The 'Way Too Cool' Western States 2026: 10 takeaways from the historic 100-miler

By Henry Howard

An historic Western States is in the books and it did not disappoint whatsoever. This year’s race may very well go down in history as the “Way too Cool” Western States, a reference to the nearly unprecedented lower temperatures that led to course records being shattered.

The stacked fields also led to blistering paces early on, which led to blowups by some of the pre-race favorites. In assessing the 2026 Western States, there were lots so many story lines that ultra runners will be talking about for years to come.

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Here is my annual analysis and top 10 takeaways from the 2026 Western States:

1. It will likely be a long time — a cool day in Auburn — when we’ll see such a collection of fast times again. Both men’s and women’s winners in the 2026 Western States set course records but they were not alone, thanks to ideal race temperatures and exceptionally strong fields. On the men’s side, Vincent Bouillard set the course record, with runner-up Francesco Puppi, third-place Ryan Montgomery and fourth-place finisher Thomas Cardin all beating the previous record. Zach Miller’s fifth-place is now the 10th fastest time in men’s race history. On the women’s side, Jenn Lichter’s 15:28:05 narrowly beat Courtney Dauwalter’s course record by about 90 seconds. While no other woman topped Dauwalter’s mark, it was the fastest cumulative top 10 ever. For example, Fuzhao Xiang finished seventh with the 10^th fastest time in women’s race history, by more than 11 minutes.

2. It’s time we recognize Vincent Bouillard as an elite. Bouillard became just the seventh person to win both Western and UTMB. The others are Kilian Jornet, Jim Walmsley, Tom Evans, Courtney Dauwalter, Katie Schide and Nikki Kimball. Also notable about Bouillard’s double: he beat both Walmsley in both races. Bouillard is 32 while Walmsley (36) and Jornet (38) are slightly older. Bouillard seems poised to continue his strong run while the GOATs may be starting to show signs of age.

3. We may have just seen the changing of the guard. Beyond Bouillard’s victory, this year may have signaled a shift in the top of the elite fields. On the men’s side, Francesco Puppi ran the race’s second-faster time ever in his first 100-mile race. Ryan Montgomery, who placed third with the third-fastest time ever, added to two other previous top 10 finishes. While Hans Troyer DNF’d after leading the race for a long time, he will be a force to reckon with for years to come. Other notables were Adam Peterman, the 2022 Western States winner, who took sixth after a disappointing finish in 2025; and Jeff Mogavero, who placed in the top 10 for the second time in two tries. On the women’s side, new Western States course record holder Jenn Licther leads a group that includes Riley Brady, who identifies as nonbinary but races in the women’s field; Lotti Brinks, who improved her time from 2024 by almost 2 ½ hours, and Tara Dower, who had a disappointing Western States debut a year ago due to illness.

4. What’s next for Jim Walmsley and Kilian Jornet? Walmsley, the previous Western States course record holder and four-time champion, hit a rough patch by the Michigan Bluff aid station at 55.7 miles. He was still within striking distance of the leaders but needed extra time at the aid station. It looked like he may have been working through a lower-leg injury or cramp before heading back out again. He called it a day with a DNF at Foresthill. For his part, Jornet has reported taking two weeks off running before the race to nurse his own injury. While Jornet is well known for conquering audacious projects of his own making like the States of Elevation, Walmsley is focused on carving out his legacy through victories at major races. Will we see him try to rebound for another shot at a fifth Western States victory? Absolutely. Will he hoist another cougar? Only time — fast times, at that — will tell.

5. How will Tara Dower’s performance affect her Hardrock run? In 13 days, Dower is scheduled to run Hardrock, a very different course than Western States. A few years ago, Courtney Dauwalter did both races — but Hardrock was actually a week later. This year’s calendar does not bode well for Dower. But if anyone can conquer both events, it is Candy Mama.

6. Sportsmanship rules the day: As trail and ultra runners, we race hard but cheer for our competitors too. One of my favorite moments during the 2026 Western States was the fist bump just over 8 hours into the race when Puppi took the lead, briefly, from Troyer, just before the Foresthill aid station. Troyer did leave the aid station 15 seconds sooner but Puppi looked like he had more gas in the tank.

7. Shoe comparison: After a disappointing 2025 Western States, HOKA athletes fared much better with the top two men. In all, HOKA had a total of four runners among the top 10 men and women. Only adidas and Nike ACG, who each had three, had more than one runner finish among the top 10 men and women. The HOKA athletes are: Vincent Bouillard, Francesco Puppi, Adam Peterman and Lotti Brinks. Nike ACG was represented by Jenn Lichter, Riley Brady and Hiroki Kai. Adidas athletes were Caitlin Fielder, Fiona Pascall and Hannah Allgood. 

8. If you are on the wait list, train like you will be running Western States. In 2026, five runners made it off the wait list and into the race on the final three days. The 51st and 52nd runners on the wait list, Roman Trach and David Faught respectively, were entered on the final day. Trach, who had 32 tickets, of Folsom, Calif., finished the race in 20:18:17 while Faught, 128 tickets, of Boise, Idaho, finished in 24:26:06. 

9. New rule about poles is a game changer. While the elites didn’t use poles, it was hard to spot a late finisher without poles. The addition of poles likely played a role in the number of those who finished. It’s a trend that will surely help more of the back-of-the-packers realize their dream of receiving a Western States buckle. 

10. The Western States Golden Hour is the best hour in ultra running. This year the final official finisher of Western States was Mike Smith, who crossed the line in 29:58:51, the 322^nd finisher of this year’s race. Bravo to all those for a successful day they will never forget.

I can’t wait until the last weekend in June next year! See you at States? I hope so. I’ve already got my qualifier from last November’s Dinosaur 100K. Just over five months until the drawing!