After a DNF final 12 months, France’s Vincent Bouillard returned to the 2026 Western States 100 and ran away with a large course document. Within the following interview, Vincent discusses his race preparation for the warmth and excessive altitude, his conservative racing method till after midway at Foresthill, and the way an impressively aggressive discipline made a quicker race for everybody.
For extra on how the race performed out, learn our in-depth 2026 Western States 100 outcomes article.
[Editor’s Note: If you are unable to see the video above, click here to watch it.]
Vincent Bouillard, 2026 Western States 100 Champion, Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Meghan Hicks of iRunFar. I’m with Vincent Bouillard. It’s the day after the 2026 Western States Endurance Run. You’re the lads’s champion, Vincent. Congratulations.
Vincent Bouillard: Yeah, thanks.
iRunFar: How does that sound? How is that settling in?
Bouillard: It’s going to take some time. I believe you put together to attempt your hardest and race at your finest, however at the very least I don’t… I imply, the objective of a race is just not solely amongst others to win, however it’s going to take some time to sink in really.
iRunFar: This race is a little bit of a time coming for you. You have been right here final 12 months. You certified with a golden ticket final spring. That is your second effort on the race. Does it really feel like, okay, we’ve climbed this hill and we’ve gotten to the place we need to be with Western?
Bouillard: Yeah, I believe final 12 months positively left me with a way of unfinished enterprise. I had plenty of well being points associated to my intestine and abdomen, and so they have been bothering me throughout coaching block. They have been bothering me actually the nice half of the 12 months, and Western States was a tragic realization that there was no method I might do 100 mile in these circumstances. Yeah, the challenge of making an attempt to race Western comes from the will to, I suppose, problem myself outdoors of a consolation zone. I believe this has been a race that I’ve admired and checked out it like that is loopy quick, and I’ve a lot respect for the runners and possibly in the future I’ll dare to toe the beginning line. Yeah, it’s superb to have the sense of closing the loop and ending off what wasn’t completed final 12 months.
iRunFar: I’d love to speak about that unfamiliarity or uncommon facet of it. For us right here in America, Western States is like one of many solely issues we all know when it comes to 100 milers. It’s runnable, it’s quick, it’s sizzling, it’s dusty, however an uncommon race setup for Europeans.
Bouillard: Yeah. Humorous sufficient, considered one of my first experiences on an extremely was a [The North Face] 50 miler within the Bay in west –
iRunFar: , I forgot that. Yeah. Sort of identical factor.
Bouillard: 2017. I’ll without end bear in mind I used to be kitted out the stereotypical European path runner with my vest and the whole lot.
iRunFar: Compression.
Bouillard: Yeah, not compression. Come on. I’m kidding. However initially line, everybody or most runners had cotton tees and shorts and a plastic bottle within the hand and I used to be like, “What am I doing? Are we doing the identical sport? Are you actual going for 50 miles?” I believe I’ve been simply admiring or studying from that method of, I believe, completely different mindset in Europe, particularly I grew up in Annecy within the Alps, there’s extra of a, I suppose, mountain heritage a bit bit that influenced the game lots.
The terrain additionally explains, like we’ve steeper climbs and longer climbs and descents. Yeah, it’s not the identical self-discipline to should run everything of 100 miles versus if we take a course like UTMB, there may be virtually like breaks on your muscle mass, as a result of if you’re climbing with poles, it’s not the identical as like working on some…
iRunFar: Operating nonstop on.
Bouillard: Yeah. Not the identical.
iRunFar: The Western States scene, it’s a race of specificity. In fact, it’s a protracted working race, however there are such a lot of distinctive variables to it. Relying on the place you reside, it may be onerous to arrange for that. Given you had final 12 months’s expertise, you have been having a few of your individual bodily points, however you bought right here, you noticed precisely what the specificity entailed. How’d you put together? How’d you tailor for this 12 months so nicely?
Bouillard: Yeah. Though I’m French and dwell in France, I’ve lived in California for a number of years and Oregon for 2 years really additionally, and we’ve household right here in Sacramento. My spouse grew up in California.
iRunFar: Oh, you’re related to Sacramento too.
Bouillard: Yeah. This isn’t fully unfamiliar terrain. We’ve come and visited, and I’ve skilled the warmth that… I imply, Sacramento will get sizzling. Even in comparison with the canyons, it’s sizzling. We’re shut buddies with Jess Brazeau and Jim Walmsley and have been in a position to take part in crewing one 12 months at Western. So it was not fully new, in order that helped in form of framing what I wanted to coach for. This 12 months, we determined… We’re a household of three now. We have now a six-month previous daughter.
iRunFar: Congratulations.
Bouillard: Thanks. My spouse continues to be on depart from work, so we determined to make a giant journey out of it and are available 5 weeks forward of the race. We spent most of that point in southern California in Santa Barbara the place I’ve my work workplace and we’ve plenty of buddies. It’s not fairly the terrain right here, however the backcountry affords a very nice path community with good warmth publicity.
iRunFar: Excessive mud, runnable singletrack.
Bouillard: Yeah. Some runnable stuff, some extra technical issues, some very runnable hearth roads, quite a lot of issues.
iRunFar: Cool. In all, you discovered most likely virtually precisely the specificity you wanted.
Bouillard: Yeah. I actually put the hassle on all the warmth coaching this 12 months, so I believe it benefited me regardless.
iRunFar: You constructed some pink blood cells.
Bouillard: Precisely. It helps as a result of actually the primary third of Western State is at altitude, and I dwell at sea degree. I believe cranking up the warmth coaching helped to hopefully convey some adaptation. Then we have been in Olympic Valley two weeks forward of the race as nicely. That was additionally good to taper at altitude and hopefully get a bit little bit of adaptation from that.
iRunFar: You have been hyper prepped then.
