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Welcome to 2026! In this year’s Coach’s Corner Blog lineup we will dive deep into the world of 100 mile races in our “100 Miles To Go” series. This is one of my personal favorite distances and I am so excited to share my thoughts and tips for how you can enjoy it, too. Be on the lookout for a Beginner’s 100 Mile Training Plan Coming in February and lots of other exciting content
Why Run 100 Miles? I Say, “Why Not?”
I often get the question of why when talking about running 100 milers, or ultra distances in general. There’s the classic comments “ I don’t even like to drive that far” and “isn’t that bad for your body?” and there’s the true curiosity; the “that doesn’t appeal to me, but I am fascinated that you do it and I wonder what keeps you going?”
Author, Laurel Walker feeling all the finish line feels at the Rio Del Lago 100 Mile Race.
To really dig into it, I think it is necessary to go back to the history of the distance. The iconic Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run is a historic event for a reason. It was there in 1974 that Gordy Ansleigh, a horseman and veteran rider in the famous Tevis Cup Endurance ride from Olympic Valley to Auburn, ran on foot, alongside the horses to see if it could be done, and he made it under 24 hours, just barely. Modern day ultrarunning was born, the 100 mile distance became a goal, and the tradition of a belt buckle for finishers was passed along to runners from the horse race. On top of that, a finish under 24 hours in a 100 mile race remains a special club all its own and races often award a different buckle for those who make it under that time.
Fast forward to 2010 when one of the most competitive fields of ultrarunners (at the time) toed the line at Western States and it was captured in the documentary “Unbreakable.” This documentary is available on Youtube and is responsible for winning the hearts and hopes of thousands of hopeful ultrarunners taking one more step in their qualifiers hoping for a shot at this historic course. The romanticization of the sport is immense, but anyone who has toed the line at an ultra knows it is one the toughest challenges you will ever face in life and it is far from glamorous. In addition to the magic and history of races like Western States, influential trail athletes, media and brands targeting road runners and non-runners, as well as a spike in runners turning to the trails during COVID, have all been responsible for the rise in popularity of the 100 miler. Ultrarunning is not a mainstream sport, but it is getting more common to feel the pressure of completing the longest distance at any given event, whether you’re gunning for the win or flighting cutoffs.
We return to the question of why? The history is one thing but why do we hear this story and think “I want to do that?” For me, it’s a matter of “why not?” There is something about pushing your body and mind to the limit, through the night, through the heat, hurt, cold, pain and rawness that comes from running 100 miles. Running through the night can give this sense of rebirth when you finally see the sun rising after a long night in your headlamp bubble. And, when you cross that finish line there is nothing quite like the ecstasy and relief that washes over your body. The simplicity of moving through nature for that many miles seems to strip all the noise away. It gives you a chance to see yourself that hides underneath all the layers of life. Do it for you, do it for those who can’t, do it because you don’t know if you can; but remember: you can take one more step.
Running 100 miles is so much more than the physical training (although that should not be underestimated and I can help you with that!). It is training your mind and your stomach, it is the sacrifice and dedication to a big goal, and it is the desire to keep moving when things get tough. And more than anything, 100 miles is about loving yourself and believing that you can do it.
Resources
Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run Website
Ultrarunning History: Podcast and Stories About the History of Ultrarunning
