Running with Walmsley: A Western States Story

my moner for the day was to take it how I feel in the moment there were times in Cal Street where Jim and I were leap frogging for a bit and he'd make a massive move on me and I was like I'm done and it would just come back I don't know I just thought like you know why can't I push him 11 10 98 7 6 five 4 3 two one have a wonderful and we are off folks the 2024 Western States 100 is officially started as we see a stream of fortunate Runners with the gift to run up the mountain there in Olympic Valley to Crest the escarment and begin the beautiful downhill Journey Jim asserting himself making it known I am the king of Western States and of course we have seen Jim race this in b basically one style hot off the start Rod favard of course like we mentioned earlier from Mammoth Lakes California coming off the best performance of his career a big win at the Canyons 100K where he got his golden ticket just eight weeks ago Tim tobson was saying that dude is shred ready here today rod favard with Ryan Montgomery on his Jim WS Ley and black the three-time champ in the lead here it looks like that's Tyler green right behind him look at Tyler green leaving in the lead at 10.3 this is fun Tyler green we have seen him racing Jim womsley doing Jim Wamsley things back in the lead at the western states 100 to race he's won three times Rod favard behind him here Rod still looking strong Creek Fire there is Creek below Duncan Duncan Canyon before they end up ascending back to Robinson flat there on your screen rod favard in the blue shorts on the right hand side getting bottles filled true we did not see Jim Walmsley stop at this aid station interesting Le so Rod favard leaving probably I would guess 80 seconds behind race leader there's Hayden H here we have Jim wsy coming into Duncan Canyon shirtless shirt off vest off going to his brother and friends from Ohio here for the crew transition this is that precipitous downhill you can't really tell now we wait for the split back to the chase pack Jim wsy and the lead K is that Rod y okay and then Den denen should be just behind so if denen doesn't have enough water he will be able to get some of that natural spring water of the California Sierra but what he will not be leaving with is an ice bandana like Rod favart or a completely soaked down Frozen shirt like Jim Walmsley so it's going to be annoying you got to get wet stay wet at Western States evaporative cooling is your best friend here it's not just about ice what what is so good about the ice is that it keeps water on you for longer and every little drip of water that evaporates into the air okay let's see if we can get Eyes On This Crew transition position here fresh cold tea I'm sure he's going to go bucket hat sunglasses be out of here quick potential here even as a previous runner up Hayden Hawks of course one of the most talented in the world one of the best of Our Generation in the sport here probably feeling like he needs to stick with Jim lsy in order to give himself a chance to win here today that is so risky it is it's totally risky yeah it could be a major mistake and here's the thing is that Hayden's made similar mistakes at Western States before today we are approaching the 5H hour Market feels like we are just getting started here probably because we are watch his body language see what he does in this a transition looks like two handheld bottles he does look very calm field 28 years old from Mammoth Lakes California Rod favard coming off a big breakout win at the Canyons 100K back in April in the middle of the California summer Jim wsy wearing that all white with the bucket hat still in the lead looking fresh and spry this is one of the hottest feelings of the race now it is blazing hot Jim the most talented man to ever hit this course but he's also a tactician he knows and takes very seriously the heat adaptation and the heat Management on the course here into the second half of the race course where he hopes to pursue his fourth Victory here at the western states 100 Rod favard now in second place alone in his fourth start here 28-year-old from Mammoth Lakes California looks like he'll be coming in second of course all the crew are looking at each other here you know timing how fast how much time did Jim spend in the Aid Station looks like that's Rod favard coming into the aid okay so Rod favard he has obviously just passed Jim in the Aid Station I'm sure he noticed him Rod now knows that he is running in the co-lead with the absolute icon somebody I'm sure he looks up to and we'll see who leaves the Aid Station here first this could be a critical at least psychological moment for both of these athletes in both directions obviously Jim not one to get rattled he didn't look like he was struggling whatsoever Karen I mean this is absolutely Wild Jim wsy Rod fafard Dakota Jones in the a station simultaneously with Jonathan Alvin Dan Jones leaving this aid station you feel like you're at the top of the climb all these guys will know this by now but you still have probably another 10 12 minutes of climbing before they reach the top of little volcano Canyon the third and final Canyon here in the middle section this split is into Michigan Bluff Jim Wy 75836 so he was about 8 and 1/2 minutes back of his course Record split from 2019 Rod favard 8 hours 56 seconds so only a minute and 20 seconds back of Jim upon entry to the E station which means Jim gave time back to rod on the climb up to Michigan block oh here we go here we go here we go here we go that's Jim Jim wsy here race leader again he has reasserted himself in the men's field again leaving Michigan Bluff in second place behind Rod favard back in the lead M1 the three-time champion course record holder and I can remember back in 2016 it was the most impressive thing I've ever seen him absolutely sprinting through Forest Hill goes without saying where is Rod favard we remember his crew said this is Canyons 2.0 Rod favard took control of the canyon 100K in this same exact place back in April is Rod on Jim's wheel is Jim getting some separation yeah this is going to be another aid station for the history books potentially y who's coming through there's Rod we are losing our minds in the studio here Jim wsy Rod favard will be doing their crew transition