Athlete Tips & Testimonials

Are you ready to race 100 miles? Montrail-Nathan team members share training secrets.

Andy Jones-Wilkin's typical training week one month before Western States:

Monday — 10 mile hilly loop on trail
Tuesday — 6 mile easy (AM) 6 miles hill repeats—4 x 1 mile at 15% grade (PM)
Wednesday — 10 Mile hilly loop on trail
Thursday — 6 mile easy (AM) 6 miles speed work—4 x 1 mile at 5:40 per mile pace (PM)
Friday — 10 mile hilly loop on trail
Saturday — 38 mile trail run on WS Course (Foresthill to Last Chance and back)
Sunday — 22 mile trail run on WS Course (River to Finish) Total miles—114

10 Ways to Survive Western States

10. Train as much as possible on the course. If you can't get to the course train in conditions as much like the course as possible.

9. Run in dusty conditions with wet shoes. You'd be surprised how much you'll do this at the race.

8. Practice getting through Aid Stations quickly. It can be tempting to spend quite a bit of time at Robinson Flat, Michigan, Bluff, Foresthill and The River. If you can rehearse getting through those places quickly you will have a better race.

7. Take care of your food needs early in the race. I usually consume 1200 calories between the start and Robinson. After that you can taper off on the solid food.

6. Eat in the bottom of the canyons and digest on the way up. I grab food at Last Chance and don't eat it until I've crossed the swinging bridge. You can get food at ElDorado and eat that on the way up.

5. The three major canyons start out steeply and then get a little easier. Practice this in training.

4. Make sure to run hard downhill in training. In order to succeed at Western States you have to be able to run hard with sore quads. Practicing this makes it easier.

3. If it's hot (and it probably will be) douse yourself with water at every creek crossing. It is well worth the time.

2. Stay on top of your electrolytes! Once you get low, you're toast!

1. Save something for the last 7 miles. This is where the "racing" really begins. You don't want to get passed on the road (or worse yet, on the track!)

Product Testimonials

"The smooth ride and flexible foot bed make the Continental Divide the perfect shoe for 100 mile races. The upper is breathable and dries quickly and the tread handles rocky trails well. I ran with it at Western States and Wasatch and it was perfect."
— Andy Jones-Wilkins, Ultrarunner

"You can't beat the Continental Divides when it comes to races that beat up your feet. When your feet aren't feeling every little rock on the trail, it's a lot easier to focus on nutrition and pace. My last two 100-milers were blister free and I even won one of them, thanks to my Montrails."
— Cathy Tibbetts, Ultrarunner

TIP #1: Nutrition & Shoes

Ultrarunner: Krissy Moel

Favorite race food is avocados with salt
Krissy's footwear of choice is the CONTINENTAL DIVIDE

Ultrarunner: Annette Bednosky

Favorite race food is Clif bars and gels
Footwear of choice is the CONTINENTAL DIVIDE

Ultrarunner: Karl Meltzer

Favorite race food is Powerbar gels
Karl's footwear of choice is the VITESSE

Ultrarunner: Andy Jones-Wilkins

Favorite race food is turkey sandwiches on wheat bread with sharp cheddar cheese and avocado
Andy's footwear of choice is the HARDROCK

Ultrarunner: Beverley Anderson-Abbs

Favorite race food is Sunsweet dried plums
Bev's footwear of choice is the CONTINENTAL DIVIDE and ENDURO-SOLES

Ultrarunner: Eric Grossman

Favorite race food is apples and cheese
Eric's footwear of choice is the ODYSSEY

Tip #2: Advice to first timers

Ultrarunner: Stephanie Ehret

Focus less on training and more on nurturing and preserving your love of running. Joy is rock; fitness is scissors. Rock beats scissors!

Ultrarunner: Kyle Skaggs

Have fun! Look around and see how beautiful the mountains, rivers, and forests are. You may still hurt, but at least you’re in an amazing place!

Ultrarunner: Mike Mason

Passion and attitude are as important as fitness and training when running mountain ultras, perhaps more so.

Ultrarunner: Luanne Park

Keep your enthusiasm in check. Cross train. Variety is the spice of life. Smile. Stop and smell the roses. And most importantly, listen to your body. If you want to stay into running for the long haul, like I have, you have got to be smart about it. If you are tired take a day off, or two. Better a few days off than months because of injury, I know this from personal experience.

Ultrarunner: Matt Hart