Race day continues to approach, coming at us in 43 days. I hope your training is going well and you’re feeling good about running from Squaw Valley to Auburn on June 29. I know anticipation may be high for you whether this is your first or 51st 100 miler. There are a lot of things for you to absorb so hopefully this update #3 will provide you with some information that is helpful and will ease some of the anxiousness.

The starter database is complete, bib numbers have been assigned, and the count stands at 411. If for whatever reason, you decide not to start the race, please let me know.

Medical

For going on 40 years, Western States has set the standard for medical care of its runners. We are very proud of our medical infrastructure. In addition to the start and finish there are ten medical checkpoints along the way. These are staffed with doctors, paramedics, nurses, etc. They are there to help you get to the finish. Your weight, pulse and blood pressure will be taken pre-race on Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and recorded on your wristband. When you get to one of the medical checkpoints, your weight will be taken. Recent research suggests that modest 3-5% weight loss during prolonged exercise is required for maintenance of appropriate hydration. Excessive weight loss suggests dehydration. Weight gain suggests fluid retention and in some cases may be associated with a serious medical condition (hyponatremia). How the runner feels and looks and his or her mental status is more important to the medical staff than a number on a scale.

Be sure to read the Medical and Other Risks from the WSER website. It has been updated to reflect the most recent research.

Race Week

There are lots of pre-race activities up at Squaw Valley. In addition to the regular WS sponsored clinics and activities, there is the Montrail 6K Uphill Challenge on Friday at 10:00 a.m. This is the second year for this event and if last year is any indication it will be popular again. No entry fee.

On Thursday evening after the WS Veteran’s Panel Discussion, the Squaw Valley Institute is presenting a talk by Diane Van Deren who, after a lobectomy in 1997 to stave off epileptic seizures, was left without the ability to understand the passage of time. Diane’s story is one of overcoming challenges that most ultra runners would have difficulty even imagining. This talk costs $10 with the proceeds going to the non-profit Squaw Valley Institute. You can purchase tickets online from Squaw Valley Institute at the link above or buy them at the door.

In addition, two-time Western States 100 women’s champion, women’s course record holder and Montrail athlete Ellie Greenwood will be signing posters at Alpenglow sports (415 North Lake Blvd) from 2-3 p.m. followed by a fun run and Montrail Shoe Demos from 3-6 p.m.

Race Day Webcast

Once again we will have close to real-time updates on race day via ultralive.net so your fans, family and friends can follow your progress. Webcast features include:

• New look for webcast
• Runners and general spectators can sign up for email/sms updates
• Runners can activate Facebook wall posts of their splits if they want to
• Runners can activate Twitter updates of splits

These features will be available the first week of June. Check the wser.org site for any news/updates for the live webcast.

WS Store

The WS online store is open for business under new management by Fleet Feet Sacramento. Look for many new items to become available in the next weeks. In addition to the online store, the store will be physically open at the Memorial Weekend training runs and up at Squaw Valley.

Montrail Ultra Cup

Western States is the final Montrail Ultra Cup event and the competition is heating up! Check the website for standings through Leona Divide. Standings after Ice Age will be updated in a week, so check back then if you made it over to Ice Age. Keep in the loop by following Montrail on Facebook and reading the blog.

Enjoy the last month or so of training. We’ll see many of you Memorial Day weekend.

Craig Thornley, Race Director

18. The Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run is committed to keeping ultrarunning a clean, drug-free sport. Use of performance enhancing drugs or blood doping as defined by the USADA is forbidden. The Western States board reserves the right to disqualify a runner based on competent evidence of such use.

Want to know how you can help advance science this year at the WSER?

We have several studies again this year, and we need your help for these to succeed. Please read the information below so you are aware of the studies and opportunities to help advance science. Note that we would like to recruit study participants in advance of registration for Studies 1 and 4, so please contact the investigators if you are interested in participating in those studies.

Marty Hoffman, MD

WSER Research Director

Study 1. Investigation into the cause of ultramarathoner’s eye (The ultra-eye study) 

Have you ever experienced visual problems during an ultramarathon? The Ultra-Eye Study is directed at determining the underlying cause of these problems. If you have had visual problems during an ultramarathon, please take a short survey at the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Ultraeye

You may participate in additional studies during the Run whether you’ve had visual problems during an ultramarathon or not. But, we are especially interested in getting those with prior vision problems to participate.

If you agree to participate, you will undergo a short (approximately 10 minute) series of eye tests once during the couple days before the Run, and then again shortly after finishing the Run. If you have abnormal findings after the Run, you will be asked to return for repeat tests until the abnormal findings resolve.

The study is under the direction of Dr. Marty Hoffman. Please contact him prior to the Run to participate in the study at (916) 843-9027 or martin.hoffman@va.gov.

Study 2. Gastrointestinal distress in runners participating in the 100-mile Western States Endurance Run

Gastrointestinal (GI) distress is a common problem in ultrarunning. In 100-mile ultramarathons, GI symptoms are the primary reason for dropping out among non-finishers and are the second most common problem impacting race performance among finishers.

