Living Sports

Sam Vickery just tackled 357 miles of gravel in Kansas at the UNBOUND Gravel XL. Only four days later, he sits down to chat about his experience on his way to a seventh-place finish along with details of his new team "Segment 28" and what keeps him inspired on the bike in beautiful Durango.

Fresh off a bunch of racing this spring in Turkey and Rwanda, Fort Lewis College cycling alum Cormac McGeough chats about this weekend's Iron Horse Bicycle Classic and plenty more, from his pro team Wildlife Generation Pro Cycling to his vegan diet and how it has helped him and his cycling career.

A rising star in international mountain biking, Riley Amos is the next great to come from Durango. We chat about the meteoric rise of his racing career and this year's early World Cup success. We also dive into his future Olympic ambitions, why he loves the sport and why he thinks cross-country mountain biking has never been better.

2001 Big 12 Conference Championship Game winner and 2002 All-Big 12 offensive lineman for the University of Colorado Buffaloes Justin Bates chats about his playing days in Boulder as well as being a father to an all-state offensive lineman, Joshua Bates, the center on the state champion Durango High School football team.

Lauren Milliet earned her spot in the starting lineup for the North Carolina Courage during the NWSL's four-game Fall Series. After a long year, she returned home to Durango for the offseason and caught up with John Livingston about playing through the COVID-19 pandemic, earning her first career point and looking forward to 2020 and the expansion draft of Racing Louisville FC.

Fort Lewis College alum Scott Simmons, father of WorldTour pro cyclist Quinn Simmons and developing junior cyclist Colby Simmons, recently tackled all 13 of the fourteeners in the San Juan Mountains in a single effort that took more than 100 hours. He hopes the ultra-running project gains similar popularity as the Nolan's 14 in Colorado. We also discuss ski mountaineering and what it is like to be the father of one of the top young American cyclists. Music credit: “Too Cool” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Quinn Simmons saw his rookie season on the UCI WorldTour cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring. After four months back in Durango and a training camp in Utah, he dropped by The Durango Herald before his return to Europe, where he has since earned a top-10 at a one-day race in France as well as a second-place finish at the Tour of Hungary. We talk social media, his winning mentality and what he doesn't like about finisher's medals and American youth cycling. Music credit: “Too Cool” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

2016 Olympian, three-time Leadville 100 MTB winner and four-time elite men's cross-country mountain bike champion Howard Grotts discusses his decision to step away from full-time mountain biking, the races that still excite him, his recent adventures in the San Juan Mountains and his upcoming move to grad school in Montana. That and much more in an hour-long sit down with one of American mountain biking's most accomplished athletes. Music credit: “Too Cool” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Ultra runner Maggie Guterl, a relatively new resident of Durango, drops in to talk about her seven-summit run around Durango last week. We discuss what brought her from Pennsylvania to Durango and what it's been like to get immersed in the Colorado trail running community. We also chat about her runs at The Barkley Marathons and the Big Backyard Ultra, her friendship with Courtney Dauwalter, having a soft spot for Kermit the Frog and how she got her Maggatron nickname. Music credit: “Breakdown” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License 18

Ultra runners and ski mountaineering partners Jason Schlarb and Meredith June Edwards swing by after this year’s UTMB. They talk about their “Run Around the World” video project, competing in the biggest races around the world and why Durango is their perfect home base for mountain adventures. Music credit: “Breakdown” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Fort Lewis College cycling alum Ian McPherson drops by after his cyclocross trip to China. We discuss his move from Boulder to Durango to race at FLC and his transition into obscure distance running challenges. Music credit: “Breakdown” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Andre Michaud had targeted a record attempt on the Colorado Trail for three years. Hear about his journey to eventually setting a new self-supported record in under nine days on the 486-mile trail from Denver to Durango. Music credit: “Breakdown” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Hardrock Hundred Endurance Run director Dale Garland stops by to discuss the 2019 cancellation and the events that will take the place of the Hardrock over the next few weeks in Durango and Silverton. He also talks about the controversial 2018 Hardrock 100 and the disqualification of Xavier Thévenard. We look ahead to the 2020 Hardrock, reflect on the beginnings of the race and some of Dale's favorite moments and favorite places on the 100.5-mile course. We learn there's a thin line between "Wild & Tough and Wild & Stupid"Music credit: “Breakdown” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Going into an Olympic year, Nick Tarpley of Durango has never felt more confident in his ability as a Greco Roman wrestler. He left Durango at 17 to train full time at the Olympic Training Center and took his lumps on his rise. Hear about his travels, years spent living in Europe and why escaping to Colorado’s largest mountain peaks helps him stay balanced. Music courtesy Kevin MacLeod, Incompetech.

