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Craig

Craig
In General Interest, WSER Foundation

Diana Fitzpatrick Honored With Little Cougar

Diana Fitzpatrick, a longtime Western States Endurance Run (WSER) board member whose tenure as the organization’s president was one of historic achievement for the organization, has been named a recipient of the prestigious “Little Cougar” award, WSER President Topher Gaylord announced.

The Little Cougar is awarded to individuals who have served the Western States Endurance Run organization through the years in extraordinarily significant ways. The Little Cougar is considered the pinnacle of all WSER awards and is not awarded annually. The most recent recipient of the Little Cougar was Ted Knudsen in 2019.

“Diana’s contributions to the Western States Endurance Run are among some of the most significant accomplishments WSER has ever seen,” Gaylord said. “Our organization has always been powered by the belief that no one single individual is greater than the whole, or is solely responsible for our successes. There are, however, individuals that exemplify leadership, teamwork, and organization stewardship who are so extraordinary in all of these areas that they are deserving of individual recognition. This is what Diana Fitzpatrick has meant to WSER. She has exemplified in her years with Western States as a runner, volunteer, pacer, crew member, board member, executive committee member and president the most worthy characteristics of a Little Cougar Award recipient.

“It is no stretch to say that Diana is a person whose involvement has made Western States better in every way.”

Fitzpatrick, who already had served as an aid station and trail work volunteer and had run Western States as a top over-40 runner, joined the Western States board in 2012. She was elected president of the organization in 2019 – becoming the first woman to ever be selected president of WSER – and served as WSER’s president until 2024.

Fitzpatrick’s presidency saw Western States successfully navigate several challenges, most notably the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 as well as 2022’s devastating Mosquito Fire which destroyed several key areas of the Western States Trail and devastated some Gold Country communities, including Michigan Bluff.

“Throughout those difficult times, Diana was always steadfast in her ability to keep our organization focused on the runner experience, which is so central to everything we do at Western States,” Race Director Craig Thornley said. “She made sure the trail team was given the space and the support to do what it needed to do to bring the trail back in time for our event. As a leader, she never lost sight of how valuable our run, the trail we steward, and the volunteers who are giving their hearts and souls to our run, are in connecting communities of people for the common good.”

Gaylord said Fitzpatrick’s achievements speak to an abiding “100-mile mindset” that views Western States as having important tasks of the moment but also in “multi-year” segments that connects the organizations mission, vision and ideals with the future.

“She has always shown unwavering perseverance, particularly during those times when we face extremely complicated our multi-faceted issues,” Gaylord said.

As president, Fitzpatrick led Western States through a time of historic achievement, including:

  • Championing the organization’s ongoing Granite Chief Wilderness Reroute Project, and in leading the efforts to raise private donor grant funding to further the project;
  • Leading the organization through a period of governance realignment that included updates and the modernization of board bylaws, mission, vision, and values documents and overall board structure, as well as legal compliance in all aspects of run and board operations;
  • Ensuring that the run has continued access to key portions of the Western States Trail, including the area in and around Foresthill, working tirelessly with key stakeholders through ongoing communication and collaboration;
  • Formulating the composition and goals for key committees that have in turn developed new sponsorship agreements for the run, as well as the production of a Live Broadcast which has quickly become one of the best in the world. Her involvement on the WSER Community and Belonging Committee has led the organization to welcome runners of all backgrounds and abilities, including building a stronger relationship and acknowledgment of the Native American communities whose ancestral connection with the WS Trail goes back thousands of years. Fitzpatrick’s work was also central to the adoption of WSER’s drug testing policy and protocol, pregnancy deferral policy, and transgender athlete policy.
  • Participating in numerous volunteer opportunities throughout the year, including aid station work, and serving as a swamper and cross cutter at trail work weekends.

“Diana has always walked the talk when it comes to everything she has done with Western States,” Gaylord said. “Her attention to detail, commitment to always showing up, and relentless desire to see projects through to the end have been impressive and have helped transform the organization.”

