Towards the backdrop of an more and more professionalized sport, there are nonetheless some ultra-trail athletes who’re managing to compete on the highest stage whereas additionally managing the calls for of a busy day job. One such athlete is coach, lawyer, and lifelong runner Nicole Bitter.
At age 41, Bitter is at present getting ready for her eighth Western States 100 begin, having certified with a Golden Ticket from Bandera 100k earlier this yr, which is a part of the Hoka Golden Ticket Races that doles out entries to prime finishers of the sequence’s races. I caught up along with her to unearth the secrets and techniques to longevity in operating, and the way to stability an elite stage operating profession alongside a busy skilled profession and residential life.
Nicole and Zach Bitter with canine Stella and Minnie. All pictures courtesy of Nicole Bitter until in any other case famous.
Nicole Bitter grew up within the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, and first discovered her approach into sport on the age of 5, within the type of determine skating. This was simply considered one of many energetic pursuits in her childhood and she or he mentioned, “My mother labored, so I feel simply as a method to be out of the home and doing issues we have been signed up for all kinds of sports activities camps. We did just about every thing underneath the solar — tennis classes, diving, swimming, soccer.”
Sport shortly turned a lifestyle for Bitter. In seventh grade, whereas wishing to hone in on a sport for center faculty, she tried out for the basketball group. However alongside the best way a health club trainer noticed her aptitude for operating and inspired her within the route of cross nation as a substitute.
She mentioned, “I did fairly nicely in seventh and eighth grade and the coach of the high-school varsity group was truly my math trainer in eighth grade, so he had me begin coaching with the high-school group in eighth grade. At that time, I used to be beginning to do exercises and issues. I competed all all through highschool in cross nation and ran the 1,600 meters and the three,200 meters in observe. Then I went to Northwestern College [in Illinois] and ran cross county there.”
With years of aggressive operating and coaching already underneath her belt, Bitter first found path operating upon transferring to Texas after graduating, the place she attended legislation faculty at Baylor College.
She mentioned, “There was a bunch of good path programs throughout the college … I’d seen one thing known as path operating so I made a decision to test it out. I went out and did some path runs earlier than or after lessons and I used to be hooked.”
Nicole Bitter racing within the mountains. Though she says her strengths lie in additional runnable ultras, Bitter relishes the chance to take to the hills.
Though operating on trails turned a part of Bitter’s common coaching and leisure operating, it wasn’t till she moved to Dallas, Texas, 5 years later and located a gaggle to run with that her aggressive path operating profession started. She mentioned, “There was a gaggle known as the White Rock Co-op and there have been just a few members of the group who have been doing ultramarathons, and I assumed, I may try this! So I signed up and did some native Texas races. That was again in 2012. I began out with an evening race, a 60-kilometer occasion. After that I began ramping up the gap and doing extra of the native Texas races.”
On the time Bitter didn’t have a coach — however already skilled in different disciplines of coaching and racing, she discovered the nuances of path operating as she went alongside.
She shortly climbed as much as the 100-mile distance, taking over the Rocky Racoon 100 Mile in 2013, the place she took first place and located a consolation zone in lengthy, runnable ultramarathons. She mentioned, “I didn’t actually have quite a lot of challenges. Possibly it was newbie’s luck, however I simply naturally was capable of do the 100 miles. Particularly on that form of runnable terrain.”
Following on from her 100-mile debut, Bitter had a knee challenge, which took a while to resolve, however mentioned: “After that race I discovered that I used to be capable of get better fairly shortly. I feel being youthful positively made it simpler. Lately I don’t race as incessantly as I used to. I most likely was operating not less than 100 miles per week religiously, and in addition I feel it was simply build up after so a few years.”
Later the identical yr, Bitter headed to the Leadville 100 Mile, the place she positioned ninth, and mentioned: “I actually struggled at that race. I had come off one other harm sooner or later and I used to be doing nicely till the final 10 miles after which it was simply actually difficult. I feel it confirmed the excellence between doing a mountain race versus a flat race.”
With expertise, she has realized the place her best strengths lie and mentioned: “I like operating extra mountainous races, however when it comes to the place I’m going to carry out higher, I positively have a neater time on the flatter, quicker stuff.”
The next yr, in February 2014, Bitter returned to Rocky Raccoon — profitable once more and taking greater than an hour off her earlier time. On her third try on the race in 2015, she once more received — this time setting what was then the American path 100-mile report in a time of 14:22.
Nicole Bitter on her method to setting a then American 100-mile path report and profitable the 2015 Rocky Raccoon 100 Mile. Photograph: USA Ultrarunning
Whereas persevering with to rack up wins, a second-place end on the 2015 Bandera 100k earned Bitter her place at her first Western States 100, the place she completed sixth — starting an excellent love affair with this iconic race.
