The publish ‘It’s Your Day: With Ryan Montgomery’ Movie Evaluate appeared first on iRunFar.
Previous to their third-place run on the 2026 Western States 100 this June, Ryan Montgomery had positioned as excessive as seventh of their earlier three makes an attempt on the race. This yr, 4 runners went below Jim Walmsley’s former course document in a day for the historical past books, and Montgomery was proper within the thick of it by working 13:53:55, the third-fastest time in race historical past. Their end was some of the joyful ones on the Placer Excessive Faculty observe this yr.
The brand new movie, “It’s Your Day,” captures each the celebration behind Montgomery’s podium end and their quiet, relentless buildup in New England, juggling a Dartmouth graduate diploma, a full-time profession, and large coaching blocks on their native Vermont trails.
Montgomery is the soul of “It’s Your Day,” not the flashy, scenic drone pictures or sweeping panoramic mountain scenes attribute of most trail-running-centric movies. Their method to their fourth Western States is crammed with humility and curiosity. Montgomery explains they’ve been fine-tuning their technique and slowly mastering the race, which they are saying appeals to their eager problem-solving abilities. Within the movie, they clarify, “We’ve seen time and time once more that the perfect athletes can crumble and fail in execution, and I feel that kind of capability to downside resolve and be resilient is what makes champions on this sport.”
Montgomery’s ultrarunning journey is paved by years of mid-pack finishes at a plethora of difficult extremely occasions, such because the Badwater 135 Mile, Susitna 100 Mile, Wasatch 100 Mile, Bear 100 Mile, and lots of different iconic ultramarathons. Reflecting on their evolution, Montgomery notes, “I’m a greater athlete as a result of, yeah, I’m extra critical about coaching, however I feel why I’m able to do that’s I’m so good at downside fixing. I’ve been via a lot in these races.” They go on to clarify, “I do know what to anticipate. I do know what it’s going to really feel like, and I do know that more often than not I’m going to get via these issues. It’s only a matter of gutting it out and having the purview that it is a second in time.”
Most working movies focus solely on the game, however this one captures the broader context of Montgomery’s life. What’s exceptional isn’t simply their means to deal with a heavy workload outdoors of coaching, however that they throw themselves into each endeavor wholeheartedly. Removed from draining, cultivating such a wealthy, multi-faceted life appears to guard their ardour and maintain burnout at bay.
Because the movie shifts towards race day, Montgomery explains what feels completely different for him this yr. “My objective is to extract every thing out of myself. That isn’t solely health, however each single psychological synapse of vitality and fortitude. I wish to throw my every thing into this.”
Ultimately, Montgomery achieves what’s undoubtedly some of the heartfelt finishes in Western States historical past. Fueled by ardour and relentless effort, their historic third-place efficiency proves that tough work, curiosity, and an openness to studying are the final word basis for reaching the top of the game.
‘It’s Your Day: With Ryan Montgomery’ Movie Evaluate by Maggie Guterl.
