From the Classroom to the Golden Ticket – Will Murray’s Road to Western States

On this episode of the Free Outside Podcast, we welcome Will Murray, a math teacher, coach, and elite runner who recently punched his ticket to Western States 100. Will shares his unique journey from growing up in Georgia as a baseball player to rediscovering running after college, transitioning from cycling to trail racing, and ultimately shocking the ultra world with a Golden Ticket win at Black Canyon 100K.Our Black Canyon Coverage: https://youtu.be/SO-6YkxWczM?si=IXEDglz96vCwI6p7Support me by shopping at Janji.com and Garage Grown GearTopics:🏃‍♂️ Will’s path to teaching and endurance sports🚲 How cycling shaped his ultra-running success🎓 Balancing coaching, dorm duty, and training at a boarding school🏔️ His Silver Rush 50 debut—placing second in his first ultra🔥 How he prepped for Black Canyon 100K and handled the Arizona heat🧠 The mental strategies and self-talk routines that powered his breakthrough🏆 What it felt like to earn a Golden Ticket and his plans for Western States 100Will’s story is a testament to balancing a passion for running with a full-time career. Chapters:00:00 – Intro: Meet Will MurrayJeff introduces Will Murray—math teacher, coach, 2:32 marathoner, and now a Golden Ticket winner to Western States 100.02:00 – Growing Up: From Baseball to RunningWill shares his early years in Georgia, playing baseball and discovering running in high school.04:30 – A Roundabout Path to TeachingHow Will went from working at a bike shop and guiding cycling tours in France to studying math and eventually becoming a high school teacher in New Jersey.07:00 – Finding His Way Back to RunningAfter college, Will rediscovered endurance sports through bikepacking but shifted to running due to time constraints.09:30 – Jumping Into Ultras: Silver Rush 50Why he picked Leadville’s Silver Rush 50 as his first ultra—and how he shocked the field by finishing second.12:30 – Competing at Chuckanut 50KTesting himself against elite competition like Matt Daniels, Francesco Pupi, and Zach Perrin, and learning from a tough day.14:45 – Leadville 100: First 100-Miler ExperienceThe highs and lows of Leadville, racing in the mountains, and the emotional finish under the night sky.17:00 – Dreaming of Western StatesHow Leadville fueled his desire to chase a Golden Ticket, and the logistics of making it happen with a full-time teaching job.20:00 – Training for Black Canyon: The "Artistic" ApproachWill's unique training philosophy—balancing structured workouts with an intuitive approach.23:30 – Preparing for the Heat: Ice Sleeves & Indoor Treadmill RunsSimulating Arizona’s heat while training in New Jersey, and the cooling strategies that worked.25:00 – Race Day at Black Canyon: Going All InHow he ran with the front pack, handled key decision points, and executed his mental strategy.27:45 – The Big Move: Passing Eli HemmingThe moment he secured his Golden Ticket, the decision to push instead of fade, and staying locked in.29:15 – Crossing the Finish Line: Reality Sets InThe shock and joy of achieving his dream race entry, plus the practical side of getting a Golden Ticket home.31:00 – The Aftermath: Teaching, Training, and What’s NextReturning to school as a Western States athlete, student reactions, and how he’ll prepare for June.34:00 – Racing Without Pacers & Crew StrategyHow his sister became an impromptu crew chief, and the last-minute aid station pit crew he didn’t expect.36:30 – Mindset Mastery: The Key to Ultra SuccessBreaking down "Decision Time", self-talk strategies, and how he stays mentally strong in long races.41:00 – Looking Ahead to Western StatesGoals for June, training adjustments, and balancing it all while still teaching.44:00 – Final Thoughts & Advice for Non-Pro AthletesWhy you don’t need to be a full-time athlete to compete at the highest level in ultrarunning.46:00 – Outro: The Journey ContinuesWill reflects on what’s next and his excitement for Western States 100.