Western States is one of those races that keeps drawing me back, even though it doesn’t really “suit” me on paper.
That’s exactly why it’s interesting to me. The pace, the flat terrain, the heat and the long dirt roads force me to train differently, adapt to demands that don’t come naturally (metabolically, neuromuscularly…), and figure out how to race when the course doesn’t suit my strengths.
In 2010 and 2011, even though I performed well, the heat beat me pretty hard.
Last year, I trained well, was better prepared for the conditions, and while I was sick and didn’t race perfectly, something clicked. By the river crossing late in the race, I still felt strong enough to accelerate through the final miles.
Third place. Over an hour faster than 2011. But more than the time, I finished thinking, “I want to do this again”.
This year, I want to see what’s possible.
📷:
@alexis_berg 