Fitzpatrick, who is a five-time WSER finisher (all under 24 hours) and remains the only over-60 female runner to ever break 24 hours at Western States, remains on the WSER board and is still actively involved.

“Diana has been a mentor to the next generation on how to cultivate that spirit of giving back,” Gaylord said.

Craig
In General Interest, Research, WSER Foundation

Hew-Butler Named WSER Medical Research Director

Dr. Tamara “Tami” Hew-Butler has been named Medical Research Director for the Western States Endurance Run, WSER President Topher Gaylord announced.

Hew-Butler succeeds Dr. Emily Kraus and Dr. Megan Roche, who had served as Co-Medical Research Directors for WSER since 2022.

“Tami brings an impressive array of professional achievement as a clinician and scientist, having been published extensively  in some of the world’s most important exercise science journals,” Gaylord said, noting that Hew-Butler was the lead author and organizer of three International Exercise-Associated Hyponatremia Consensus Guidelines and previously was awarded two WSER research grants, as Principal Investigator/PI, which in turn generated 18 scientific publications. “Tami knows our race intimately, having been a leader in several research studies at our run, as well as lending her expertise as part of our medical team in years past.

“Medical research has always been one of our foundational pillars at WSER. We feel that Tami will help elevate the awareness, application and understanding of the medical research that is conducted every year at our run.

“On behalf of our board, I wish to thank Emily and Megan for their tremendous service over the past three years. Both Emily and Megan are unwavering proponents of the value of science-based inquiry for endurance sports. Their work represented a highly productive and memorable chapter in our medical research story.”

“I am beyond grateful and honored to continue WSER’s scientific legacy of cutting-edge medical research aimed at improving the health, safety and performance of ultramarathon runners across the globe,” Hew-Butler said. “I believe that WSER is THE greatest field laboratory in the world, and look forward to working closely with the WSER Board, Medical Team, and running community at-large to expand WSER’s scientific collaborations, funding network, and dissemination of evidenced-based information which best serves the growth and safety of our sport.”

Added WSER Medical Director Andy Pasternak: “What became obvious during our search for a new medical research director was how incredibly well-rounded Tami is. She is an excellent communicator, and has an impressive track record of involvement with WSER medical research projects. She has made it very clear that her goals are to ensure that every WSER medical research project should in some way enhance the experience of runners at WSER as well as the ultrarunning community at large.

“In addition to being a highly organized and strategic thinker, Tami is very much a ‘hands-on,’ type of leader who over the years has contributed in numerous ways to WSER. Our search committee as well as the WSER board were deeply impressed with how Tami was able to communicate that the timeless human qualities that help a person run 100 miles will be at the core of her vision for our medical research effort.”

Hew-Butler, who is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine, is a recently retired Associate Professor at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. Previously, she was an Associate Professor at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, as well as a Research Assistant Professor at Arizona State University. She received her Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from Temple University, and has been a clinician for more than three decades. She received her Ph.D. in exercise science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa.

For more than 40 years, medical research activity has played an important role at the Western States Endurance Run. WSER’s late Medical Director Dr. Robert Lind welcomed and encouraged researchers from throughout the country and the world to come to WSER and study its runners. One of the earliest studies that established the connection between the body’s release of endorphins and physical activity was conducted at WSER in 1981 by Dr. Walter Bortz of Stanford University. Since 2006, nearly 100 research publications or abstracts in human performance have been produced by researchers from throughout the world based on studies conducted on WSER runners.

Craig
In Race News

2025 Race Recap

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: John Trent, WSER Media Relations, press@wser.org

HOT DAY, HOT FINISHES: OLSON AND HALL CAPTURE MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TITLES AT 52ND WSER

AUBURN, Calif. – On a day where the high temperature on the course reached 99 degrees at one point, men’s champion Caleb Olson and women’s champion Abby Hall posted two of the fastest winning times in race history during the Western 52nd annual Western States Endurance Run, held June 28-29.

