for you know, it sounds like you made the right one. I just love when folks talk about like you know you're kind of I like when folks take bets on themselves, like you're going to bet on yourself to try this trail running thing Right. And you know, there's a lot of opportunities now in the sport that were not afforded to older like my generation and the generation before then, but like now, like this new class is coming in and there's opportunities to get these sponsorships and really turn this into like a career, which is kind of amazing to think about.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, definitely I. I think my biggest hesitation was, like most all these trail runners, they do it after their college career, you know, into like their late 20s and stuff. And so there was always the hesitation of like wait, am I even like old enough to do this? Like am I starting too early? Am I just like kind of shooting myself in the foot that way? But at the end of the day, I'm like I love it, I want to do it, so why not just start it right now? Am like I love it, I want to do it, so why not just start it right now? Um, and honestly, I've heard that of a lot of trail runners Like they wish they would have started earlier and not just push through college, cause sometimes it ruins their relationship with running, you know, and that was the last thing that I wanted. So, yeah, I'm happy where I'm at.
Speaker 1:It's interesting. I you know I talked to so many folks like D1 on the D1 end. Um, that went to your Iowa States, your Kansas, a lot of these different huge schools to run and I'll say 9 out of 10 people have a terrible running and they're like, oh, this is really cool, but and it just kind of delays the process and it's like what could have you, what could you have been, had you found this earlier. In a lot of ways like that's how we got our jim wamsley.
Speaker 1:That's how we got a lot of our best athletes in the sport as people that kind of transitioned almost right away after college. So for someone like you that you know has a year plus in, you know, it just makes perfect sense, Like it makes a lot of sense for you, like that transition, to be able to kind of just go into the sport and learn and develop. And if you're already getting 19th at Broken Arrow, like the sky's the limit at this point, like there's a lot of opportunity there.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, no, I'm stoked. I have a lot of like I really want to get into ultras not anytime soon, probably in like 10 years, but so I'm like, honestly, I can just focus on this for now. You know the shorter distance while I still have the speed, and then, like sky's the limit. There's endless things to do. I think triathlons could be cool, like there's so many different avenues to take.
Speaker 1:So oh, for sure For sure.
Speaker 1:That's the thing is. Like there you could run them, like you could do your marathon distances, you could do your ultras, your 50 Ks, and then mountain classics, vks. Like it's really cool that there's just so many different and there's different ways to train for everything, which is kind of so. There's like so many different ways to show up for a race, fit, what. Um, as far as races go like've already done Broken Arrow, you've seen some Cirque Series races You've raced in Europe Is there anything that pops out to you that you're like oh, that's come across your eye and would be a great bucket list race? Is there anything?
Speaker 2:that you've come across so far. Utmb Just seeing that last week, I wish I would have stayed. It kills me that we just left a couple days earlier, but would love to go back to that me that we just left like a couple days earlier, but we'd love to go back to that, um, eventually. Western states I think it's definitely on my list, um far down the list, but it's still there. Um, yeah, and I'd love to do more of the just the golden trail series. There's a lot of cool races there as well. So, yeah, I'm still learning like a lot about trails and races and everything. So I'm sure there'll be more to add to the list, but for now those are my main ones.
Speaker 1:Very cool, very cool, yeah, and there's I mean there's so much to do Like it's so many. Yeah, and it's crazy Like I kick myself sometimes cause I'll go to the same race like three years in a row. I'm like, Hmm, I should go do some different ones.
Speaker 2:So you'll go to.
Speaker 1:Worlds. After Worlds is over, I'm sure more opportunities will start to pick up for you next year as you start to play in your 2026 season. Is there, I guess, as a rough idea? Do you think probably more Golden Trail related races you'll probably do, or is there anything like you'll start to kind of target for 2026?
Speaker 2:Yeah, still kind of up in the air. Um, like these past few months I've kind of just been taking it day by day because so much has changed. Um, I'd love to do more golden trail races. I've also looked into the sky running too. Um, I think that could be a huge avenue. They look incredible, incredible and really fun races. So yeah, not a hundred percent sure, but we'll see what unfolds. Definitely some more racing, though.
Speaker 1:As far as the Skyrunner stuff are you start, do you like the techier stuff? Do you like like more of the? I love it. Oh, really, yeah, Okay.
Speaker 2:So I'm a big climber as well and so, like I'll see pictures of that, like just that mix of scramble, I'm like that's my dream, like I can climb and run in the same race, like that's what I want to do. So, yeah, I'd love to do more of those.
Speaker 1:Wow, talk about the climbing a little bit. So it's like an, like a hobby that you have, like you do, like do you do it competitively, or is it more something just for fun, like how do you express yourself through it?
Speaker 2:Yeah, mostly just a hobby. I've thrown myself in like a couple local competitions. I honestly this winter I think I want to get into some more climbing competitions. It's kind of been put on the back burner for running. Like it's kind of hard having the time and energy to actually train climbing as well as trail running, but I think it could be fun to do some competitions. I think like an absolute dream would to be sponsored for like trail running and climbing. So if I could get there I'd be set. But yeah, it'd be fun.
