Taylor Stack - Pre UTMB ETC Interview

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Mont Blanc in the background has a way of rewriting your definition of “normal.” We’re checking in with Taylor Stack from Chamonix as UTMB week starts to buzz, and he shares what it feels like to train in a place where even the “easy” routes quietly stack thousands of feet of vertical gain.

We talk about the practical reality of Alpine trail running versus Colorado mountain running: bigger relief from a lower start, fewer truly flat miles, and terrain that can surprise you even when the map looks friendly. Taylor also gets into the mental side of being in a legendary venue, the temptation to over-explore, and how he’s trying to stay disciplined with a big effort coming up.

Then we zoom in on ETC and why racing early in the week is such a gift. Taylor explains how he plans to use the rest of UTMB week to spectate OCC, CCC, and UTMB, and why watching the gear logistics, nutrition, and crewing up close can be the best prep if you want to race OCC next year. We also hit course recon, what elevation profiles miss, the joy of French food on a runner’s budget, and what it’s like to be just recognizable enough to get stopped for a photo while still holding onto that underdog mindset.

If you’re training for a mountain race, dreaming of UTMB Chamonix, or curious about ETC, press play, then subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a quick rating and review so we can keep telling these stories.

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