WSER Honors Running. Paris Celebrates It.
analog #18 | Running Through Juxtaposition | Sport creates meaning. Culture distributes it
This week, running is celebrating itself in two very different ways.
At Western States, the mood is quiet and reverent no matter how loud. It’s the most sober and somber expression of what running can mean.
In Paris, the mood couldn’t be more different. Running spills into parties, exhibitions, conversations, and clothing. The energy is playful, expressive, even excessive at times. But underneath it all is people gathering because running has become meaningful enough to build culture around.
Western States reminds us why we run.
Paris Fashion Week asks what running becomes after the finish line.
I’ve been thinking about it while crafting a documentary on Ciele’s story and history. Twelve years ago, they seemed to recognize that running wasn’t only a sport. It was becoming a cultural identity. Looking back, that feels less like good branding and more like an early glimpse of where running was headed.
A Look Ahead to Race Day
A few perspectives on the 2026 Western States 100.
Western States by Borderlands
human interest by Bryce Carlson
Zach Miller Got the Ticket Now He Gets the Fight
Tara Dower Lives Between Two Worlds. WSER Tests Them Both.
Kilan Jornet’s 2026 WSER Gamble
Molly Seidel, WSER, and the Honest Kind of Starting Over
podcasts by Josh Rosenthal
WSER Wants to Protect, UTMB Wants to Grow
Why WSER is America’s Most Important Race
Trail Running Loves Winners, Does it Love Competitors?
op-ed by Bob Crowley
The Trail Was Always the Teacher
(nobody does it like) iRunFar
Men’s Preview
Women’s Preview
Josh’s Picks:
• Men: Hayden | Hans | Kilan
• Women: Abby | Fu-Zhao
