How do you train for something like the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run?

     How do you train for something like the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run?  Wait, you have an newborn son named Tyler?  Seriously, how do you train for something like the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run?  That's a question I've been asked quite a few times.  For me it will look something like this (see below).  I've looked into hiring a coach and would really like to do that, but had a hard time with availability (of the coach I wanted, not myself), prohibitive costs, and coaching style (I was worried about getting a 'canned' training plan, without enough personal attention).

Future 100 mile runner?

Tyler, enjoying his first WS100 lottery!

     As it stands, I plan to go it alone, using what I have learned about running so far, along with what I will learn along the way from various Western States 100 veterans, to get me to the starting line.  I will likely stray from this plan a bit, most likely with longer runs on various Saturdays and/or Sundays and by running tempo or speed workouts occasionally, during the week

     In addition to simply logging the mileage, outlined below, getting adequate sleep and being present (as well as aware and available!) to my new bouncing baby boy will be of the utmost importance.  The plan is to complete mid-week runs EARLY, so I can be back to help baby and momma get ready for the day.  I'm fortunate to have a gym at work, so I can knock out strength/cross-training sessions during the day.  Weekends will be tough, as there is no substitute for the long run.  I'll do my best to get back home ASAP and am fortunate to have a loving and supporting wife and family (it'll all be over in 6 months!!!).  I do plan to use a handful of vacation days on Fridays, which will allowing me to get in some long training runs in during a time that I would typically be away.

  I'm excited to start training and look forward to another year of racing and spending time on the trails with friends!  I'll be logging my miles as I go here:  Paul's 2016 Western States Training Log  Feel free to follow along!

Week	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun	Total
01/04 - 01/10	x-train	5	3 + x-train	5	rest	8	5	26
01/11 - 01/17	x-train	7	5 + x-train	7	rest	12	6	37
01/18 - 01/24	x-train	7	6 + x-train	7	rest	14	6	40
01/25 - 01/31	x-train	8	6 + x-train	8	rest	16	6	44
02/01 - 02/07	x-train	7	5 + x-train	5	rest	Jed Smith 50k	rest	48
02/08 - 02/14	x-train	8	6 + x-train	8	rest	WS TR - 20	4	46
02/15 - 02/21	x-train	8	6 + x-train	5	rest	FOURmidable 50k	3	50
02/22 - 02/28	x-train	10	6 + x-train	8	rest	14	10	48
02/29 - 03/06	x-train	8	5 + x-train	7	rest	Way Too Cool 50k	6	57
03/07 - 03/13	x-train	10	6 + x-train	8	rest	20	12	56
03/14 - 03/20	x-train	12	6 + x-train	10	rest	16	14	58
03/21 - 03/27	x-train	14	6 + x-train	8	rest	24	10	62
03/28 - 04/03	x-train	10	6 + x-train	8	rest	16	10	50
04/04 - 04/10	x-train	8	6 + x-train	4	rest	Lake Sonoma 50M	rest	68
04/11 - 04/17	x-train	10	6 + x-train	4	rest	50k?	rest	51
04/18 - 04/24	x-train	8	6 + x-train	10	rest	16	10	50
04/25 - 05/01	x-train	12	6 + x-train	10	rest	24	12	64
05/02 - 05/08	x-train	12	6 + x-train	10	rest	Canyons 50k	?	59
05/09 - 05/15	x-train	10	6 + x-train	12	rest	40-50	10	78-88
05/16 - 05/22	x-train	10	6 + x-train	4	rest	18	?	38
05/23 - 05/29	x-train	5	6 + x-train	10	rest	WS TR - 32	WS TR - 19	72
05/30 - 06/05	WS TR - 20	rest	8	8	x-train	14	10	60
06/06 - 06/12	x-train	10	6	10	rest	20	5	51
06/13 - 06/19	rest	8	5	8	rest	10	5	36
06/20 - 06/26	5	rest	4	rest	2	WS 100		111