A Brief Intro to the Christmas of Ultrarunning

June 28, 2017

A Brief Intro to the Christmas of Ultrarunning - the 2017 Western States 100

#wser100

It is said that it is always the darkest before the dawn. Few people know that better than an ultrarunner, both in the literal and figurative senses. In the literal sense, many ultrarunners run through the night into dawn, going from sunrise to sunset, through the darkness of the night and into the next morning. But more importantly, all ultrarunners go through their own periods of darkness, when our legs won’t work, our breathing is heavy and we don’t think we can go on. Yet we persist. It is often said, “if you’re feeling terrible, don’t worry, you’ll get over it”. The opposite is also true, “if you’re feeling great, don’t worry, you’ll get over it”. Both sides of that coin were on display this past weekend at the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run.

#statesmas

The 2017 Western States Endurance Run, is the oldest, and most prestigious of events in the sport. The world's first 100 mile run extends from Squaw Valley to Auburn, California over rugged trails in country so remote Nicki Minaj has yet to grind up against it. Yet, it’s as popular as it is remote, with 4,248 entrants for just 369 slots this year. With only 270 slots open to the general public, and a small number of difficult 100k and 100 mile qualifying races, it’s harder to get into Western States than it is to get into listening to Nicki Minaj.

As small as it is compared to the thousands that participate in big city marathons, Western States is still considered the Superbowl of ultrarunning. Nobody uses that term though, perhaps because we’re always out running on Sundays, not watching football on TV. Instead, it’s called “Statesmas” because we know what Christmas is. There's even a song about it.

But more apropos, unlike the Superbowl, Statesmas is not just a spectator sport - it’s about the giving.

#seeyouinsquaw

Giving as a running celebrity. We arrived in Squaw Valley after a long Thursday night drive and spent Friday morning to afternoon seeing the sights and familiar faces. I would often not get more than a few yards walking from one place to another without bumping into a friend or a running celebrity. It’s still a small world, our little ultrarunning community, so it’s not uncommon to see and meet the top runners and other well known people in our circle. Maybe I just happen to have met some of the nicer ones and missed the donkeys, but Walmsley, Kaci, the top male and female runners, and Gunhilld, the oldest female finisher made famous for her 6 second under the wire finish, were all very gracious in posing for pictures with a turtle.

Living legend, Jim Walmsley, Spot, Kim and yours truly

The Pixie Ninja and 2016 Champion, Kaci Lickteig, Spot, and my daughter

The incomparable Gunhild Swanson and Spot

2016 USATF Masters Runner of the Year, Bree Lambert and Spot

At the race briefing, it was announced that Gordy, the race founder and original 100 miler, gave his entry to a runner, John “Fegy” Fegyveresi, who traveled from Vermont on the hopes of getting in from the top of the wait list. Gordy then went on to provide chiropractic care to the runners on the course. How cool is that?

Giving as a volunteer. It takes a small army to run such a large event spread out over half of California. For just 369 runners, there are over 1600 volunteers manning 21 aid stations.

For the third year in a row, I volunteered at the Duncan Canyon aid station with the Quicksilver Running Club. This year, I got to work as sheriff, managing the throngs of crews, friends and families of the runners as they passed through mile 24 - their first chance to see their teams. Like a real sheriff, my job was to mostly stand around looking tough but otherwise, not much. With “Boy Greg” prancing and preening, flouting the laws of nature, there was not much a sheriff with a paper badge and a squirt gun could do. Others prepared food, filled water bottles, iced and cooled runners, or attended to medical issues. The only good thing I did all day was to make special accommodations for eventual winner Ryan Sandes’ crew. I didn’t know who he was, but his name sounded vaguely familiar - he was on irunfar’s preview as an outside top-10 contender. I assumed that he'd be one of the first to come through, which he was. And, no, for the record, the pleading from his beautiful wife in her sultry Australian accent played no part in preferential treatment.

Giving as crew. Being part of a runner's crew at any 100 mile race is an arduous, thankless task but something I'm uniquely trained for as a Marine - hurry up and wait for hours, followed by two minutes of intense activity. Unlike at a shorter race, it's not about being there just to cheer on at the finish, it's about providing material and moral support throughout the race. Western, being remote as it is, requires two crew teams to cover both sides of 24-30 hours and both sides of the canyon. It took us 3 hours to drive from Squaw to Duncan at mile 24 because of the canyons, and 2 hours from there to Foresthill at mile 62. Thankfully it was only a few minutes drive to the finish. Nevermind running 100 miles, I don't even like to drive that far!

CNN story on Bree Lambert

We had the honor this year of crewing for Bree Lambert. We met a few times before the race, both at home and in Squaw Valley and followed Bree from pre-dawn to past midnight. No sleep for the runner, but also no sleep for crew either. No sleep until we get to Auburn!

#nosleeptilauburn

Giving as a runner

Giving excitement
The 2017 race was won by two smart runners who went out aggressive but conservatively, not taking the lead until sometime after Foresthill at mile 62. Both runners were on pre-race radars, but as underground potential threats, not as favorites. Not only did they surprise everyone with wins, but they both look like they just stepped off a movie set. Ryan, by the way, posed nude for Marie Claire - look it up!

In his fifth try, Ryan Sandes won the Western States 100. Here's our post-race chat: https://t.co/LJfTu314dl #WS100 pic.twitter.com/dRa5UTDF73
— iRunFar (@iRunFar) June 26, 2017

Here is Cat Bradley leading earlier at the American River crossing (mile 78). #WS100 pic.twitter.com/PY7Eq5OVHw
— iRunFar (@iRunFar) June 25, 2017

Giving inspiration. "If you’re feeling terrible, don’t worry, you’ll get over it"

The runaway favorite to win the women's race was Kaci Lickteig. At a height of about 4' 15" and 89 pounds, the Pixie Ninja is tougher than most men out there, and she proved it at Western. Although she had a rough day and contemplated dropping out, she hung in there well out of contention but finished anyway in a shade over 24 hours, with the grace of a champion

Most grateful finish I have ever achieved. It took everything I had in my body and when that ran out I had to use my heart.The way the day unfolded was unlike any other. Never did I imagine I would be in that type of situation, yet perseverance and a whole community of people gave me a fighting chance. Western States is a race that means the world to me. It is part of who I am. It didn't matter where I placed, what mattered is that I gave it everything I had to finish. When I didn't believe I could do it, others where there to make me believe in myself...that's what is so special about this finish. Thank you everyone!! This Western States finish is for YOU!! XOXO - Kaci Lickteig

Giving dreams. “If you’re feeling great, don’t worry, you’ll get over it"

Jim Walmsley very nearly ran away from the field and smashed the course record in 2016 before disastrously going off course. This year was different but with similar results. He maintained an hour lead through mile 62, but eventually succumbed to vomiting and stomach issues, a common cause of DNF (did not finish). Although some speculate that a more conservative pace could have secured him a win, the fact that he runs so aggressively, breaking numerous records throughout the year, expanded people's imagination into what was possible in trail running. I personally don't care if he ever wins Western States. Someone who dreams so big and runs so audaciously is amazing to watch.

Giving it all. Finally, there are the runners who gave all they have. In many cases, the day did not go well for them. The early knee deep snow, shoe consuming mud and relentless heat over 100-110 degrees took a toll. These runners don't give up at the first sign of a problem. As ultra runners, they know that there could be light at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately, for a third of the starters in 2017, that light was a train coming right at them.

Our runner, Bree Lambert, sensed early on that the day was not going her way. As for most runners, the early section was challenging for her, yet she was on track, in about 20th place among the women at Duncan Canyon. The afternoon heat braised many runners from there to Dusty Corner. She pressed on for an astonishing 9 more hours(!) through the worst of the canyons and the most difficult of climbs. By the time she arrived at Michigan Bluff at 7:30 PM, she was physically drained and well behind her 24 hour goal. Yet she still pressed on, despite her tiredness and pain, making it to Foresthill. By then, the inevitability of DNF and intense foot pain forced her to drop out of the race. She gave it all. Some days just aren't meant to be.

Similar stories played out for many as they too were forced to drop somewhere along the course, whether at mile 15 or mile 95. A few managed to have enough luck to last 30 hours, like for Karen Bonnet Natraj, who gave it all for 29 hours, 59 minutes and 51 seconds, just a few brief moments before the final bell would toll. The biggest applause is given to the last place finisher, who is not the fastest, but certainly gave it all.