Olson, 29, of Draper, Utah, outdueled one of the deepest men’s fields ever assembled at Western States and came very close to establishing a course record in winning in 14 hours and 11 minutes and 25 seconds. Olson was less than two minutes off Jim Walmsley’s 2019 course record of 14:09:28. Chris Myers, 29, of Nederland, Colorado, finished second in 14:17 – the fourth-fastest time in race history. One of the sport’s most legendary and enduring figures, 2011 WSER champion Kilian Jornet, a 37-year-old who lives in Norway but is originally from Spain, finished third in 14:19 – the fifth-fastest time ever, making this year the fastest podium in Western States history.


“It’s pretty unbelievable,” said Olson, who in addition to becoming the first Utah runner to ever win the race was joined at the finish on the Placer High track in Auburn, California, by his wife Morgan and the couple’s seven-week-old newborn, Marshall. “I was not sure how the day would go and I set a really high goal for myself and I thought, ‘It’s probably going to take a course record to win today and if I’m going to go for a course record, sub-14 would be pretty cool.’

“And I held that up until mile 80. I was upon on those (course record) splits. And then I started paying for it. Turns out sub-14 is really fast. Jim’s record is really fast … Eventually, I saw it probably wasn’t going to happen and I’d rather have a nice, enjoyable experience running it in.”

Hall, 34, of Flagstaff, Arizona, capped an incredible comeback story after sustaining a serious knee injury in 2023 to post the fourth-fastest women’s time ever winning in 16:37. Hall only learned she had gained entry into the race in late April. That was when EmKay Sullivan, a Reno, Nevada runner who had finished ahead of Hall in a Golden Ticket race series event earlier in the year, announced that she would use WSER’s pregnancy deferral option. Fuzhao Xiang, 33, of China, finished second in 16:47 (the seventh-fastest time in history) with Canada’s Marianne Hogan, 35, finishing third in 16:50.

“The quote I kept repeating to myself and thinking of this whole week was something like what’s for you, will find you,” Hall said. “I have really felt like I was meant to be here. I pushed through two hard Golden Ticket events and I just felt so fortunate at the way it worked out with the ticket roll down. It’s really surreal.”

Hall either led or was right at the front of the women’s race almost from the very beginning on Saturday. She took the lead for good at Michigan Bluff at mile 55.7 and extended her advantage to 10 minutes at the Foresthill aid station at mile 62. Olson was part of a tightly bunched men’s field that by the El Dorado Creek aid station at mile 52.9 had dwindled to Olson and Myers. Olson began a steady surge that saw his lead grow to seven minutes at the Rucky Chucky river crossing aid station at mile 78.

Saturday’s run was held under sunny skies and on a course with no snow, traveling from the start at Olympic Valley, California to the finish 100.2 miles later at Placer High School in Auburn, California. 285 of the run’s 369 starters finished, including 72-year-old Jan Vleck, a retired family medicine doctor from Olympia, Washington. Vleck, who ran 29:02, became the second-oldest finisher in race history, behind only Nick Bassett, who was 73 when he finished Western States in 2018. Vleck was a part of an historic group of over-70 runners – there were five male entrants in the 70 to 79 age group and one 80-year-old, Bassett – who were entered in 2025, the most over-70 runners in race history. Vleck was the only one of the group to finish. Lesley Dellamonica, 60, of Truckee, California, was the oldest female finisher and won the 60 to 69 women’s age group in 27:36. Western States continued its worldwide surge in popularity, with more than 30 foreign countries represented with an audience of 1.2 million people throughout its 31-hour Live Broadcast. Only 64 of this year’s runners had ever competed in Western States before; 305 were first-time entrants.

ABOUT WESTERN STATES: First held in 1974, the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run has a 369-runner field from throughout the United States and more than 30 countries. Western States is considered one of the world’s preeminent 100-mile trail races. Its mission is to stage a transformational and quality world-class event for its runners, as well as perform trail stewardship and conduct medical research studies for the betterment of the sport. Held on the last full weekend in June starting in Olympic Valley, California, the 100.2-mile event travels through the Sierra high country and the canyons of the American River on the ancestral lands of the Washoe and Nisenan tribes, before finishing at Placer High School in Auburn, California.

