Zach Miller reflects on his 2026 Western States 100 experience, emphasizing its emotional depth. Despite a busy racing season, he found it hard to articulate his feelings immediately after the race. Miller highlights the unique aspects of Western States, contrasting it with UTMB.

Miller notes that Western States felt special due to the people involved. He used pacers for the first time, which added a new dimension to his race. Each pacer contributed to a memorable experience, strengthening his bonds with them. Miller appreciates the shared struggles and joys that deepened these relationships. Read more trail coverage.

In the aftermath, Miller realized the significance of these connections. He hopes his pacers felt the same depth of connection. Miller believes these experiences will encourage him to embrace relational growth in future races, regardless of whether pacers are involved. Related: Rollercoaster 21 to finalize WMRA World Cup long-distance standings.

This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from iRunFar. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.