Coming off a shock win on the 2024 UTMB, Vincent Bouillard of France is just not an unknown on the 2025 Western States 100. Within the following interview, Vincent talks about how his life has modified since successful UTMB final summer time, how he approaches his coaching and life by specializing in doing fewer issues however doing them effectively, and what kind of sneakers he thinks will excel on a course like this one.
To study extra about who’s racing, try our males’s and girls’s previews earlier than following our reside race protection on race day.
[Editor’s Note: If you are unable to see the video above, click here to access it.]
Vincent Bouillard Pre-2025 Western States Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Bryon Powell of iRunFar right here with Vincent Bouillard earlier than the 2025 Western States 100. How are you, Vincent?
Vincent Bouillard: Yeah. I’m nice. Thanks.
iRunFar: Welcome to Olympic Valley.
Bouillard: Thanks. Thanks.
iRunFar: It’s been ten months because you gained UTMB. That’s most likely sufficient time to have some perspective on that. What are your ideas virtually a yr later?
Bouillard: Nicely, truthfully, greater than something, I’m glad and grateful. Like, I feel for certain, I labored onerous to get to the place I’m at, however I’m additionally very fortunate and grateful to be right here to have the ability to take pleasure in having enjoyable doing this sport, and taking part in occasions like this weekend is fairly particular. So simply reflecting on it due to yeah, happiness and pleasure for persevering with on this journey of getting enjoyable with it.
iRunFar: Yeah. You’ve already run races since then. You ran Chianti [Ultra-Trail], and now you’re right here. Do you’re feeling like because you’ve gained UTMB there’s much more strain? Are you continue to in a position to be out right here and having fun with it as you probably did prior to now?
Bouillard: I feel each are true. For certain, there’s positively strain within the sense that, like, effectively, earlier than final yr, not lots of people knew about me or cared about what I used to be doing or saying within the sport. So, yeah, that that’s totally different. However on the similar time, it doesn’t prohibit me from nonetheless having fun with the exercise of path operating and approaching the competitors in an analogous method. Like, on the finish of the day, it’s nonetheless for me a strategy to attempt to put together myself in one of the best ways and execute a race technique. So, some issues have modified for certain, however the strategy actually of like, what I’m attempting to get to, is just not totally different.
iRunFar: Yeah. I imply, as a result of you might have modified from being a full-time particular person working at product at Hoka to now working half time. And I’ve seen numerous folks make a transition from full-time to part-time or full-time to professional athlete, and issues change.
Bouillard: Sure.
iRunFar: Coaching turns into work fairly than coaching being enjoyable and delight.
Bouillard: Yeah. No, it’s true. There’s positively an enormous transition of attempting to set the best steadiness, which was the aim for me in transitioning to part-time was there was lots of pressure after my UTMB final yr of like, one with a full-time job. Like, sure. However I assume my goal is to not present that we have now to do a 100%, 150% in each space of life. Like, I’m a lot happier doing issues extra moderately, doing fewer, however doing higher. And that’s form of been the mantra of this primary half of the yr is to perhaps be a bit bit extra affordable on what we do, however, yeah, executing that. Making an attempt to do it higher. Yeah.
iRunFar: So, does that imply like, in your coaching quantity, you’ve not gone to 150% of what was profitable for you at UTMB?
Bouillard: Yeah. Completely. That’s truly, my coaching quantity hasn’t modified that a lot. Like, what’s modified essentially the most is I’ve added a while within the gymnasium lifting weight, which I used to do, however not with the identical quantity of precision. And I’ve a energy coaching coach that’s helped me because the starting of the yr. After which the opposite factor that’s modified, I feel, is that whereas I’ve related or the identical quantity of hours, I put extra high quality into once they occur.
iRunFar: Mm hmm.
Bouillard: Like, earlier than it was like, effectively, I begin work at no matter hours. I must get up and run between like, 5:00 and seven:00 a.m. or one thing. Now I’ve the consolation of I’m going to prioritize my sleep, and going operating when it’s finest for my metabolism and attempting to optimize among the invisible coaching aspect.
iRunFar: So, it’s optimizing the coaching and restoration fairly than doing extra.
Bouillard: Precisely. Yeah. Making an attempt to recuperate higher, attempting to not rush by some coaching weeks, and perhaps placing a bit bit extra high quality earlier than I attempt to change the amount side.
iRunFar: And also you’ve been a runner for a very long time, however your operating has taken a step up. Undoubtedly, successful UTMB, you’re stronger than you’ve ever been. Sure?
Bouillard: Yeah. I feel, yeah, for certain. I can’t deny that. Like, that was a breakthrough. Sudden within the sense that I used to be not moving into for the win or nothing.
iRunFar: Mm hmm.
Bouillard: I nonetheless have a look at my, I feel, journey within the sport as a development. Like, UTMB is just not the longest effort I’ve achieved. I’ve achieved some longer issues on the bike, solo, like not on the race setup. And I feel that’s what’s a part of the joy is to maintain occurring that journey of discovering and pushing limits. And competitors is a good way to do this as a result of with stronger and stronger competitors on the path operating races, we push one another and get higher at coaching and discover the brand new tweaks. And yeah, I feel that’s thrilling for everyone.
iRunFar: And also you additionally push your self on race day.
