After ending seventh in her debut 100 miler eventually yr’s Western States 100, the Swede dwelling in Norway, Ida Nilsson, is again for her second try. Within the following interview, Ida talks about what went proper and unsuitable final yr, how a month of coaching within the U.S. has gone, and what an ideal day of racing Western States may appear to be for her.
To study extra about who’s racing, take a look at our girls’s and males’s previews and comply with our dwell race protection on race day.
Ida Nilsson Pre-2024 Western States 100 Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Meghan Hicks of iRunFar. I’m with Ida Nilsson. It’s Western States week for 2024. And you might be again once more. Hello, Ida. How are you?
Ida Nilsson: I’m good. Thanks.
iRunFar: That is your second Western States. You had, timewise, an unimaginable debut there final yr ending seventh place in below 18 hours. I feel 17:43-ish. I feel you stated it was a troublesome day for you, however these are nice numbers for a debut Western States and a debut 100-mile race.
Nilsson: Yeah, I imply, it was actually, it wasn’t too heat final yr, so it was actually good circumstances. I feel you possibly can’t actually have a look at the time. Everybody had nice occasions. I feel it is advisable extra have a look at the race and your putting. And I really feel prefer it was high-quality as my first 100 miler, but it surely may have gone higher as effectively, but it surely may have additionally gone worse.
iRunFar: [laughs]
Nilsson: I imply, I made it to the end line, and I used to be high ten, so I may come again right here with out one other Golden Ticket race. In order that was sort of a pleasant winter this time, to not have to fret about that.
iRunFar: A qualification race.
Nilsson: Sure.
iRunFar: Yeah. So, final yr I feel you stated you misplaced your abdomen fairly early within the race, and that was your limiting issue all day lengthy?
Nilsson: Yeah, sort of. It was exhausting with the vitamin. And I used to be high-quality. I may preserve working, however I didn’t have a lot vitality to actually push. Yeah, however I needed to sit down. I stored going, but it surely was slightly bit slower than I’d have favored.
iRunFar: It was your first 100-mile race additionally, proper?
Nilsson: Sure.
iRunFar: However you had achieved CCC earlier than and different races that take a variety of hours. So, hours-wise, it wasn’t an enormous step up in day out, but it surely was an enormous step up within the miles in that point.
Nilsson: Proper. I imply I’ve achieved CCC. That took like 13 hours. I’ve largely achieved 80ks and some sooner 100ks. So, I feel all different races have been below 10 hours. So, yeah, I haven’t been doing so many races that takes a very long time.
iRunFar: You talked about a number of of the difficulties eventually yr’s race. What have been some issues that occurred that have been actually good that you simply’re like, “Hey, that was actually cool?”
Nilsson: I feel it was very nice that we have been shut collectively from third to tenth place round there, all the ladies. And it was altering rather a lot, so it was by no means actually like “Okay, I’m simply on this place and I don’t see anybody,” and it’s simply sort of boring working. In order that made it fascinating. And I additionally felt I had good downhill legs, which I used to be proud of, which is essential for this race.
iRunFar: [laughs]
Nilsson: That sort of saved me slightly bit once I felt I didn’t have a lot vitality, just like the uphill, in order that was good. Not less than I felt I had my downhill legs fairly far within the race. I imply, it’s at all times more durable. It was, and I don’t suppose my final downhills have been superb.
iRunFar: Comparatively.
Nilsson: However yeah, at the least fairly far into the race.
iRunFar: Western States is a race that folks like to repeat. Some individuals come again two, 4, ten occasions, proper? Each time an individual comes again, the query that I need to ask is what brings you again? What makes you need to do it once more?
Nilsson: I feel that’s exhausting with all races as a result of most races you want, you need to do once more, however you additionally need to do new races. So, I feel that’s yearly, this stability.
iRunFar: Yeah.
Nilsson: As a result of it’s one thing in you that you simply need to excellent a sure race. And I really feel like with a variety of programs I feel that half I may have achieved method higher, or that preparation. And I feel why we’re coming again to sure races, as a result of it’s very nice to attempt to do it higher. So I feel that’s my major factor. I prefer to race, after which I felt like I may have achieved slightly bit higher. After which I felt like oh, I need to come again once more. After which additionally once I was high ten, it’s straightforward to return again.
iRunFar: That is perhaps extra of an existential query, however do you suppose perfection is feasible in 100-mile racing? Do you suppose we get one excellent 100-mile race in our lives? Ultrarunning is already inherently troublesome and you then go 100 miles.
Nilsson: No, I don’t suppose you could possibly. I imply, you possibly can in all probability get shut, however all my races that I’ve achieved in life, I feel you in all probability would give up for those who get it, as a result of then you don’t have anything to attempt to obtain for those who get it excellent. And I feel it’s at all times one thing that might be a tiny bit higher.
iRunFar: In the event you have been to close your eyes proper this second and envision your excellent day trip, and understanding that there’s going to be issues. It’s 100 miles. What does a very good day appear to be for you on this course?
