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Jennifer Lichter | 2026 Western States 100 Pre-Race Interview
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Jennifer Lichter is the newest star in ultra-trail running. She's been winning important races since her breakout at The Rut 50K in 2021, but it was only about 18 months ago that the wider world caught on and she became a household name.
Since the start of 2025 she's beaten top fields to win the Transgrancanaria Marathon, Broken Arrow 46K, Speedgoat 50K, Black Canyon 100K, and Gorge Waterfalls 50K. Western States is her first time toeing the line for 100 miles, yet many already make her a favorite to win. Can she pull it off?
In this conversation we trace her path here, dig into what the buildup actually looked like, and talk through her strategy for handling the spotlight at the North American Super Bowl of ultrarunning. Hope you enjoy.
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Norda is the official footwear partner of our 2026 Western States 100 coverage. All the rage this summer is the imminent release of their new model, the 055, the shoe that Rachel Enterkin wore start to finish en route to her course record victory at the Cocodona 250 earlier this year. Go check it out at NordaRun.com and make sure you are subscribed to their mailing list to get exclusive early access to the shoe. I've put a bunch of training miles in it. It's the real deal. We are back in our Olympic Valley studio. Another athlete interview ahead of this year's Western States 100. It's a good one. It's one that I've been looking forward to. We have Jen Lichter in studio. Jen, how are you doing this Tuesday evening?
SPEAKER_01Great. I just got in. So party's just getting started.
SPEAKER_00Tomorrow's your busy day.
SPEAKER_01Tomorrow's my busy day. Yeah. Uh just other interviews. Um, and then I'm doing this study for Western states. Um, so gotta go get a DEXA scan and yeah, do all that fancy stuff for this study.
SPEAKER_00What's the study?
SPEAKER_01Um I think it's core body temperature or something like that. Um, but it's put on by I think the University of Montana. Uh our friend Peanut or um is like a legend at this video. And then uh the very famous Rick Willie, who does a lot of research and and heat and sport and all that.
SPEAKER_03So yeah, that's all I know. I wish I knew more, but we kick it off.
SPEAKER_04Some some hot questions. When did your Western states journey begin?
SPEAKER_01Um When did I hear about Western States?
SPEAKER_04You maybe like when did you decide that you wanted to run this race? Predate Black Canyon?
SPEAKER_01Yes. Um I think the idea came up when I decided to do Black Canyon. Um, because I remember finishing my season last year, you know, I wanted to do worlds. Um, and that was gonna be time-wise the longest race of my career that at that point. Um, and I was really excited. Like I love the training going into that race. Um, and it was different, you know, I've been doing 50K for so long that it became kind of repet repetitive, like the training. Um, and so I had a lot of fun training for the world's ADK and I didn't get to do it. And so I was looking forward to like, okay, what's another big goal that I could do um that will challenge me in a new way and make me excited to train. And um, I remember watching Black Canyon last year on the live stream. Um, and yeah, I just it kind of pupped in my head. And so I'd also had started working with a new coach at that point, and um he was like, Jen, like, if you do get a golden ticket, what would you do? And I think it was the first time where the idea of saying yes popped in my head. And I just remember telling him or telling my coach John, like, do you think I could do well at it, though? You know, like, do you think I'm ready? Um, and I think he, you know, as a new coach, had looked over my past training for the past like four or five years, because I sent him all that data. Um, and he basically told me he's like, yeah, you're you're ready. Like you, you do pretty high volume and you do intensity really well. And we would just tweak a couple things. But I think he's he's like, if you don't think if you're more concerned about not being ready fitness-wise, that shouldn't be a concern. I think it has to be more mental. Um, and so I think I kind of put that to the side and I was like, okay, well, I'll think about that. Um, because we thought it was, you know, it would be a possibility. I don't go into racing just to finish a race, I go into racing to win a race or to podium. Um, and so I think I want to say a month before the race, um he like asked me again, and I and I was like, you know what, why not? Sure. Um, and so I was like, I think I'll I'll just I'll say yes. Um and and then I go and do the training for it and then go to the training camp. And um, and then I finish the race, you know, and I do really well. And I just remember thinking, I don't know if I can do 40 more miles of that. And and so I remember I like turned to him. Well, I said I'm like sitting at the finish line, and I just go, can I do 40 more miles? And he goes, Jenny, it's not gonna be that intense, it's not gonna be that fast. Um, and and so that kind of made me feel better. And he's like, right now you're just so fresh from this race and this effort that you need to take some time to just like enjoy this moment, and then we can think about the next goal in a couple days. Um, and that's why I grabbed the ticket because I didn't want to say no. I had a feeling I would do it anyways. I think I just needed to like process it more.
