Send us a text

In this episode of The Mile 99 Interview, we sit down with Mike Dimond, a hometown ultrarunner from Auburn, CA, who just punched his ticket to the 2025 Western States 100—not in the main lottery, but through the exclusive M45 Automotive Auburn residents raffle!

A Sacramento Metro firefighter, father, and long-time runner, Mike shares how living in the shadow of the Western States finish line shaped his dream, and how his name being drawn at the post-lottery raffle changed everything.

🔥 In This Episode:

• 🏠 Auburn Roots – Mike’s journey from where he grew up to making a home in the Endurance Capital of the World.
• 🚒 Balancing the Firehouse & the Finish Line – Insights into life as a Sac Metro firefighter and the delicate balance of career, family, and ultrarunning.
• 🏃‍♂️ Running Journey – From school sports to long miles on the trail, and how he first discovered the magic of Western States.
• 🎟️ The Lucky Draw – How the M45 Automotive local raffle gave him an unexpected shot at 100 miles in 2025.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Training Talk – Who’s helping him prep? What does his training look like? And how do work shifts factor in?
• 🧠 Mental Grit – How Mike deals with setbacks and tough races, and the mindset he’s building for the big day.
• 🥾 The Support Squad – Crew, pacers, and the power of local running groups and training partners in the Auburn area.

This episode is a testament to perseverance, community, and what can happen when preparation meets a little bit of lottery luck!

🔗 Resources & Mentions:

• Western States Endurance Run
• Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District
• M45 Automotive – Auburn, CA

🎧 Whether you’re a Western States hopeful or just love a great story from the trail, this one will leave you fired up!
---
The Mile 99 Interview | Linktree

Your Hosts: Jessica Harris / Greg Larkin

The Mile 99 Interview is creating podcast episodes | Patreon

Venmo | The Mile 99 Interview

Intro/outro music: Joseph McDade - Elevation: https://josephmcdade.com/music/elevation

Support the show

Send us a text

In this inspiring episode of The Mile 99 Interview, we sit down with two passionate trail stewards: Elke Reimer and Tim Tollefson. You might know Tim for his elite trail running accomplishments, but today, he’s wearing a different hat—one of advocacy, stewardship, and public lands protection. Alongside him, Elke shares her deep experience in trail maintenance and volunteer coordination.

Together, they unpack the behind-the-scenes work that keeps our trails runnable, beautiful, and accessible.

🌲 In This Episode:

• 🥶 Seasonal Worker Freeze – Tim explains the impact of federal hiring freezes and what that means for public lands and trail maintenance.
• 🏛️ Advocacy in Action – Learn about Runners for Public Lands and their push to mobilize the trail running community to lobby and engage with Congress.
• 🚫 Permits at Risk – What happens if races lose access to public land? Tim and Elke share real concerns about shrinking outdoor access.
• 🛠️ What is Trail Work, Really? – Elke walks us through what it takes to show up and dig in: the tools, the clothing, the snacks, and the heart.
• 🥾 Elke’s Trail Work Journey – How she got started, and why it's become a core part of her outdoor life.
• 🌐 Volunteer Power – With limited government staffing, volunteer groups are essential. Elke explains how trail systems are divided and maintained by local crews.
• 📍 Trail Work Across California – From the Western States Trail to Mammoth Lakes, there are opportunities to give back all over the state.
• 🌄 Looking Ahead – Tim and Elke talk about expanding the nonprofit Sierra Nevada Trails Alliance and how you can get involved in the next chapter of trail stewardship.

💬 Whether you’re a trail runner, hiker, or just someone who loves the outdoors, this episode is a call to action: our trails need us.

🛠️ Volunteer. Advocate. Protect.
This is your trail too.

🔗 Resources & Links:

• Runners for Public Lands
• [Sierra Nevada Trails Alliance (coming soon)]
• Volunteer Opportunities – Mammoth Lakes Trail System
• Western States Trail Foundation

🎧 Available now wherever you get your podcasts – hit that play button and get inspired to get dirty!
---
The Mile 99 Interview | Linktree

Your Hosts: Jessica Harris / Greg Larkin

The Mile 99 Interview is creating podcast episodes | Patreon

Venmo | The Mile 99 Interview

Intro/outro music: Joseph McDade - Elevation: https://josephmcdade.com/music/elevation

Support the show

Send us a text

We had a great time chatting with Joey "Coach" Montoya, local Auburn ultrarunner, football coach and PE teacher at Placer High School. We first met Joey back in episode 60 when he was getting ready for his first attempt at the 2021 Western States. He finished the race, but as he described to us, there was a lot of stress to manage as he approached the event.

Fast forward three years, and he's once again been given the honor to run the race in a designated aid station spot (El Dorado Creek), and he has a whole new approach and is enjoying the process!

Joey's positive attitude and outlook are infectious, and he takes many of the lessons and methods that he uses with his high school students and players to develop mental toughness and applies them to his own training. In a typical display of dedication, he was also juggling a football booster club commitment, so we spent the first half of the show talking to Joey and wrapped up with other race news, volunteering updates and chit-chat!

Join for an inspirational episode with Joey and follow his progress to that next finish on the Place High track, his home track, in June!

---
The Mile 99 Interview | Linktree

Your Hosts: Jessica Harris / Greg Larkin

The Mile 99 Interview is creating podcast episodes | Patreon

Venmo | The Mile 99 Interview

Intro/outro music: Joseph McDade - Elevation: https://josephmcdade.com/music/elevation

Support the show