About this episode
Send us a text What happens when a Texas kid with marathon roots drops 60 pounds, moves across continents to mentor young athletes in Kenya, and then turns that purpose into a season-long charge through the Cirque Series? We unpack the full story with McKennon Woltman—complete with chai-fueled mornings, singletrack at altitude, and the lessons that only service and steep terrain can teach. We start with a family tradition of marathoning and the health scare that pushed him to act. That path led to Germany, then into the heart of Kenya’s running culture, where daily life is simple, meals are consistent, and training is built on red roads and forest trails around Iten and Kaptegat. McKennan opens up about the ethics of sport—doping access, predatory management, and the realities of poverty—then explains how holistic mentorship (mind, body, spirit) helps athletes chase big dreams without losing themselves. The result is a rare, grounded view of what high performance looks like when anchored in integrity. Then we head stateside, where he maps that foundation onto the Cirque Series: short, steep, technical races that demand weekly readiness and tactical restraint. He breaks down how he learned to race smart—saving legs for the downhill, choosing the right shoes for mixed terrain, and making decisive moves at Targhee’s off-trail descents. We also talk culture: why short mountain races are a perfect development path, and how American trail running can build a louder fan experience with lift-access cheering zones, cowbells on ridgelines, and community stoke that rivals Europe. Looking ahead, McKennan shares plans to focus on sub-ultra events in the UTMB ecosystem, race Broken Arrow, and sharpen road speed with a spring marathon as a step toward the 2028 U.S. Olympic Trials standard. If you care about mountain running, athlete development, or simply want to feel the energy of someone who races hard and gives more back, this one hits home. Enjoyed this conversation? Follow the show, share with a trail friend, and leave a rating and review. And if you’re watching on YouTube, smash subscribe so more runners can find it. Follow McKennon on IG - @mckennonwoltman 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 !