SPEAKER_02Was there a moment in your training in this Western States block that you like thought to yourself, like, I am more than ready to run 100 miles now?
SPEAKER_01Yeah. And I think it happened uh at the training camp. Um, because I think you know, you have to be so careful with this type of training because it can be really easy to like overdo it. Because it is like, yeah, the intensity goes down and you have bigger days. But I think in order to do well, like you have to do the training right because it's so easy to like step over the edge and like overdo it and over train and or get injured. Um, because yeah, it's even though it's not as intense, like the volume's still high. Like that's a different I was telling Finn this a while uh when I saw him two weeks ago, like the fitness is so different, but it is still fitness and you can get injured, overuse injuries um as well. So um, but no, I went to training camp um the first day we started out hot by doing a about a 50 mile day, and um, I felt amazing. Um, I was working through a little bit of GI. Um, and that's why we did the training to like figure out running in the heat, running this uh this long and the fluid and and what's working, what's not. And um, but despite working through GI issues, like I felt amazing. And I and I just remember thinking to myself, like, if I picture myself on a race day, like I could say, look, it's time to go. You know, and so I think I coming out of that training camp, I just got a lot of confidence of like, oh, I could do this.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah. You talk a lot about like the fine line of you that you've been riding and training, that every athlete at your level is riding and training to just get it right for race day. You also train with people a lot. How do you balance that? Because everybody you train with probably has a different effort on a specific day. How do you make sure you're still doing what's right for you when you train with a group?
SPEAKER_01Um, honestly, I think that was a challenging part at first because I'm so used to like not necessarily feeling good all the time, but like feeling good most of the time in training. And um, and I think I honestly just had to let my ego go and and realize that my training and my training load and what I'm doing is so different than the girls that I train with. You know, I'm tr running with my Kenna Morley, who just um did the 23K, she's doing 50Ks right now. Um, my friend Maya, who just, you know, got the um second place at the US champs in Cenepe. Um, and so you know, they're they're feeling better and I do workouts with them, but um I think, yeah, I think it's just saying like letting your ego go, being being vulnerable and being like, you guys need to go, or like I can't go that fast today, and and being okay with that and and then also being comfortable with saying no. Um and as someone who like as such a I'm a such a peep people pleaser, it's okay. Like I've had to learn to be like, you know what, I'm really tired from like this weekend's training. I'm gonna run by myself today. And so um I think it's I think the majority of it had to do with just yeah, putting yourself in a vulnerable position and and being vulnerable to like, I just can't run that today, and and saying no and and yeah, letting your ego go aside because just because you can't run with them doesn't mean you can't run with them, you know? Just you're just in a different fatigue um phase of your of your fitness.
SPEAKER_04You mentioned kind of the two different types of fitness of like 50k, faster, more intense, or now getting into this hundred-mile fitness. Are there any particular indicators, you know, that like you or your coach are looking for that you know the training's working, you're getting fit, or is it more like feedback and vibes?
SPEAKER_01Um, I think it's a little bit of both. Um and I feel like I notice my my different fitness, I guess you could say, uh, in moments of like long runs, you know, where um at the end of a long run, I I feel like I'm just getting started versus like maybe my other running partners are like, I can't wait to be done. You know, and I'm just like, oh, I can be going for three hours more if I need to. So I think there's like this extra gear um that you can just tap into. And I think that's just built over weeks and months of of of building that volume and and um yeah, I I would feel like for me it's more like how I respond to like it's also back-to-back runs, you know, how do I respond to that and um and how I recover.
SPEAKER_00Um so can you talk about the May 18th run? I think it was from Robinson Flat to Cal Street, 47 miles in seven hours.
SPEAKER_01Oh, to the river.
SPEAKER_00To the river.