Nilsson: I really feel it’s a course the place you each have to be actually match, but in addition have this endurance. It’s like a combination. I feel another 100-mile races is extra like it is advisable be extra robust and endure, however this one it is advisable really be working fairly quick a variety of occasions as effectively, and have that health. After which deal with warmth, after all, and vitamin. Simply be transferring effectively and fast the entire time. So, I feel this yr I really feel I get a bit older annually, after all. Like, I’ll by no means attain my high bodily form at any level in life any longer as a result of I handed that time, despite the fact that I attempt generally. I adore it.
I feel like this yr I really feel like extra I’d actually need to nail the issues I can nail. Like with the crew and be transferring effectively, and never doing errors, and all these additional issues that’s from exterior. As a result of I feel once I was youthful, I can rely an excessive amount of on simply health, on that I do know I’m good once I’m racing. So I used to be like, “oh, I can at all times be higher once I race than in coaching.” And I depend on my health. After which I get slightly bit too aggressive and I could make errors. And I additionally suppose it’s sort of boring to consider particulars. Like I put a variety of vitality within the 98%, which is the preparation, year-round, we’re coaching. However then the small particulars generally I’m like, “oh, it doesn’t curiosity me sufficient.”
iRunFar: Yeah.
Nilsson: One thing now I have to begin to be slightly bit extra to nail every part round higher to have a superb race, as a result of my health is declining, and I can’t actually compete simply with that anymore. So I’ll attempt to do this for as soon as.
iRunFar: You’re a masters runner. In 2021, Ragna Debats set the ladies’s masters file at 17:41. You have been only a wee bit off of that final yr. Is that one thing that you simply’re eager about too is the ladies’s masters file? If, I imply stars should align, , the climate has to permit for quick occasions, however is that one thing that you concentrate on on a good climate day?
Nilsson: I didn’t learn about it in any respect final yr or thought of it. I don’t suppose I’ll. I imply, I’m within the race and I’m simply making an attempt to compete in addition to potential, and that’s in all probability a bonus if it goes effectively, however I don’t take into consideration that an excessive amount of.
iRunFar: Race day, a part of the enjoyable of it’s your crew and your pacers. Who’s the workforce supporting you on race day this yr?
Nilsson: Yeah, EmKay [Sullivan] and her husband Tommy [Sullivan] instructed me they’ll each crew and tempo me, in order that’s actually good. They have been there for me final yr as effectively, so it’s going to be good.
iRunFar: Like, lowkey repeat what labored.
Nilsson: Yeah, and I can do some issues higher. Like, it was the primary time for all of us. I’ve by no means had a crew, and I by no means had a pacer earlier than in a race.
iRunFar: Proper.
Nilsson: You get a lot assist on this race. I’m not used to it. You’re used to deal with your self, and I feel I used to be fairly dangerous with this, giving instructions to individuals. Like “oh, what you really need?” So I feel we’ve a greater technique this yr of how we’re going to do it.
iRunFar: That’s a very good level. I imply, you will have come over from , nearly strictly European racing the place pacers and crews will not be a factor. All of the runners sometimes depend on help stations. Yeah, simply absorbing that inherent piece of Western States the place it’s so crew heavy, so pacer heavy, it’s so a part of the expertise. Are you actually simply going to embrace it this yr?
Nilsson: Yeah, I imply, it’s a variety of smaller stuff that may aid you, particularly if it will get actually heat, I feel. So, I feel it’s essential as a result of you possibly can have so many help stations. It’s simply an hour between every part just about. Possibly an hour and a half the longest one, so you possibly can really, for those who like, suppose it by way of to do it effectively. And I feel that’s essential now, particularly if it will get actually scorching right here.
iRunFar: You’ve been in America for slightly over a month or a couple of month. You got here for Western States coaching camp right here within the Sierra Nevada after which spent a while coaching in Flagstaff. Is that the way it went this yr?
Nilsson: Yeah, I began with the coaching runs once more, and I believed it was very nice final yr, and simply social factor. And likewise to see the course slightly bit, as a result of it’s troublesome once I come on my own and logistic with automotive or something. So it’s an ideal time to see a part of the course and simply meet up with individuals. So, I did that after which had slightly highway journey with Eszter [Csillag] and went to Grand Canyon a number of days. After which I went to Flagstaff and been there for 3 weeks.
iRunFar: Cool. So now you’re a part of the nice migration of individuals coaching in Flagstaff, Arizona for Western States, otherwise you’ve moved again as much as the Sierra Nevada for race week.
Nilsson: Yeah, I did final yr as effectively. I’ve additionally educated in Flagstaff for different races as a result of I take pleasure in this place. I feel there are in all probability extra locations which might be good to coach for Western States, but it surely works effectively for now.
iRunFar: You have been an NAU runner and also you at all times might be slightly little bit of a Northern Arizona runner, weren’t you?
Nilsson: Yeah, I’ll at all times cheer for individuals in Flagstaff.
iRunFar: Yeah. Effectively, better of luck to you this weekend in your second Western States expertise. Good luck, Ida.
Nilsson: Thanks.
iRunFar: Thanks.
