Marianne Hogan is back, and she’s ready for Western States

On Saturday, Canada’s Marianne Hogan will toe the line at Western States 100 (WSER) for the second time, and if her history is any indication, she won’t be far from the front when the dust settles in Auburn, Calif. The Montreal-based runner is known both for her irresistible smile and sense of humour, as well as her gritty ability to hold it together when the going gets tough.

Lessons in pain and patience

Hogan’s third-place finish in 2022 was a breakout moment, but the path there wasn’t smooth. She was fresh off a spiral tib-fib fracture that could have ended her career, but instead gave her something to fight for. “I remained very, very hungry during my injury years,” Hogan told Canadian Running. “[I] was just incredibly grateful to be able to run again.” That mindset never left her. “I never felt the pressure to perform, because I just felt very grateful to be on the start line at all.”

That gratitude has served her well. It’s kept her focused and made the long hours of rehab and training feel purposeful. “I think the desire to return at the top of your game needs to fuel any type of return from injury.”

Hard-earned experience

When she first ran WSER, Hogan didn’t expect to land on the podium. “I had a good 50–60km portion where I was awfully sick and really surprised myself with a faster second part of the race to capture third place,” she says. “I think this was a great first 100-mile lesson.” While she isn’t pretending a 100-miler is easy to predict, she’s also not afraid of it. “One hundred miles is a long way, and anything can happen.”

From Montreal to California

Hogan’s training is rooted in Montreal’s Mount Royal trails, but she’s spent time on the WSER course in the lead-up this year, making the most of different terrain. “I think you can always make training work when you get creative with your options,” she says. “That being said, I’ve been quite fortunate and happy to be able to come out to California ahead of time, get acclimated and get some fun runs in on course.”

She’s also dialling in her fuelling more precisely than ever. “My nutrition has improved dramatically throughout the years,” she says. “I plan to take a gel and a flask every hour, which would equal 80g of carbs per hour.”

What success looks like

Hogan’s approach is to aim high, while staying grounded. “I think success for me for this race will definitely involve racing more of the race, and putting forward an effort that allows me to compete for a top-10 position,” she says. “I love that the women’s race has become competitive and that female athletes are fighting until the very end for a top-10 position. I want to be in the mix, and have some fun with it!”