SPEAKER_01To Rucky Chucky. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Um, yeah, I feel like that was the big day. We started out hot that day, as far as like the biggest day, just because um we wanted to build the camp in a way where um I'm feeling the freshest for like the largest portion. Um, because it kind of simulates a bit more of how you're gonna feel when you race. Um, if I did the 50 mile day at the very end of camp and I'm so tired from like all the previous runs, I'm not gonna gain that confidence of this is how I'm gonna feel on race day. Um, and then you take that Monday times taper, not with three weeks of load under your legs, and you're like, oh, okay, now I come out of that run really confident. So it's very strategic in the way that we set that day up. Um, but yeah, um my Nike manager Lucy came out along with um Emma, who is one of like the Nike research sports scientists. Um, and she was um helping me figure out, you know, like my sodium. Um, because I think that's kind of like what I was dealing with on that day is um my sodium was like I was consuming too much sodium because I thought in my head I was like about 900. It turns out I'm like 500, so I'm like on the lower level, which I'm glad, you know, I'm glad that I found that out because I was able to to like learn from that and fix. Um and yeah, we essentially try to simulate uh race day. Um, you know, like like cooling, um, nutrition, fluid, um, you know, and uh yeah, I don't know. It was it was uh I called it make big magic on my Strava because it felt so super magical. I think it was the first time that he really hit me that I was racing this race. Um I think before he was like, oh yeah, I'm racing it, but you know, I wouldn't let myself think about it too much. Um, but then being at camp, it like became like really real. Um and he yeah, I just came out of it really, really excited. Um, and it was talking about like the fitness. It's like, how do you, what do you take away from like little clues that you're fit? It's like I don't know if I would have been able to do that day last year, you know. I think I would have been able to finish in a completely different mindset, maybe like really worked or really tired. But to like turn around and and do back to back more 30-mile days, like that was really cool. Um, but yeah, it was crazy. Um I didn't I mean, I don't know what you want to know about that, Dave.
SPEAKER_00I think where I'm going with it is uh, especially in your case, how do you like can you pick specific moments in the training block where it that's kind of the moment where you know you're mentally prepared to compete at Western States or at the 100-mile distance? And it sounds like that was one of those runs.
SPEAKER_01Yes. It was definitely um, I would say maybe like the moment where I was like, okay, I can do this. Um yeah, I would say that was like the moment.
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SPEAKER_02Was there ever any moments in your training that you like looked at your coach or texted your coach John and said, like, what are you doing right now? This is crazy.
SPEAKER_01Um I only did that, I would say, gosh, like three weeks ago when I was at my very last big week. Um, and it was the first time that the whole training block really hit me. Um, in talking about like going over the line, at first I was like, did I go over the line? Um, because I felt so tired. Um and um I just remember we had one last six-hour day. Um, and I that entire week I'd just been feeling so bad, like really tired, um, couldn't seem to like feel that pop back in my legs. Um, and he just kept telling me, like, trust to process, trust to process, Jen. Like, if you weren't, if I wasn't talking to you and I was just looking at the training, like I wouldn't think that, you know? And so um, yeah, I feel like that was the time where I was just like, okay, I'm trusting you, like, because right now, like I've never felt this tired before. And like, this is I know this is all new and I need to like embrace it. Um, but I did, I think my my uh perfection brain was like, oh, did I go too far? Um, but then you know, like we started a D load week, and then now going into like my taper week, um it started to click again and I started to get my pop back and um yeah, I was like, okay, so I didn't know we're doing a thing, you know. But um I trust you. Yes, yes. So I think we goes back to like the athlete coach relationship, like most coaches like kind of understand what they're doing, and um I think I just needed to let my trust in that, um, especially since I'd never done this type of training before.
SPEAKER_04So prior to your big training camp, had you spent much time on the Western States course before?
SPEAKER_01Um, no. I mean, I did um Canyons 50k twice. Um, sorry, finished ones, DNF'd ones. Um, and that was about it. And then oh, and then I paced Erin Clark last year. I paced her from Green Gate to the finish. So at least I knew that part. Um, and we did that that day, uh, the very last day of camp. And so I kind of like knew what I was getting into, and I knew it was a bit more runnable. Um and uh, but no, previous to that, no.
SPEAKER_04What do you think of it? Um the first impressions are always they're very different from my first impression is after the first day, I remember thinking, like, what are they talking about with California carpet here?
SPEAKER_01Because truthfully, like it doesn't really get that California carpety until maybe the last to me like 20 miles, like from Green Gate to the finish. But even then, there's some chunky sections, but um no, the canyons are chunky. Um I don't know what people were talking about with California carpet on that. I'm like, um, I want my technical shoes for that, you know, like um it's it's it's not as smooth running as people say it is. And I think you actually have to have different skills to do really well at it. I don't think you can be a fast, faster running trail runner and think that you are going to do really well. I think that you need to be really good at technical, you need to be really good at climbing, um, really good at descending, um, and obviously have really good turnover for the finish. But um yeah, I think, yeah, my first thoughts were were like, oh no, this is like a legit race. Like, this is not just like a Iran road, so I can do this. Um, and so I think I gain a lot of respect for the race, to be honest. Um, but yeah, chunky in some sections for sure. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. So you mentioned all the things that you kind of need to be good at on this course, and you're saying what they are, and I'm like, Jen is good at that, Jen is good at that, Jen is good at that. Is there a specific section or style of terrain on this course that you think you are best at relative to some of your competitors, or you have a huge strength against some of your competitors?
