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: 🩳 Janji – Great sun hoodies, shorts, and gear. Use code freeoutside for a discount (let me know what you get!). ☕ CS Instant Coffee – Freeze-dried and trail ready. 🎒 Garage Grown Gear – Your one-stop shop for small-business adventure supplies. Share the episode, leave a review, and help support the chaos. Stay elite, my friends. 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 Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at
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