Guest interview written by Paul Kirsch, manager for the 2022 U20 Mountain Running Team.
Oakley Olson is a sophomore at Utah Valley University where she competes for them in Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track. This past November she was part of the US Mountain and Trail Running Team that raced at the inaugural World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Oakley was the highest placing U20 (under 20) U.S. woman, finishing in 5th place. I recently spoke with Oakley about her experience on the U20 US Mountain Running Team and competing in her first international event.
Photo: WMTRC 2021.
[Paul Kirsch] You raced at the World Mountain and Trail Running Champs in Chiang Mai, Thailand in November as part of the U20 US Mountain Running Team. How did you hear about the Team and how did you apply?
[Oakley Olson] I heard about the team by seeing posts from previous members on the team on instagram from years before and finding the website online. I applied using the google document link which included listing my personal records, a letter of recommendation, and an essay detailing why I would be a good candidate to represent the United States of America.
[Paul] Tell us what it was like to compete in an international race.
[Oakley] To represent the United States of America was a dream come true. It was a once in a lifetime experience to be surrounded by people from across the world that were extremely talented and dedicated to the sport of running. I was able to make friends with girls from Spain, Great Britain, Italy, France, Thailand, and Sweden throughout the week leading up to the race. It was an honor to be a part of the opening ceremonies and carry the American flag with pride through the streets of Chaing Mai, Thailand. This event set the stage for sportsmanship as all of the athletes prepared for the competitions ahead.
Photo: WMTRC 2021.
[Paul] Was it similar to races you have done in the U.S.?
[Oakley] The World Mountain & Trail Running Championship was my first mountain race, so I had never experienced a race like it. The trail aspect of the race was similar to the cross country courses I ran in high school; however, the length and grade of the uphill climb was new to me. Despite running trails in the mountains of Utah where I live, they are not nearly as technical or steep as the race in Chiang Mai.
[Paul] What was the course like?
[Oakley] From the gun, the first 200m were on the road with a wide start. Then the race funneled into a single track trail and began to snake up the face of the mountain. About five minutes in we had already climbed 700 feet in elevation. I had never had to “power hike” up roots, rocks, and rough terrain before. We were pushing off of boulders, being cut by weeds, and leaping over streams.Then I got 200 ft from the summit, this was my pivotal moment. This was the point I decided to to not give up on the mountain, I refused to give up despite my cramping calves and quaking quads, and found what I needed to summit the mountain. Only to find a steep decline that was even more technical than the ascent. This mile was all about “just don’t fall”. Every step had to be carefully placed to avoid injury. Then we hit the flat and fast road where competitors were fighting tooth and nail to the finish line.
Photo: WMTRC 2021.
[Paul] How was mountain running different than your cross country races? Do you think cross country skills translate well to the sport?
[Oakley] In my opinion, cross country is the best way to prepare for this sport besides trail running in the mountains. One reason I love running is that no matter what race you are running, if you have the fitness and mental toughness you can compete at a high level. However, to be prepared to succeed in a mountain race an athlete should have experience running on fast curves around single track trails up mountains, know how to run a decline across rocks, and be prepared with the proper footwear (cross country spikes or normal running shoes are not going to cut it.)
[Paul] Besides the race itself, what else was memorable about the trip?
[Oakley] Being a member of the United States team was the most memorable part of the trip. Wearing the red white and blue for the week and representing my country as I fostered friendships from athletes all over the world is something I will remember forever.
[Paul] How did you prepare for the race?
[Oakley] The summer leading up to the race I trained in Mountain Green, Utah at elevation where I was running on trails everyday. For the month leading up to the race, I would drive back from Boise, Idaho where I was attending school and going back to Utah to run on more technical and steep terrain to simulate what the course in Thailand was going to look like. During the fall, I also had incorporated a lot of hill workouts and fast 1k repeats into my training for the cross country season that helped with my fitness.
[Paul] What impact has it had on your future running outlook?
[Oakley] Before the World Championship, I never considered a career in trail and mountain racing. Now, it is what I look forward to competing in after college. I have even started to follow more trail racing news through social media connections.
[Paul] Was this your first mountain / trail race?
[Oakley] Yes.
[Paul] Tell us your impressions of Thailand.
[Oakley] Thailand is a beautiful country full of color, culture, and the nicest people on earth. We hiked up the middle of a unique waterfall in the rainforest nicknamed “sticky falls”. I tasted authentic Thai food and enjoyed a beautiful view of Chaing Mai from our rooftop pool. The hotel was at the center of the city, which allowed the junior team to walk around the city together and explore the local supermarket snacks, Thai shops, and religious temples.
Photo: WMTRC 2021.
[Paul] Would you recommend that others apply for future teams?
[Oakley] Absolutely, this was the greatest opportunity I have had so far in my life and one that I will never forget.
[Paul] How many athletes were on the U.S. Team and did you get to interact with all of the team members?
[Oakley] There were three girls in my junior race on Team USA. I did get to interact with everyone through conversations at breakfast, the opening and closing ceremonies, the race venue, and bus rides around town.
[Paul] What about interacting with other teams from other countries?
[Oakley] Absolutely, I made so many friends from other countries that I now keep in touch with through social media.
[Paul] Do you see yourself competing in future trail and mountain races?
[Oakley] I absolutely have now set a goal to compete in trail and mountain races after college. Even more, I aspire to hopefully get the opportunity to compete again for Team USA and bring home gold.
Photo: WMTRC 2021.
For anyone interested in learning more about the U18 and U20 US Mountain Running Teams and how to apply, check out the Youth Section of this website.
Applications are being taken for the 2023 U18 Team that will compete in Annecy, France in May and the 2023 U20 Team that will compete in Innsbruck, Austria in June. More info and how to qualify at https://trailrunner.com/youth/#teams
[PRO TIP: See more results and photos from the entire US Team at the World Mountain & Trail Running Championships in Thailand.]
