Elise Coates - 2026 Trail Team Selection

A stress fracture can either end your momentum or teach you how to build a career that actually lasts. I’m joined by Elise Coates, fresh off being named to the 2026 Trail Team Elite squad, and her story is a rare blend of high-performance ambition and real-world perspective. She’s the only Canadian on the new elite squad, based on Vancouver Island, and she’s chasing the tricky middle ground where track speed meets mountain durability.

We get into how a soccer background turned into an obsession with racing tactics, why the 800 hooked her early, and how injuries forced her to slow down and rebuild. Elise opens up about testing herself in mountain running and trail racing, including the hard lessons from Defy De Couleur and the quad-destroying reality check of Meet The Minotaur. If you care about training for steep trails, a vertical kilometer, skyrunning, or simply learning how to transition from track training to trail running, her approach is honest and practical.

Then we shift into the side of the sport most people ignore until it’s too late: athlete branding and sponsorship. Elise breaks down her pivot from a physics degree into media work, community runs, creative direction, and what she calls “activations” that actually bring people together. We also talk big dreams like the Olympics, Golden Trail Series level racing, and how to map a season when you want both fast track results and real trail strength.

Subscribe for more conversations like this, share this with a runner who’s building their own hybrid path, and leave a review if you want more guests who go deep. Which matters more for you right now: speed, strength, or community?

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Transcript

Welcome And Elite Team News

SPEAKER_02 0:00

Welcome back to this Deep Stuff Podcast. I'm your host, James Loriello, and today I am joined by 2026 Trail Team Elite Selection, Miss Elise Coates. I hope you guys enjoy this one. Ladies and gentlemen, we are live. All right. Elise Coates, welcome to the Steep Stuff Podcast. How's it going? Pretty good. How are you? I'm doing great. I'm so excited to chat with you. I uh I uh just got the news uh of all the the trail team entrants or the the the selections, if you will, for 2026, and you're one of them on the trail team elite team. So gotta congratulate you and welcome you to the podcast.

SPEAKER_01 1:40

Thanks. I'm I'm so psyched. It's been a surreal month.

SPEAKER_02 1:43

Yeah, yeah, no, for sure, for sure. Uh and I'm excited to learn more about you. Maybe give me like your uh this is what I do with everybody. Give me like your five to ten minute like backstory on how you got into running, where you grew up, like things like that.

From Late Starter To Varsity

Soccer Roots And Race Tactics

SPEAKER_01 1:57

Yeah. Um, well, first of all, I'm from Canada, so I'm the only Canadian on like the new elite squad, um, which I think is pretty exciting. I'm excited to bring some Canadian energy to the squad. Um, and so I'm I'm based on Vancouver Island, um, which is in British Columbia, Canada, so as west as you can go, essentially. Um, and yeah, I started running pretty late, like high school, like late high school. Um, I was a huge soccer player. So classic like soccer to track transition. I had some track or some uh soccer coaches who knew I ran a bit in the summer to get ready for fitness tests. Um, and so one day in grade 11, they convinced me to try an 800. And then I was pretty much hooked and was like, what am I doing? Why am I playing soccer? This is way better. Um, so yeah, I uh trained really, really hard, too hard over the summer. Um, and so leading into grade 12, um, and then crushed out my first like full season as a uh a runner, quote unquote, I guess, um, in grade 12. Um, but again, I trained really hard, ended up with like a pretty gnarly stress fracture. Um, but luckily I'd already committed to a school. I wanted to stay in Canada. Um, so I started working with my uh collegiate coach, Hilary Stellingworth. So she's like a two-time Olympian in the 1500 for Canada. Um, pretty cool lady. Um, I was really psyched to work with her. Um, and so yeah, my collegiate career in a way started a bit early because I started working with my collegiate coach in high school. Um but yeah, from there it was a pretty bumpy road just because of that stress fracture and like the lovely injury cycle that comes with stuff like that. Um so I didn't actually end up getting to race varsity until my fifth year of university. Um, but it was a blessing in disguise because it meant I had years to explore the backcountry of Vancouver Island. Um, and so I I dove pretty deep into sort of like the mountaineering world and the trail world. Um, and being from Nanaimo on the island, my introduction to running was also very trail heavy. Like the track club, our long run was like a two-hour like mountain adventure because there's this mountain called Benson that kind of is like the backdrop to Nanaimo. Um, and so we would go out there, that'd be our long run, and then like we do track during the week. So I've always kind of had that like track and trail balance. So in university, I kind of got to go explore. I didn't necessarily like trail race, but I I got to uh immerse myself, that's for sure. Um, and then I ended up leaving varsity in fourth year for just about a year. Um, but I started working with Arcteryx as one of their community leads. Um, I'm obsessed with like running as a community and getting people into the trails, especially beginners, because it's such a daunting like thing for so many people. So um I started working with them as one of their run leads. Um, I did that for two years or so. And so even when I went back to varsity, um, I was still helping with their their run club um in Victoria, um, which is also on the island for context. Um yeah, so it's been pretty sweet. I ended my collegiate career with the opportunity to go to FISU, um, so World University Games, essentially like worlds for under 25 athletes. Um, and so I ran in the 5k um and I was psyched. I made it to the finals. I was definitely out of my league a little bit, but uh it was a good race. Yeah, so lovely way to like kind of end off my collegiate career.