Bouillard: We tried to optimize. Yeah, having a child provides us lots of extra holidays on the each day, however on the identical time with my part-time job, I’ve some flexibility for the place I work from and with Camilla being on depart, we had a bit bit extra freedom on the schedule.
iRunFar: Yesterday, the lads’s race was simply hyper dynamic for a protracted, very long time. Tremendous thrilling to look at the push-pull, completely different strikes and covers. What was that like residing that from the within out? It ran to me extra like a 50 mile or 100k.
Bouillard: Yeah, it was loopy as a result of final 12 months was quick, however final 12 months it felt prefer it was a giant pack and we have been nonetheless chit-chatting. It was a quick tempo however nonetheless very sustainable within the excessive nation. This 12 months felt like there was a second begin on the high of the Escarpment after which it was like, “Oh my gosh, what is going on? Did they modify the end to Robinson Flat or like what?” As a result of it was actually quick and kudos to Hans [Troyer] for daring to place himself on the market and pushing the tempo like he did. I believe it was a sport of daring to attempt, whereas for me the technique was to attempt to not burn too many matches too early, particularly due to the altitude publicity and the truth that although it runs quicker, it’s nonetheless 100 miles. It’s nonetheless a protracted solution to go to Auburn.
iRunFar: Regardless of the recent paces that Hans was setting and others have been making an attempt to cowl, you have been at all times proper there although, like near contact, involved. It’s not like there was a big hole to you.
Bouillard: Yeah. I believe I used to be actually making an attempt to focus alone effort degree and never overly give attention to what others have been doing, particularly within the center part with the canyons as a result of issues can go very in another way for everybody in that part, and I knew that it’s actually onerous what occurred to Jim, finally. However for instance, I do know that his engine going uphill is like, “I can’t match that. I can’t sustain with him.” Most likely Francesco [Puppi], identical factor. If he’s nonetheless recent, he can climb quicker than me. However I used to be okay with this as a result of it’s like, “Nicely, even as soon as we get out of the canyon, there’s nonetheless a really lengthy solution to go.” I used to be making an attempt not too match each transfer and being a bit okay with some gaps making it.
iRunFar: It appeared wish to us you got here involved with the lead or started getting shut there, proper round midway. Was it between Michigan Bluff and Foresthill?
Bouillard: I believe I used to be making an attempt to essentially maintain that extra conservative mindset till Foresthill after which we’re drained already, so it’s onerous to say like, now we go. However I believe I had one thing like this occur when Ryan [Montgomery] caught me on Cal Road, as a result of he’s such an incredible athlete and somebody who I like. I used to be so stoked to see him coming in.
iRunFar: But in addition you’re like, “Shit.”
Bouillard: Nicely, yeah, a bit bit, however I believe sure and no, as a result of I knew the paces we have been working. In fact, the objective is to win, however I used to be like, if we proceed at these paces, we’re all going to be beneath 14 hours. Nice, better of us will win, however we’re all going to have an awesome day. I believe that gave me confidence to maintain pushing it doesn’t matter what the end result would have been. Ryan and I ended up serving to a bit little bit of one another, I believe, by… Yeah, I used to be nonetheless involved, after which took over after which he ended up having an incredible finish of race as nicely.
iRunFar: I believe you each stated on the end line final night time that having the 2 of you type of pushing one another allowed each of you to maneuver quicker.
Bouillard: Yeah. I believe that’s what occurred with the aggressive discipline. Sure, after all the climate circumstances have been exceptionally cool for Western States and that explains lots of the quick occasions. The opposite issue that introduced these occasions is the competitors. We push one another, and yeah we’re speaking about Hans, however others there to maintain up and push and push and see what occurs.
iRunFar: It appeared such as you took over the final word lead someplace between the mile 85 and 90 assist stations, after which your time, your cut up to the end was a extremely fast one. Did you similar to take the brakes off and also you’re like, “No matter’s left in me, I’m going to let it rip.”?
Bouillard: Yeah, form of. I believe if you’re in the midst of it, you don’t have all the knowledge of the dwell stream and stuff. Once you go and take the lead at mile virtually 90, it’s like, “Nicely, I can not let anybody come again now. That is too shut. I’ve to convey it dwelling.” Yeah, I actually tried and gave all of it, and I believe everybody’s hurting at this level, so it’s a sport of who can maintain the ache.
iRunFar: Your profession, placing the tick mark of a win of Western States in your resume following a win of UTMB two years in the past, these are profession aspirations. That’s what the issues {of professional} runners nowadays dream about, and that’s now your resume. What does an individual such as you assume on a day like this? What’s left to do?
Bouillard: Oh, there’s plenty of issues I’ve to do. That’s not the issue, however I believe the very first thing that involves thoughts is simply to take pleasure in and never let it sink in, not fear an excessive amount of about what’s going to be subsequent. Additionally, sure, after all it provides a line to a resume and it’s essential, however whether or not it’s victories and course data, it’s all meant to alter 12 months over 12 months. So many different runners had superb races yesterday. Francesco was deserving of victory, like inside minutes it might have been him, I might have had an issue on the finish. I believe that’s what’s enjoyable is to take part within the steady development of the game and assist one another push ourselves ahead and hopefully proceed and produce thrilling races to take part into and to observe.
iRunFar: Nicely, that was tremendous thrilling to look at.
Bouillard: Glad to listen to.
iRunFar: Nice present.
Bouillard: Thanks.
iRunFar: Vincent Bouillard, congratulations in your win of the 2026 Western States Endurance Run.
Bouillard: Thanks very a lot. Yeah.
iRunFar: You’ve gotten a pleasant little little bit of sofa sitting and child cuddling forward of you.
Bouillard: Sure. Undoubtedly so.