Speaker 1:I feel like it's such a good skill to have. So, like, most of your trail runners you'll encounter are, like, usually people like you, just like you in the sense that like came from a traditional track and field. You know background but might not have that scrambling ability or climbing ability. So it's such a good skill to have, especially for a lot of these big FKTs. Look at Jane, who just got the Grand Teton record right.
Speaker 2:Incredible.
Speaker 1:Yeah, To be able to do something like that. There's a lot of scrambling and climbing. I guess you could say having that background just helps so much, so it'll definitely open a ton of avenues for you in the future.
Speaker 2:For sure, and just the exposure aspect, to being exposed and like those big walls, like the grand, like some sketchy parts. So it's helpful to have that climbing experience.
Speaker 1:Yeah, for sure, what, uh what shoes are you running in these days?
Speaker 2:um, I actually just got the Merrell um Skyfires, like literally two days ago. I've been running in them, love them. Um, I ran in my first pair of trail shoes. I had no idea what to get. I got the Solomon oh my gosh, sense Ride 5s and they were great. I didn't really know anything different. So these are like my second pair of trail shoes and I've been loving them. So I think that's what I'll race in tomorrow and then hopefully, if I like them enough, racing them for worlds. So, yeah, super light, deeper lugs, which I didn't get with the solomons, the ones that I had. So, yeah, I'm excited about them wow, I like to hear it.
Speaker 1:It's always interesting to hear what kind of shoes people are wearing these days. Dude merrill's legit, they've got a good they're good shoes their shoes are solid, I think slept on.
Speaker 2:I don't think people really realize, like how good some of their stuff is oh, definitely, yeah, I don't know, I feel like they're not as like known or popular, but they got some good stuff.
Speaker 1:I'm excited let's get into. I gotta ask you this question, because I ask everybody this what like, has your why changed as you've kind of entered this sport? Like, have you adopted, like a new, why like your? Why for doing this and wanting to kind of pursue this outlet?
Speaker 2:yeah, that's a good question actually. Um, I've always just like loved running. Like I think I I joke with my parents because when I stopped cross country, like I was like I honestly don't even know if I really loved cross country, I just loved, loved running, like that's why I loved it. Um, so my wife has always been, just because, like it's fun, makes me feel free, you know, just love it. And my goal through high school was like, oh, I'm running to be fast for college, like I want it to run D1. And then, once I got there, I'm like, okay, what's next? You know, just kind of in that lull and then in trails it's like kind of going back to just that pure love of running, like just seeing where my body can take me, what it can do, like it's kind of exciting, like you don't, you don't have any expectations and you just get to figure out what I'm capable of. And so I think that's kind of the basis of why I love it, just chasing that unexpected, honestly.
Speaker 1:I really like that approach. I love that and I think it's. It's crazy Cause, like, as you'll grow in the sport, things will change. You'll start to get look for sponsorships, you'll get sponsorships and it's like the. The one thing like I always I've had to rediscover and I've rediscovered this lately is, like always get back to just like how fun it is and keep it fun.
Speaker 1:keep it, for the reason is like you originally got into it because when you revisit that, it like simplifies the entire sport right, definitely on that topic, though, as goals change and evolve, as you want to professionalize because obviously you know that seems to be kind of everyone's goal in the sport now, like, what do you want to do? Like what, where do you want to take this? Like, do you want to make this a career? Do you want to make this? Especially because it's you know? You said you're going to go to paramedic school. Obviously that'll be a career as well. Do you plan to try and balance both of those? Like, how does it look for? Like, do you make? Are you like a planner? Do you like plan these things or no?
Speaker 2:I would love to say I'm a planner but I'm honestly not. I kind of just go where things take me. But I would love to make this a career. I'd love to do it professionally. I would love to try and balance paramedic and professional running, but also, like the medic is always going to be a job, like that's not really going to go away anytime soon. So I think this is kind of the priority right now, just to see where it takes me. But yeah, we'll see where it goes.
Speaker 1:I like it. I think that's a good choice too. That's one that AI is not going to take away.
Speaker 2:Exactly yeah.
Speaker 1:Good selection there.
Speaker 2:Thank you, not bad.
Speaker 1:Not bad.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I really want to get into the search and rescue and, like life flight is like my end goal, so I'm like that's hard to replace, so I feel like I'm safe for a bit.
Speaker 1:I agree, I agree. Yeah, the robots aren't coming to the mountains, hopefully not anytime soon. Um, yeah, let's talk competition. I you know I ask this question a lot to people like on a scale of like one to ten, your competit competitiveness? Obviously, any person that lines up and toes a line on a race is extremely competitive. But, like, how do you approach competition? Is it more you versus you or is it more you versus those on the on the starting line?
Speaker 2:You know it's funny. You ask that because I feel like I'm not. I've never viewed myself as a very like competitive person, like I've never like gotten that angry or like fire when someone passes me which I probably need to work on more honestly but I would say it's more like me versus me is where I get like the most expectation for myself and like competitive drive. Yeah, I know I wish I was a more competitive person, but I just am not. But it works. It works out.
