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In this episode of The Mile 99 Interview, we sit down with Mike Dimond, a hometown ultrarunner from Auburn, CA, who just punched his ticket to the 2025 Western States 100—not in the main lottery, but through the exclusive M45 Automotive Auburn residents raffle!

A Sacramento Metro firefighter, father, and long-time runner, Mike shares how living in the shadow of the Western States finish line shaped his dream, and how his name being drawn at the post-lottery raffle changed everything.

🔥 In This Episode:

• 🏠 Auburn Roots – Mike’s journey from where he grew up to making a home in the Endurance Capital of the World.
• 🚒 Balancing the Firehouse & the Finish Line – Insights into life as a Sac Metro firefighter and the delicate balance of career, family, and ultrarunning.
• 🏃‍♂️ Running Journey – From school sports to long miles on the trail, and how he first discovered the magic of Western States.
• 🎟️ The Lucky Draw – How the M45 Automotive local raffle gave him an unexpected shot at 100 miles in 2025.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Training Talk – Who’s helping him prep? What does his training look like? And how do work shifts factor in?
• 🧠 Mental Grit – How Mike deals with setbacks and tough races, and the mindset he’s building for the big day.
• 🥾 The Support Squad – Crew, pacers, and the power of local running groups and training partners in the Auburn area.

This episode is a testament to perseverance, community, and what can happen when preparation meets a little bit of lottery luck!

🔗 Resources & Mentions:

• Western States Endurance Run
• Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District
• M45 Automotive – Auburn, CA

🎧 Whether you’re a Western States hopeful or just love a great story from the trail, this one will leave you fired up!
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