together Rod favard must be pinching himself right now he is going to battle with the greatest Western States runner in history Rod favard left Michigan slightly ahead of Jim wsy probably about a minute Jim Bridges back up to Rod takes a very slight lead but Rod hangs on his heel through that climb up volcano Canyon on the bath Road this is mile 62 of the race here kind of a very critical spot in the race though for most historically in years past we've been said you know the race doesn't really start until Forest Hill and I feel like that's changing in a big way here no rest for the wicked so Jim just pulled up with this crew right there and Rod is still running so the question is is his crew down here yes I think he's going to do a pack change his bottles are completely empty Tim toson of course Rod's neighbor he definitely knows these Trails he grew up in the Auburn Sacramento area though he lives in Mammoth Lakes now and look at Rod a true professional here Rod favard leaves again in the lead here the 2024 Western States 100 this is carbon copy of the canyon 100K Rod truly emerging into a new category here and Rod are making their way off the road onto the trail they're going to dive off this Trail actually kind of initially a fairly steep descent as they switch back their way down for a little bit unfreaking believable here they came through 851 elps that's exactly Jared Hazen split also from 2019 when he ran the second fastest time ever 1426 I believe so Rod favard Jim wsy on historically Fast Pace here Rod favard out ahead of the absolute Legend Jim and the young 28-year-old athlete from Mammoth Lakes now we see Dakota Jones cruising through the streets of Forest Hill here Dakota Jones in third place also running a ridiculously fast split through the 100K Market Forest Hill it also Bears mentioning here we have never had a camera on the lead athlete here on Cal Street I think this is Zach Maran with the Terra deck it's so cool we've never camera run through here and rip in on Cal street with race leader Rod favard here's t and Rod together how great is this a friend and mentor and Tim toson sharing this critical section of the course together this Cal Street section of the course concludes with the iconic crossing of the American River one of the most famous moments in trail and ultra running before the grueling climb up to Green Gate this section is historically been shaded no such luck here for the runners last year in this Rod knows this like the back of his hand he just ran this entire stretch eight weeks ago when he won the Canyons 100K where he got his golden ticket looking back to Forest Hill now last we saw was Dakota Jones emerging in third place he came through 85712 five and a half minutes back of the jym rod Duo Dan Jones only 12 seconds behind Dakota Jones so they're effectively running together in third and fourth and Hayden Hawks only 4 seconds behind Dan third through 5ifth separated that's crazy by 16 seconds at Forest [Music] Hill we are here with race leader Rod favart ahead of the icon the western states Legend Jim Walmsley people asking where gym is that is the $10,000 question right now truly what is this we've got Rod fard walking here okay does this mean that Rod favard is in the lead of the race I think he's probably in second I think he's probably in second and that gym is ahead of us on six minute Hill what's important here is Rod favard is moving along the course in one of the fastest times ever in Western States history not far back of Jared Hazen's second fastest time ever he's running with Tim tobson they break into a jog and he's still looking strong no doubt about it could it be that we are looking at the race leader here or did Jim sneak past Pac orless a couple minutes ahead of Rod like he was at Cal 3 Jared Hazen split at the river which is what they've basically been on now for the past hour or so 17 minutes back of Jim's winning time that year 1409 as we look behind Rod here are we going to see Jim in frame oh oh oh my goodness everybody this appears to be Jim wsy running in second place alone without a Pacer behind race leader Rod favard massive breaking news here on the broadcast that is definitely Jim Walmsley in second place and he still looks really good just behind rod and Tim this is absolutely one for the ages here folks this has never ever happened like this before Jim wsy still having a very solid day here he looks to be running well he's probably about a minute behind Rod which means if these splits are accurate from Cal 3 that Rod is made up about 3 minutes on gym in only about 3 miles which would indicate that gym probably had to pull over or experienced a bout of major suffering sounds like we might have a a natural complication out on course someone in the chat brought this up and then also messaging with Kim Gaylord there is there is a small I think a brush fire over east of alt could it get more dramatic here today just a small brush fire near the course as much as it is entertaining this is becoming something that is taking a toll on my nervous system here there they are Rod favard Tim tosson running shoulder toosh shoulder so again this is your race lead as we see Rod favard now entering the American River getting the dunk on your race leader here of the 2024 Western States 100 from Mammoth Lakes 28 years young but Jim is going to be right here oh my goodness we have two men in the river together I don't know when we've ever had our one two in the river together two men in the river simultaneously historic moment here in Western States history for all of us tell me about rod and where he's at right now Rod's in a really good head space that whole section we just were chatting back and forth saying stay calm focus on the basics that was just our Mantra and you know it almost felt like Jim might be playing some head games with us but like bro broad's a chess master we yo-yoed a little bit Jim took sat behind us for about a mile and a half then took the lead then we took the lead back so he's in a really good head space he's staying cool uh he is not affect him at all and his nutrition and Di amazing Rob is crushing it you heard it from the man himself Jim still looking strong this is obviously a climb they're very much within eyesight of one another call that a 10-second Gap Rod favard to