At the end of June each year a group of runners line up in Squaw Valley with the objective of running to Auburn, California, 100 miles away across mountain trails. For most, it is a process of self-discovery to where the limits of your own endurance can be found.
The Western States 100 is the world’s oldest 100-mile trail running race. It is held each June in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, USA, starting in Squaw Valley and finishing in Auburn. There are 18,090ft of cumulative elevation gain even though the finish is lower than the start.
Let’s learn some more about what is known as the grandfather of 100 mile trail running races.
What Is The Western States 100?
The Western States 100 is more formally known as the Western States Endurance Run. This ultramarathon covers a total distance of 100 miles or 161 kilometers and it takes place in California, particularly in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Held in June of each year, the Western States 100 event begins in Squaw Valley and ends in Auburn, California. Last year’s race was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic but this year, the Western States 100 is about to happen this coming June 26 to 27.
Known as the oldest ever 100-mile ultra trail marathon, the Western States 100 surely tests the endurance of many athletes and marathoners every year. It is one of the races under the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning, which include the Leadville Trail 100, Wasatch Front 100, Vermont 100, and Old Dominion 100.
The Course Of The Western States 100
Starting in the Olympic Valley, trail runners will have to overcome rugged terrain, snowy high passes, and warm temperatures all throughout the entire 100-mile course. There will be around 7000 meters of descent and 5500 meters of ascent on the mountainous trails up until the end of the race in Auburn, California.
Bronze belt buckles are given to runners who finish within 30 hours. Meanwhile, silver belt buckles are given to runners who finish within 24 hours.
How It Started
It all started in 1972 when Fort Riley soldiers in Kansas finished on foot the entire course of the renowned Western States Trail Ride. Two years later, Gordy Ansleigh covered the distance in less than 24 hours.
But back then, the distance of the course was only about 90 miles. It was in 1995 when the Western States 100’s course was finalized to be 100 miles. Since then, thousands of runners join the annual holding of the oldest ultra trail marathon.
Significant Milestones
- Two years ago, Jim Walmsley broke his very own record back in 2018 with a finishing time of 14 hours, 9 minutes, and 28 seconds.
- Andrew Miller, the winner in 2016, is the youngest male winner of the race.
- Ellie Greenwood, the winner in 2012, finished at 16 hours, 47 minutes, and 19 seconds and broke the record of Ann Trason back in 1994.
- Back in 2008, the Western States 100 was canceled because a number of wildfires had resulted in smoke and poor air quality.
- The female finisher who won the Western States 100 race fourteen times is Ann Trason.
- In 2005, Scott Jurek took his seventh successive win in the race.
- A California ultramarathoner named Tim Twietmeyer won five times in the Western States 100 and joined the race 25 times with finishing times of less than 24 hours.
- Fabled mountain runner Kilian Jornet won the Western States in 2011 with a time of 15 hours, 34 minutes and was quoted as saying that he would not return as the race wasn’t hilly enough for his liking.
Recent Winners Of The Western States 100
Here are the recent female winners of the Western States Endurance Run:
- Clare Gallagher – finished the Western States 100 in just 17 hours and 23 minutes in 2019. She is from the US.
- Courtney Dauwalter – finished the race at 17 hours and 27 minutes back in 2018. She is from the US.
- Cat Bradley – completed with event at 19 hours and 31 minutes in 2017. She is from the US.
- Kaci Lickteig – finished the Western States 100 in just 17 hours and 57 minutes in 2016. She is from the US.
- Magdalena Boulet – finished the race at 19 hours and 5 minutes in back 2015. She is also from the US.
Meanwhile, here are the recent male winners of the said event:
- Jim Walmsley – won the Western States 100 with a time of 14 hours and 9 minutes in 2019. He is from the US.
- Jim Walmsley – finished the race at 14 hours and 30 minutes in 2018. This was his first win. In 2016 Walmsley famously took a wrong turn while in the lead, costing him the win and course record.
- Ryan Sandes – accomplished the event at 16 hours and 19 minutes in 2017. He is from South Africa.
- Andrew Miller – completed the Western States Endurance Run in just 15 hours and 39 minutes back in 2016. He is from the US. Miller had been chasing Walmsley for the lead when the latter took his famous wrong turn at mile 90. This allowed Miller and others to pass Walmsley, costing him the course record and a top 10 finish. That wrong turn proved a pivotal Walmsley’s career.
- Rob Krar – won the ultra trail marathon with a time of 14 hours and 48 minutes back in 2015. He is Canadian.