About this episode
Send us a text Sophie Wright is a name you need to know in the American mountain running scene. Fresh off completing her collegiate career at Western Washington University—where she holds the school record in the mile—this Alaskan-born trail runner is ready to make waves on the professional circuit as a 2025 Trail Team Selection athlete. Growing up in Palmer, Alaska provided Sophie with the perfect training environment. Surrounded by Hatcher Pass, Pioneer Peak, and Lazy Mountain, she developed technical skills on some of the most challenging terrain North America has to offer. The tight-knit Alaskan mountain running community, featuring inspirational figures like Denali Foldager-Strabel and Christy Marvin, helped shape Sophie into the competitor she is today. Sophie's racing resume already impresses with accolades including the 2022 Cirque Series Alyeska championship and top-five finishes at the iconic Mount Marathon race. Now, with her collegiate career behind her, she's focusing entirely on mountain running with ambitious goals for 2025, including making the U.S. Mountain Running Team at the Sunapee Mountain Race and competing in prestigious events like the GoPro Games in Vail. What makes Sophie particularly dangerous is her versatility. She combines elite track speed with technical mountain skills, excelling on uphill sections while actively working to improve her downhill capabilities. Her self-described 9/10 competitiveness extends beyond running into everyday life, fueling her drive to succeed at the highest levels of the sport. As Sophie relocates to Colorado for summer training and joins the 2025 Trail Team under coach Andy Wacker, she represents an exciting new generation of American mountain runners poised to make an impact on the international stage. Follow her journey this season as she transitions from collegiate track star to professional mountain running talent—this is just the beginning for Sophie Wright. This episode was brought to you by Ultimate Direction use code steepstuffpod for 25% off your next purchase ! Follow Sophie on IG - @wrightsophie_ Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow The Steep Stuff on IG - @steepstuff_pod Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod Use code steepstuffpod for 25% off your cart at UltimateDirection.com !