Jim wsy unbelievable drama unfolding here little bit of time now into Hayden Hawks who's 10 minutes last we saw we are now up to 12 so Hayden Hawk still very much having a day earlier we were nervous that he wasn't cooling enough clearly taking his time here though certainly not LLY gagging and now he drops down to the [Music] river unbelievable and very cool it reminds me back in the spring went on a nice long run with some of the boys in the Bay Area Nick handle patio ly and Rod favard who had been doing some training through the winter the four of us went out clearly Rod favard was the strongest put the hurting on us and as soon as we were done got back to my house Rod refilled his water bottle went back out for an extra 90 minutes you've known this whole time knew the whole time he clearly showed it at the canyon 100K just eight weeks ago Jim wsy race leader now in the Golden Meadow making his way to pointed rocks aid station roughly mile 95 still a spring in a step how in the world does he continue to look so good so late in the race he has this race down to an absolute science Jim wsy now thoroughly comfortably in the lead it appears last we had seen his Gap was 4 minutes unbelievable the king of Western States here at the final crew access aid station looking like he has the race under control now after being pressured like he never has before by the young Rod favard who we should be seeing coming in the a station Jim wsy has put quite a substantial Gap in rod in these five miles this Gap is going to be probably 8 or 9 minutes which means Jim's probably taking a minute a mile from Rod but here's the thing Rod favard probably knows hey Jim's A Little Bit Stronger right now I can't catch him simultaneously he has a pretty solid cushion of 9 minutes or so back to Hayden Hawks so obviously he's not going to take his foot off the gas but psychologically it is easy to sort of let that leader go definitely starting to look a little bit wobbly but as we know he's 13 1/2 hours deep he's got less than an hour to go from here to the track so Rod favard could still be within Striking Distance of Jared Hazen's time at this point which is incredibly impressive he that's what we were expecting today he'd have to run a 55 minute split so this is his fourth attempt at Western States he's kind of run the gamut of everything from blowups to finishing 11th last year and the kid is 28 years old and that what's really been exciting is watching him gym on the ropes it's almost the David thing that Rod stuck his nose in it and I'm really proud of him for doing that it shows his potential and he's young he's got a great future ahead of him unbelievable what a great exchange there between Brett horn and Tim tffs and the David versus Goliath metaphor was something that was ricocheting in my head as they were trading positions on Cal Street Tim toson saying in no uncertain terms Rod favard is suffering that is the case when you're 95 mies deep and you're on one of the most historically fast Paces we've ever seen in the 51e running of western states on the overhead shot you can see Jim Wamsley crossing the White Bridge which marks a half a mile to the end and he's going to make the left turn onto Finley Street and will be here on the track momentarily this will become the second fastest time in Western state's history behind only his own course record of 1409 the winner of the 2024 Western States 100 Jim [Music] Walley unofficially 14345 as Dylan and Karen get ready to to interview our brand new M1 Jim Wamsley we are we have eyes on Hayden Hawks running up Roy Point mile 99 overtook Rod favard looking like he's running in a track at Eugene throwing down some 5minute miles we'll see if his crew is able to keep up with him for the final mile to pler high but we are currently looking at M2 he has been Running Scared since Point of Rocks a station asking about who was behind him TJ we're going to get started here with Jim Wy one of the most exciting races in Western States history we are joined of course by the four time Champion the course record holder the king of Western States Mr Jim Walley put your hands together [Music] [Music] just trying to take care of myself all day which I think caused like stopping a lot more at the a stations making sure I'm getting ice stay cool uh just hoping that it pays off at some point and uh yeah Rod just uh ran an incredible day and um yeah it just brings a lot of emotion cuz it was it was just really hard so uh really proud of this one quick timeout here for Hayden Hawks no I was [Music] mistaken we did not have a camera on Rob farver that's that is my mistaken hidden Hawks enters the Trap oh my [Music] [Music] [Applause] God one of the greatest finishes for second and third in Western States history put your hands together for Rod favard Hayden Hawks absolutely heroic finish here the fastest Podium ever at Western States history three of the four fastest times in Western States history absolutely historic day Best Day Ever best sport ever best race ever okay folks hang tight we're going to do the podium men together here this is one for the ages they deserve to all sit together to recount the battle that unfolded here today one for the history [Music] books okay we're going to get started because eventually we're going to have more finishers coming in and we want to enjoy this moment here with our men's Podium as Hayden Hawks makes his way over here also we chatter with Jim for just a moment Rod I'd love to hear from you Jim has literally never been pushed like that at the western states 100 what was going through your mind as you two were going Toe to Toe down Cal Street not much to be honest I turned my mind off and my maner for the day was to take it how I feel in the moment and there were times in Cal Street where Jim and I were leap frogging for a bit and he'd make a massive move on me and I was like I'm done and it would just come back Jim would go hop in a river or something and uh yeah I I don't know I just thought like you know why can't I push him so yeah and uh it was unlike anything to run with someone I look up to so much and be able to push each other I didn't really feel like I was going for a win or anything I just I just wanted to run the gym yeah all right [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music]