In 2019, Tom Evans positioned 3rd in probably the most 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 in particular for the race, in addition to his run on the Black Canyon 100k previous within the 12 months and the opportunity of returning to UTMB this September.

For extra on who’s racing, take a look at our in-depth males’s and girls’s previews. Apply in conjunction 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 really well thanks, Sarah. How are you?

iRunFar: Excellent, just right. 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 tricky, but it surely’s a part of the method. It’s as necessary as your greatest weeks of coaching so I suppose that’s how I body it. Yeah, I wish to have a look at it love it’s as necessary as the most important week of coaching. So yeah, it’s rather simple to do.

iRunFar: Ok, nice. And so, you’ve been over right here within the U.S. for some time. And Hayden Hawks discussed you had your individual little unofficial coaching camp within the Grand Canyon. What used to be that like?

Evans: Yeah, it used to be in reality just right. I’ve been in Flagstaff for the ultimate 5 weeks, and type of, more or less determined that’s the reason — my type of perspectives on it — is the explanation that an American guy hasn’t received UTMB as a result of the tradition? So now Jim [Walmsley] is transferring to France and getting ready for it. It’s additionally very uncommon for a global male to win Western States. So I assumed, is it to do with the tradition? So yeah, let’s absolutely bind to the tradition. So yeah, I’ve been in Flag. And yeah, spent reasonably a bit of 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 just right coaching there in combination. And yeah, it’s simply been an important 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 means of. So yeah, you simply discussed UTMB there in passing. So, I consider you’re doing the double?

Evans: We’ll see.

iRunFar: Ok, yeah.

Evans: I’ll can help you know on Sunday morning. If I’m lucky sufficient to have a iRunFar post-run interview, I will be able to know what I’m doing by means of the morning.

iRunFar: Ok, that more or less solutions my subsequent query. I used to be going to invite, have you ever been like, drawing near it to take a look at and educate in particular for each type of concurrently. However are you simply taking it race by means of race? Simply this one first?

Evans: This has been 100% Western States. I’ve no longer touched a suite of poles since I stopped UTMB on the finish of ultimate 12 months.

iRunFar: Ok. I feel that’s more than likely how one can do it. There’s quite a few time. Excellent. After which simply to speak about like, the accumulation you’ve had, you’ve carried out some just right races this 12 months. So, you have been 2nd at Black Canyon [100k]. That used to be in reality, in reality rapid race — the highest 3 males all beneath route file. So, how did that opt for you?

Evans: Yeah, it used to be, I suppose, completing ultimate 12 months used to be nice at UTMB. I then had a in reality busy finish of the 12 months. I were given married and went on honeymoon. So, I took 8 weeks off, and coaching then began once more at the 1st of January. So, I at all times knew it used to be going to be a good turnaround. And yeah, it used to be any such fast race. And I suppose I type of, more than likely went in reasonably naively considering I’d simply have the ability to run. To more or less 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 not anything. And so it used to be an ideal rapid race. And it used to be an ideal a part of the method, and it used to be an ideal benchmark to understand the place I used to be, and what kind of values I may push out for 100k. And yeah, it’s at all times great to return and race within the U.S. And probably the most major causes for doing Black Canyon used to be to spend a bit of bit extra time in Flagstaff, and to simply be sure that the entirety labored for me. Made positive that I may educate at that altitude, and I wasn’t getting in poor health. And I may do exactly a get dressed practice session earlier than coming again in any case of Might, starting of June, for this block, which I feel simply made issues far more easy.

iRunFar: Ok, yeah, it appears like an ideal related track up race anyway, like in reality other from UTMB. So, simply to modify gears.

Evans: Yeah, I feel it used to be in reality great that I went from that, after which two weeks later race the British Inter-Counties Pass Nation Championships 10k. Yeah, once more, even faster. And had my best possible end result over there, which is at all times great. And I’ve carried out a skyrace, after which raced a few weeks in the past in a hilly 55k in Wales. And I feel it’s yeah, more or less paying the respects to Western States. UTMB, it’s an improbable race, but it surely’s all very identical. You’re both climbing at the climbs, otherwise you’re operating the residences and the downhills. While I feel Western States, it’s a race of 3 portions. And the terrain is so other within the 3 that you simply more or less want to educate for all 3. And the error that I made in 2019 is I didn’t do this. I used to be like, Oh, it’s a operating race. So, I went to move educate with a marathon operating team. As a result of I used to be in reality, I used to be fast, however I didn’t have the paths abilities that I wished for a race that’s nonetheless a path race. So yeah, I suppose I’ve simply used that. Yeah, I’ve used the ones races to type of simply check a bit of of the entirety. And I experience racing. I like coaching, however I educate so I will race. So yeah. And that’s yeah, all type of been very a lot a part of the method development as much as this weekend.

iRunFar: Ok, good. After which so in 2019, you ran probably the most quickest instances on file to return 3rd. However I’m simply questioning, will you’ve gotten that point on your thoughts as a benchmark? Or with other stipulations, do you simply have to regard this as a completely separate race and concentrate on your race and the contest?

