2011 Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run: Part 1

Imagine running 100 miles. Crazy, yes? That’s a long way to drive a car, let alone run. Extend that thought a little further: imagine running 100 miles on the trails of the Sierra Nevada, on the original trails used by the gold and silver miners of the 1850s. Now give the event a name: the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run.

No, I didn’t run those 100 miles. But I did have the opportunity to experience the 2011 WS100 as a coach and crew member for Josh Kennedy of Huntsville, Alabama.

Preparing for this event – and then running it – is tough. There is no doubt about it. But being a crew member for an athlete participating in any ultra endurance event isn’t an easy task by any stretch of the imagination either.

I have coached Josh through countless events over the past 10 years, including 4 previous one hundred mile races – the Western States 100 in 2002 (29:08), the Pinhoti 100 in 2008 (27:25), and the Arkansas Traveler 100 in 2007 (DNF due to hypothermia) and 2009 (his PR of 21:45). This year’s Western States 100 would be the third consecutive 100 mile event that I have crewed for him.

Crew members are allowed to meet their athletes at any of the designated aid stations that have crew access. Effective crewing benefits from a solid mix of race management skills (guidance with fueling and hydration, and clothing changes), motivational support, physiotherapy (for the potential foot issues an athlete will face) and on-site coaching. As a coach, it gives me the unique opportunity to be a part of the actual race plan as it unfolds. As a physiotherapist, it utilizes my "on-field" triage and taping skills to keep the athlete in the game.

Though the crew is there for the athlete, it is often forgotten that the crew needs to keep itself fueled and hydrated throughout the day as well. The event could last up to the 30 hour cut-off, so you may end up in varying degrees of sleep deprivation!

This year was the 38th running of the WS100 – the longest running ultra in the country. It starts in Squaw Valley at an elevation of 6200 feet and immediately ascends through Emigrant Pass (at 8,750 feet). After 18,090 feet of ascent and 22,970 feet of descent, you end up at Placer High School in Auburn, CA - “The Endurance Capital of the World”. If you finish in under 30 hours, you receive a bronze belt buckle; under 24 hours gets you the coveted silver belt buckle.

Josh already had a bronze belt buckle to his credit from the 2002 event. The goal this year? The silver belt buckle.

In the days leading up to the WS100, you realize that this really is a special event. It’s not just because of the number of miles being run, nor the terrain. The event is really about the people, the spirit, and the vibe. Much like Kona’s relationship with the Ironman triathlon, Auburn has an intimate relationship with the ultrarunning community. No wonder they call it the Endurance Capital of the World. This spirit is perhaps best exemplified by a pre-race event that has become a tradition of the Western States 100. On the Thursday before the event, they have a ceremonial flag raising at Emigrant Pass. Some people hike to the summit; others like myself take the gondola to the top. Welcome to 8200 feet in elevation!

Later that day, we attended a number of brief presentations on crewing the race, course updates, and medical research being performed during the race. On Friday, Josh picked up his registration packet. At that time, he attended weigh-in. This allows the medical staff to assess weight loss (due to dehydration) during the event, as the athletes reach various medical aid stations along the course.

The race meeting prepared us for what to expect on the course on race day. In the week leading up to the race, the course was altered due to snowy conditions this year. The organizers expected that even with the course changes, runners would be faced with 13 to 15 miles of snow on the early sections of the trail. These course changes also necessitated changes to the aid stations, and subsequently to crew access. There are 24 aid stations, with the first crew access at around mile 30. With the changes this year, the first crew access would be at mile 55.7. This would be a pretty significant departure from our original race planning. But one thing you learn with ultras: although you may have a year’s worth of planning, more often than not changes to that plan need to be made on-the-fly. You need to be responsive to the demands and changes that race day holds for both athlete and crew. Josh would put more emphasis on his drop bags in the early part of the race, and I would be providing him with the necessary clothing and such in the latter stages.

Although snow was still prevalent on the upper part of the course, the temperatures were looking to be good for June in California. The highs were expected in the 80s, with lows dipping down into the 50s overnight. An epic day was ahead of us. Game time was soon to be upon us. It was time to see exactly how the plan would play out in the trenches.

In Part 2, Josh hits the trail running … and gliding … and running some more.

Photo credits: abesselink

Video credits: allanbesselink