The One Where We Fix Western States (ft. Allison Mercer)

Western States may be the most iconic race in ultrarunning—but it also comes with carnage, heartbreak, and a pile of DNS and DNF drama. In this episode, I’m joined by the always-entertaining Allison Mercer (of FastestKnownTime.com) to break down the storylines, the runners who didn’t make it to the start line, and wild ideas to spice up the sport (spoiler: mile-seeding starts for elites?).We also dive into the FKT world—John Kelly’s latest madness, what’s changing in the scene, and why FKTs still matter. Plus, I give a quick life update because I’m moving out, living out of a storage unit, and heading out for an Appalachian Trail FKT attempt.Big thanks to our sponsors:🩳 Janji – Great sun hoodies, shorts, and gear. Use code freeoutside for a discount (let me know what you get!).☕ CS Instant Coffee – Freeze-dried and trail ready.🎒 Garage Grown Gear – Your one-stop shop for small-business adventure supplies.Share the episode, leave a review, and help support the chaos. Stay elite, my friends.Chapters00:00 In Memoriam: The Unbreakable List02:05 The Impact of Social Media on Performance04:58 The Women's Field: Intriguing Storylines07:46 The Men's Field: A New Dynamic10:48 The Role of Coaches and Competitors13:54 Heat Training and Its Influence16:54 Predictions for the Race19:53 The Unsung Heroes of Coverage22:41 Final Thoughts and Predictions33:32 The Rising Stars of Trail Running34:47 Analyzing the Men's Field Dynamics37:13 Des Linden: The Most Valuable Pacer40:26 Women Transitioning from Road to Trail42:28 The Importance of Recovery in Ultra Running48:50 The Impact of Social Media on Athletes53:02 John Kelly's FKT Attempt: A Community EffortSubscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.comSupport this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutsideBuy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSFEmail me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at [email protected] the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outsideWebsite: www.Freeoutside.comInstagram: thefreeoutsidefacebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside