If you’re studying this sizzling off the press, it’s the eve of the 2026 Western States 100, a 100-mile footrace from Olympic Valley, California, to Auburn, California. I’m scripting this roughly one week out, so assuming there weren’t any catastrophes within the ultimate week of taper, I’ll be lacing up my footwear tomorrow morning and hopping on the beginning line. I’ve run quite a lot of races in my life, however by no means this one, and I’d be mendacity if I mentioned it didn’t really feel particular.
Zach Miller ending second on the 2026 Canyons 100k to safe his spot for on the Western States 100. Photograph: Nick Presniakov
When you ask me what’s been on my thoughts forward of the race, I might rattle off an inventory. I take into consideration my coaching and the way I’m feeling. I take into consideration making an attempt to remain calm. I take into consideration meals, primarily that I eat sufficient of it. I take into consideration my spouse, Jess, and my want to be an excellent companion to her amidst the entire race stuff. I take into consideration the lengthy drive to get to the race. I take into consideration coaching and making an attempt to take care of warmth acclimatization with out overcooking myself. I take into consideration my race day fueling and hydration technique. And naturally, I take into consideration whether or not to race with a belt, a vest, or a mixture of the 2.
However, along with all of these items, I take into consideration bins.
The Field Precept
Rising up in Pennsylvania, we weren’t allowed to put on watches for observe and cross-country races. Possibly it was seen as jewellery, which I believe was banned, or perhaps it was thought to provide college students who owned them an unfair benefit. On the time, the rule felt regular as a result of it was all that I knew. Then I went to varsity in New York State, and I discovered that the foundations of operating weren’t common. I notably keep in mind one in all my faculty teammates from Washington expressing how silly he thought the Pennsylvania watch rule was. His remark seemingly made me pause and take into consideration why that rule existed within the first place.
The watch rule is one thing I’d now categorize as a field precept: one thing that bins you in, defining what’s allowed and what isn’t. It’s very black and white. Generally it creates what appears like a definition of morality: That is good; that’s dangerous. In a approach, the easy nature of it feels good.
Zach Miller placing the ultimate touches on his 2026 Western States 100 coaching. Photograph: Peter Maksimow
I’m 37 now, and once I look again at my adolescent years, I see quite a lot of bins. That is logical, as younger kids aren’t precisely identified for his or her capacity to assume rationally and make accountable choices. They’ll use robust tips.
As we become old and our decision-making expertise enhance, a number of the bins begin to disappear, however we nonetheless adhere to societal tips. If we’re cautious in regards to the bins we hold round, I believe they are often productive, however holding too many may be crippling.
Life doesn’t slot in a inflexible, cut-and-dry field. Whereas they attempt to make complicated issues easy, they fail as a result of the world isn’t that black-and-white. It’s complicated.
At some point, we change into adults and understand that every one these bins we grew up with don’t at all times work very properly out right here in the actual world. Life requires us to assume critically and to behave with thoughtfulness and care. Not every little thing shall be spelled out for us, and we received’t at all times have some field telling us what to do. A number of the time, we’ll must determine it out on our personal.
The Containers of the Western States 100
Races rely fairly closely on field ideas, in any other case generally known as guidelines. They’ve intensive paperwork detailing what you possibly can and can’t do. Some races have many guidelines, others have fewer.
Races which have much less, like Western States, end in a race day with a little bit of wiggle room, which might result in attention-grabbing ways. On the one hand, the free nature of the race makes it extra dynamic, enjoyable, and rewarding of creativity — a very enjoyable facet of Western States. Alternatively, it may well pose a problem to sustaining a good and stage taking part in discipline.
Everybody continues to be taking part in the sport beneath the identical algorithm, however the greater the field, the extra room there may be for outdoor variables to return into play. And the extra room there may be for that, the higher likelihood there may be for issues apart from the talents and expertise of the athletes to affect the end result of the race.
Zach Miller testing an kid-pool ice bathtub forward of the 2026 Western States 100. Photograph: Peter Maksimow`
Now, in fact, the race group isn’t going to manage each single variable. That will be ridiculous. Simply think about a race so strict that they dictate the precise varieties of diet you should use, perhaps even the quantities. Or perhaps they police the mannequin of shoe you possibly can put on, not simply the stack top. I don’t assume that is what we wish. To me, such laws could be a step too far.
However are there different features to a race that may create an unfair scenario which might be value regulating a bit extra carefully?
Crews of Western States
Take crew dimension for instance. Whereas UTMB permits one crew member inside every assist station, Western States solely limits it to at least one crew car per crew station — besides at Foresthill, the place any variety of automobiles are allowed. On one hand, limitless crew numbers are enjoyable. It turns the race into a celebration and lets extra individuals take part on the enjoyable. Alternatively, it makes it laborious to take care of a stage taking part in discipline.
Whereas in idea, everyone seems to be allowed to convey an enormous, Components 1-style pit crew, not everybody has the sources to place one collectively. Ought to a runner be deprived as a result of they don’t have the means to be catered to by so many? And sure, it’s potential for a smaller crew to be equally, or much more, efficient, however having some guidelines to control issues helps rein in potential disparities.
Extra elaborate crews with higher sources can supply a novel type of crewing unavailable to these with fewer sources. In recent times, we have now seen crews undertake child swimming pools stuffed with ice so a runner can dunk themselves in chilly water through the sizzling race. In a approach, it’s superior that individuals are getting inventive and discovering new methods to provide their runners an edge.
The issue-solver in me is on board, however what in regards to the runner who doesn’t have entry to such issues? Are we comfortable with having a big crew and the sources that they carry, taking part in such a probably pivotal position in a race? Do we wish a race that embraces each the athlete’s capacity and the crew’s energy, or will we want to field it in to make it largely a check of an athlete’s health and expertise, not their sources? There’ll at all times be a few of every, however how far will we want to tip the scales, and during which route?
Analyzing My Private Western States Containers
As I head into Western States, I hold occupied with this dynamic. All I’ve to do to run a clear, authorized race is to stick to the foundations. However as a human being, if I really feel that the foundations go away room for a less-than-even taking part in discipline, do I take some time to get an edge on my competitors, or do I maintain myself to a unique customary and decide to not take benefit?
In a way, it’s a bit like high-school cross nation. If the explanation for the watch rule was that it gave runners who might afford them an unfair benefit, would I exploit a watch if I might, or would I abstain to maintain issues honest?
Zach Miller pondering his method to the 2026 Western States 100. Photograph: Geoff Burns
I suppose this kind of dynamic is what happens once we reside exterior of the field. Field life makes issues straightforward, secure, and predictable. We don’t must assume as a lot. We simply observe the foundations. Life exterior of the field, or in a much less confining field, may be tougher. It requires us to assume and ask large questions. It begs us to contemplate what’s simply and honest. It doesn’t inform us what to do. It leaves it as much as us. However simply because it’s tougher doesn’t imply it’s worse. The truth is, I’d argue that it’s a fuller, extra mature approach to reside.
As I write this, I’m nonetheless undecided how I’ll method Western States. Will I reap the benefits of each little factor I can do to get an edge, or will I select to depart my figurative watch at house, opting as a substitute for a method that creates a extra stage taking part in discipline for all?
To be sincere, I’m pulled by each side. I don’t assume that I must have this all sorted out in my head come race day, however I believe this dynamic is one thing we must always take into consideration as we go ahead on this creating sport. Is it as much as the race to make a good field, or the athlete to make a good alternative?
Name for Feedback
- Do you assume it’s as much as the race to set inflexible guidelines to stage the taking part in discipline?
- Are there different methods to make for a extra stage taking part in discipline?
