In 2019, Tom Evans positioned third in one of many quickest instances in Western States 100 historical past. Now he’s again for spherical two, and on this interview he talks about his time within the U.S. and the way he’s ready particularly for the race, in addition to his run on the Black Canyon 100k earlier within the yr and the potential for returning to UTMB this September.
For extra on who’s racing, try our in-depth males’s and girls’s previews. Observe together with our WS 100 reside race protection on Saturday.
Tom Evans Pre-2023 Western States 100 Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Sarah Brady of iRunFar. I’m right here simply earlier than the 2023 Western States 100 with Tom Evans. Tom, how are you doing?
Tom Evans: I’m very effectively thanks, Sarah. How are you?
iRunFar: Good, good. So, it’s taper week. How’s that going? You managing to relaxation a bit of?
Evans: Yeah. For me, there’s like, tapers — it’s powerful, however it’s a part of the method. It’s as vital as your greatest weeks of coaching so I suppose that’s how I body it. Yeah, I need to take a look at it prefer it’s as vital as the most important week of coaching. So yeah, it’s pretty simple to do.
iRunFar: Okay, nice. And so, you’ve been over right here within the U.S. for some time. And Hayden Hawks talked about you had your individual little unofficial coaching camp within the Grand Canyon. What was that like?
Evans: Yeah, it was actually good. I’ve been in Flagstaff for the final 5 weeks, and type of, type of determined that’s the reason — my type of views on it — is the explanation that an American man hasn’t received UTMB due to the tradition? So now Jim [Walmsley] is shifting to France and getting ready for it. It’s additionally very uncommon for a world male to win Western States. So I assumed, is it to do with the tradition? So yeah, let’s totally bind to the tradition. So yeah, I’ve been in Flag. And yeah, spent fairly a little bit of time in Phoenix coaching for the warmth. Little bit of time within the Grand Canyon, and met up with Danny Jones and Hayden there. And yeah, did some good coaching there collectively. And yeah, it’s simply been a tremendous coaching block of 5 weeks. And yeah, it’s loopy that it’s the top of June and race day in a few days.
iRunFar: Yeah, it flies by. So yeah, you simply talked about UTMB there in passing. So, I imagine you’re doing the double?
Evans: We’ll see.
iRunFar: Okay, yeah.
Evans: I’ll let you understand on Sunday morning. If I’m lucky sufficient to have a iRunFar post-run interview, I’ll know what I’m doing by the morning.
iRunFar: Okay, that type of solutions my subsequent query. I used to be going to ask, have you ever been like, approaching it to attempt to practice particularly for each type of concurrently. However are you simply taking it race by race? Simply this one first?
Evans: This has been 100% Western States. I’ve not touched a set of poles since I completed UTMB on the finish of final yr.
iRunFar: Okay. I feel that’s most likely the way in which to do it. There’s loads of time. Superb. After which simply to speak about like, the buildup you’ve had, you’ve completed some good races this yr. So, you have been second at Black Canyon [100k]. That was actually, actually quick race — the highest three males all underneath course document. So, how did that go for you?
Evans: Yeah, it was, I suppose, ending final yr was nice at UTMB. I then had a very busy finish of the yr. I received married and went on honeymoon. So, I took eight weeks off, and coaching then began once more on the first of January. So, I at all times knew it was going to be a decent turnaround. And yeah, it was such a fast race. And I suppose I type of, most likely went in barely naively considering I’d simply have the ability to run. To type of do my very own factor, and we’ll see what occurs. And yeah, when Anthony Costales — who’s, yeah, insane — when he type of broke away, I simply had completely nothing. And so it was a brilliant quick race. And it was a terrific a part of the method, and it was a terrific benchmark to know the place I used to be, and what kind of values I might push out for 100k. And yeah, it’s at all times good to return and race within the U.S. And one of many predominant causes for doing Black Canyon was to spend a bit of bit extra time in Flagstaff, and to only guarantee that every little thing labored for me. Made positive that I might practice at that altitude, and I wasn’t getting ailing. And I might simply do a gown rehearsal earlier than coming again in the long run of Could, starting of June, for this block, which I feel simply made issues far more easy.
iRunFar: Okay, yeah, it appears like a brilliant related tune up race anyway, like actually totally different from UTMB. So, simply to alter gears.
