The Freetrail Podcast with Dylan Bowman The Big Alta 28k Instant Recap + Podium Interviews
10 snips
Mar 22, 2026 Marcel Hoche, a German international trail runner who raced Big Alta as a tune-up for longer races. Joe DeLeon, competitive Crested Butte-based runner and frequent podium finisher. They recount early co-leading miles, key moves on the cell tower climb, pacing strategies, downhill separation tactics, impressions of California trails, and plans for upcoming races like Lake Sonoma.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Head-To-Head Duel Between Aries Reading And Joe DeLeon
- Aries Reading and Joe DeLeon ran together for much of the early race, trading leads and testing each other's legs on climbs and downhills.
- Aries described holding on to Joe, using downhill pace targets (sub-5 minute downhills) as a mental checkpoint to push away on descents.
Marcel Hoche's Solo Podium And Lake Sonoma Tune Up
- Marcel Hoche ran a solo race in third, never seeing the front pair despite long sightlines on the course and finished narrowly over two hours.
- He treated the Big Alta as a tune-up for Lake Sonoma and appreciated California's technical trails despite few steep technical downs.
Summit Momentum Beat Short Surges On The Big Rock Climb
- The decisive move came on the steep climb to the cell towers where momentum and uphill rhythm mattered more than a single surge.
- Joe stayed patient but Aries reached the summit quicker and used downhill momentum to open a 150-meter gap that proved race-defining.