Speaker 1:Yeah, everybody's unique, everybody's their own. You know their own way of doing it.
Speaker 2:Exactly yeah.
Speaker 1:All right, I think we're almost at pretty close to 45 now. All right, let's get in. Let's get into some some ending questions.
Speaker 2:I got to all right let's get in, let's get let's get into some, some ending questions. I gotta ask you, okay, who inspires you?
Speaker 1:oh, it's a loaded question, um oh man, benjamin didn't tell you this one was coming.
Speaker 2:This is like the I know I should have referred. There's just so many going through my bed. Okay, um, I think growing up like I always wanted to do steeplechase, emma Coburn was a big motivation to me. I've been following her for years. Colleen Quigley, on the trail side. Anna Gibson I've always looked up to, she's huge. Courtney DeWalter Am I saying her last name?
Speaker 1:right, courtney DeWalter. Yeah, dewalter, she's huge Courtney Delwater. Am I saying her last name, right, courtney DeWalter?
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, dewalter, she's huge. Like I've watched all of her documentaries about all of her ultras, like incredible. She's kind of the reason. Like I looked at ultras I'm like that's who I want to be. She's incredible. So, yeah, those are probably my biggest motivations. They're incredible. I'd love to hear.
Speaker 1:I'd love to hear anna gibson she's. I'm such a fan of anna gibson's I know when you go to worlds. That's someone. Yeah, definitely hang out with her and get to learn more, because that's a that's a consummate professional. That's like one of the most best professionals in our sport hands down like she's a. She's a killer hands she's incredible, yeah incredible inspiring to watch big time big time and like we don't even know how good she is, yet like she could you know? Wind up being the goat for all we know. So yeah she's amazing.
Speaker 1:Uh, let's talk. Uh, music are you? Are you big music person? Like, do you listen to music on workouts or anything like that?
Speaker 2:or yeah, I never running actually, like I never really listened to anything running um, I kind of remember myself a lot like on the trails. So I feel like I'm kind of a little spooked to like have music in my ears, like I want to hear everything around me, um. But besides that, just driving around I some big artists like Mac DeMarco. I love Grateful Dead, I love um Benjamin's kind of getting into like this old, like country like Willie Nelson, nelson john prine I've been loving lately um, weird music man I don't know.
Speaker 2:No, it was funny because, like when I first met him, he's like, yeah, like we listen to everything, I'm like all right. Everyone says that like, come on, like what genre do you like? It's like, no, we actually listen to everything. And like their family really does, like it's incredible everything. I'm like they, it's crazy, very cool, very cool yeah so no music during workouts.
Speaker 1:I think that's a good thing. I don't know. I always ask this question because, like I meet a lot of people that actually do like I will even occasionally listen to music on workouts and it just depends, I don't know, like if I'm on the track I have to have music in, or else I'm just not motivated.
Speaker 2:Like it's no I get that, I hate listening to my breathing, you know it's Like it's no, I get that.
Speaker 1:I hate listening to my breathing. You know it's weird.
Speaker 2:It's like meditative, though Sometimes it's just like your breath and your footsteps. It's just prime. It's true.
Speaker 1:It's true. Well, I want to thank you so much for coming on, abby. This was a great first conversation. I think we'll have many more, definitely as your career progresses. We're going to talk after worlds, so we can kind of like talk about that experience and how that went down for you. And, yeah, I'm wishing you the best of luck in your career and this is going to be really exciting.
Speaker 2:Welcome to the sport and can't wait to see what you're going to do Thank you so much, I really appreciate it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no problem, thank you. What'd you guys think? Oh man, I want to thank Abby so much for coming on the podcast to tell her story what a cool story and wishing her the best of luck, not just in the rest of her journey, but as she travels out to worlds to go compete as a U-20 athlete just in about a week and a half, which is kind of crazy, guys, the best way you can support Abby is to give her a follow on Instagram. You can find her at abbystone0. That's Abby A-B-B-Y stone0 as her handle. You could find her just typing in Abby Stone. Give her a follow and let her know what you guys thought about the episode. Guys, if you enjoyed this episode, if you've been enjoying the podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple, spotify, youtube or wherever you consume your podcasts. That would be amazing and that's how we can continue to tell these great stories and it would help us immensely in being able to continue to get the podcast out to the world and show it to new people.
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Speaker 1:Lots of good stuff there, and they also have some good belts to. The ultra belt and the copper belt are both really nice. Ultra belt, particularly, it's got really solid storage and, uh, it's just a solid belt all around. So, guys, thanks so much. We've got some really cool stuff coming down the pipeline, uh, for next week, both for the Pikes Peak Marathon and Ascent, as well as some early stuff for worlds that we're going to be dropping. Um, hope you guys have a great rest of your week and thanks so much for tuning in. Appreciate it. Thank you, we'll see you next time.