# # #

Craig
In General Interest, Race News

2025 WS 100 Media Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: John Trent, WSER Media Relations, press@wser.org

WITH TWO OF THE DEEPEST AND MOST COMPETITIVE FIELDS EVER, 2025 WSER IS ‘WIDE OPEN’

AUBURN, Calif. – Two of the deepest and most competitive fields ever assembled at the Western States Endurance Run will vie for victory during the 52nd annual event on Saturday, June 28. Western States starts at 5 a.m. at Palisades Tahoe Resort, at Olympic Valley, California. The world’s oldest trail 100 miler finishes on the Placer High School track in Auburn, California.

The women’s race features three of the top of four finishers from 2024’s race, which was the fastest in race history – Fuzhao Xiang of China (who ran the third-fastest time in race history behind 2024 champion Katie Schide in 16 hours and 20 minutes); Eszter Csillag, a native of Hungary living in Hong Kong (third in 16:42, the fourth-fastest time in race history); and Emily Hawgood of Beatrice, Zimbabwe, who spends much of the year living and training in the Auburn, California area (fourth in 16:48, the seventh-fastest time in race history).

The men’s race returns Rod Farvard of Mammoth Lakes, California, whose scintillating duel for more than 80 miles with 2024 champion Jim Walmsley culminated with a second-place finish in the third-fastest time in race history in 14:24, as well as fourth-place finisher Daniel Jones of Wellington, New Zealand, who ran the seventh-fastest time in race history in 14:32, and fifth-place finisher Caleb Olsen of Draper, Utah, who recorded the eighth-fastest time in race history in 14:40. Also entered are 2011 WSER champion Kilian Jornet, a native of Spain living in Norway who is generally considered to be the greatest male trail runner of all-time. Jornet will be making his first WSER appearance since his third-place finish in the legendary “Unbreakable WSER of 2010 and his victory in 2011. 2023 men’s champion Adam Peterman of Missoula, Montana, is also entered.

“When you factor in the HOKA Golden Ticket entrants (elite runners who have earned “Golden Tickets” and entry into Western States during a series of six highly competitive races in the United States and Europe), as well as the runners we have coming back in both our women’s and men’s races, this is easily one of the deepest and most competitive fields we’ve ever had,” Race Director Craig Thornley said. “Both races have so many great talents entered it’s very difficult to pick a favorite. They’re both wide open in the sense that anything can happen, and probably will, on race day. We’re excited to see how this year’s run will play out.”

In addition to the elite competitors, this year’s 369-runner field includes runners from throughout the United States and more than 30 countries. WSER’s entrants will vie for a sterling silver belt buckle for a sub-24-hour finish or a bronze belt buckle for a finish under the run’s 30-hour absolute cutoff. An added wrinkle in this year’s race is the presence of five competitors who are in the 70 to 79 age group and one who is 80 years old – the most over-70 runners ever to compete at Western States. The group includes Jan Vleck, 72, of Olympia, Washington; Michel Poletti, 70, of Chamonix, France; Ed Willson, 71, of Eugene, Oregon; Jim Howard, 70, of Applegate, California; Michael Koppy, 74, of Duluth, Minnesota. 80-year-old Nick Bassett, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, who is the race’s oldest finisher ever from his 2018 finish at age 73, is also entered. The oldest female entrant in this year’s run is Diane Grim, 65, of Boyertown, Pennsylvania.

Also attempting to make history is Adam Popp, 46, of Lafayette, Colorado. Popp, who lost his right leg as he was working to disarm a roadside bomb while serving in the military in Afghanistan in 2007, will attempt to become the first above-knee amputee to finish the race.

Western States traverses the high country of the historic Western States Trail through the Granite Chief Wilderness, then plunges into the deep canyons of the American River drainage. The runners pass through the sites of old mining settlements such as Last Chance, Deadwood and Michigan Bluff, making technical and challenging ascents and descents of more than 2,000 feet, before crossing the Middle Fork of the American River at mile 78 at the Rucky Chucky River Crossing aid station. From there, they make a final push to the finish line at Placer High.