SPEAKER_02 5:33

Wow, what a journey so far! So cool. I love that I gotta start from the beginning, ask you like soccer. I feel like so many of our great athletes in trail running, like Jane Moss, like so uh Grayson Murphy, so many have actually come from the soccer background. Like what um like what what position did you play?

SPEAKER_01 5:52

I was a center midfielder, but it was interesting because I played um kind of in like a provincial system because I thought I was gonna go like play soccer varsity, but then again, all of a sudden running came into the picture. Um, so I had one coach who played me as a winger and all I did was run. So maybe that also like had to do with the fitness that I ended up with. But yeah.

SPEAKER_02 6:14

Yeah, I feel like midfielders just like run back and forth just all the time. I was a left back. So I was kind of I was kind of lazy, but it was still really fun.

SPEAKER_00 6:22

That's hilarious.

SPEAKER_02 6:23

Yeah, soccer's great. It's interesting to me because I I find so many athletes that I don't know, logically I would think that running on a track would be so much more boring than playing soccer. But it's interesting to how many folks play soccer first and then fall in love with you know running a running in circles and they go to the track and they have that love for it. So I don't know. I could see how the track could be addicting. So it definitely makes sense.

SPEAKER_01 6:45

I love the tactics. Like I love racing. Like my favorite part of soccer was always like game day. Like I just wanted to get on the field and like play. And like I would obsess over tactics with my dad and and stuff like that. And so um all of a sudden being thrown into like the running world where it's like okay, like even as simple as like my introduction to the 800 was I had a coach who gave me like tactics, like you should be gassed by 600, then like fumes through the last 200. Like that's what he told me, right? Like my first like year racing, and so it's like, oh, sick, like okay, and like he's like, You're gonna be like trying to hold on to these girls, like you just gotta hold on and whatever. So I've always loved like the tactical part of it. I think, and like cross-country, of course, is so tactical often. Um, so maybe that was the draw. Like, I love the grind, first of all. Like, I trained so much on my own, anyways, for soccer, and then plus the tactics, and like I was hooked.

SPEAKER_02 7:33

Dude, 800 is brutal, man. I hate the 800. I mean, it's so fun to run for like training, but like actually on a competition scale, like the 800s, not like I don't know. I don't know how people do it. It's uh it's intense.

SPEAKER_01 7:45

Yeah, that's when like my soccer coach was like, she likes the 800, like she's like what it what the like what? Like, okay, this is she's weird, she's a runner. So, but then now I don't even run 800s, I'm more of like yeah, 5k longer stuff, which makes more sense, but yeah.

Testing Trail Racing For Real

SPEAKER_02 8:00

That's super cool. That's super cool. One thing I really enjoyed about you uh that I find interesting compared to some of your your cohort in the trail team. It it seems to be a mixed bag this year. Like, some people have trail experience and some people have no trail experience, which I find really cool and really unique. You have experience, like you've raced on the trails like a I mean, a fair amount so far. Um talk about that love for it and your interest in it. Like what what interests you uh as far as like this year and like what you want to do schedule-wise? I know you put your schedule on your website and we'll talk about that, but um Oh yeah, my website. Which is amazing, by the way. But we'll we'll get to that.

