Fu-Zhao Xiang of China finished second at the 2025 Western States 100, repeating her placing from last year. In the following interview, Fu-Zhao talks about how the racing at the front end of the field was much closer this year than last, how the heat started to affect her while climbing away from the river even though she generally likes the heat, and a bit about things that she can improve to go faster next year.
For more on how the race played out, read our in-depth 2025 Western States 100 results article.
[Editor’s Note: If you are unable to see the video above, click here to access it.]
Fu-Zhao Xiang Post-2025 Western States 100 Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Bryon Powell of iRunFar here with Fu-Zhao Xiang after her second-place finish at the 2025 Western States 100. How are you, Fu-Zhao?
Fu-Zhao Xiang: I’m fine. Very nice to see you again.
iRunFar: Yeah. Very nice to see you again. You took second place at Western States again. How does that feel?
Xiang: I chase a lot of females. I’m very lucky, I think.
iRunFar: Yeah. I mean, it’s a really great accomplishment. You have run the Western States twice.
Xiang: Yeah.
iRunFar: And in that time, you’ve run two of the seven fastest times women have ever run here. Do you realize how fast and how well you’ve run at this race?
Xiang: Maybe I can faster.
iRunFar: Yeah. Oh, always want more!
Xiang: After, because I think this year, I didn’t do very good.
iRunFar: Yeah?
Xiang: Yeah.
iRunFar: And why? What was not so good?
Xiang: Maybe the competition is different, because last year, I’m the second place after Foresthill and before and behind is very far away from me. So I run very relaxed. But this year, because before and behind is very close, so I must be real fast.
iRunFar: The whole time, and you must be fighting the whole time.
Xiang: Yeah. So I feel, wow, very tired, but I need to work harder.
iRunFar: Would you think of running a few short races to practice the intensity and the battle the whole way?
Xiang: Yeah. My mindset is I need to faster, faster, but my body, actually is slowly.
iRunFar: But the whole race, the entire race, you moved up consistently in the women’s field. Was that your plan or?
Xiang: Oh, it’s not my plan because the beginning I can’t run very fast.
iRunFar: No.
Xiang: So I can’t run the shorter race.
iRunFar: You take time to feel good.
Xiang: Yeah. Yeah.
iRunFar: More and more in the race, you feel better.
Xiang: I think most runner at the first part, the body feel good, so they will run faster. But, my body, wake up will need a long time.
iRunFar: Yeah.
Xiang: So it’s different.
iRunFar: Before the race, you said you like the heat. Was it hot enough for you?
Xiang: Oh. Yeah. It also feels hard. After the river, the uphill is long. So after uphill, I feel very tired.
iRunFar: Yeah.
Xiang: But before, I think it’s not too hard. Why? Maybe it’s the wrong signal. Yeah. Maybe.
iRunFar: So on the climb from the river to Green Gate you felt hot and tired?
Xiang: Yes. And, at Green Gate, I know the second place Ida [Nilsson] is about one minutes before me. So many runners tell me.
iRunFar: Yeah. So then you did run strong to the finish. Did you change something? Did you start to feel better? What changed between Green Gate and the finish?
Xiang: From Green Gate to the finish, actually, I [was] slower than last year.
iRunFar: Yeah?
Xiang: By about 25 minutes.
iRunFar: Wow. But you moved up in the women’s field.
Xiang: Yeah. And of course, everyone also feel very tired.
iRunFar: Yes.
Xiang: So I just hang on.
iRunFar: Hang on. Yeah.
Xiang: Yes. And when we finish, they do the drug test. We saw each other, everyone is very tired, can’t move easy.
iRunFar: Do you think there would be anything you would change or improve if you came to run Western States again?
Xiang: Yes. Of course. Yes. I need a lot more tempo and uphill.
iRunFar: Okay. In training.
Xiang: Yes.
iRunFar: And do you think you will come back to Western States?
Xiang: Of course, I will come back. Yeah.
iRunFar: I have a feeling you want something. You want the winning trophy, yes?
Xiang: Yeah. Everyone else also want to win the race.
iRunFar: Yeah. That’s true.
Xiang: Very difficult.
iRunFar: Yeah. Do you have any other plans for running this season, this year?
Xiang: Oh, I will run UTMB CCC.
iRunFar: The CCC?
Xiang: The CCC.
iRunFar: Yeah.
Xiang: And, before, I will climb the mountain.
iRunFar: Climb a 7,000-meter mountain in China, you were saying, yes?
Xiang: Yes.
iRunFar: In preparation for maybe bigger mountains later?
Xiang: Yeah. Yeah.
iRunFar: So CCC, did you choose that because you don’t need to sleep?
Xiang: Yes. Yes. Because I just need a long day in the daytime. Yes.
iRunFar: So the perfect race for you starts early in the morning and finishes before night.
Xiang: I can have lunch. I want dinner.
iRunFar: You want dinner.
Xiang: Lunch is difficult.
iRunFar: Oh, that’s great. Well, congratulations on another great run.
Xiang: Thank you. Thank you. I’ll see you at UTMB?
iRunFar: Maybe.
iRunFar: One extra question for you. A bonus question. Last year on this bench you said, “Next year we will do the interview in English.” And here you are doing it in English. How did you study and practice?
Xiang: Oh, I always practice, but I didn’t improve a lot.
iRunFar: You did. Yeah. But what changed? Did you did you have a teacher? Did you have a phone app?
Xiang: Oh, I used phone app called Duolingo.
iRunFar: Duolingo.
Xiang: Yeah.
iRunFar: Well, I think it’s very impressive. I mean that back when I started interviewing Kilian Jornet, he had very little English, and it’s an honor for you to be willing to try and have that confidence and braveness. So thank you.
Xiang: Thank you. I’m encouraged.
