Western States may be the most iconic race in ultrarunning—but it also comes with carnage, heartbreak, and a pile of DNS and DNF drama. In this episode, I’m joined by the always-entertaining Allison Mercer (of FastestKnownTime.com) to break down the storylines, the runners who didn’t make it to the start line, and wild ideas to spice up the sport (spoiler: mile-seeding starts for elites?).

We also dive into the FKT world—John Kelly’s latest madness, what’s changing in the scene, and why FKTs still matter. Plus, I give a quick life update because I’m moving out, living out of a storage unit, and heading out for an Appalachian Trail FKT attempt.

Big thanks to our sponsors:

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☕ CS Instant Coffee – Freeze-dried and trail ready.

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Chapters

00:00 In Memoriam: The Unbreakable List

02:05 The Impact of Social Media on Performance

04:58 The Women's Field: Intriguing Storylines

07:46 The Men's Field: A New Dynamic

10:48 The Role of Coaches and Competitors

13:54 Heat Training and Its Influence

16:54 Predictions for the Race

19:53 The Unsung Heroes of Coverage

22:41 Final Thoughts and Predictions

33:32 The Rising Stars of Trail Running

34:47 Analyzing the Men's Field Dynamics

37:13 Des Linden: The Most Valuable Pacer

40:26 Women Transitioning from Road to Trail

42:28 The Importance of Recovery in Ultra Running

48:50 The Impact of Social Media on Athletes

53:02 John Kelly's FKT Attempt: A Community Effort

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