10 Laps with Quinn Williamson

presented by The PreRacePodcast

Age: 26

Hometown: Milford, MI

Day Job: Architectual Engineer

1. What's your favorite place to run locally?

Milford has an almost endless amount of running trails. From paved paths to technical MTB trails, you can get any distance on any terrian of your choosing. My personal favourite loop is a 3 mile bit of horse trail that has some steep little climbs and beautiful views.

2. Craziest thing to happen to you while running?

I hiked the Uinta Highline Trail this Fall and took a detour to climb Kings Peak, the highest point in Utah. I met two runners on the summit and I ended up running back down the peak with them. It was my first time running like this and it was such a crazy experience to be hurtling down the side of a mountain, jumping from rock to rock. Nothing like that in the Midwest!

3. Best place for coffee after a run?

Handsdown; Vertex Coffee. I almost always get their “One & One (&One) Flight - A shot of espresso, a cup of drip, and a glass of flash chilled coffee. I can’t recommend them enough! If I’m backcountry, my go-to is CS instant coffee. (Not a sponsored endorsement)

4. Favorite workout?

400M repeats on the track. They don’t serve much of a purpose for me at this point so I don’t do them frequently, but when I see an opportunity to fit them in I get pretty excited. Sometimes it’s just as fun to do one or two all out in the middle of a longrun if I can find an empty track.

5. Best TV show you've watched this year?

My wife and I moved into our first house this Spring and haven’t gotten around to buying a TV yet. We mostly watch YouTube; any video with Lael Wilcox or Lachlan Morton are our favourites.

6. Conspiracy theory you subscribe to?

Google is always listening to you thru your phone. Targeted ads alwys seem to pop up just after a conversation and it blows my mind.

7. Do you have any race day superstitions?

Not a particular superstituion, but I get extremely regimented with my sleep and vitamins the week leading up to a race. I’m sure it’s mostly placebo, but it gives me a nice little hit of dopamine to check off easy tasks for race prep. I also really enjoy getting all of my gear and clothes set out the night before. Let’s me sleep easy.

8. What was the last race you ran? How did it go?

Run With Scissors 55 Mile Trail Race.

I learned a lot and took 1st place despite many rookie mistakes throughout the day. The terrain was very different to MIchigan trails, and the leaves made things interesting at times. It was neat to experience some of the common tropes of ultra running (bonking, self-doubt, etc.) and to keep pushing past them.

I was already scheming about the next race before I had finished.

9. PR you are most proud of?

My current 50K PR (4:41:43). It was my first time racing that distance and proved to myself that I can find success in the ultra scene. There’s a lot of room for improvement, but everything went right that day and it has fueled my excitement for longform racing.

10. One thing that most Bandits don't know about you?

I really really enjoying baking bread. I think it’s my secret advantage. I eat 2+ loaves of bread every week. I’m always carb’ed up!