Coming off a shock win on the 2024 UTMB, Vincent Bouillard of France shouldn’t be an unknown on the 2025 Western States 100. Within the following interview, Vincent talks about how his life has modified since profitable UTMB final summer time, how he approaches his coaching and life by specializing in doing fewer issues however doing them effectively, and what sort of sneakers he thinks will excel on a course like this one.
To study extra about who’s racing, try our males’s and ladies’s previews earlier than following our dwell race protection on race day.
[Editor’s Note: If you are unable to see the video above, click here to access it.]
Vincent Bouillard Pre-2025 Western States Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Bryon Powell of iRunFar right here with Vincent Bouillard earlier than the 2025 Western States 100. How are you, Vincent?
Vincent Bouillard: Yeah. I’m nice. Thanks.
iRunFar: Welcome to Olympic Valley.
Bouillard: Thanks. Thanks.
iRunFar: It’s been ten months because you received UTMB. That’s in all probability sufficient time to have some perspective on that. What are your ideas nearly a 12 months later?
Bouillard: Nicely, actually, greater than something, I’m completely satisfied and grateful. Like, I feel for positive, I labored exhausting to get to the place I’m at, however I’m additionally very fortunate and grateful to be right here to have the ability to take pleasure in having enjoyable doing this sport, and taking part in occasions like this weekend is fairly particular. So simply reflecting on it due to yeah, happiness and pleasure for persevering with on this journey of getting enjoyable with it.
iRunFar: Yeah. You’ve already run races since then. You ran Chianti [Ultra-Trail], and now you’re right here. Do you are feeling like because you’ve received UTMB there’s much more strain? Are you continue to in a position to be out right here and having fun with it as you probably did previously?
Bouillard: I feel each are true. For positive, there’s positively strain within the sense that, like, effectively, earlier than final 12 months, not lots of people knew about me or cared about what I used to be doing or saying within the sport. So, yeah, that that’s totally different. However on the identical time, it doesn’t prohibit me from nonetheless having fun with the exercise of path operating and approaching the competitors in the same method. Like, on the finish of the day, it’s nonetheless for me a technique to try to put together myself in one of the best ways and execute a race technique. So, some issues have modified for positive, however the method actually of like, what I’m attempting to get to, shouldn’t be totally different.
iRunFar: Yeah. I imply, as a result of you’ve modified from being a full-time individual working at product at Hoka to now working half time. And I’ve seen a lot of folks make a transition from full-time to part-time or full-time to professional athlete, and issues change.
Bouillard: Sure.
iRunFar: Coaching turns into work fairly than coaching being enjoyable and delight.
Bouillard: Yeah. No, it’s true. There’s positively a giant transition of attempting to set the proper stability, which was the aim for me in transitioning to part-time was there was numerous rigidity after my UTMB final 12 months of like, one with a full-time job. Like, sure. However I suppose my goal is to not present that we’ve to do a 100%, 150% in each space of life. Like, I’m a lot happier doing issues extra moderately, doing fewer, however doing higher. And that’s form of been the mantra of this primary half of the 12 months is to perhaps be a little bit bit extra cheap on what we do, however, yeah, executing that. Making an attempt to do it higher. Yeah.
iRunFar: So, does that imply like, in your coaching quantity, you’ve not gone to 150% of what was profitable for you at UTMB?
Bouillard: Yeah. Completely. That’s really, my coaching quantity hasn’t modified that a lot. Like, what’s modified probably the most is I’ve added a while within the gymnasium lifting weight, which I used to do, however not with the identical quantity of precision. And I’ve a energy coaching coach that’s helped me because the starting of the 12 months. After which the opposite factor that’s modified, I feel, is that whereas I’ve comparable or the identical quantity of hours, I put extra high quality into after they occur.
iRunFar: Mm hmm.
Bouillard: Like, earlier than it was like, effectively, I begin work at no matter hours. I must get up and run between like, 5:00 and seven:00 a.m. or one thing. Now I’ve the consolation of I’m going to prioritize my sleep, and going operating when it’s finest for my metabolism and attempting to optimize a number of the invisible coaching aspect.
iRunFar: So, it’s optimizing the coaching and restoration fairly than doing extra.
Bouillard: Precisely. Yeah. Making an attempt to recuperate higher, attempting to not rush by means of some coaching weeks, and perhaps placing a little bit bit extra high quality earlier than I try to change the amount facet.
iRunFar: And also you’ve been a runner for a very long time, however your operating has taken a step up. Undoubtedly, profitable UTMB, you’re stronger than you’ve ever been. Sure?
Bouillard: Yeah. I feel, yeah, for positive. I can’t deny that. Like, that was a breakthrough. Surprising within the sense that I used to be not getting into for the win or nothing.
iRunFar: Mm hmm.
Bouillard: I nonetheless take a look at my, I feel, journey within the sport as a development. Like, UTMB shouldn’t be the longest effort I’ve completed. I’ve completed some longer issues on the bike, solo, like not on the race setup. And I feel that’s what’s a part of the joy is to maintain occurring that journey of discovering and pushing limits. And competitors is an effective way to do this as a result of with stronger and stronger competitors on the path operating races, we push one another and get higher at coaching and discover the brand new tweaks. And yeah, I feel that’s thrilling for everyone.
iRunFar: And also you additionally push your self on race day.
Bouillard: Yeah.
iRunFar: Simply wanting again at Chianti Extremely Path, you and Kilian [Jornet] racing, it appeared like an epic journey for each of you.
Bouillard: Yeah.
iRunFar: Did it really feel that method out on the path?
Bouillard: Yeah. I feel it was nice. Jim [Walmsley] dropped us fairly early on as a result of we’re too gradual for him. I imply, he had an incredible day on the market. And I feel for various causes, Kilian and I had some extra difficulties, and it so occurred that we have been, I suppose, shut to one another throughout the race. And I actually assume we helped one another, a minimum of mentally, to maintain going even when we weren’t having one of the best day.
And yeah, I feel it positively is an illustration of it’s a contest. It’s a battle. However particularly on extremely distances, like, we go quick, but it surely’s a relative quick. As you understand, we’re in a position to chitchat. We’re not like at VO2 max stage effort. And so, yeah, that’s positively I feel a really cool a part of any such competitors.
iRunFar: So, coming right here to Western States, it’s very totally different than a UTMB or a number of the races in Europe. You possibly can have crews at these races.
Bouillard: Mm hmm.
iRunFar: However right here it seems like crew and pacers are a fair greater part.
Bouillard: Yeah.
iRunFar: What does that appear like for you right here at Western States for the primary time?
Bouillard: I feel it’s actually thrilling as a result of I’ve at all times appreciated to prioritize races not too removed from the place I dwell.
iRunFar: Mm hmm.
Bouillard: So that is, I suppose, not an excellent instance within the sense of like, coming all the best way from Europe the place I dwell since a 12 months in the past now. However I’ve lived on the West Coast for 5 years. We have been in Southern California after which up in Oregon. And what’s actually cool about this weekend is that my spouse and I did journey from Europe, however exterior of that, all of our crew are from the West Coast. So, it’s all of our like, mates and group that’s going to share that, that we will have racing with us. And I feel that’s actually particular as a result of, I imply, there’s great thing about, you understand, chasing solo efforts and FKTs and issues, however the group facet of this sport is absolutely lovely. And we might do Western States with out crewing. It will simply look very totally different.
iRunFar: Mm hmm.
Bouillard: And possibly a little bit bit slower. And so, it’s actually enjoyable to, you understand, plan out your technique. Like, it’s an extremely for the crew. Like, it’s an excellent exhausting taxing day for all the crew. And effectively, I feel I’ve completed it as soon as myself on the crew aspect in 2021 right here at Western, and I very a lot bear in mind, like, it’s an excellent thrilling day as effectively. So, I’m excited for that.
iRunFar: Who’s pacing you? Who’s attempting to maintain up?
Bouillard: Yeah. I’ve two mates. Each dwell in Portland, in Oregon. Forrest Robust is one among them. He really paced me for my first 100k at Gorge Waterfall in Oregon. And the opposite one, Brandon Johnson, is an efficient buddy of mine and colleague at Hoka. I suppose he’s extra on the street marathon aspect, however he’s tipped into path earlier than. It’s not his first train of pacing ultrarunners really. So, I’m excited to have each assist me out heading in the right direction.
iRunFar: Good. Nicely, you might be concerned in innovation in Hoka right here within the footwear aspect. I don’t need to, like, not attempting to get which precise shoe you’re carrying, however you’ve seen the course earlier than. You already know what it’s like. What sort of qualities would you need in a shoe to run Western States?
Bouillard: Yeah. So, I’ve seen all of the course however the first 50k, I haven’t gotten an opportunity. I really like that. I get a little bit little bit of shock the primary few hours. However it’s totally different than UTMB, or I suppose one of many first variations is that it’s largely very dry, however you cross numerous streams or like, you get your ft moist quite a bit. So, yeah, it really is fairly demanding when it comes to the important thing functionalities that you really want out of the shoe. So, yeah. It’s enjoyable for the primary time to not simply work on what athletes are going to put on, however put on one myself.
iRunFar: So, what are a few of these qualities that make it distinctive? Once more, I don’t need to know what mannequin you’re carrying or one thing, however.
Bouillard: I feel one of many first issues, and I’ve heard different media speak about that’s you’re going to get your ft moist very early on. And so ,understanding that, you need your shoe to react in a method that, like, shouldn’t be going to utterly change the habits of the shoe and optimizing the breathability and for the water to get out.
iRunFar: Yeah.
Bouillard: And in order that’s one key part. Having run on numerous the course, there’s additionally a lot of mud and particles. And so, I don’t know if a gaiter is necessary, however having, a minimum of being conscious that you could have particles get inside can also be a giant issue. Yeah. After which it’s, lots of people say it’s California carpet, which I agree. It’s not probably the most technical path. It’s nonetheless a path. Like, I wouldn’t need to run this with a full on like, street marathon shoe. Like, particularly with the tempo at which we’re going to go. Like, we get actually drained. And so, the path will get, I suppose, comparatively tougher than it could be on only a single part.
iRunFar: So not a real street tremendous shoe with a full carbon plate. It’s a must to have one thing that’s a little bit extra adaptable.
Bouillard: Yeah. Yeah.
iRunFar: Alright. Nicely, thanks very a lot and better of luck on the market, Vincent.
Bouillard: Thanks a lot. Pleasure.
