<p>Step into the world of the Western States Endurance Run, the crown jewel of ultrarunning. This podcast explores every angle of the race—lottery and entry, history, training, volunteers, crewing, pacing, and the trail itself. Hear voices from across the community who bring the event to life and keep its enduring spirit strong.</p>
Welcome to our very first episode! John Trent and Carrie Meng sit down to talk all things Western States, including the opening of lottery registration for the 53rd running. We chat about how the lottery came to be, the story behind the iconic 369-runner field size, and some noteworthy updates starting in 2026. This was recorded in November, 2025.