After taking third finally yr’s race, Arlen Glick is again on the 2023 Western States 100. Within the following interview, Arlen talks about what he realized in final yr’s race that he’s bringing with him to this occasion, why he’s drawn to lengthy races of many varieties, and his very fortunate double at this occasion and the Hardrock 100 simply three weeks later.
For extra on who’s racing, take a look at our in-depth males’s and girls’s previews. Comply with together with our WS 100 reside race protection on Saturday.
Arlen Glick Pre-2023 Western States 100 Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Meghan Hicks of iRunFar. I’m with Arlen Glick. It’s a few days earlier than the 2023 Western States Endurance Run. Arlen, good day.
Arlen Glick: Hello. It’s good to be right here.
iRunFar: We discover ourselves again within the Olympic Valley a yr later.
Glick: Yeah, it’s enjoyable to be again.
iRunFar: You appear to be a distinct runner and a distinct particular person than the Arlen Glick all of us received to know so, so nicely, at this race final yr. Do you are feeling like a distinct runner?
Glick: I do. I imply, I’m assuming you’re referring to the truth that I’m sponsored now. Fortunately, Craft picked me up. And yeah, it feels very totally different doing this professionally now, versus the strategy I took final yr.
iRunFar: Yeah. You ran this race for the primary time in 2022, took the rostrum spot, third place. I believe you had been slightly below 16 hours, is that appropriate?
Glick: Sure.
iRunFar: Yeah, I imply, that’s a reasonably darn good debut Western States. As soon as you bought the 20/20 view behind that race a month later, or two months later, what’s your synthesis of how that day went for you?
Glick: Yeah, I imply, mid-race, I believed it was going horribly.
iRunFar: Okay.
Glick: However then once I received to the end line, I sort of needed to faux a victory, like that is fairly superior. I received on the rostrum. I used to be very excited once I received to the end line, and realized like, Hey, I ran below 16 hours. However for about 12 hours main as much as it I used to be not having these great ideas.
iRunFar: Okay. What did you’re taking away from that race that you just’re bringing again with you this yr — like successes, failures, issues that you just felt you nailed, stuff you’re engaged on? Something you need to share there?
Glick: Yeah, I imply, if I had been to dive into what went mistaken, it will be you already know, the mechanics weren’t working correctly final yr. In fact, I don’t beat myself up over that as a result of I took the strategy that I believed was sensible. And I believe it wasn’t unhealthy, however it simply, actually simply didn’t work excellent. The physique wasn’t cooperating with me on race day. Additionally, nutritionally I had a reasonably poor technique. Similar to merely based mostly on calorie consumption, I miscalculated a few of the sections and the way lengthy it’d take me.
iRunFar: So too few energy.
Glick: Yeah, too few in sure sections. And it wasn’t like my abdomen turned sideways on me, simply poor planning on my half and never figuring out how lengthy it takes. I used to be considering extra in miles, as a substitute of actually analyzing — How lengthy is it going to take me? How massive is that this climb? So, I screwed up the vitamin slightly bit. However fortuitously, my abdomen was positive and I got here again positive with it, as soon as I realized that I simply wanted to absorb slightly bit extra gasoline.
iRunFar: Received it. Undo the bonk.
Glick: Yeah, sort of undo the bonk. And once I’m in form, I don’t really feel a bonk as a lot. Like, I didn’t really feel that trashed. I used to be similar to, Why can’t I climb? After which my, you already know, the mechanics went south and I began cramping actually unhealthy. Compensation for my damage beforehand, and no matter. However yeah, so like going into it this yr, vitamin is lots higher. Nonetheless engaged on getting the mechanics labored out. Like I believe I’ve a very good plan. I believe my energy coaching construction goes to shoot me in direction of a very nice race. However I gained’t, like, you’ll need to ask me that at 60 miles. I’ll inform you if it’s working or not.
iRunFar: Okay, so once I see you at Foresthill, can I ask?
Glick: You may ask.
iRunFar: Okay. How are the mechanics?
Glick: I’ll be like, nicely, yeah. I can provide you, yea or nay. It’s both working or it’s not.
iRunFar: Okay. So, it struck me the opposite day — when is the final time you didn’t race 100 miles? Like, have you ever determined to be a 100-mile runner?
Glick: Boy, I really feel like that query needs to be a lot simpler to reply. Truthfully…
iRunFar: It’s been a pair years, has it?
Glick: I ought to have a look at the record of races I did. I actually can’t keep in mind the final time I raced.
iRunFar: It’s been at the very least a few years.
Glick: Yeah, it has. Yeah, so I’m clearly a 100-mile specialist.
iRunFar: In order that’s not intentional. That’s simply random. You’ve been selecting races that you just’re drawn to, and it simply seems it’s a bunch of 100 milers?