SPEAKER_01 8:34

Thank you. Um it's so funny because I feel like I have no trail experience whatsoever. Like I I've done some um kind of grassroots stuff, I would say, but nothing that like you know, the Canadian like trail and mountain team is gonna look at and be like, oh yeah, she's kind of run a high caliber race. Like, let's get her on the national team. Like, I feel like I haven't had any experiences like that. Um, but I feel like I've dabbled. Like I've like the the year I rejoined the varsity team, the summer after, I was like, you know what? Like I'm gonna run track, but like I also want to experiment with some like the trail stuff because that's something I've always wanted to do, but never have been able to because of my like injury cycle. Um, and so um yeah, this year I really want to actually get more experience. Like that's that's one of my my big goals. Um, but I can't even really think of like what sort of experience I have with trail racing. It's all been very experimental. Maybe I should say that.

DNF Lessons From Canadian Champs

SPEAKER_02 9:30

I was gonna well I was gonna it's all been like I was gonna ask you about Defy De Defy De Calor, which I know my I gotta get my French down, but the uh Canadian, um which I know was not your not your best race, but I feel like that was opportunity such a learning opportunity to be kind of throwing yourself into the deep end, which is uh, you know, a Canadian championship now. Uh talk about that experience and like how that's kind of shaped, maybe uh, you know, because that's that's as hard as it gets, was you know, more or less.

SPEAKER_01 9:59

Yeah, yeah, I feel like that one and then um Meet the Minotaur, which is a sky race in the Rockies that I did. Um, those have been probably like the two most like defining experiences I've had, or like learning opportunities, I should say, maybe. Um, but yeah, Deffy DeCollaire, such a cool race. Like the race directors are amazing, um, so welcoming. And uh yeah, huge learning experience. It was my first ever DNF, but um it's fast. Like the girls know how to run uphill fast, and like I feel like there's a bit of a disconnect between like the West Coast and like kind of the Quebec East Coast trail scene. Um, so to actually go and experience the Quebec scene was pretty, pretty cool. Um talk about that.

SPEAKER_02 10:41

Yeah, the biggest thing about the disconnect. Yeah, yeah. What are your yeah, talk about that?

SPEAKER_01 10:47

I I feel like it's because the Canadian trail scene is like it's young, like it's growing and it's very exciting, and there are definitely like pockets, like Squamish is an absolute mecca, right? And then you've got like kind of a cohort in the Rockies, and then like it feels like Quebec is also just like this extension, but we're all very separate. Like that was one of my the things that appealed to me about the trail team is it's just like this cool uniting and networking opportunity. Um but yeah, like I the the director actually was really excited that I was coming out to race and was hoping I could rally some more BC kids to come out and race because he was like, we just don't get like you guys out here, like it's all Quebec and some Ontario grinders. Um, so like he he wants more of us to come over. Um and so I'm hoping to like actually get a cohort to to bring just again. I want to like unite it. Like, let's just get everybody racing these high caliber races. Um, and the fact that it's a world championship this year, too. It's like let's let's just get everybody out there.

SPEAKER_02 11:43

That's right. WRMA final. Shout out to Julian. Yeah, this is uh Yeah, for real.

SPEAKER_01 11:48

I love great guy, great guy.

Minotaur And The Strength Gap

SPEAKER_02 11:50

Um, yeah, no, super exciting. And that's a great race. Yo, talk to me about Minotaur, because that can be that's a that's an eye-opener for some people. That's a really hard mountain race.

SPEAKER_01 12:00

Yeah, so again, like I had just rejoined my varsity team that year, and it was my first real so my first cross-country season, um like collegiate cross-country season, and then I went into my first indoor season because in Canada we don't have like a collegiate outdoor thing like the NCAA. It's an indoor season. Um, and then it's sort of like on your own for outdoor. Um, and so I had done a 5K build, ended at Portland Track Fest, which was I think like June 20th or not 20th, it was like early June. Um, and then two weeks later went and ran the Minotaur as like an experiment because I was like, okay, what could I do off of track legs? So like I had probably not run like any vert, like I probably hadn't run 3,000 meters of vert over the like the last like six months. Like, you know what I mean? Like with the track training. Um, but again, I wanted to just kind of see what I I could do and how I could kind of like face up against like these elites. Like you have the Emma Cook Clarks and a couple other Arcterics athletes from I think like Norway that showed up. Um, plus I can't remember what her name is, but I think she's sponsored by Buff. But anyways, super high caliber athletes. And I was like, okay, like what can I do here? Um, and so I uh the quads were thrashed, like aerobically, I felt fine, but I really had I didn't have the leg strength. And so that was like a mega eye opener for me. I was like, okay, like I can't just hop into again, it's a very extreme race with a 3,000 meters avert, it's a triple peak race. Um and it's definitely more than 33 kilometers. So um yeah, I was like, I need to like actually get some strength going or integrate like track into my programming. And so I started experimenting with that last year once I graduated. Um, and so like during my um track build, I actually hopped into it, like a I think it was like a 15k trail race. Um, and then every weekend I would have like a long trail run. And then this year now it's like every second weekend is a long trail run. Um, just to like build that strength and like the up and down stuff, because my quads are weak. I I'm not naturally a powerful runner, I think I'm more naturally like a rhythmic fast runner. Um, so yeah, it was again, but I pulled that from the Minotaur, and I'm like, this is what I need to do if I actually wanted like do both well.