SPEAKER_01Um, I mean, I can't lie when I say like that first section through the high country. That's like my jam. I mean, most of my best 50k have been on that type of terrain. Um, and I do feel very confident moving through that stuff. Um, you know, and I think I'm a I'm a good climber as well. So even going through the canyons, um, so canyons, climbing plus chunky, perfect. Um yeah, I think I think honestly, I'm excited for all sections because they tap into different parts of trail running that I love. Um, and I think I don't know if I'm necessarily best at one of the other, because I feel like the woman coming into this race that I have heard of, you know, I don't look at starless, but um, you know, we have like the CCC champion um coming, and she's pretty good at technical. So um then she also is like a really good marathoner. So um I think I don't know. I I I don't think I'm best at one-star in section, but I think I I can confidently say that I feel confident through the entire course. Like, I don't think there's a section where I'm like, ooh, I need to have like 20-second lead there, you know. Like I don't think that way. Um, but I do think I just think it's gonna be a really exciting race.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. You did sorry guys, I'll let you jump in in a second. Oh no, go, go. Um before you did Black Canyon 100K, you had at least two 50 miles, you had JFK, um, and you had like Tompellier, and those were pretty good, probably like not your greatest performances of all time. Black Canyon seemed to be like a pretty exceptional performance. Um aside from training, unless you would attribute it to training, what do you think was the biggest difference for you jumping up from 50 miles to 100k? And like, do you see there being like similar jump when you go from 100k to 100 miles?
SPEAKER_01Um the biggest difference between that is um my self-care, to be honest. Um I think I just I think I was not taking care of myself before. And I think I was trying to not that 50k's you can be reckless in nutrition and and and hydration and stuff, but you can be a little reckless and you can get away with it. And I think I just had that mindset going into these longer races at first where I felt like my fitness could outdo anything, you know, like I can just muscle my way. Through any problem. And I learned that you cannot do that. Um, and I learned that you have your body has limits and it can tell you no. Um, at JFK, he told me no with a terrible cramping. Um, I couldn't walk after that race for like a day. I had to be carried out of the finish line. Um, and at Templier, it was like not drinking well, not eating, not stopping at eight stations and truly like, what do I need right now? Um, I was blowing through them like I was racing a 50k. I was, you know, and um, and then like I just remembered like studying the different girls who were excelling at this. And, you know, that year Kaylin Fielder won Templier and she was like eighth place through 50k. And I was like chasing first and just blowing through ace stations with Nick. I was he was my aide, and I would maybe stop for like 10, 15 seconds, grab things, and then just go. I was I was trying to race too soon. Um, and so I think I just learned that I can't be that reckless. Um, and so I think with Black Canyon, I intentionally went into that race, thinking to myself, like, I'm going to do this right. And patience is the the name of the game. And in order to do well, like fitness is not, you know, I knew I was fit going into that race. Like, fitness is not the issue. I think it's a self-care contest. Who can take care of themselves the best? Because everyone on that sideline is really fit. And so um, I think what I've learned is um there's a lot more to fitness in these big races. And um, in order for you to be able to express that fitness, you have to take care of yourself. And so I think that's what I've done differently.
SPEAKER_00Raid Research is the official equipment and apparel partner of our 2026 Western States 100 coverage. You've definitely heard me talk about their LF5L vest launch and their trail tech shorts in the past. And yes, they are both already sold out, but they're gonna be restocked in early July. So make sure that you are subscribed to their mailing list so you don't miss the update. And other news, Raid has many new summer trail products set to release later this week. They are relaunching their first running tee that's gonna be followed by an ultralight Anorak Rain Shell, women's cargo crop top, and a very exciting women's specific belt in the first half of July. So again, join their mailing list so you don't miss a beat. Other than that, if you are listening to this during the week of TrailCon and in the area, Raid is gonna have a booth there. So go say hello. Thanks again to Raid for supporting our coverage this week. Go check out all of their products at raidresearch.com. And if you end up buying anything at checkout, please let them know that the folks at Single Track sent you.
SPEAKER_02Did you make any mistakes at Black Canyon? Other than have these dog poop bags in your package and almost a no packs.
