How Chris Myers Cut 60 Minutes Off His 100-Mile Time at Western States 100

Feb 20, 2026

Chris Myers, a pro ultrarunner and Brooks athlete known for leaping from 10th to 2nd at Western States, talks about honing downhill durability, tightening aid-station efficiency, and smart race execution. He also covers prepping for humidity and night running, lessons from international racing, and why balancing recovery and fun can change your results.

01:07:16

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ADVICE

Train The Stomach For Humidity

Prepare for humid races by training your stomach to drink more fluid and practicing internal cooling strategies.
Do active heat training and practice drinking well above 1 L/hour so you can handle humid race conditions.

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ANECDOTE

CCC After A Hard 100 Backfired

Chris attempted CCC shortly after a hard 100 and felt wrecked, showing the cost of back-to-back big races.
He learned that racing too soon after a hard hundred leaves you unable to compete or recover properly.

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ANECDOTE

First Ultra: Bulldog 50K Win

Chris' first ultra was the Bulldog 50K where he cramped badly but still won because few competitors showed.
Winning that brutal hot race sparked his interest in longer ultras and progression to bigger events.

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Chris Myers' Western States snorkel moment

02:20 • 3min

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From 10th to 2nd: Will he return?

05:26 • 2min

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Choosing UTMB over Western this season

07:52 • 3min

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Race schedule: Black Canyon, Fuji, pacing plans

10:40 • 4min

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Night running and humidity concerns

14:52 • 6min

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Preparing nutrition and heat strategies

20:45 • 2min

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Lessons from racing CCC and recovery limits

22:57 • 5min

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How Chris discovered ultras

Downhill fatigue: the hour Chris cut

34:35 • 4min

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Aid station efficiency and race execution

38:54 • 3min

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International racing: adjustments and timing

42:13 • 6min

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Going full-time: how his days changed

47:51 • 3min

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Balancing training with creative projects

50:44 • 5min

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Coaching, strength and nutrition support

55:55 • 5min

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Dream races: Eiger and scenic goals

Chris Myers didn’t just improve at Western States…

He went from 10th place to 2nd place in one year — cutting nearly an hour off his time.

And no, it wasn’t random.

In this episode, we break down the real reasons behind that jump — the training adjustments, the race execution, the downhill durability, the fueling precision, and the international racing lessons he’s learned the hard way.

We also talk UTMB, racing overseas, the mental side of elite performance, and how to actually have fun while competing at the highest level (yes… including the snorkel at Rucky Chucky).

If you want to get faster, race smarter, and think bigger — this one’s for you.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

Why downhill fatigue cost Chris an hour at Western States — and how he fixed it
The real difference between a 10th place and 2nd place performance
How elite runners think about aid station time and race execution
What most people get wrong about racing internationally
How to prepare for humidity, night running, and long travel
The mindset shift required to race at big races
Why experience often beats raw talent in ultras
What happens when running becomes your full-time job

SHOW LINKS:

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Follow Chris on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/halfasianchris/

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