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Ever wondered how elite mountain athletes transition between winter and summer sports at the highest level? Cam Smith, one of mountain running's most versatile competitors, takes us behind the curtain on his journey from a winter of Olympic-qualifying ski mountaineering races to the upcoming Sunapee Mountain Running Championship.
The conversation kicks off with a light-hearted revelation about Smith's off-season consumption of exactly 200 croissants—a feat that earned him a free jacket! But beneath this playful start lies a fascinating exploration of athletic transformation. Smith describes how he completely overhauled his training approach for the winter ski season, reducing volume to 60% while significantly increasing intensity to excel in seven-minute relay efforts critical for Olympic qualification.
With the USA team sitting just one point behind Canada in World Cup rankings, Smith reveals everything comes down to a single December competition that will determine which North American nation secures an Olympic berth. The pressure couldn't be higher, yet Smith approaches this challenge with remarkable perspective: "I want it badly... but I know that I'll just move on to what's next, regardless."
What makes this conversation particularly compelling is Smith's candid assessment of his current fitness as he transitions back to trail running. Coming directly from competing in Europe at lower elevations to training in Crested Butte at nearly 9,000 feet creates unique physiological challenges. Despite uncertainty about how he'll perform at Sunapee, Smith embraces the high-stakes environment: "I love high pressure races... that do-or-die mentality, and I trust that I'll be ready when the moment comes."
Perhaps most moving is Smith's reflection on what representing the United States internationally means to him. Having previously made the mountain running team, he describes wearing the USA jersey as "a childhood dream come true" that offered a second chance at fulfilling a lifelong ambition that once seemed impossible.
Ready to dive deeper into the mind of an elite mountain athlete balancing Olympic dreams with present-moment focus? Listen now to this conversation that bridges disciplines, explores mental resilience, and reveals what it truly means to compete at the highest level in mountain sports.

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