The 2025 WSER will be streamed live on YouTube. Commentators Dylan Bowman and Corrine Malcolm will kick off the live broadcast at 4:15 a.m. on Saturday, June 28. The broadcast will continue through the entirety of the event and will conclude at 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 29. Watch it at https://www.youtube.com/WSER100.

ABOUT WESTERN STATES: First held in 1974, the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run has a 369-runner field from throughout the United States and more than 30 countries. Western States is considered one of the world’s preeminent 100-mile trail races. Its mission is to stage a transformational and quality world-class event for its runners, as well as perform trail stewardship and conduct medical research studies for the betterment of the sport. Held on the last full weekend in June starting in Olympic Valley, California, the 100.2-mile event travels through the Sierra high country and the canyons of the American River on the ancestral lands of the Washoe and Nisenan tribes, before finishing at Placer High School in Auburn, California.

# # #

Craig
In General Interest, Race News

GU ENERGY EXTENDS WESTERN STATES SPONSORSHIP TO 2029

BERKELEY, CA – June 23, 2025 — GU Energy Labs, a leader in performance sports nutrition, is proud to announce the extension of its sponsorship of the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run (WSER) through 2029. This renewed commitment deepens GU’s longstanding partnership with the world’s oldest 100-mile trail race and reinforces both organizations’ shared dedication to endurance athletes, community building, and increasing representation in ultra running.

As official performance nutrition sponsor, GU provides full on-course nutrition support for the Western States Memorial Day Weekend Training Camp and race, as well as athlete education and training initiatives in the lead-up to race day. In alignment with its core values, the brand’s investment in increasing diverse representation is just as central to the partnership.

“GU Energy Labs has always set an incredible standard in enhancing and expanding the limits of human performance, and equally importantly, in building the human relationships that lead to a stronger sense of community and of belonging, said WSER President Topher Gaylord. “These are core organizational values that we have always felt are in perfect alignment with WSER’s vision and values. WSER and GU Energy Labs will continue to be focused on bringing the community of ultra runners closer together through this shared vision of the future. We are absolutely thrilled about this continuation of our longtime partnership with GU Energy Labs.”

Since 2022, GU has worked closely with the WSER board to provide race entries for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) runners – eight total to-date, including four in kinship with the Indigenous-led organization Rising Hearts. With the renewed sponsorship agreement, GU extends its financial and logistical support for these entries, ensuring trail running becomes more reflective of the broader running community.

“Western States is more than just a race—it’s a powerful platform for change,” said Amy Cameron, VP of Marketing at GU Energy Labs. “We’re proud to support athletes from all backgrounds taking their place on the start line. By extending our sponsorship through 2029, we’re making a long-term commitment fueling every runner’s journey to the finish line and to building a trail community that welcomes everyone.”

The 2025 Western States 100 kicks off on June 28 in Olympic Valley, California, where over 300 athletes from around the world will attempt to complete the historic 100-mile route from Palisades Tahoe to Auburn.

About GU Energy Labs  

GU Energy Labs strives to help athletes reach their highest potential with products that deliver the right nutrients, in the right amounts, at the right time. Since its founding in 1993, GU has been committed to increasing access to sport for all. To that end, GU Gives – the company’s philanthropic arm – supports organizations and initiatives centered around 3 pillars: physical movement, environmental stewardship, and food awareness. Headquartered in Berkeley, CA, GU Energy Labs produces all of its Energy Gels onsite, largely through sustainable solar power. Learn more at www.guenergy.com.  

Craig
In General Interest, Trail Preservation

Western States Trail Museum: Home in Auburn to preserve a long and storied history

The many tales of a storied and remarkable trans-Sierra trail will soon come alive with the opening of the Western States Trail Museum. Supported by the City of Auburn with a lease arrangement for a portion of the former City Hall in Auburn’s historic Central Square, and with tenant improvements underway, the Museum’s Board of Directors is hopeful the facility will open its doors later in 2025. The location is 1103 High Street, Suite 300, in Auburn, California.

