Western States Endurance Run Canceled
If you show some interest in the strange world of ultra running, then you probably spent last week in shock.
The Western States Endurance Run from Squaw Valley to Auburn is not just any 100-mile race. It is the 100-mile race. It is the first foot race of that distance to have been held, and it has been going strong for 35 years. Even though plenty of people have difficulties believing that you could find more than 3 people willing to sign up for this kind of race, the truth is that this particular race is vastly oversubscribed. Runners have to go through a lottery process in order to be accepted for the entry list. For this year’s race, the chances of being accepted were no higher than 16 percent, and the just under 400 runners chosen counted themselves as the lucky ones.
It goes without saying that 100-mile races are gruelling. It takes months to prepare your body and mind for that kind of challenge, and it will take over your life.
So, when the announcement came on Wednesday, just 3 days before the start, that the race had been cancelled, it sent shockwaves through the ultra running community.
The decision had not been taken lightly. The race committee consists of experienced and passionate ultra runners, and if they felt there was a realistic option of staging the race, they would have gone ahead with it. However, the fires in California have made this impossible. The current air quality near the course is so bad that people are discouraged from even mowing their own lawns, never mind running 100 miles. At one place, the fires are so close to the course that the possibility of trapping runners could not be entirely ruled out and of course, the roads are needed for the fire crews—having hundreds of vehicles for the race on those narrow roads would have massively hindered their efforts.
I know several people who were signed up for the race, have trained for months, have spent a lot of money on air fares and accommodation, and are now faced with the fact that the race will not take place. I can only imagine how incredibly frustrating this must be, though I wholeheartedly support the decision of the race committee to cancel the race when they cannot guarantee the safety of runners or their support crews. Nobody wants to be responsible for the loss of life.
The ultra running scene will recover from the knock, I have no doubts about it.
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It was a tough decision, but all the runners that I spoke with that were going to compete said that it was the right choice. It’s pretty bad out there right now.
Blaine Moore (Run to Win)’s last blog post..The Hundred Pushups Craze
I don’t like the tone of this article. It’s obvious the author is not an ultrarunner, but instead of calling us strange, he could write with a respectful tone, and admire us for our strong dedication!
Cherie, you could not be more wrong.
Firstly, I am an ultrarunner and very interested in the sport, and secondly I did not call the runners strange. I said the world of ultrarunning is a strange one, and I’m pretty sure the majority of ultrarunners would agree.
On the other hand, if you want my admiration, start by being less touchy.
Thomas’s last blog post..The Aftermath
I’ll admit, not only is the world of ultra running a strange one, but most of the ultra runners that I know are pretty strange too. Not that that there is anything wrong with that.
(For the record, I’ve only dabbled up to the 50k distance so I can’t call myself an ultra runner, but I train regularly with 50 and 100 milers – one of whom does them in vibram five fingers.)
Blaine Moore (Run to Win)’s last blog post..The Hundred Pushups Craze
Anyone who lives (and runs) here will tell you that it’s like running with a weight on your chest. Horrid. Good decision to cancel.
Gymnotes’s last blog post..Topics: Discuss
No problem with calling the run … never mind it was fine in Tahoe and we hit the rim trail for 24+ race day …. maybe it was bad along the trail.
And I know there are some serious costs involved in the race, pre race.
but keeping the entire race fee? the whole 300 bucks?
really?
No half entry fee for next year?
None?
I know this is a for profit race. And this is unfair. If you don’t refund some of the money, how about a major, as in half of the race fees collected, donation to the fire effort?
realy.
Chase’s last blog post..How the West Was(n’t) Run …