Bouillard: Yeah.
iRunFar: Simply trying again at Chianti Extremely Path, you and Kilian [Jornet] racing, it appeared like an epic journey for each of you.
Bouillard: Yeah.
iRunFar: Did it really feel that method out on the path?
Bouillard: Yeah. I feel it was nice. Jim [Walmsley] dropped us fairly early on as a result of we’re too gradual for him. I imply, he had an incredible day on the market. And I feel for various causes, Kilian and I had some extra difficulties, and it so occurred that we had been, I assume, shut to one another throughout the race. And I actually assume we helped one another, a minimum of mentally, to maintain going even when we weren’t having one of the best day.
And yeah, I feel it positively is an illustration of it’s a contest. It’s a battle. However particularly on extremely distances, like, we go quick, however it’s a relative quick. As you recognize, we’re in a position to chitchat. We’re not like at VO2 max stage effort. And so, yeah, that’s positively I feel a really cool a part of any such competitors.
iRunFar: So, coming right here to Western States, it’s very totally different than a UTMB or among the races in Europe. You’ll be able to have crews at these races.
Bouillard: Mm hmm.
iRunFar: However right here it looks like crew and pacers are an excellent larger element.
Bouillard: Yeah.
iRunFar: What does that appear like for you right here at Western States for the primary time?
Bouillard: I feel it’s actually thrilling as a result of I’ve at all times favored to prioritize races not too removed from the place I reside.
iRunFar: Mm hmm.
Bouillard: So that is, I assume, not instance within the sense of like, coming all the way in which from Europe the place I reside since a yr in the past now. However I’ve lived on the West Coast for 5 years. We had been in Southern California after which up in Oregon. And what’s actually cool about this weekend is that my spouse and I did journey from Europe, however exterior of that, all of our crew are from the West Coast. So, it’s all of our like, buddies and group that’s going to share that, that we will have racing with us. And I feel that’s actually particular as a result of, I imply, there’s fantastic thing about, you recognize, chasing solo efforts and FKTs and issues, however the group side of this sport is absolutely lovely. And we may do Western States with out crewing. It could simply look very totally different.
iRunFar: Mm hmm.
Bouillard: And possibly a bit bit slower. And so, it’s actually enjoyable to, you recognize, plan out your technique. Like, it’s an extremely for the crew. Like, it’s an excellent onerous taxing day for your entire crew. And effectively, I feel I’ve achieved it as soon as myself on the crew aspect in 2021 right here at Western, and I very a lot bear in mind, like, it’s an excellent thrilling day as effectively. So, I’m excited for that.
iRunFar: Who’s pacing you? Who’s attempting to maintain up?
Bouillard: Yeah. I’ve two buddies. Each reside in Portland, in Oregon. Forrest Robust is one among them. He truly paced me for my first 100k at Gorge Waterfall in Oregon. And the opposite one, Brandon Johnson, is an effective good friend of mine and colleague at Hoka. I assume he’s extra on the street marathon aspect, however he’s tipped into path earlier than. It’s not his first train of pacing ultrarunners truly. So, I’m excited to have each assist me out on the right track.
iRunFar: Good. Nicely, you’re concerned in innovation in Hoka right here within the footwear aspect. I don’t wish to, like, not attempting to get which precise shoe you’re sporting, however you’ve seen the course earlier than. You understand what it’s like. What sort of qualities would you need in a shoe to run Western States?
Bouillard: Yeah. So, I’ve seen all of the course however the first 50k, I haven’t gotten an opportunity. I truly like that. I get a bit little bit of shock the primary few hours. However it’s totally different than UTMB, or I assume one of many first variations is that it’s principally very dry, however you cross lots of streams or like, you get your ft moist rather a lot. So, yeah, it truly is fairly demanding when it comes to the important thing functionalities that you really want out of the shoe. So, yeah. It’s enjoyable for the primary time to not simply work on what athletes are going to put on, however put on one myself.
iRunFar: So, what are a few of these qualities that make it distinctive? Once more, I don’t wish to know what mannequin you’re sporting or one thing, however.
Bouillard: I feel one of many first issues, and I’ve heard different media discuss that’s you’re going to get your ft moist very early on. And so ,understanding that, you need your shoe to react in a method that, like, is just not going to utterly change the habits of the shoe and optimizing the breathability and for the water to get out.
iRunFar: Yeah.
Bouillard: And in order that’s one key element. Having run on lots of the course, there’s additionally numerous mud and particles. And so, I don’t know if a gaiter is necessary, however having, a minimum of being conscious that you may have particles get inside can be an enormous issue. Yeah. After which it’s, lots of people say it’s California carpet, which I agree. It’s not essentially the most technical path. It’s nonetheless a path. Like, I wouldn’t wish to run this with a full on like, street marathon shoe. Like, particularly with the tempo at which we’re going to go. Like, we get actually drained. And so, the path will get, I assume, comparatively more difficult than it will be on only a single part.
iRunFar: So not a real street tremendous shoe with a full carbon plate. You must have one thing that’s a bit extra adaptable.
Bouillard: Yeah. Yeah.
iRunFar: Alright. Nicely, thanks very a lot and better of luck on the market, Vincent.
Bouillard: Thanks a lot. Pleasure.