Durango's Sepp Kuss is fresh off big races at the Giro d'Italia and Critérium du Dauphiné and had a break back home to prepare for the second half of his second season with Team Jumbo-Visma cycling in Europe. We talk about his quick climb from mountain biking to college at the University of Colorado, to World Tour road cycling as well as his experience at his first two Grand Tours with the Giro and Vuelta España, his win last year at Tour of Utah and what's next as he continues his still very young career.Music credit: “Breakdown” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

DeAndre Lansdowne is the all-time leading scorer in Fort Lewis College basketball history, but his path to the top professional league in Germany was long and full of uncertainty. Music credit: “Breakdown” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Durango High School and Colorado College alumna Lauren Milliet dropped by while on a brief break from games in the National Women's Soccer League. She was drafted by the defending champion North Carolina Courage in January and is in the midst of her rookie season. We talk about her career goals, equality in women's soccer and how she forged her path to the pro level. Also, hear her explain why she wouldn't have changed missing her college graduation and commencement speaker Oprah Winfrey.Music credit: “Breakdown” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

College golfer and Durango High School alum Cory Gillespie drops by to talk about his path to collegiate golf and goals of turning professional. Music credit: “Breakdown” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Durango's own Stephan Davoust drops in to chat about his breakthrough pro mountain bike season that has included podium finishes at the SOHO Bike Festival, the USA Cycling Marathon National Championships and a win at the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. We discuss his mental approach to pro racing and what it's like to grow up in a town full of so many fast riders, including his junior buddy Sepp Kuss. Davoust also gives John some advice on what it's like to have a parent with cancer.Music credit: “Breakdown” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

University of Colorado athletic director Rick George and new head football coach Mel Tucker roll into Durango during the CU Boulder Chancellor's Summer Tour. Before meeting local alums and fans, George and Tucker took time to discuss the excitement surrounding Buffaloes football going into the 2019 season and the importance of winning football on campus. They also break down their journey over Red Mountain Pass, and Tucker answers what advice he would give to a long struggling Division II program at Fort Lewis College in Durango. Quinn Simmons returns to the show a day after his 18th birthday when he set a new FKT on the White Rim Trail in Moab. We discuss why he did it differently than the Payson McElveen route that McElveen was hoping to standardize, and take a look ahead to his road races in Europe as well as his historic win at the junior men’s Gent-Wevelgen. Music credit: “Breakdown” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Professional trail runner Dakota Jones stops by after the Lake Sonoma 50 to talk about racing, his love for the Hardrock 100, what inspires him and how Durango has shaped him as a person. We also dive into his inspiring work with nonprofit environmental organization Protect Our Winters and his message for politicians and high school audiences. Music courtesy of Kevin Macleod, Incompetech.

Quinn Simmons returns to the show a day after his 18th birthday when he set a new FKT on the White Rim Trail in Moab. We discuss why he did it differently than the Payson McElveen route that McElveen was hoping to standardize, and take a look ahead to his road races in Europe as well as his historic win at the junior men’s Gent-Wevelgen. Music credit: “Breakdown” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Sports talk radio host and horse racing expert Steve Bortstein joins the show to talk about the controversial Kentucky Derby. We also dive into the current state of sports journalism and what stories motivate us. Steve also takes us into his 170-pound weight loss journey. Music credit: “Breakdown” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Snowboarder Mark Daley drops in to talk about Purgatory Resort’s historic season that has stretched into May for the first time ever. We also discuss his fifth USASA national championship, how to make a life out of snowboarding and his infamous log hits that landed Purgatory footage on TransWorld SNOWboarding this year. Music by Kevin Macleod, Incompetech.

Reigning singlespeed cyclocross national champion Sarah Sturm drops by to talk about everything from her start in cycling at Fort Lewis College, coaching the current Fort Lewis team, bikepacking, her new gravel team with Specialized and her criterium win at Sea Otter on a gravel bike, her work with the Specialized Foundation and the push for equal prize purses for men and women at the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. Music by Kevin Macleod, Incompetech. We apologize for audio issues in this episode.

Durango-based professional skier Sven Brunso drops in to talk about the in-town skiing that hadn’t been accessible for a decade, until this year, as well as his career that has spanned more than two decades and included thousands of published photos and countless covers in some of skiing’s biggest publications. Find out about the sketchiest chair lift he’s ever ridden on and the mountain that still captivates him no matter how many times he skis it. The answers may surprise you. Thanks to Kevin MacLeod and Incompetech for our theme music.

Payson McElveen, a 2016 graduate of Fort Lewis College who continues to call Durango home, crafted a plan nearly a year ago to attempt the fastest known time (FKT) record on the White Rim Trail in Moab. Though debated in cycling networks, the widely accepted FKT record of 5 hours, 59 minutes, 34 seconds was set by Salt Lake City-based endurance athlete and well-known skier Andy Dorais in 2016. On Wednesday, McElveen blew past that mark with a final time of 5:45:16 on his Orange Seal Off-Road Team Trek Top Fuel bike. He sits down with John to talk about the White Rim Trail, his career path and why Durango is a special place. Music credit: “Breakdown” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Fresh off a pair of wins in California and with some time back in Durango after wrapping up another quarter at California Polytechnic State University, Christopher Blevins sits down to talk about his singular focus on mountain biking, his goals one year after a silver medal at the world championships and he even gives us a verse of his spoken-word poetry. In the first half, John is joined by former radio co-host Rick O'Block to talk about the NCAA tournament, Rockies, Nuggets, Avalanche and more local sports. Music credit: “Breakdown” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Professional cyclist Quinn Simmons, 17, talks about his road cycling journey, his recent competitions and what the rest of the season holds. Welcome to the first edition of Living Sports, a podcast covering local sports for The Durango Herald. John Livingston, regional sports editor for Ballantine Communications, talks high school sports, cycling, professional sports and more. Join Livingston and his guests as we shine a spotlight on area athletes. Song “Breakdown” courtesy of incomptech.com.