Rod Farvard has a long memory. In particular, he is haunted by a cross-country race from his senior year in Moraga, California.
Farvard dropped out after two miles, feeling that he had hit a wall. Two miles? This didn’t seem like a good omen for someone intrigued by the endurance world.
Farvard fought back. He finished his first marathon (in 2:44) the following year while a freshman in college. He began entering triathlons, and then Ironman events, completing one in under 10 hours.
It looked like he had ultra-distance potential, but how far could he take it? The answer came in last year’s Western States 100-Mile, where Farvard pulled off a stunner.
Western States 2024 In Review: The Farvard–Jim Walmsley Battle
Farvard went out fast, taking the lead early. When heavy favorite and course-record-holder Jim Walmsley passed him, Farvard had an answer. He surged past Walmsley and grabbed the lead again.
Back and forth they went, exchanging the frontrunner position more than 10 times in the hot, sunny middle miles. It developed into the most competitive, mano a mano battle in Western States history.
At 80 miles, Farvard led by 3 minutes, due in part to his efficient transitions at aid stations. Walmsley later noted that Farvard was “crushing” him at the cooling-and-refueling stops, “taking chunks of minutes every single time.”
Walmsley rallied over the last 20 miles to claim his fourth WS 100 victory in 14:13:45. Farvard hit the finish in 14:24:15, the third-fastest performance in Western States history, and an almost two-hour improvement on his previous year’s time. The course record, 14:09:28, was established by Walmsley in 2019.
Is “5” The Magic Number For Rod Farvard?
Farvard has now run the last four WS 100s. His performance curve follows a steep upward climb.
But his first attempt in 2021 produced a bit of a flashback moment. He DNFed–shades of that fateful cross-country race in high school.
Once again, he simply doubled down and persisted. Since 2021, he has finished 58th, 22nd, and 2nd.
Farvard, now 29, grew up in the East Bay area of San Francisco, but relocated to mountainous Mammoth Lakes in 2020 when Covid struck. A software engineer, he works remotely.
He chose his new home deliberately, wanting to move to “high altitude and see what it would do for my running.” In addition to its altitude, beauty, and trails, Mammoth Lakes is where Deena Kastor and Meb Keflezighi prepared for their Olympic Marathon medals in 2004.
The following year, Farvard undertook a multi-day challenge on the 214-mile-long John Muir Trail. He set a new Fastest Known Time (supported, north to south) of 3 days, 16 hours, and 2 minutes. This proved he had more than enough endurance for 100-mile races.
In ultra circles, Farvard is known for the way he candidly dissects every race, looking for ways he could do better. After last year’s Western States, he told IRunFar.com: “I love this race. It’s so easy to pick apart and understand where you need to improve. It’s easy to conceptualize where you need to pick up time. That makes coming back every year extremely fun and extremely motivating.”
With Walmsley scratched from this year’s competition, Farvard will toe the start as a co-favorite in a strong, intriguing field that includes Kilian Jornet, David Roche, Vincent Bouillard, and Adam Peterman, among others.
We Ask, and Farvard Answers
Below are Farvard’s email answers to questions we sent him two weeks before this year’s Western States 100.
What did you learn from your second-place finish in last year’s WS 100?
RF: Generally, I learned about what it takes to win and the risks you need to take to give yourself a chance. The race begins very early, way earlier than I expected, given how people race these days. I learned that I have what it takes if I give myself a chance, and that execution is everything.
I think that there are people in this sport who are generational talents and can win any race under any conditions. I am not one of those people, and I am not trying to be. I am someone who, under the right conditions, with enough meticulous attention to detail, with perfect execution, and just a bit of luck, has the chance to win some of the biggest races in the world. I am here to do what I can.
How would you rate your fitness this year vs last year? Are you trying anything new this year?
RF: Last year I peaked at Canyons, because I needed a Golden Ticket to run Western States. This year has been quite different because the goals are Western States and UTMB. We did a lot less high-intensity early in the year, and have just recently begun top-end training. I’m feeling extremely fit. I’m peaking for Western States.
This year, we’ve also introduced lactate testing and active heat training. The lactate results have let us determine exact paces at different gradients, and then work the desired zones for the desired adaptations. I’ve been working with the Core heat sensor to heat train with accuracy. I do three indoor heat training sessions a week, wearing multiple layers and a heat suit. I’m either running on the treadmill or riding the bike trainer in front of space heaters.
What are your takes on hydration and carb consumption during ultra races?
RF: At this point, there isn’t a single person who doubts high-carb fueling. I believe you have to practice it constantly and understand how your needs change in different races and different conditions. There’s no magic number of carbs for everyone at every race.
I think many runners still underdo hydration because they just don’t want to carry more bottles and feel heavy. You need to know your sweat rate and your body’s unique sodium concentration. Before Western States, I use every long run to gauge my sweat rate, so I’m prepared to drink the right amount of fluids on race day.
Are you concerned about your poor race in The Canyons 100K in April?
RF: It was a bad day for me. I was having allergy-related breathing issues all month, and during the race. In retrospect, I shouldn’t have started. But I’m happy with the way I persevered. It’s important to struggle and accept your losses. That’s part of the sport. [Editorial note: Farvard won last year’s Canyons 100K in a course record 8:44:30. This year he was ninth, and 20 minutes slower.]
Now I’m feeling glad that I got my bad day out of the way, and I seem to be over the breathing problems. As I said, my whole year has been designed for a peak at Western States. I’m much fitter than I was at Canyons, and I can’t wait to use that fitness.
When did you sign a Hoka contract, and what difference has it made for you?
RF: I signed in August last year, and I feel incredibly supported by the brand. I wanted to sign with a company that understands the changing landscape of the sport and the races that matter. My long-term goals are to become a Western States and UTMB champion, and Hoka is at the heart of both those races.
What is your greatest strength in mountain trail ultras?
RF: My belief in myself and my willingness to take risks. I used to believe that my even-ness in races was my greatest strength, allowing me to move up through the fields. But I’ve learned that approach won’t win races, and I am capable of so much more. Now I don’t care who I’m racing. I know that anything can happen if you give yourself a chance, and I’m willing to risk a blow-up to give myself that chance.
Why do you run ultra-trail races?
RF: I run ultras because it is such an easy vehicle to squeeze the most out of yourself. These events take so much character you don’t need in the ease and comfort of everyday life. I like being tested and seeing who I am in the face of so much adversity. I almost always learn more about myself during each race. I’m not sure I would know who I am if I didn’t race.
If you missed it, here is Amby’s feature on another Western States favorite for 2025, Kilian Jornet:
