While I’m in Oz trying to avoid death by dingo (also kangaroo, croc, snake, spider, and koala), one of ultrarunning’s best ambassadors, Kevin Sullivan, has kindly agreed to distract you from worrying about me by sharing his race report from the Western States 100.  I’m posting his epic in four parts–it’s 100 miles, folks: your single marathon race report x 4.

If you’ve been reading Born to Run, a book so good I own 2 copies, you’re familiar with some of ultrarunning’s key players, with Scott Jurek at the head of the table. Jurek is Kevin’s coach, and Kevin is a rising major player himself, finishing second in the Vermont 100 and voted the best debut among ultrarunners by irunfar.com.

Western States, won 7 times by Jurek, is the granddaddy of ultras. In 2008, it was canceled at the last minute due to the California wildfires, leaving the runners chomping at the bit (note the equine foreshadowing) with nowhere to race, Kevin among them. At this year’s race, held on July 27th, Kevin was among the 59% of the 399 starters to finish.

Before the race, Kevin sent an email to his friends that included this description of the event:

Throw all traditional ideas of pacing out the window as you view this.  The races involves 18,000 feet of ascent and 22,000 feet of descent and it is vastly different terrain and altitude over the course (dropping from about 8700 feet to 1200 feet above sea level from beginning to end). The winners will only average 9:30 – 10:00 pace.

The Western States Endurance Run goes from Squaw Valley to Auburn, CA – via the Sierra Nevada mountains.  It is a beautiful run and one of the oldest 100 mile races.  WSER was started as a horse race (in fact, the horse race still occurs every year – luckily, on a different day) – a test of the horses.  Before the foot race was founded, the ultimate founder of WSER began the horse race but stopped when his horse went lame 29 miles into the race  - so, what did he do?  He ran the rest of the way in less than 24 hours – and so the WSER began.

Race Length: 100.2 Miles
Race Course: from Squaw Valley, CA to Auburn, CA (through the Sierra Nevada Mountains).
Total Course Climbing: 18,000 feet
Total Course Descent: 22,000 feet
Start Elevation: 6,250 feet at Squaw Valley, CA
Highest Elevation: Elevation 8,720 feet at Emigrant Gap, CA
Lowest Elevation: Elevation 581 feet at “No Hands Bridge” (American River at Auburn Ravine, Auburn, CA)
Finish Elevation: Elevation 1,280 feet at Placer High School, Auburn, CA
Course Surface: Mountainous trails comprised of soil, gravel and rock fragments; some bedrock; rare pavement.
Temperature Extreme Low: Potentially subfreezing with snow on course at start in Squaw Valley, CA and throughout the Emigrant Gap area.
Temperature Extreme High: Potentially 100-110 F (38-43 C) from mid-course to the finish in Auburn, CA.
Inaugural Race: 1974 (33rd Annual in June 2006)
Current Race Director: Greg Soderlund (wser100@comcast.net)
Entry Requirements: Recognized prior qualifying event (and 8 hrs race-related volunteer work if accepted by lottery)
Race Participant Limit: 370 (there is a lottery for entries who not meet specific qualifications)
Race Start Location: Squaw Valley, CA
Race Cutoff at Finish Line: 30 hours (5:00AM Saturday to 11:00AM Sunday). It is rare for a winner to finish during daylight hours (typical sunrise at about 5:40 a.m. / typical sunset about 8:40 p.m.). Most participants must run through the night.
Race Course records:
15:36:27 (2004) Scott Jurek, Age 30
17:37:51 (1994) Ann Trason, Age 33
Number of Aid stations: 24
Race Averages, 1993 to 2005: 380 runners start; 248 runners (or 65%) finish; 79 runners (or 21%) finish in under 24 hours.