Evans: Yeah, I feel it was very nice that I went from that, after which two weeks later race the British Inter-Counties Cross Nation Championships 10k. Yeah, once more, even faster. And had my finest outcome over there, which is at all times good. And I’ve completed a skyrace, after which raced a few weeks in the past in a hilly 55k in Wales. And I feel it’s yeah, type of paying the respects to Western States. UTMB, it’s an unbelievable race, however it’s all very related. You’re both mountain climbing on the climbs, otherwise you’re working the flats and the downhills. Whereas I feel Western States, it’s a race of three elements. And the terrain is so totally different within the three that you just type of want to coach for all three. And the error that I made in 2019 is I didn’t try this. I used to be like, Oh, it’s a working race. So, I went to go practice with a marathon working group. As a result of I used to be actually, I used to be fast, however I didn’t have the paths expertise that I wanted for a race that’s nonetheless a path race. So yeah, I suppose I’ve simply used that. Yeah, I’ve used these races to type of simply check a little bit of every little thing. And I take pleasure in racing. I like coaching, however I practice so I can race. So yeah. And that’s yeah, all type of been very a lot a part of the method constructing as much as this weekend.
iRunFar: Okay, good. After which so in 2019, you ran one of many quickest instances on document to return third. However I’m simply questioning, will you might have that point in your thoughts as a benchmark? Or with totally different circumstances, do you simply should deal with this as a totally separate race and focus in your race and the competitors?
Evans: I feel really working comparatively fast in 2019 is just not a optimistic for me this yr. I see it extra as a adverse. As a result of I’ve received that benchmark and I do know what the splits are for it. And the course is — sure, it goes on the identical path — however it’s a totally totally different course. We’re going to have extra snow. You’re then going to have a lot extra solar publicity. Just about up till the river you’re, there’s no shade between the Olympic Valley and the river just about. So, yeah, I feel being conscious that I’m able to doing it offers me good confidence, however on the identical time being very cautious to not assume, Oh, effectively in 2019… I feel I’m higher now than I used to be in 2019. I’m in higher form on paper now than I used to be in 2019. Does that imply I’m going to have the ability to run faster? No, as a result of nature at all times wins and also you’ve simply received to adapt. Actually adapt to the circumstances.
iRunFar: Okay. And this can be a tremendous robust males’s discipline. Is there anybody particularly that you just’re excited to race, or excited to share some miles with?
Evans: I feel a little bit of everybody. I feel what makes it so enjoyable this yr is it’s such an open discipline. Whereas I feel in earlier years, there’s type of at all times been an out-and-out favourite. Whereas for my part, that isn’t now. There isn’t a favourite this yr. I feel it may very well be between six to eight folks. There will certainly be somebody who nobody’s actually thought of who finishes on the rostrum. And I feel the actually thrilling factor this yr, thrilling however nervy a part of this yr is the fellows from China, who nobody is aware of something about. And having raced in opposition to some unbelievable Chinese language athletes earlier than, they prefer to exit actually, actually quick. And do I’ve the boldness to allow them to go in a yr that it’s not going to be that scorching? Who is aware of? So, you’ll be able to go in with a race plan. On the finish of the day, it’s 100 miles. However nobody is aware of a lot about them. So yeah, I feel that’ll be a very, actually attention-grabbing dynamic.
iRunFar: For positive.
Evans: However yeah, I’m simply actually trying ahead to getting again out on the Western States path. It’s my favourite path that I’ve run on. And yeah, simply actually excited to hopefully have a very good day.
iRunFar: Yeah, superior. I feel as after all it most likely performs to your strengths since you’ve received like, good quick leg turnover and you may deal with mountains as effectively. So yeah, is there any bit — do you might have a favourite half within the course or is there any bit you’re actually trying ahead to?
Evans: I like Cal Road. I like Foresthill to the end. I imply everybody loves the end. However yeah, Foresthill to the river is, yeah, it’s most likely my favourite a part of the course. It’s flowy, it’s quick. When you’ve been smart, you’ll be able to have wonderful legs. And should you’ve not been smart, you’re going to get caught by somebody. So yeah, that will be my favourite a part of the course.
iRunFar: Okay, yeah, it’s thrilling that this race tends to be so shut, and like, it’s actually not over until it’s over.
Evans: I feel it’s going to be even nearer. I feel you’re going to have the ability to throw a serviette excessive 10 this yr.
iRunFar: Okay, good. That’s thrilling. After which simply lastly, so we’re from fairly related places. My thoughts’s blown by the wildlife right here. Every part’s actually totally different. Have you ever seen a bear or something cool?
Evans: No, fortunately. Yeah, a lot of squirrels. No snakes but. No bears.
iRunFar: Loads of squirrels.
Evans: Squirrels. Loads of massive vehicles as effectively.
iRunFar: For positive.
Evans: Extra massive vehicles than anything. However I’ve been to a rodeo since being out right here.
iRunFar: Okay.
Evans: Which may be very cool. I went to Flagstaff Rodeo with Molly Seidel and Matt [Sharipo]. Matt goes to be right here this weekend performing some filming stuff. So yeah, that’s been probably the most American factor that I’ve completed. And I do personal a pair of cowboy boots now.
iRunFar: [laughs] You’ve been modified. I feel we’ll go away it on that word. So better of luck. Stay up for following you on the market.
Evans: Thanks very a lot, Sarah.
