Gorge has to go, and with a result at Western - and your commitment to NOT run a TMB race a month ahead, leaving you off the Worlds Team would be an absolute TRAVESTY. Cape Town feels like a cherry topper that you don't even have to think about until a few weeks after Worlds. Love your thought process on your season, we're routing for you!!
It’s hard to put myself in your shoes, and to know how important Western States is to you. Your points are valid in terms of the competitive field and the downside of disappointment potential for sure. I think I would be hard pressed not to give Gorge 100k a rip for a chance to fully secure the WC spot. Even without your wife there to crew that one, it would give you a chance to give more of yourself to being a new Dad in the coming months if you would forego WSER for full focus on a great WC. And selfishly, I’d love to see you give a really good crack at Worlds without the pressure of the turnaround from States even though it’s 3 months. Nothing is taken for granted though, either decision you make will test you and bear the fruit of that test!
Fun reading your thought process. Sounds like you have it figured out, but consider this another vote for going all in on WSER. Then the worlds / utct combo sounds 👌🏼
I would say, it does seem all of the factors you are using to decide your season is very focused on the question, "how do I optimize 2025?". I wonder if it might be helpful to look beyond this season to include that context. In other words, what might give you the best shot at making 2025 an amazing year may not align with what will set you up for an incredible 2026, 2027, and beyond...
Great work and have an awesome season (however it comes together)!
That's an interesting point. I'm curious, how do you think it could be different if I was thinking more about what would set me up for a great 2026 or 2027? I agree, setting myself up well for the coming years is a top priority, but I think my current plan for 2025 will do that
No specific race plan thought in mind, maybe just echoing your (and you're coachs') considerations of patience... thinking about that classic idea of focusing on excellence instead of success, as the success will come naturally.
Thanks again for giving us the inside look at your thought process on racing/training! Keep crushing it!
I think focusing on WSER is definitely the right move. Despite the least amount of certainty around the race (new baby, weight of expectations for running a stellar time on your awesome debut last year, insanely stacked field etc etc), I think as a competitor and athlete you probably only get a handful of opportunities to race a race like western this year with all of the big names in our sport (hopefully) coming together for once race. Rather than focusing on improving your time or what position you finish in, I feel like (although I’m nowhere near your level and you seem to be locked in on the mental side) the focus should be on competing up front and putting yourself in the best position to race/compete, much like it seemed you did last year. I realize this is much easier said than done, but i think if you can focus getting to WSER healthy and unburdened as possible, you won’t regret it, whereas if you opted not to race it, you would certainly regret it given the field this year.
As a biased South African who will be at UTCT this year, I have to vote that you definitely end your year there. No matter how the rest of your season goes, it should be a good way to round out the year.
I would take a proper prep for UTMB and 1000000 focus on that and simply hope for Trail WC after that and only focusing recovery w/ some sparse high quality workouts as soon as possible.
Reasoning: if you reached that nes level you will have a great turnout at UTMB - whatever that will be.
You can’t control WC and give it the best shot. There is also data you could have a great WC after UTMB, see Katie‘s UTMB after Western States.
That instruction from Jack and Scott is pretty great life coaching, too, and highlights one of the challenges of chasing any kind of performance, running or otherwise. Growth is rarely a straight upward trajectory. It can be explosive and surprising, regressive, plateauing, or incremental. Being able to stay mentally stable, emotionally engaged, committed, and ready to adjust workload to the growth trajectory seems like at least 1/2 of the game! Fun to see it playing out here! Thank you!
Gorge has to go, and with a result at Western - and your commitment to NOT run a TMB race a month ahead, leaving you off the Worlds Team would be an absolute TRAVESTY. Cape Town feels like a cherry topper that you don't even have to think about until a few weeks after Worlds. Love your thought process on your season, we're routing for you!!
It’s hard to put myself in your shoes, and to know how important Western States is to you. Your points are valid in terms of the competitive field and the downside of disappointment potential for sure. I think I would be hard pressed not to give Gorge 100k a rip for a chance to fully secure the WC spot. Even without your wife there to crew that one, it would give you a chance to give more of yourself to being a new Dad in the coming months if you would forego WSER for full focus on a great WC. And selfishly, I’d love to see you give a really good crack at Worlds without the pressure of the turnaround from States even though it’s 3 months. Nothing is taken for granted though, either decision you make will test you and bear the fruit of that test!
I know… I can see that side too, which is why it’s a tough call!
Key factors = wife and new kid
could be the greatest Western States of ALL Time... laser focus on that
Fun reading your thought process. Sounds like you have it figured out, but consider this another vote for going all in on WSER. Then the worlds / utct combo sounds 👌🏼
Thanks for sharing!
I would say, it does seem all of the factors you are using to decide your season is very focused on the question, "how do I optimize 2025?". I wonder if it might be helpful to look beyond this season to include that context. In other words, what might give you the best shot at making 2025 an amazing year may not align with what will set you up for an incredible 2026, 2027, and beyond...
Great work and have an awesome season (however it comes together)!
That's an interesting point. I'm curious, how do you think it could be different if I was thinking more about what would set me up for a great 2026 or 2027? I agree, setting myself up well for the coming years is a top priority, but I think my current plan for 2025 will do that
No specific race plan thought in mind, maybe just echoing your (and you're coachs') considerations of patience... thinking about that classic idea of focusing on excellence instead of success, as the success will come naturally.
Thanks again for giving us the inside look at your thought process on racing/training! Keep crushing it!
I think focusing on WSER is definitely the right move. Despite the least amount of certainty around the race (new baby, weight of expectations for running a stellar time on your awesome debut last year, insanely stacked field etc etc), I think as a competitor and athlete you probably only get a handful of opportunities to race a race like western this year with all of the big names in our sport (hopefully) coming together for once race. Rather than focusing on improving your time or what position you finish in, I feel like (although I’m nowhere near your level and you seem to be locked in on the mental side) the focus should be on competing up front and putting yourself in the best position to race/compete, much like it seemed you did last year. I realize this is much easier said than done, but i think if you can focus getting to WSER healthy and unburdened as possible, you won’t regret it, whereas if you opted not to race it, you would certainly regret it given the field this year.
Getting there healthy and focusing on being in the mix up front seems like a solid plan!
As a biased South African who will be at UTCT this year, I have to vote that you definitely end your year there. No matter how the rest of your season goes, it should be a good way to round out the year.
It would be such a good way to end the year! Can’t wait!
I would take a proper prep for UTMB and 1000000 focus on that and simply hope for Trail WC after that and only focusing recovery w/ some sparse high quality workouts as soon as possible.
Reasoning: if you reached that nes level you will have a great turnout at UTMB - whatever that will be.
You can’t control WC and give it the best shot. There is also data you could have a great WC after UTMB, see Katie‘s UTMB after Western States.
Plan for perfect, see what comes.
That instruction from Jack and Scott is pretty great life coaching, too, and highlights one of the challenges of chasing any kind of performance, running or otherwise. Growth is rarely a straight upward trajectory. It can be explosive and surprising, regressive, plateauing, or incremental. Being able to stay mentally stable, emotionally engaged, committed, and ready to adjust workload to the growth trajectory seems like at least 1/2 of the game! Fun to see it playing out here! Thank you!
Definitely applies to life too! It was a nice reminder