SPEAKER_02 14:14

So no, I love that. Listen, I and you're young, like it's all about just like throwing yourself into what you're interested in and learning from there. Like there's no pressure, it's just like you know, let's see what's roll the dice and see what happens, you know? Um I think that's so cool. And you know, it's I don't know, and those are two really hard races. So I commend you for for not doing like the 10K of the Minotaur. You're like, let's go, let's go full on and go to over the 30k. Let's go straight up 33k. I like that. I like that.

SPEAKER_01 14:42

Yeah, also like shout out Cosno's past, like um Spry, which is the the one of those little stores or like the running store there. Um, like Susan, I think it's Jamie as her her son, but they they run a really cool show out there. It's really neat. I was really inspired and I'd love to go back.

SPEAKER_02 14:59

Yeah. Oh, you should. Absolutely. That's I mean, such an iconic course. You know, we have I'm out in Colorado and we have a lot of Front Rangers and just Colorado Mountain athletes that go up there all the time because they they love that course, they love the race, they love the community atmosphere. I've never heard a bad thing about that race. So that is definitely one of these years. If I the problem is, is like for me in coverage, like broken arrow is like always that week or like within that retirement. Yeah. So it's like broken arrow is kind of the biggest game in town. So you gotta play that thing. So it's always a pain in the neck because that's it's a like I said, it's a great race, and hopefully next year I'll be able to get to it because I'd be really bummed if I get too old and then can't go, can't go, can't go play a high-level there.

SPEAKER_01 15:40

Yeah, yeah, I'm excited because this year they have the vertical kilometer. And so, like again, like I find like the the uphill, downhill strength is like something I really want to build. Yes, I signed up for that. So I I'm psyched. And I love that it's also um, I think international what I SFA or something. I Sky running, you know what I'm trying to say, right? Yeah, like the it's it's certified, it's like legit. So um, so it'll be like a mini version of my Minotaur experiment because again, I'm doing Portland Track Fest, and then I'm like road tripping up to Castle and then trying to crank out this VK. Because again, I'm like, what can I do off of track training, especially because I'll be doing some more speedy stuff. So I'm like, ah, if Ana Gibson can like do it, it must work, right? Like yeah.

Planning A Track To Trail Season

SPEAKER_02 16:25

Yeah, no, it's uh no, you're you're spot on there. I think the uh the track strength and not just the strength, but that turnover, that running economy, all you know, all that fitness will turn over very well for something like a VK. So I'm excited. That'll be fun. What else? Uh what else are you looking at for this year?

SPEAKER_01 16:44

Um basically the first half of my year is gonna be like track. Um and I'm kind of psyched because it kind of ends early in June. Um I'm not going to like Canadian nationals or anything. Um Canada, like it's it's tough. Like I'm sort of in that, like I'm almost there, but not quite in terms of speed, so it wouldn't be a very competitive race. So again, kind of ending at Portland Track Fest and then um diving straight into trail with like the VK. Um and then I've always wanted to run the Squamish 23K because I sort of love that distance. Like it's it's a bit of a sweet spot for me, I think. Um, so I really want to give that a go and just like see see what I can do. Um, and I also think it's a really advantageous race if you're hoping to make the national team for worlds. Um, because I feel like out here in BC, it's it's just one of like the higher caliber races that people are like looking at um and watching the results. Um so that's kind of a big one for me. I got sick last year and couldn't do it, unfortunately. Um and then and then it's basically Deffy de Culaire. Um I'm excited for the trail team to head to Poland probably in September for like the um World Mountain Running Association half championship. Um again, because I kind of love that like trail half distance. So I'm I'm really curious. I just want to see kind of like what I could do with it. Um and then and then I might go do the the Moab half because that's another trail team kind of goal race.

SPEAKER_02 18:09

Oh, I love that.

