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Grant Colligan sits down with the Steep Stuff podcast to share his fascinating journey from Michigan flatlands to Colorado mountain peaks. Despite growing up in the Midwest without access to mountains, Grant developed into an elite trail runner while maintaining his career as a metallurgist.

The conversation explores how Grant's decorated collegiate running career at Colorado School of Mines (where he earned 10 All-American honors) ended abruptly—first by being tripped in his final cross country race, then by the pandemic canceling his track season. This unfulfilling conclusion led him to trail running in 2023, where he quickly found success with a podium finish at the Moab Trail Half Marathon.

Grant offers valuable insights into his training philosophy, maintaining a collegiate-style approach with two key workouts weekly rather than completely abandoning track principles for trail-specific training. "At the high level, you still have to be a really good runner to be a good trail runner," he explains, challenging the notion that trail success requires entirely different preparation.

We dive deep into his recent performances, including his impressive top-15 finish at the Broken Arrow 23K Golden Trail Series race and his near-podium at the GoPro Games 20K—all while recovering from a unique piriformis nerve injury that counterintuitively required more running to heal. Grant also discusses his upcoming European racing debut at the Golden Trail Series event in Austria and the legendary Sierre-Zinal, which he approaches with strategic humility.

Perhaps most fascinating is Grant's dual perspective as both competitor and coach at Colorado School of Mines, where he witnesses firsthand how collegiate runners are becoming increasingly "trail curious" as they recognize career opportunities in mountain running. Through his connection with Andy Wacker's Trail Team, Grant has found community and mentorship that have accelerated his progression in the sport.

Follow Grant on Instagram @gmoney_hoppin as he takes on Europe's most challenging mountain courses and pursues his goal of winning a US Mountain Running Championship.

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Grant Colligan

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