Western States 100-Miles Endurance Run

Western States 100: the oldest 100-mile trail race, across the Sierra Nevada

Every early summer, the Western States 100 links Olympic Valley, near Lake Tahoe, to Auburn, California. Born in 1974, when Gordy Ainsleigh covered the route of a horse endurance ride on foot, the Western States Endurance Run is the oldest 100-mile trail race. The course crosses the Sierra Nevada, from snowfields on the high passes to the searing heat of the canyons, then fords the American River before finishing on the Auburn high school track.

A single race and a legend among ultra trail races, it is first won in the lottery, as applicants are so numerous. The belt buckle awarded to finishers has become a coveted symbol for runners worldwide. The Western States course remains one of the great references among races in California.