It’s not a race people use to train or move to something else, it’s the real deal and that intrigues me every year.
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Ian: Western States is a race where people show up from all over the world bringing all of their training and knowledge. Even if I didn’t finish in the top 10 this year but run what I consider to be a good manageable race I will feel accomplished.” Ian said regarding the upcoming endeavors. “The competitive side of me wants to capitalize on these opportunities of course but ultimately I care about running a good race. I sat down and spoke with Ian before his upcoming WS and what he said really showed his passion for the sport and character when it comes to his sportsmanship. Ian completed the race with a time of 16:54:14 making him the fastest decade long Western States competitor ever. This year going into the race, he was on track to do 1,000 Western States miles in under 7 days total run time. The past 9 years consecutively, Ian has been to Western States and placed top 10. Ultra Running Magazine has voted him as high as 2nd in its annual Ultra Runner of the Year rankings. He also holds the fastest time in a trail 100-mile race in the US (12h44m), the record for the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning (69h49m), has won the USATF 100-mile trail championship twice and is the 2013, 2015, 20 Leadville Trail 100 Champion. Ian has won around 50 multi-day races, road marathons, trail ultras and adventure races with experience of running in many mountain ranges, including the Himalayas, Andes, Rockies and European Alps. If you’re not familiar with Ian, he has been racing around the world in all styles of event since 2005 and coaching since 2010, having run around 200 ultras and marathons (PR: 2:21) in every type of weather and on all terrain. Ian Sharman understands the value of making his appearances count. Most runners would bend over backwards for a spot which is why when you have one you make the most of it. On top of that, it is also incredibly difficult to draw out with the lottery pick meaning it is also a very exclusive, competitive, and prestigious race. Western States is the oldest 100 mile trail race in the world. Read iRunFar’s Perspectives From the Western States Trekker Project to get a behind the scenes look into the expedition.Saying the words “Western States” will always show you the trail runner in the room. Led by our Director of Marketing, Richard Bolt, and supported by several prominent ATRA corporate members, the expedition was documented by iRunFar, Scott Yates and experienced trail running race photographer Mike Hermsmeyer. Our expedition took place the week before the 2016 Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run on June 25. In the miles between Olympic Valley and Auburn, runners experience the majestic high country beauty of Emigrant Pass and the Granite Chief Wilderness, the crucible of the canyons of the California gold country, a memorable crossing of the ice-cold waters of the main stem of the Middle Fork of the American River, and, during the latter stages, the historic reddish-brown-colored trails that led gold-seeking prospectors and homesteading pilgrims alike to the welcoming arms of Auburn.Įxplore the entire Western States course with Google Street-view – a project of the American Trail Running Association: Following the historic Western States Trail, runners climb more than 18,000 feet and descend nearly 23,000 feet before they reach the finish line at Placer High School in Auburn.
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Starting in Olympic Valley, California near the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics and ending 100.2 miles later in Auburn, California, Western States, in the decades since its inception in 1974, has come to represent one of the ultimate endurance tests in the world.