In the mid-1960s, the Governors of Nevada and California encouraged preserving the Capitol-to-Capitol route between Carson City and Sacramento, along with its relevant artifacts and memorabilia. As a part of this history, the incredible lore of the Western States Trail stands ready to be shared with the public.

The mission of the Museum is to educate the public about the trail’s heritage through creative interpretive exhibits, artifacts, oral histories, docent-led field trips, speaker and film series, podcasts, and community engagements with modern day endurance events. The Western States Trail Museum archives will also serve as a research center for anyone who wants to learn more about this truly special trail. Please contact the Museum if you have something worth sharing.

The origin of the trail can be traced to the prehistoric era when Native Americans crossed the Sierra Nevada mountain range on trade routes to barter between the Nisenan, Washoe, and Paiute people, as well as to gather and hunt for food. By 1860, the Western States Trail route was well known as the shortest route over the Sierra Nevada from the gold mines of California’s Mother Lode to the Comstock Silver Lode in western Nevada.

In September, 1931, accompanied by five members from Parlor 59 of the Native Sons of the Golden West, Tahoe City, California Constable Robert Montgomery Watson and the group relocated and signed this early pioneer route that had been nearly forgotten. In 1955, Auburn businessman Wendell T. Robie led the founding of the annual Western States Trail 100 Mile One Day Ride, an equestrian event now known as the Tevis Cup. Robie established in 1974 what became an internationally celebrated crown jewel of ultramarathons, the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run.

For more information about the Museum or to get involved, visit www.wstrailmuseum.org or email info@wstrailmuseum.org

Craig
In General Interest, Trail Preservation, WSER Foundation

Granite Chief Wilderness Trail Re-Route Project Update

The trail through Granite Chief Wilderness that we use on race day stretches for 6.5 miles. The western portion of the trail was rehabilitated several years ago when it was accepted into the wilderness. The eastern portion was developed long before modern trail building standards were set, and is being re-routed to improve user safety, avoid environmentally sensitive areas, improve sustainability, and provide commanding views.

We have actively been working on this project for the last two summers (only 10-12 weeks are snow free each year).  Work has been performed by USFS employees, a 20-person California Conservation Corp trail crew, and our volunteers.  The work has been funded by the Great American Outdoor Act ($1.2M), designed to cover most of the project. Although $0.5M in funding remains, and the USFS was poised to complete contracts to engage a trail crew for this summer, the funding for the project has now been frozen by DOGE and inaccessible, and we cannot hire a trail crew for 2025.

The USFS and our volunteers still plan to work on the project this summer, and we hope to complete enough of the re-routed trail that we can use about 2 miles of the new trail for our event in 2026, which will get us up and out of the bogs. But to get there we need your help.   To date our four scheduled trail work weekends are only about half full, so come join us on the weekends of July 26th/27th, August 16th/17th,  September 6th/7th, and/or September 20th/21st.

To signup please visit https://www.wser.org/volunteering/trail-stewardship/trail-work-opportunities/

Craig
In Race News

Western States, Broken Arrow Skyrace, and TrailCon Unite for an Unparalleled 10-Day Trail Running Celebration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Olympic Valley, CA – March 12, 2025 – This June, trail running enthusiasts will experience an unprecedented 10-day adventure in the stunning Palisades Tahoe as three iconic events—Broken Arrow Skyrace presented by Salomon, TrailCon presented by On, and the legendary Western States Endurance Run presented by HOKA—join forces to create an immersive and inspiring celebration of the sport.

Kicking off June 19-22, the Broken Arrow Skyrace presented by Salomon, will challenge runners with a three-day, nine-distance event, where elite and recreational athletes alike will experience the thrill of “where the mountains meet the sky.”

