Ultra Uncovered: Fire Road to Western States 2026

In this annual Western States preview episode, Corinne Shalvoy, Graham Shalvoy, and Russell Ditsworth shine a spotlight on the runners who earned their place in the 2026 Western States Endurance Run outside of the Golden Ticket Series and returning Top 10 finishers.

The trio dives into the staggering numbers behind the Western States lottery, including over 11,000 entrants and nearly 100,000 lottery tickets, while discussing what it realistically takes to gain entry into one of trail running's most coveted races. They explore the race's demographics, including a median age of 47 and the stories behind athletes who waited nearly a decade for their opportunity.

Featured runners include:

• Luke Jay
• John Kelly
• Zachary Garner
• Justin Grunewald
• Croom Beatty
• Sarah Ostaszewski
• Jupiter Carera Casas
• Isaac Frank
• Coree Woltering
• Jeff Browning
• Joe Corcione
• Tommie Runz

The hosts also discuss:

• The competitiveness of the 2026 Western States field
• Broken Arrow Skyrace versus Western States talent depth
• The Silver Legend program and this year's recipient, Stephanie Irving, founder of Wild Woman Trail Runs and a pioneer in creating opportunities for women in trail running
• Western States records, age-group performances, and predictions for the men's and women's races

The episode concludes with a special interview featuring Tommie Runz, who shares his journey from marathon running to trail ultras, what Western States has meant to him since the beginning of his running career, and how earning a HOKA-sponsored entry represents a meaningful step toward greater diversity and representation in trail running.

Tommie also issues an open invitation to the community: if you're in Auburn when he approaches the finish line, join him for the final mile into Placer High School and celebrate the power of community that makes trail running special.

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