SPEAKER_01 18:10

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 18:12

Before we get to trail team, I want to ask you, just because it seems like you you know who people are. Like you mentioned Emma Clark, you mentioned Anna Gibson. Who do you look up to? Like, who do you uh like draw inspiration from in the sport right now?

SPEAKER_01 18:24

Oh my gosh, 100% Anna Gibson. Like, to be honest, she's actually the reason I found out about the trail team. Um, I can't remember how I came across her originally. Um, but for years I was trying to convince my collegiate coach that you could run track and trail. And like she was just such a great example. Uh like she's doing these 15s, she's doing these VKs, like, this is what I want to do. Um, and like I've known that for like years, like since I started running, that I've wanted to combine the two because I really can't imagine life without either. Um, and so she's honestly like the biggest inspiration um at the moment. Um, but yeah, Emma Cook Clark's also pretty sick because like Canadian queen over here. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 19:06

Yeah, that's killer. You have a lot of, I mean, there's so many, yeah, strong, amazing people that, yeah, that it there's yeah, there's infinite examples of just people to look up to in the sports.

Why The Trail Team Matters

SPEAKER_00 19:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 19:17

Let's talk about the trail team. What uh like what what inspired you to to apply? Like what was the the interest for because the reason I ask is because you're you're kind of an interesting subject in the sense where you already kind of have have sponsors. You've got a nutrition sponsor, you're working with ArcTare XBC. Like you you you understand the game kind of from what I from what I can see. We'll talk about that in a bit, but why why the trail team for you?

SPEAKER_01 19:42

To have a network of athletes to work with. Like, um it's honestly pretty lonely training up here. Like, I I am collecting a cool cohort um for track work and stuff. Um but it was just so cool. Like other post-collegiates who also have a track background but want to do more trail. Um, and a lot, like you said, a lot of them actually have trail experience as well. So like I really wanted just to be part of like the squad. Like I thought that was the coolest thing ever. Um, and so like being able to kind of race and travel with them is like such a bonus. Um, but yeah, I'm obsessed with community. Like, I just love running so much that like and like the community that it's given me, um, that I just like want to meet people that have like similar mindsets and like have similar goals essentially too. So I love it. Yeah, I love that.

SPEAKER_02 20:29

And Andrew always does such a good job of picking like the coolest Canadians, like Sam Henry. I mean, I mean think about it, like Sam Henry, uh Remy LaRue, Mika. Like there's a there's a good lineage of like really solid Canadians on the trail team. So and you join join that group, which is pretty pretty, pretty pretty cool.

SPEAKER_00 20:47

I'm so excited. It's so cool. Like when you mentioned Remy, I was like, no way, that's insane. Like, Remy is so cool. Yeah.

Physics Degree To Media Career

SPEAKER_02 20:54

That's true. That's true. Yeah, Remy is the man. Um, so we talked about why the trail team. Okay, let's get into some interesting stuff. So, one of the things I found really cool about you is that you seem to get it very well. And when I say that, I mean like you're you're very creative, like your website is legit. And I'll link that in the show notes, but people can go check it out. If people are interested in partnerships with you or getting in contact with you, they can reach you through your website. Um, but talk about the creative side of you because that that seems to be um, it's not just the athletic side, you also have this like really cool creative side.

SPEAKER_01 21:27

Thank you. Um honestly, it's been a whirlwind. Like I graduated December 2024, um, and I actually studied physics in university, and I was just like not into it. I by the end of my degree, I was just like hating it. Um, and the summer before I had been like the media lead for my hometown soccer club, actually. Um, the one that convinced me to run. So they're still a big part of my life. Um and I just found out like I loved it. Like I was making, I was like dabbling in videography, I was working with the athletes. Writing articles, um, and again, I was just kind of doing all things media for them. And like I loved it, I loved the community engagement and working with athletes. Um, and I kind of realized I was like, this is something like I could just keep doing. Like I I could see this as a career. Um, and so once I graduated that January, I ended up working full-time with them. But then I started picking up other clients as well, like other sports organizations. Um, because like the media world is so like new, I would say, and like people don't know where to start, especially sports organizations. Um, and so yeah, I just started getting creative. Like I yeah, I have a couple clients. For some of them, I'm a creative director, some of them I'm like basically a social media manager, so I help them like curate, um, produce. Sometimes I even shoot um material for them. And then um I dabble in photography as well. So I got hired out as a photographer. I wear a lot of hats. Maybe that's the best way to describe it. Um, and so it's been cool. Like I've always been more, I guess, into creative stuff. Like in high school, I was definitely like science, but I spent half my time in the art room. So my like family friends and people have known me my whole life are like, this makes sense for you, but my like university friends are like, What's going on? Like you're you were like the physics nerd. Like, why how are you in marketing and promotions now, essentially? Um so yeah, it's all just kind of like kind of rolled along and it's turned into like this business essentially. Um, but again, I love it because I like I love being an athlete and I just want to help support other athletes um with either kind of completing their media contracts or promoting them um or helping them get into the community or with works organizations to help them like promote what they're doing and supporting athletes.

