Western States Runners Talk Preparation and Strategy (video)

Top contenders Dylan Bowman and Kaci Lickteig, plus 100-mile rookie Daniella Zemola, share their thoughts on tomorrow’s Western States Endurance Run in this video by UltraSportsLive.TV

It’s that time of year when runners, elite and back-of-the-pack alike, congregate in northern California for the Western States Endurance Run, which takes place tomorrow. In this pre-race roundtable, UltraSportsLive.TV talks to podium contenders Dylan Bowman (third last year) and Kaci Lickteig (sixth last year), as well as 100-mile rookie Daniella Zemola, who gained entry to the race on her first time in the lottery. The three athletes speak about preparing for the race, the challenges they expect to face tomorrow (heat and quad-hammering downhills) and why running a 100-miler is, depending on whom you ask, 50 to 80 percent mental.

Stay tuned for a second Western States roundtable later today, with elites Alex Varner and Nicole Studer, plus a man who finally got into Western on his 32nd try.