SPEAKER_04Do you have a meeting spot at the start line for Nick?
SPEAKER_01Uh no. I um that race went really, really well.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. It looked like it went really well.
SPEAKER_01I was extra perfect. Yeah, I was in it the entire time. Um I yeah, I was I was doing what I told myself I was gonna do because I think it was the first time where I was like, I do not want to f this up. I was like, I do not want to f this up. Um I worked too hard for this. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Western States is at least in our bubble, it's the biggest stage in the sport. For anyone who is tuning into the live stream on Saturday that for some reason doesn't know you as well as they should. How would you like them to remark about the way you race out there? Your style, your approach to the sport.
SPEAKER_01Um I've been known to go out really hot in races. Um, and so I hope they don't do that. Don't take that away from me. Like, don't take that as like, oh, Jen's gonna go out too hot.
SPEAKER_03Um I hope maybe that they take away from the race that I don't know, like maybe like I'm a I'm a how would you describe your style?
SPEAKER_01I think right now, I because I I do think I've I've gone through phases of different racing. I think right now it's like a no-fear factor kind of racing where I I don't want to let thoughts of what's gonna happen in the future take away from like how I'm feeling in the moment. And so I guess you could say like I'm I'm I'm racing very intuitively and instinctively. If there's a move being done, like if I feel like it's correct for me, I'll I'll I'll move I'll react to it. Um but yeah, maybe then I won't go down without a fight.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_00I think the other question I want to ask you, and we've talked about this in in other arenas, but again, just for this Western States audience, you've progressively moved up in distance in our sport almost flawlessly. Uh and I think just because there's more attention on the bigger distances, 100 miles, etc., there's just more of an audience here and you've become a star. Does that does that feel like a pressure on you? Like how are you processing it dealing with it? Um because you're one of the favorites for the win on Saturday.
SPEAKER_01Well, it's crazy because I don't really feel that way. Um like I still like I don't think I'm like pardon my French, I don't think I'm like hot shit right now. Um I think that I still have a lot to prove to myself. And I think I don't like to me, it's like I'm not trying to prove myself to anyone anymore. I'm trying to prove, I'm trying to more honor like myself and like my belief and like what I can do in the sport. And so I think like focusing on that has helped me kind of center myself through this. And because I I do believe when I enter the sport, I was like, I can be good at this, you know? And everyone goes through like ups and lows and ups and lows through the sport, and um, and it's like, how do you react to that? Right. And so I think for me, it's like, man, Black Canyon was like, and even Gorge was like the first time where I was just like, I was like high-fiving my inner self of like, heck, you're doing what you wanted to do. You're doing what you said you wanted to do in the sport. And so I think, yeah, I think I'm just like honoring myself in it. And by doing that, I think I'll do well.
SPEAKER_04Dude, high-five your inner self. I love that. So that's going on the next shirt. That's next year's Brett shirt. Depth is deep, right? High five your inner self. Yeah. That's amazing.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and I go, I think that goes back to like belief, right? Like you you do the work, and there's there's one reason why you wanna why you're a pro, you know, and why and why you you do these hard trainings and these hard training blocks and and and you line up against the best in the world is like deep down you believe you can be there. And so like why not bring that to fruition? And so I think that's like what I'm working on.
SPEAKER_02Do you think there's anybody on that start line that uh like has similar racing tactics to you, a similar perspective on the sport as you that you could see yourself kind of like going head to head with a little bit out there?
SPEAKER_03Gosh.
SPEAKER_01I don't know. I mean, I haven't really raced these girls. That's the thing. Um gosh, I mean, I I guess I raced Abbey Hall at Black Canyon. Um, but like again, I'm I'm really just starting to get to know who I'm racing against right now. And um yeah.
SPEAKER_03So I don't know.
SPEAKER_00Is it tough to follow the sport in your position? Like, can you be a fan when you're at this level of performance or this these stakes?
SPEAKER_01I don't think so. I okay, hot, hot, yeah, I know, hot take. I don't think you can be because if you if you if you're fangirling over someone next to you, it means they that you think they're better than you. And I think in order for you guys to be equals, you have to just respect. Um I just I think I find it hard to do that. I I wouldn't say I'm I wouldn't say I'm like fangirling in front of these girls, like watching them, you know, some of the best in the world at this distance race against. I think I'm more more like I respect who you are and and what you do, and but I'm here and I and I want you to respect me too. Um so I think I think it's hard to be a fan of maybe like the distance you're at or like a fan of particular competitors because I do think like maybe subconsciously you're like making an excuse as to like why they why they're gonna beat you or something. Um so a numb.