SPEAKER_02 23:45

I love that. Can you uh especially with RTRX BC? Like I've a I have a buddy that's a uh ambassador for Artterx Colorado, and there's a lot of uh yeah, yeah, Brad's the man. Um Brad's the man. You um there's a lot of like community activation stuff and all kinds of good stuff. Can you talk about some of that that activation level work that you do with folks, whether it's group runs or product demos? Can you can you talk a little bit about stuff like that?

SPEAKER_01 24:11

Yeah. Um, like I said, I started kind of working with Arterics in 2023 because like throughout university, I was just like itching to kind of like again, like kind of be part of a community thing or like a launch like that, um, or start a program to just like support the community in a way. Um, and so from there, I just again everything just kind of like happened. Um, and so I gained some experience with that, and then I found I really enjoyed it. Um, and so I I just kind of continue to try to find partnerships essentially. So like my real most recent like little community run was like a sauna and run with uh a Nordic Spa in town. And then I have one coming up with um, it's called All in Extra, another actually um art Terrix ambassador from last year, Andrea. I can't remember her last name. But anyways, really cool kind of artist, does a lot of beating. So we're gonna do shoe beating and like a community run um to celebrate kind of the end of the end and the start of two different like community race um seasons. Um but yeah, honestly, it just kind of I don't want to say it's like a hobby that I've just taken to the extreme. Um but I really don't know like how it's all kind of come about. I don't know how to describe it.

SPEAKER_02 25:25

I think it's so important because as you grow as an athlete and when the big partnerships come your way and the big deals come your way, like that's part of the stuff you're gonna be doing anyway. Is like that's part of the deal. Yeah. It's like you're gonna have to be doing these um, you know, activations and having these conversations and product discussions and all the good stuff. So you already kind of know what to do, which is pretty cool.

SPEAKER_01 25:44

So yeah, activation is like my buzzword right now. I don't think I don't remember how many emails I've written this week that like include the word activation. But uh yeah, I just love the idea of getting kind of creative because there's so many opportunities with sponsorship to like do something different. Like it's not just like a logo slap or like a media shout-out, like an organic media shout-out like isn't gonna do a ton, especially if you don't have like followers, but even if you do, like it's not necessarily gonna do a ton. So it's like if you're able to actually get the word out and like be in your community, like I think that's like the most powerful thing you can do.

SPEAKER_02 26:14

Definitely, definitely.

unknown 26:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 26:16

I want to shift gears a little bit. What what uh yeah, like I want to talk long-term goals with you. Is there any races like the Golden Trail series that interests you? Like what like what do you want to do when you know you start you start having an idea of like what's what in the sport? Like any any like dream races that interest you?

SPEAKER_01 26:33

This sounds really like extreme, and I know my PBs maybe don't reflect it, but um, I would love to take a stab at the Olympics, which is like huge. And like again, it's like uh I'm definitely not there yet. Um, but I started working with um Rowan Debut Stafford, so like Gabrielle Stafford's um husband. Um he was one of my assistant coaches at the University of Victoria. Um and uh I worked with a different coach last year, right when I got out of university, but started working with him, and we've kind of like backtracked from 2028, being like, okay, like can we like get you there or can we get you in a place where you might be able to like be considered like let's play with the points, let's play with the rankings, um, and like let's just see where we can get your fitness level to. Um so honestly, I'm kind of in a place where I'm just like trying to get like get fit and like learn the system. And um yeah, but again, I want trail to still be like a huge part, and in my mind, it's like the new cross country. So I really I really want to do kind of like that half and half um sort of like season thing. And again, like I said, I've already like integrated trail throughout my year. Um and so I eventually I would love to do the Golden Trail series, but I do also know like I need to get to that fitness level first because those girls can run fast, like Broken Arrow Sky Race last year. Again, this is me being an absolute nerd, but like um this this Canadian um oh, what's her name? Uh her last name, like Bell's rig or something. She's sponsored by Ultra.