Taking a daring step exterior of her consolation zone, in 2015 Bitter additionally headed to Chamonix, France, to finish UTMB — the head of mountain ultrarunning. She had a powerful run, ending thirteenth, and mentioned: “It was stunning, I felt like I used to be in ‘The Sound of Music!’ Simply operating by way of the mountains and having that complete expertise, it was actually superior. That’s a type of races I’ll always remember … Truthfully, I used to be proud to only full that race.”
This yr Bitter will return to the Western States 100, a race she has an extended historical past and affinity with, having raced it seven instances — together with three top-10 finishes. When requested what it’s about this occasion that retains drawing her again, she mentioned: “I feel it’s the competitors, the problem, and the expertise. But in addition, persevering with to push myself and see what I can do. At 41 it will get a bit extra like, I can’t consider I’m nonetheless doing this!”
Dwelling in Austin, Texas, and having all the time lived in scorching locations, Bitter finds that she copes with the warmth on the Western States 100 higher than many. In regards to the distinction between operating now as a grasp, versus in her youth, she says: “I do discover that I typically don’t run as a lot quantity, and I simply take heed to my physique.”
Nicole Bitter incomes her second sixth-place Western States 100 end. Photograph: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Her quest to face on the beginning line at this yr’s Western States 100 started in October 2022, when she positioned third within the Javelina 100 Mile, narrowly lacking out on a Golden Ticket. Regardless of the close to miss, she mentioned, “I felt nice to do in addition to I did and have a great efficiency. With that stacked of a discipline, that was a win in my guide.”
Then in a weird coincidence, Bitter ended up having a second probability at a Golden Ticket within the winter of 2022/2023. She recounted, “I used to be imagined to do a race in South Africa, Extremely-Path Cape City, proper round Thanksgiving. And the day I acquired off the airplane, I sprained my ankle and so I couldn’t do the race! It nearly felt like destiny. I used to be capable of heal in a short time, I used to be match, and the Bandera 100k was in my yard. It appeared like a great one to leap into.”
Bitter positioned second behind Courtney Dauwalter within the January 2023 Bandera 100k in a time of 10:03 — beating her earlier finest on the acquainted course, and incomes her ticket into the 2023 Western States 100.
Nicole being supported by husband, Zach, on the 2023 Bandera 100k.
As the game continues to professionalize, Bitter is now maybe within the minority of athletes competing at her stage to nonetheless have a busy day job — working full time as a lawyer. When requested about how she manages this difficult balancing act, she mentioned, “I feel the idea of stability is so arduous. I might say that I do my finest and deal with the duty at hand. I attempt to give my all after I’m operating, and after I’m being a lawyer, and I attempt to do my finest after I’m teaching … There are positively instances when I’m spending all of my vitality on my profession and that’s the highest precedence. However I do love having operating in my life as a result of it provides me an opportunity to be off my work chair and to see the world.”
Bitter admits that there are tipping factors, saying: “I do discover that there are factors the place the work stress will get to be an excessive amount of. I do know in 2021 there was rather a lot happening in my day job and it resulted in me being overwhelmed attending to the Western States 100. I didn’t even notice it till I began racing. It’s this high quality line that you must stroll on. However on the finish of the day, I wouldn’t change it as a result of I might somewhat have each facets to my life than simply attempt to do one at the next stage.”
Bitter is now coached by her husband — fellow elite runner, Zach Bitter — who is a superb assist and helps her with balancing work and coaching. Lately the 2 function on completely different schedules and don’t all the time run collectively. Nicole does her runs early within the morning with the group she coaches, Staff Rogue, whereas Zach heads out a bit later. So as to add to their busy family, the Bitters have not too long ago adopted a brand new four-legged coaching accomplice, Minnie, and together with their older canine, Stella, they typically head out for household runs and adventures.
Nicole says: “Minnie calls for getting out every single day and might be my number-one coaching accomplice within the household on the minute!” Lately, the couple headed to the 2023 Hell Hills 50k, simply an hour from their residence, the place they every took first place.
Subsequent up Bitter will head to the annual Western States 100 Memorial Weekend Coaching Runs, for a refresher on the course she is already so conversant in. She mentioned “I’m going to exit early with Altra and do a coaching camp, after which keep for the broader Western States 100 coaching camp. It’s all the time enjoyable to run with all the opposite athletes.”
Bitter has realized rather a lot from the highs and lows of earlier Western States 100 runs and mentioned: “I feel simply ensuring to remain iced off is essential. It’s a high quality stability to be sure you get sufficient fluids and salt.”
As she has demonstrated in her stellar performances this yr and final, Bitter’s years of accrued coaching — and a pure skill to run far — can greater than compensate for the opposite calls for life locations on her. We are able to’t wait to see her lace up on June 24.
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