This weekend is the Western States Endurance Run. In case you did not know this is the one race that I really hope to someday take part of (and get me a belt buckle). As Boston is to the marathon, as Kona is to the Ironman, Augusta to Golf so is the Western States to Ultra Marathons. It is pretty much the Godfather of Ultras. I know that’s a big claim and I get pretty excited about it..but here is a little history and my predictions.
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In 1955, Wendell T. Robbie started a horse race from the Squaw Valley to Auburn to show you could still cover 100 miles in one day on horseback. This race also was known as the Tevis Cup “100 miles - One Day” Ride.
In 1974, Gordy Ainsleigh joined the horses to see if he could complete the course on foot; 23:42 later he arrived in Auburn and the Western States was born.
1977, 14 runners participated in the first Official Western States Endurance Run and now a few decades later the race is the arguable the Mecca of Ultra Marathons. There is so much demand by runners to challenge the 100 mile course that a lottery system for entrants was established.
2011, one of the deepest most competitive fields in the history of this race is descending on the Squaw Valley. The athletes running this year have won 50mi and 100mi races and many of them have set course records during their wins. Examples are Goeff Roes winning the Western States last year in 15:07 (~9 min miles) or Ian Sharman destroying the field and the course record at the Rocky Raccoon 100 Miler finished in 12:44 (under 8 min miles for 100 miles !!!). These athletes compete at a level that some of us only can dream of on trails where heat, snow, dehydration and wild animals are a constant threat with nothing guaranteed.
Below are my picks in order for both the men and women. It is going to be fun to follow and I expect amazing.
Men
Kilian Jornet
Goeff Roes
Nick Clark
Hal Koerner
Jez Bragg
David Mackey
Ian Sharman
Tsuyoshi Kaburaki
Masters Winner: Tsuyoshi Kaburaki
Women
Ellie Greenwood
Anita Ortiz
Tracy Garneau
Joelle Vaught
Amy Sproston
Aliza Lapierre
Kami Semick
Nikki Kimball
Masters Winner : Meghan Arboghast
In 1955, Wendell T. Robbie started a horse race from the Squaw Valley to Auburn to show you could still cover 100 miles in one day on horseback. This race also was known as the Tevis Cup “100 miles - One Day” Ride.
In 1974, Gordy Ainsleigh joined the horses to see if he could complete the course on foot; 23:42 later he arrived in Auburn and the Western States was born.
1977, 14 runners participated in the first Official Western States Endurance Run and now a few decades later the race is the arguable the Mecca of Ultra Marathons. There is so much demand by runners to challenge the 100 mile course that a lottery system for entrants was established.
2011, one of the deepest most competitive fields in the history of this race is descending on the Squaw Valley. The athletes running this year have won 50mi and 100mi races and many of them have set course records during their wins. Examples are Goeff Roes winning the Western States last year in 15:07 (~9 min miles) or Ian Sharman destroying the field and the course record at the Rocky Raccoon 100 Miler finished in 12:44 (under 8 min miles for 100 miles !!!). These athletes compete at a level that some of us only can dream of on trails where heat, snow, dehydration and wild animals are a constant threat with nothing guaranteed.
Below are my picks in order for both the men and women. It is going to be fun to follow and I expect amazing.
Men
Kilian Jornet
Goeff Roes
Nick Clark
Hal Koerner
Jez Bragg
David Mackey
Ian Sharman
Tsuyoshi Kaburaki
Masters Winner: Tsuyoshi Kaburaki
Women
Ellie Greenwood
Anita Ortiz
Tracy Garneau
Joelle Vaught
Amy Sproston
Aliza Lapierre
Kami Semick
Nikki Kimball
Masters Winner : Meghan Arboghast
1 comment:
Great write up! Agreed on the level of parallels. It is the World Series of Ultras!
Thanks for the post.
Gotta Run
Mike
WhyGuy
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