HPT Athlete Ryan Montgomery crushed the Canyons 100k and secured himself one of the coveted Golden Tickets for the Western States 100. Hear his race report first hand including how the unexpectedly cold weather nearly changed the course of his day.
Ryan
Last Saturday, I celebrated turning 31 doing what I love most—running through the mountains all day with a stacked field of athletes. By the end, I had earned my third lifetime Golden Ticket to the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run this June. 🎫
But this year’s Canyons 100K was cold and wet—not exactly what I expected flying from New Hampshire to sunny California.
At 4:55 a.m.—five minutes before the start—a storm rolled in with snow flurries and temps in the low 30s. The day stayed chilly and rainy and never really cracked the mid-40s temperatures. These are the kind of conditions where my hands go numb trying to open gels, and I’m constantly debating whether to add or ditch a layer. But honestly? I kind of loved it. I’ve done most of my training this year in New England slush, snow, and rain, so the cooler weather felt familiar. It helped me stay focused on pacing and nutrition—mostly.
My fueling plan was clear: 90+ grams of carbs per hour, rotating between Precision Hydratio and SIS Go Gels, plus Skratch drink mix from The Feed. I nailed it through the 60K mark—but then the stomach cramps hit. My gut locked up and it was hard to keep eating; everything I consumed sat a little too heavy.
In hindsight, I think the cold worked against me (fueling wise)—I didn’t feel as thirsty, so I drank way less than I usually would. And based on both lived experience and some post-race Googling, hydration plays a huge role in carb absorption. Poor hydration + high carb intake = not a winning combo. Whether it was that or my gut not being fully trained for this level of intake, I’m not totally sure. But I’ll be dialing that in before Western States. Because, if you know Western States, you know the race is known for its 100-degree temps!
That said, the real turning point in the race came around Mile 24 at the Michigan Bluff Aid Station. I told myself, “If you want this Golden Ticket, you need to commit now.” I could hear my coach Jason Koop and friend Tina Muir screaming in my head: “Commit! Commit! Commit!”
So I did.
Over the final 30+ miles, I started picking people off. I didn’t ‘relax’ on the descents like I sometimes do. I pushed. Hard. It was fun (in that painful, type-2 ultra-running kind of way) to feel my legs and mind respond. I never actually knew what place I was in, but I stayed locked in—racing hard and leaving no doubts I could get my Golden Ticket.
I didn’t realize I had snagged the third and final Golden Ticket until I crossed the line and the Western States Race Director asked, “Do you want to come back to Western States, Ryan?” Francesco Puppi (who ran an incredible race for first place) had declined the ticket, and the ticket rolled down to me. Cue the emotions. What a day.
So yeah… Western States, I’ll see you in June—for my third attempt. It’s going to be a fast one. Time to dial the gut, start the heat training, and find a new sparkle nail polish.
Also, pro tip: If you procrastinate ordering race fuel like I do, The Feed’s overnight shipping is a total lifesaver. Not my proudest moment, but hey, that’s why overnight shipping exists.
