Lotti Brinks | 2026 Western States 100 Pre-Race Interview
6/23/202631 min
Simply put, Lotti Brinks is one of the best ultrarunners in the sport right now.
Over the last 2 years, she’s secured multiple top 10s at CCC, wins at Way Too Cool and Desert Rats, and a course record at the Gorge Waterfalls 100K this past spring that heralded her arrival into the upper echelon of the sport.
This is her second time at Western States. She was here in 2024, placing 14th in 18:53. But many expect her to be a podium contender in 2026.
Since this is our first ever interview with Lotti on Singletrack, we use the opportunity to learn more about her: her background, what motivates her pursuit of excellence in the ultra world, being coached by the great Tyler Green, and her race-day goals.
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsFinn Melanson· Host0:00
Norda is the official footwear partner of our 2026 Western States 100 coverage. All the rage this summer is the imminent release of their new model, the 055, the shoe that Rachel Entrickin wore start to finish en route to her course record victory at the Cocodona 250 earlier this year. Go check it out at nordarun.com, and make sure you are subscribed to their mailing list to get exclusive early access to the shoe. I've put a bunch of training miles in it. It's the real deal. It is another day of our annual studio coverage based out of Olympic Valley, California, for the Western States 100, joined by friends, colleagues, Leah Yingling, Brett Hornig, and someone who we have never had on the podcast before, and I can't think of a better place to have that first interview, Lottie Rings.
Lotti Brinks· Guest0:45
Woo! It's race week.
Finn Melanson· Host0:47
Are you excited?
Lotti Brinks· Guest0:48
I am very excited. Yeah.
Finn Melanson· Host0:49
Yeah.
Lotti Brinks· Guest0:49
I've been excited for, like, what feels like months now, so I'm glad it's finally here.
Finn Melanson· Host0:54
I'm sure Brett and Leah are gonna have a lot of questions. The burning question in my mind right now is, and I've never asked this to anyone that has had to deal with this, but tickets roll down all the time.
Lotti Brinks· Guest1:04
Mm-hmm.
Finn Melanson· Host1:05
You took sixth place at CCC last year, one of-- I think it was maybe the best women's race in all of 2025, like, the deepest, the most thrilling. Talk about what it feels like to learn that you're racing Western States, like, three months out.
Lotti Brinks· Guest1:18
It was, it was-- I wouldn't call it a shock, but I didn't count, like, uh, it wasn't, like, on my radar that that would happen.