SPEAKER_02I think there's a lot of validity to that. Yeah, I think it yeah, allows for you to be your best self out there and not set any limits based on who you're lining up to. Exactly. Love that.
SPEAKER_00Last question from me. Given that you don't fan out in the sport like me, Leah, Brett, and Mick do. It's your job.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, this is our excuse why we're we're not as good as Jen guys.
SPEAKER_00We're sitting here talking about it. Talk about talk about the hobbies and what brings you joy outside of training.
SPEAKER_01Oh man. Um, so most people know that I love my sourdough baking. Um, so yeah, I love baking. I love I love cooking. I grew up with a mom who went to like a culinary school in Paris. Um, so I grew up with home cooked meals. Um, so she instilled that love of cooking um in me. Um I love art. I created, I actually was painting, you know, before I came here because I was like trying to stay away from like the chaos going into Western States. So I took out my print brush and started painting. And um, I love my dogs. Um uh yeah, I mean, I love I yeah, I don't know. I love doing a lot of different things. Um yeah.
SPEAKER_04What's your signature dish if you were to cook if you were to cook dinner for everyone in the house? What would your go-to be?
SPEAKER_01Um, I'd say curry. I love curry. Nicholas can attest to that, but I love curry.
SPEAKER_00He's laughing in the background.
SPEAKER_01When when I think I'm feeling fancy at the house, um, or I feel like I want something special, I'll make curry.
SPEAKER_00Okay, I said that one more. Are there any similarities between creating art and preparing for a race?
SPEAKER_01I think so. Um I think maybe one big one is trusting the process. So I feel like sometimes when you start painting something on on a canvas, you know, or on out of a piece of paper, I think you can be like, what am I what am I doing here? You know, like I don't know, like this this is not looking what I thought it was gonna look in my head, you know, like um and then you troubleshoot and and then you just keep putting things on the canvas or on the on the paper. Um and you hope that it comes together. And so maybe racing is like that, right? Where you start out and you're like, Am I going too fast, am I going too slow? Am I supposed to be up there? Am I supposed to be here? Like what am I doing right now? And I think the more you you paint or the more you race and you more you run, the more confident you get. And I think that's how I feel in my art as well, is the more I do it and the more I trust that what I'm doing is leading me to something. By the end, I'm like, I'll like walk and I'm like, huh, that looks pretty good actually. You know, and I think that's what happened when I was making this piece. And I actually I made a Western States piece. Um, and he was like, I just remember I would have to, you know, stand and take a little stroll around my house and come back and just stare at it and be like, ah, that you know, like that's actually turned out to be good. And so I think in the same way, it's like I think maybe drawing drawing from that on race day, it's like just trusting that everything will come together.
SPEAKER_00Any John Fitzgerald quotes or mantras for race day?
SPEAKER_01Oh, um that's a good question. Um I think his mantra for me on race day is uh self-care. Um he's like, take care of yourself, Jen. Take care of yourself. If you take care of yourself, you get the best out of yourself. Um and then for non-race, for just every day training, um it's success is rented. Um and so enjoy it. And because you never guarantee guarantee if it's gonna happen again. And so um, and I think that kind of makes you center and and just keep working very hard and not maybe like sandbag and be like, I got in the bag, you know. It's it's more like, you know, no, I gotta, I gotta do the work today as well, just like everyone else, despite winning.
SPEAKER_00So Jim, we can't thank you enough for the time. Obviously, really excited to watch The Race Unfold Saturday. Thank you for being such an exciting element of it, and uh, we wish you peace and reflection and joy in the next few days before the gun goes on.
SPEAKER_01Thank you. I also wish myself peace.
SPEAKER_00All right, thanks for tuning in to our 2026 Western States 100 coverage. This is our fourth year doing it, and we're having the time of our lives. Before we go, I wanted to ask the following from you: if you're motivated to contribute to what we're doing, please consider leaving a detailed rating and review on Apple and Spotify. Leave a comment on any of these episodes on YouTube, and support our partners and let them know that we sent you. For example, uh, go get one of the new vests from Raid the LF5L, let them know that we sent you at checkout. Same goes for Nord or Precision. Use our discount code in the show notes there, and use the link as well to complete their nutrition planner for your next race. These are the specific actions that truly keep the lights on for us and make this annual pilgrimage to Olympic Valley, this tradition, this great tradition possible. Thanks for considering, and we will see you on the next episode.
