Heather Jackson reveals Western States strategy – and nerves ahead of an even bigger challenge

She hopes to make it third time lucky at Western States 2025 and Heather Jackson will be giving it everything she’s got.

The former IRONMAN triathlon star did not finish in 2023 before coming home seventh last year, but she has switched up her prep as she bids to challenge this weekend in what she describes as the toughest field she’s faced.

But while she has no fears of a course she knows well, she admits she is already feeling nervous about her first attempt at the full HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc in August.

Jackson hopes for third time lucky at Western States

She told RUN247: “With Western States, I obviously really want to do well there on my third time back. But for me, UTMB this year is really exciting.

“Not having done an event brings that excitement and those nerves. With Western States I know the course now. I have nerves with UTMB coming up in August.”

Jackson came fifth at the HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc CCC last year, a 100k race, but is now gearing up for the full 100-miler in what UTMB describe as “the most mythical and prestigious trail running race in the world”.

Featuring 10,000m of positive elevation gain around the Mont-Blanc through Italy, Switzerland and France, it will certainly be a test.

But first up is her latest attempt at Western States, and her prep has been very different to most competitors because earlier this month she was busy winning the 350-mile Unbound XL gravel bike race, setting an incredible new course record.

She admits she has changed up her routine since then too, and is preparing differently to previous years by design when it comes to putting in the miles on two feet.

Quality over quantity

Jackson told RUN247: “How do you prep for 100 miles? I don’t know! I’ve been doing it three years now and I’ve been experimenting with each lead-in a little bit differently.

“This one, I would say I have gone for quality over quantity. My long runs have been around that four hour mark but I’ve been doing them more consistently, rather than a six or seven hour run and then needing to recover for three days. 

“I’ve been doing three to four hours every other day for the last two or three weeks. I’ve had no issues. It all seems to be going good.”

Her final race before Western States was the Canyons Endurance Runs in April, which she won in 2023 and used this time “as a speed workout”, finishing fourth.

No intention

With UTMB coming just a month after this weekend’s race, it promises to be a big summer for the 41-year-old, who switched over from triathlon after lockdown and insists she has no intention of going back.

She also has three more runs to look forward to this year – the Mammoth 200M on Sep 26, Kodiak UTMB, Big Bear on Oct 11 and a Grand Canyon FKT Attempt in November.

On top of all that she still has three gravel bike races to squeeze in before the end of September in Iowa, Utah and Spain. But her motto has always been: “What are you waiting for?” and she is certainly living up to it.