Rocklin native Tollefson ready for another go at Western States

Rocklin native and Rocklin High School alum Tim Tollefson is ready for his second go at the Western States Endurance Run after placing fifth in his debut last year. He enters this weekend's run as one of four favorites to win. "It is going to be really exciting. Now that Jim (Walmsley) has given the rest of us a chance, I am really looking to get my best out of myself on Saturday," Tollefson said. "I think that if I focus on really taking care of what I need to and prioritizing my individual needs, I'm capable of a pretty incredible performance." Tollefson said he hasn't paid any attention to his name being mentioned among the favorites and doesn't have a time or placement expectation. He just wants to put his best foot forward and whatever happens, happens. Tollefson, who now lives in Mammoth Lakes, noted that in the past the expectations of being a favorite would mess with his head. "It's been pretty liberating, to be honest. It allows me to just focus on what I need to do and kind of try to drown out the extra noise," he said. Even without expectations, Tollefson is still training with a purpose, stating, "I've trained with the intention of winning, but knowing that winning doesn't have to happen for me to have my best days. I think if I do deliver my best on Saturday, it's likely going to be a top-three performance." The goal of running in and winning the Western States has caught Tollefson's eye for a long time. When he entered the sport of ultra running in 2014, he knew he was working toward this race. "Western States was the first 100 I learned about as a kid. I knew that at some point I wanted to do it, but I felt like I had to cut my teeth and earn my stripes competing elsewhere," Tollefson said. "The lore and the history behind Western States is incredible and dates back generations before mine. It means a lot to me, especially because I grew up in Rocklin. So it feels like a hometown event." While the thought of enduring 100 miles in one day can be gut wrenching to those who are not runners, it provides an escape for the athletes on the course. Asked why he chooses a sport that is so hard on the body, Tollefson said. "I think all of us have different whys. I've realized throughout my career, I've had some very healthy, wise and very unhealthy whys, but at my current place in my career, I've been driven to see what I'm capable of. I'm trying to scrape the bottom of the well and see what I can accomplish. It's about testing my personal limits." Tollefson said he has several plans heading into the race and isn't sure which one he will implement but is sure he will be flexible to whatever is thrown his way. "My mantra is to be like a leaf in a stream and just flow with the terrain; don't fight it," he said. "There are gonna be times where I'm running a little faster, other times that I might get hung up in some terrain and kind of be slowing down a bit. But ultimately, I just want to be like water and flow gently down the course."