Evans: I feel in reality operating somewhat fast in 2019 isn’t a favorable for me this 12 months. I see it extra as a destructive. As a result of I’ve were given that benchmark and I do know what the splits are for it. And the route is — sure, it is going at the identical path — but it surely’s an absolutely other route. We’re going to have extra snow. You’re then going to have so a lot more solar publicity. Just about up till the river you’re, there’s no color between the Olympic Valley and the river just about. So, yeah, I feel being mindful that I’m in a position to doing it provides me just right self belief, however on the identical time being very cautious to not assume, Oh, smartly 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 in an effort to run faster? No, as a result of nature at all times wins and also you’ve simply were given to conform. Actually adapt to the stipulations.

iRunFar: Ok. And it is a tremendous robust males’s box. Is there somebody specifically that you simply’re excited to race, or excited to proportion some miles with?

Evans: I feel a bit of of everybody. I feel what makes it so a laugh this 12 months is it’s such an open box. While I feel in earlier years, there’s more or less at all times been an out-and-out favourite. While in my view, that isn’t now. There isn’t a favourite this 12 months. I feel it may well be between six to 8 folks. There’ll no doubt be somebody who nobody’s in reality thought of who finishes at the podium. And I feel the in reality thrilling factor this 12 months, thrilling however nervy a part of this 12 months is the fellows from China, who nobody is aware of the rest about. And having raced in opposition to some implausible Chinese language athletes earlier than, they prefer to move out in reality, in reality rapid. And do I’ve the boldness to allow them to cross in a 12 months that it’s no longer going to be that scorching? Who is aware of? So, you’ll cross 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 in reality, in reality fascinating dynamic.

iRunFar: Needless to say.

Evans: However yeah, I’m simply in reality taking a look ahead to getting again out at the Western States path. It’s my favourite path that I’ve run on. And yeah, simply in reality excited to with a bit of luck have a just right day.

iRunFar: Yeah, superior. I feel as in fact it more than likely performs on your strengths since you’ve were given like, just right rapid leg turnover and you’ll take care of mountains as smartly. So yeah, is there any bit — do you’ve gotten a favourite section within the route or is there any bit you’re in reality taking a look ahead to?

Evans: I like Cal Boulevard. I like Foresthill to the end. I imply everybody loves the end. However yeah, Foresthill to the river is, yeah, it’s more than likely my favourite a part of the route. It’s flowy, it’s rapid. In case you’ve been good, you’ll have wonderful legs. And should you’ve no longer been good, you’re going to get stuck by means of somebody. So yeah, that will be my favourite a part of the route.

iRunFar: Ok, yeah, it’s thrilling that this race has a tendency to be so shut, and prefer, it’s in reality no longer over until it’s over.

Evans: I feel it’s going to be even nearer. I feel you’re going in an effort to throw a serviette excessive 10 this 12 months.

iRunFar: Ok, good. That’s thrilling. After which simply finally, so we’re from lovely identical places. My thoughts’s blown by means of the natural world right here. The whole lot’s in reality other. Have you ever noticed a endure or the rest cool?

Evans: No, fortunately. Yeah, a lot of squirrels. No snakes but. No bears.

iRunFar: Numerous squirrels.

Evans: Squirrels. Numerous giant vehicles as smartly.

iRunFar: Needless to say.

Evans: Extra giant vehicles than anything. However I’ve been to a rodeo since being out right here.

iRunFar: Ok.

Evans: Which could be very cool. I went to Flagstaff Rodeo with Molly Seidel and Matt [Sharipo]. Matt goes to be right here this weekend doing a little filming stuff. So yeah, that’s been probably the most American factor that I’ve carried out. And I do personal a couple of cowboy boots now.

iRunFar: [laughs] You’ve been modified. I feel we’ll depart it on that notice. So best possible of success. Stay up for following you in the market.

Evans: Thank you very a lot, Sarah.