SPEAKER_02 28:05

Yeah, Jade Belsberg.

SPEAKER_01 28:06

Yeah, Jade Bellsberg, yeah. Um, so she's like thrown down like a crazy like final mile, right? Like it's like sub six minute for sure. Like it's like five, almost like 5.15 on the downhill. So it's like, okay, like you need to comfortable, comfortably be able to like run that at the end of like your your trail race with all the technical stuff. Um, so like that's kind of what I see my like, I don't know if it's a long-term goal, but like I just need to make sure I can get to that fitness level and compete like that um before like diving deep into huge races like that.

SPEAKER_02 28:37

You probably have the fit. I mean, I'm not gonna lie to you. You probably have the fitness or relative fitness, but it's the it's the muscular stuff, the eccentric and concentric, you know, initial loading and just figuring some of that. I mean, Jade's a beast. So like that's that's like one of the best, you know, pound for pound demons walking around the sport. But like still, like the fitness is a rel, it's a relative thing. Like you can obviously super fit, like that that matters, but a lot of times it's the muscular strength. There's all kinds of stuff that goes into it. Yeah. So yeah, 100%. And if listen, if you're interested in broken arrow, don't wait. Definitely go do it because that would be cool to see you there as well.

SPEAKER_01 29:10

I it's honestly been a race I've wanted to do for years, and it like it came up with the trail team because like they're sending a group, and I've been really on the fence because I'm like, oh, I'd be like so sick. It's the same weekend as like Portland, and so it's really like it's a pick and choose sort of situation. So do I do it this year? Do I again like wait and then do it next year? Because next year Canadian nationals are like in August. So it's like, hmm, do I play my cards and like do kind of like a cool earlier trail chunk and then try to also do nationals? Like it's one big jigsaw, that's all it feels like. Um, but yeah.

Choosing Vert Versus Up Down Racing

SPEAKER_02 29:47

What interests you most for the Canadian team? Would it be like the vertical? Would it be the up down? Would it be the short train?

SPEAKER_01 29:52

I'm so on the fence. Like honestly, Deffy de Couleur, the up down was like nasty. Like, I like maybe I'm just obsessed with flow, and maybe that's why sort of like I'm curious about this half distance. Um but I think I want this year to figure that out. I'm gonna do both this year, and I want to see sort of like how I feel. And also maybe if I end up doing better in one than the other, maybe that might help my decision a bit. Because I've never run a vertical kilometer um dreamed of it, but like I haven't run one yet.

SPEAKER_02 30:25

You'll know what you do, it's painful.

SPEAKER_01 30:28

Yeah, yeah. Well, the thing is, I feel like I've always been told I'm like an uphill grinder, like on hikes and everything, and um when I'm out mountaineering and stuff. So it's like maybe that's like it'll be good to race it and see if it is actually fast or if it's just my friends bugging me.

SPEAKER_02 30:45

You should do uh, especially not too far from you, September, late September, just before Deffy Decalur, um, Cirque Series Crystal. It's not too far from Vancouver. And it's oh I've heard of the Cirque Series. It's a good tune-up for a race like uh like the Canadian Champs, especially because it's an up-down. It's actually more technical than Daffy de Color. So it would probably be a better race to prepare because it's gonna be a little harder.

SPEAKER_01 31:06

So that honestly noted, because yeah, Daffy de Colour is not technical whatsoever. Like Julian was saying, like he wants this to be an opportunity for like the cross-country guys to come out and potentially do well. Like it's grass and very vertical.

SPEAKER_03 31:21

It's deep.

SPEAKER_02 31:21

It's deep, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:22

Yeah, very cool.

Cross Training Through Climbing Outdoors

SPEAKER_02 31:25

Yep. I was gonna ask, I had a last question to ask you and I slipped my mind. Darn. Uh oh, yeah, that's what I uh cross-training. Are you like a skier? Are you into skiing or I you I know you said mountaineering? Um what kind of like cross-training are you into?