Glick: I might say it’s considerably intentional.
iRunFar: Okay.
Glick: Like I actually get pleasure from it. I used to be speaking with Cole Watson about this, and he was simply, you already know, he’s super-fast on the flat marathon scene, in addition to tremendous good at operating mountains, too. And like distance variation, too. And he was simply saying how onerous it was for him final yr, getting again in marathon form after operating Western States. And I’ve — after doing a bunch of 100s consecutively — I’ve realized it’s simply a lot simpler coming off of 1 race and going again into the identical… You already know, clearly the races are very totally different. I run flat ones, I run mountains, I run a variety of variations inside that distance, however it’s a lot smoother transitioning from one race. After which I believe you’ll be able to actually get dialed in on that particular distance, too. And like, actually get good at that race. Similar to it takes a very long time to determine any distance, whether or not quick or lengthy.
iRunFar: You’ve gotten segued your self into my subsequent query. You’re one of many couple of very fortunate people who find themselves doing a really attention-grabbing double — in that three weeks after the end of Western States, you’ll be ending the Hardrock 100.
Glick: Okay, I used to be going to appropriate you and say two weeks, after which like six days, however you then mentioned “ending.”
iRunFar: [laughs]
Glick: However I preferred the boldness there. So, I assume I shall be ending three weeks precisely from Western States. [crosses fingers]
iRunFar: [crosses fingers]
Glick: Yeah. I believe it’s so thrilling, as a result of once I utilized for Hardrock, I used to be similar to, Tright here’s not an opportunity. And I had a qualifier, and so I’ve to use, proper? If I need to run it earlier than I’m in previous age.
iRunFar: Begin placing in.
Glick: So, I used to be like, okay, let’s begin placing in for Hardrock, after which I received drawn. And I’m like, I higher examine the date of this race.
iRunFar: Cease. You didn’t look earlier than you place in. You had been planning for 2030 on that.
Glick: Yeah. I used to be planning for 2030. After which I’m like, and I already had UTMB on the calendar. And I’m like, Okay, one thing’s received to offer right here. However then, at first, it was like a knot in my abdomen, after which the extra I considered it, I’m like, you already know what, I didn’t decide this. I attempted it, however I didn’t decide it.
iRunFar: It picked you.
Glick: It picked me. After which I received actually excited once I realized that this was going to be the primary time shortly that I’ve challenged my loopy. As a result of, like I do loopy issues on a regular basis, and I’ve been for a very long time, and like, I’m a cautious man. So, I take incremental steps.
iRunFar: Threat averse.
Glick: Yeah, so my first mountain race was Western States a yr in the past. After which I went to Run Rabbit Run [100 Mile], which was barely extra loopy and at altitude and every thing. After which like, Hardrock could be the following step, proper? Effectively, Merry Christmas, I get a trashed physique to take to Hardrock, so it’s going to be enjoyable to problem my loopy.
iRunFar: So, I requested Courtney Dauwalter — who can be operating the Western States/Hardrock double — this similar query yesterday once I interviewed her. Are you racing Western States this week like there’s or isn’t a 100-mile race three weeks sooner or later? Or two weeks and 6 days.
Glick: Yeah, I’m positively racing like there’s not.
iRunFar: Okay.
Glick: I really feel like, I don’t need to have two half first rate races. I might method relatively put all my eggs in a single basket. After which I view Hardrock like my trip after it. I hope to enter that celebrating. If I’m having a pity occasion, then we’ll simply take care of that after we get there.
iRunFar: It’s extra frequent as our sport grows that individuals begin to specialize. Be it distance or particular terrain. Whilst you appear to pattern in direction of 100 milers, it looks as if you want all of them. Like all of the 100 milers on a regular basis for Arlen. Are you discovering a kind of terrain on the market that you just like greater than others or is it actually like — you prefer it all?
Glick: Yeah, I positively am liking all of it. And that’s why I haven’t given up… Like, you already know, I selected Umstead 100 Mile this yr as like, sort of like a race that I’ve performed earlier than. I’m loving the mountain scene, however our mountain operating season is sadly very quick.
iRunFar: So, it’s important to discover a technique to occupy your self the opposite 9 months of the yr.
Glick: You nailed it.
iRunFar: Okay. Honest sufficient. Quick and flat.
Glick: Yeah, so it’s flat and quick, after which once I get to run mountains, then there it’s.
iRunFar: Superior. Better of luck to you in your journey from Olympic Valley to Placer Excessive. However then additionally better of luck on a really fast restoration and turnaround to the following one.
Glick: Thanks. I’m going to want all of the luck I can get.
iRunFar: [laughs] Nah, you’re prepared.
Glick: Thanks very a lot.
iRunFar: Yeah, thanks.
