Rory Bosio has had great runs at each of the past three Western States 100’s. With her second place last year and defending champ Ellie Greenwood out with an injury, Bosio goes into this year’s race as the odds-on favorite to win. In the following interview, Rory talks about avoiding heat in training, how she’s not the favorite, and whether she’s studied her joke book ahead of the race.
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Rory Bosio Pre-2013 Western States 100 Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Bryon Powell of iRunFar here with Rory Bosio before the 2013 Western States 100. I can ask you how you’re doing, Rory, but probably, “pretty good?”
Rory Bosio: Yeah, sure. Pretty good, besides some fly-away action going on.
iRF: That’s why you’ve got to run fast!
Bosio: That’s right, so the wind is blowing that way. Feel the wind beneath my wings.
iRF: Over the last couple of years, you’ve run fast at Western States and run faster and faster seemingly.
Bosio: I’ve gotten lucky with course selection and year selection, so we’ll see how it goes.
iRF: It is going to be a little bit hotter this year, but you live here.
Bosio: Yes, I live here. I don’t live at the bottom of Devil’s Thumb Canyon, but I live here.
iRF: That’s probably a good thing.
Bosio: I don’t think it will be horrendous. No.
iRF: No, not like some of the horror years of the past.
Bosio: No, I think it will be good.
iRF: Have you gotten some warm weekend runs in?
Bosio: No. I don’t like the heat, so I avoid it. I see no point in training for it. I’m just going to grin and bear it. I’d rather enjoy my time when I’m out there running instead of torturing myself in the heat and then not liking my training.
iRF: Just suck it up for one day.
Bosio: Yeah, suck it up for one day, man. You can do it for one day.
iRF: You’ll just dump a lot of water all over yourself then.
Bosio: Yeah, totally… evaporative cooling.
iRF: Very nice, very nice. You have run really well here the past three years.
Bosio: Yes, I’ve run three years here.
iRF: How do you improve upon some really good races. Did you change your training? Increased knowledge?
Bosio: No, and I don’t know if I look on it as improving. They’re all individual experiences. I mean, the times have gotten better, but I don’t necessarily think that my fastest time was my favorite year. I don’t know, I look at them individually. This will be a whole different experience.
iRF: You’re always in good spirits when I see you at the aid stations and when I see you on the trail. You are probably going to have some chances to have bigger rebounds.
Bosio: That’s right. Sunscreen will be important tomorrow. I’m really planning out my attack on the sun tomorrow.
iRF: Me too.
Bosio: Yeah, I’m so jealous. Watch out, I might do mine.
iRF: We can work on that.
Bosio: Yeah, that would be fun.
iRF: One thing that’s changed over the past years is with Ellie (Greenwood) being injured, you really are the favorite. What’s that like?
Bosio: I think there were 10 women standing up there today and a lot of them are speedier than I am. I’m really excited there are so many good women that hopefully will be able to run some miles with people and share some pounds on the trail. Yeah, I don’t know, I don’t really think about it. I didn’t even know Ellie wasn’t racing until today which is a bummer.
iRF: Wow!
Bosio: Kinda low-key.
iRF: Have you been studying jokes for the aid stations perhaps?
Bosio: I don’t need to study those. Those come naturally.
iRF: You’ve got a large stash?
Bosio: Yes, my obnoxiousness is in full effect.
iRF: I hope to encounter some of it on the trail.
Bosio: Me too, I hope I’m looking at your backside tomorrow… lovely view.
iRF and Bosio: Heeeeyyyyyyyyy…
iRF: Have fun out there, Rory!
Bosio: Bye!
