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The Western States ® 100-Mile Endurance Run is the world’s oldest 100 mile trail race.

The Western States ® 100-Mile Endurance Run is the world’s oldest 100 mile trail race. The Run starts in Olympic Valley, California, near the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, and ends 100.2 miles later in Auburn, California. In the decades since its inception in 1974, Western States has come to represent one of the ultimate endurance tests in the world.

Traversing the traditional lands of the Nisenan, Washoe, and other neighboring Indigenous Peoples, the Western States Trail climbs more than 18,000 feet and descends nearly 23,000 feet before runners reach the finish at Placer High School in Auburn. In the miles between Olympic Valley and Auburn, runners experience the majestic high country 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 Middle Fork of the American River, and finally the historic reddish brown trails that led many travelers, including gold prospectors, to Auburn.

For five decades, Western States has been home to some of the sport’s most stirring and legendary competitions. With more than 1,500 dedicated volunteers helping to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience, the Run has stirred the spirit of runners from all walks of life, from all over the globe.

Offering the sport’s oldest and most prized possession – a sub-24-hour silver belt buckle and a sub-30-hour bronze belt buckle – Western States remains one of the undisputed crown jewels of human endurance.

October 4, 2024 in General Interest, Race News, WSER Foundation

TOPHER GAYLORD NAMED PRESIDENT OF WESTERN STATES ENDURANCE RUN

Topher Gaylord, a longtime member of the Western States Endurance Run Board of Directors and a leading voice in the sport of ultrarunning, has been elected President of the WSER…
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July 1, 2024 in General Interest, Race News

2024 Race Recap

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: John Trent, WSER Media Relations, press@wser.org SCHIDE AND WALMSLEY’S WINS AT WESTERN STATES ENDURANCE RUN AMONG FASTEST EVER IN EVENT HISTORY AUBURN, Calif. – Katie Schide…
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June 27, 2024 in Race News

Western States and HOKA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WESTERN STATES AND HOKA ANNOUNCE CONTINUATION OF PRESENTING SPONSOR PARTNERSHIP AUBURN, Calif. – The Western States Endurance Run and HOKA have announced the continuation of the presenting…
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June 24, 2024 in General Interest, Race News

2024 WS 100 Media Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: John Trent, WSER Media Relations, press@wser.org COURSE RECORD HOLDER WALMSLEY, 2023 WOMEN’S RUNNER-UP SCHIDE HEADLINE STELLAR WESTERN STATES FIELDS AUBURN, Calif. – Men’s course record holder…
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Granite Chief Wilderness Trail Reroute


Granite Chief Wilderness Trail Reroute Project Receives $800,000 Award Through Great American Outdoors Act.

2024 Volunteer Opportunities

The Western States Endurance Run (WSER) is pleased to announce that the U.S. Forest Service – American River Ranger District (USFS) has secured $800,000 in funding for the Granite Chief Wilderness Trail Reroute Project (Project) through the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA).  The USFS, the Western States Endurance Run Foundation (organizers of the WSER), and the Western States Trail Foundation (organizers of the Tevis Cup Ride), worked together over several years to develop and gain approval of a plan for non-motorized alternative trail access through Granite Chief Wilderness (the Wilderness). Planning activities culminated in a 2019 Decision Memo, issued by the USFS, that formalized the decision to proceed with the Project.