There are no age categories with regards to qualification for the WS Run. Qualifying time applies to all ages, 18 years of age and older.
In completing a qualified event, one of the following minimum times must be met:
- 50 miles in under 11 hours
- 100 kilometers in under 15 hours
- 100-mile trail race within the official cutoff
Western States reserves the right to determine whether or not a race is a qualifying event. Current WS Board policy imposes, but is not limited to, the following restrictions:
- Timed events, 12- or 24-hour events, triathlons and adventure races are not eligible.
- For USA events: Only individually timed 50-mile runs, 100K runs and 100-mile runs can be considered.
- For international events: Some distance exceptions (other than 50m/100k/100m) are allowed. Note: No adjustments or modifications can be made to the qualifying standards to accommodate non-standard distances. For example, the maximum qualifying time for a 55 mile event remains as under 11 hours, the 50-mile maximum.
- Events must have a dedicated website that provides clear access to event location, distances, schedule and results information. Event results must be available in English.
Generally speaking, events that are not (or no longer are) qualifiers either are deemed to be too small or not difficult enough to be a WS qualifier.
Updates to the WS Qualifying Runs List
The WS Qualifying Runs List applies only to the associated year-long qualifying period that opens each November. The revised list for the next following Run is published on this site, generally on the second Saturday in October, one month prior to the start of the new qualifying period.
The RD of any event seeking to be listed for the coming year should contact the WS RD. Requests for addition to the list must be received by Sept. 1. Factual changes to the list, such as a correction to the event’s date or website URL, are welcome anytime.
Runners who wish to have an event added to the list
should contact the RD of that event, NOT the WS RD.
WS does not receive any payment or other benefit in exchange for placing an event on its list of Qualifying Runs.
2013 Qualification Information
The Run is June 29-30, 2013.
Refer to the 2013 WS Qualifying Runs List for the list of approved qualifying events.
All runners registering for the 2013 lottery must complete a qualifying run between Sunday, November 13, 2011 and Sunday, November 11, 2012. Note: A run is considered to be within the qualifying period based solely on its start date. There will be no exceptions to the qualifying window.
All qualifying run results are posted on UltraSignup.com as soon as they are made available. RD’s must in turn post their event results to UltraSignup.com prior to the end of the Application period, November 24, 2012. If you have completed a qualifier, but the results have not been posted within a reasonable length of time, contact the event’s RD. If you do not have your qualifying time on file with UltraSignup by the close of the application period your name will not be entered into the lottery.
Proof of Qualification is established when the applying runner selects their valid qualifier during the 2013 WS online registration process on the UltraSignup site.
“Invites” will be sent to all “automatics.” prior to the lottery.
2013 Service Requirement Information
Eight hours of volunteer work is required from each participant prior to the event. The eight (8) hours of trail work or volunteering at an organized ultra marathon or run must occur between March 1, 2012 and May 15, 2013. The Service Requirement Form(s) must be received by May 15, 2013. There will be no exceptions.
2014 Qualification Information
The Run is June 28-29, 2014.
Refer to the 2014 WS Qualifying Runs List for the list of approved qualifying events.
All runners registering for the 2014 lottery must complete a qualifying run between Monday, November 12, 2012 and Sunday, November 10, 2013. Note: A run is considered to be within the qualifying period based solely on its start date. There will be no exceptions to the qualifying window.
All qualifying run results are posted on UltraSignup.com as soon as they are made available. RD’s must in turn post their event results to UltraSignup.com prior to the end of the Application period, November 23, 2013. If you have completed a qualifier, but the results have not been posted within a reasonable length of time, contact the event’s RD. If you do not have your qualifying time on file with UltraSignup by the close of the application period your name will not be entered into the lottery.
Proof of Qualification is established when the applying runner selects their valid qualifier during the 2014 WS online registration process on the UltraSignup site.
“Invites” will be sent to all “automatics.” prior to the lottery.
2014 Service Requirement Information
Eight hours of volunteer work is required from each participant prior to the event. The eight (8) hours of trail work or volunteering at an organized ultra marathon or run must occur between March 1, 2013 and May 15, 2014. The Service Requirement Form(s) must be received by May 15, 2014. There will be no exceptions.