SPEAKER_01 31:37

It's so funny you mentioned this. So I have so many friends who are trying to get me to ski. I've never skied in my life. Like, like um on Vancouver Island, like there's no snow, like it's 14 degrees, or I guess today's kind of cold, but it's usually like 10 degrees, and there's cherry blossoms right now. Like, it's it's kind of tough. Like, there's some kids who are into the Nordic skiing scene, but they're driving and traveling like so much for it. Um, my parents didn't ski. My dad was more of like um, I think he did a little bit, he did some ice climbing, but like definitely more of like a summer mountaineer, and he was also very into paddling, so like Voyager style stuff, um, very Canadian. Um but uh so I've always kind of been more of like a summer, summer grinder, and then just tried to extend it throughout the whole year. Um, but I I did a lot of rock climbing in university, like that was sort of my outlet, especially when I was injured. Um, so that's like that has a special place in my heart. Um and I I spent a semester down in Joshua Tree. I took a semester off of school and just like lived down there. Um, and so I definitely enjoyed the rocks. Um, I don't know if that counts as cross training, but uh I I I like rocks.

SPEAKER_02 32:48

Straight off geology is cool, man. Geology rocks. So yeah.

SPEAKER_01 32:52

Yeah. Um, and then I don't really like biking, to be honest. I will do it with friends, but I'm not gonna just hop on my bike. And then what else? Yeah, honestly, I'm kind of just a runner.

unknown 33:06

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 33:07

It's all right.

SPEAKER_02 33:08

Now, in a world where like I do, I feel like everybody's always doing like multi-sport. So I'm just a runner. It's a great thing. It's not it's not so bad. It's a great thing.

SPEAKER_00 33:15

Running's the best.

SPEAKER_02 33:16

It's like I feel like it's also skiing because like, and listen, I have a lot of friends, including Cam Smith, who does, you know, he's he's a freaking Olympian. But like when I think of like schema, like where I live in Colorado, it's a two-hour drive to any like meaningful snowpack, and then it's expensive. Like on top of it to like get all the gear, I don't know. I'm gonna I want to do it. It's so I so badly want to do it, but it's the whole like every weekend I gotta drive thing. Yeah, yeah, you gotta be really motivated. But Colorado Springs, fortunately enough, like we've had a terrible snow this year, like we have had no snow, so it's been great for you to get around running. Yeah, it's kind of been like your guys' weather. Although I saw Josh Potfin's uh Instagram story the other day, and I guess you guys got hail, so that that's kind of crazy.

Vancouver Island And Squamish Scene

SPEAKER_01 33:57

Oh, maybe, not in Victoria. Victoria, honestly, is like a little like weather haven.

SPEAKER_02 34:01

Oh, really?

SPEAKER_01 34:02

So you guys have what's the stairs?

SPEAKER_02 34:05

You guys have stairs that's like the Manitou Incline there, uh, or somewhere in Oh, that's like kind of over on the mainland, so more like sea sky area.

SPEAKER_01 34:12

That the gross grind.

SPEAKER_02 34:13

Yes, that's it. That's it. Have you ever been on it?

SPEAKER_01 34:15

Yeah, yeah. No, actually, it's it's funny. I've kind of I've popped to Squamish like quite a bit because I have quite a few buddies there. I always joke around that I like people think I'm from Squamish, but it's like, no, actually, I'm from Vancouver Island, which is like a ferry away, like ferry and a drive. Um, but um, I haven't done much in Vancouver or like in that sort of like the mainland area. Interesting. Um, yeah, I know Squamish better than like Vancouver, probably at this point.

SPEAKER_02 34:41

Squamish is what I've heard great things. I just had uh Callie McChrystal on the show and I've had like Oh no, wait, yeah, what a legend. She is a legend, total legend. Uh and then yeah, I've had quite a few people from Squamish on the show, and they all no one's ever spent said anything negative about it. They all absolutely like love the scene. So it's definitely a place I gotta check out. I'm gonna put it on the list.

SPEAKER_01 34:59

It's hard not to like be tempted to like move there, but I'm I'm honestly obsessed with the island.

SPEAKER_02 35:04

So I mean you're already like kind of halfway there. Like you're an Arctaryx BC athlete. Like once mainland Arctaryx get to you, then you're like fully immersed. Then you have to move there.

SPEAKER_01 35:13

You know, it's like maybe it's an advantage that they have me over here and then like yeah.

Final Thoughts And Farewell

SPEAKER_02 35:20

Well, Elise, I I am very excited for your future in the sport. Like, I I very few people do I meet that like I feel like you have it together both on understanding like the brand side as well as the athlete side. And like that's uh that's gonna be so great for your future. So really looking forward to seeing what you're gonna be able to do. And uh really appreciate you coming on and can't wait for more talks in the future. Yeah, thanks a ton. This was a ton of fun. Absolutely. Have a great rest of your day.