At this year’s race, we are doing a study to investigate the frequency and causes of GI symptoms. The more participants we have, the better. In fact, it will be ideal if every WSER runner participates in the study.

Participation includes simply completing a short, on-line, post-race questionnaire. You will receive an e-mail after the race with a link to the questionnaire. It will ask you to provide information about your GI symptoms during this and prior races.

If you have any questions about this study, please contact Dr. Kristin Stuempfle (kstuempf@gettysburg.edu or 717-337-6448) or Dr. Marty Hoffman (martin.hoffman@va.gov or 916-843-9027).

Study 3. The impact of training longevity, gender and age on the 12-lead ECG of the veteran ultra-endurance athlete: An aid for pre-participation screening

The 12-lead ECG is a quick diagnostic test that provides us with important information related to the health of your heart and is used routinely for pre-participation heart screening in young athletes.

At this year’s race (24-48 hours prior to the race) we will be undertaking a study to establish the normal 12-lead ECG criteria for the veteran endurance athlete. The ECG will take 5 minutes while you will be asked to complete a short questionnaire as well as having your height, weight and blood pressure taken. If considered appropriate (usually 10% of the screening population), we may invite you for an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) to improve the sensitivity of the screening – this will take an additional 20 minutes.

So if you are over 35 years old and want to know more about the health of your heart please volunteer for this study – the more participants we have the better. We can be found in the registration area on the Thursday and Friday before the race.

The study is under the direction of Dr. David Oxborough. If you require more detailed information or wish to participate in the study please contact him prior to the Run at d.l.oxborough@ljmu.ac.uk.

Study 4. The impact of completing the Western States 100 mile Endurance Run on right ventricular function: A focused study on athletes completing in less than 24 hours

In 2011, we published data from the WSER highlighting a possible negative impact on the right side of the heart following completion of the race. This appeared to be in runners who completed the race in the quickest finishing time and therefore in order to build on the success of that study, we are proposing to repeat the study in runners who complete the race in less than 24 hours.

You will be required to have a 12-lead ECG and echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart), have your blood pressure taken and height and weight recorded 24-48 hours prior to the race, within 1 hour of completing the race and at around 6 hours into recovery. Each testing point will take approximately 20-30 minutes.

If you are interesting in learning about the health of your heart and the cardiac impact of completing the WSER, please volunteer for this study. We are looking for approximately 20 participants. Please contact the study director, Dr. David Oxborough (d.l.oxborough@ljmu.ac.uk), prior to the Run to participate or to get further details about the study.

Study 5. Injury pattern among 100-mile ultramarathon runners

Our knowledge and understanding of common injuries and illnesses during ultramarathon training is limited.

At this year’s race, we are doing a study to investigate the frequency and causes of common injuries and illnesses during training. We are hoping to get every WSER runner to participate in this study. This is a multi-center study involving at least one additional ultramarathon.

Participation includes simply completing an on-line pre-race questionnaire which should take only 10 minutes to complete. You will be asked to provide information about your training pattern, and injuries and illnesses encountered during training and prior races. You will be notified by email of the link to the questionnaire about 2 weeks before the Run.

If you have any questions about this study, please contact Dr. Morteza Khodaee (Morteza.khodaee@ucdenver.edu or 720-848-9056) or Dr. Marty Hoffman (martin.hoffman@va.gov or 916-843-9027).

Study 6. The relationship of foot strike pattern, stride parameters, and creatine phosphokinase during a 161-kilometer ultramarathon

You’re most likely aware of discussion about barefoot/minimalist shoe running and foot strike pattern.  We examined foot strike pattern at the 2012 WSER and had some fascinating findings. We will continue this work by capturing video at several locations during the 2013 Run. You need not do anything special to participate in this study other than run single file through our filming zones. Since we will be relating foot strike pattern with blood CPK concentration, we also encourage everyone to take advantage of the opportunity to have your blood work done immediately after finishing.

The study is under the direction of Dr. Marty Hoffman. Please contact him at (916) 843-9027 or martin.hoffman@va.gov is you have any questions.

During the past several weeks representatives from the Western States Trail Foundation and the Western States 100-Mile Run Foundation have met regarding the future of the Western States Trail.  Both organizations have agreed to allocate resources to work together in maintaining the trail, in preserving its historic nature and in ensuring its accessibility to the public.  Our long-term goal is to develop a collaborative, strategic vision for future efforts between our organizations in all of these key areas.  Both organizations will do this while working in collaboration and cooperation with the private land owners and other interested organizations and foundations as well as local, state and federal agencies that are charged with managing this precious resource.

We plan regularly updating all Western States stakeholders on our progress in this joint trail agreement.

Sincerely,

Kathie D. Perry
President
Western States Trail Foundation

John Trent
President
Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run Foundation

Thanks,

Donn Zea

WS Trail Boss