Following this, the inaugural TrailCon presented by On (June 24-25) will bring together thought leaders, industry brands, and passionate runners for two days of engaging discussions, networking, and community building. The event features keynote speakers, interactive breakout sessions, a Vendor Village with 60+ innovative brands, and the debut of the TrailCon Hall of Fame Awards—all designed to inspire and elevate the trail running community.

The excitement culminates June 28-29 with the world-renowned Western States® 100-Mile Endurance Run presented by HOKA, the planet’s oldest and most prestigious 100-mile trail race. A true test of endurance, Western States has captivated runners and fans since 1974, solidifying its place as the pinnacle of ultra-distance racing.

This historic collaboration underscores a shared vision to strengthen and unify the trail running community, transforming Olympic Valley into the ultimate global destination for trail running every June.

“Western States is honored to partner with TrailCon in creating a 10-day experience filled with running, storytelling, and knowledge-sharing that will inspire and unite our sport like never before,” said Craig Thornley, Western States Race Director. “Most importantly, we believe this collaboration will build an even stronger sense of belonging in the trail running community.”

Topher Gaylord, Western States Board President, echoed this sentiment: “With three independent, community-driven organizations working together, Olympic Valley will become the epicenter of the trail running world. TrailCon’s innovative approach perfectly bridges the excitement between Broken Arrow and Western States, creating an unmatched 10-day experience.”

Brendan Madigan, Founder & Race Director of Broken Arrow Skyrace, added: “Our vision has always been to complement the iconic Western States 100, ensuring that everyone—from runners to families, pacers, and crew—can experience the beauty of Palisades Tahoe. With the addition of TrailCon, there’s no better place to be in late June than North Lake Tahoe.”

With this powerful collaboration, Palisades Tahoe is set to become the Spring Trail Running and Ultra Capital of the World, offering an unforgettable experience for runners, fans, and industry leaders alike.

For more information, visit:

Broken Arrow Sky Race
TrailCon
Western States Endurance Run

Media Inquiries:

Rachel Christison
Rachel.christison@gmail.com

Craig
In General Interest, Race News

2025 Lottery Statistics

Last updated: February 8, 2025 at 22:20 pm

The 2025 race lottery will be held on December 7, 2024 in front of a live audience at the Placer High School auditorium in Auburn, CA beginning at 8:00 a.m. PST. We expect to be done by 11:00 a.m. As names are randomly selected, they will be posted at https://lottery.wser.org in real-time. There will also be live video coverage of the lottery on our Youtube Channel beginning at 7:00 a.m. PST.

Each applicant ran a qualifying race of 100k or longer within the last year to be eligible to enter. Some have done so for many years. Each runner who enters the lottery and fails to gain entry into the Run (and otherwise doesn’t gain an entry via other means such as an aid station, sponsor, or HOKA Golden Ticket spot) will have additional tickets in the hat when entering the lottery the following year, thus improving the probability of being selected. Every lottery applicant will receive 2^(n-1) tickets in the hat where n is the number of years entering the lottery without gaining entry. That is, 1st year applicants = 1 ticket, 2nd year = 2 tickets, 3rd year = 4 tickets, 4th year = 8 tickets, and so on. The maximum number of years for the 2025 lottery is 10 years or 512 tickets.

You can view the final 2025 applicants and their ticket counts.

We will be starting 369 runners in 2025. As we began in 2017, we are using a wait list model instead of overbooking like we had for decades to get the target number of starters which is the number we are legally allowed to run through the Granite Chief Wilderness. 109 of those 369 are automatic entrants resulting in 260 lottery spots. 257 of those will be selected in the lottery proper. The final three entrants to get to 369 will be selected from those in the audience. The probabilities of being selected as one of the 260 in the lottery are as follows:

We will also select an additional 75 names for the ordered wait list. What are the chances of getting into the race if you are selected for the wait list? In 2024 the 35th person on the wait list got into the race Friday before the race. In 2023 we went down to the 56th person on the list. In 2022 we exhausted the wait list of 75. In 2021 we exhausted the wait list of 50 which was rolled over from 2020. In 2019 the last person to get a spot on the starting line was selected 31st. In 2018 the 36th person on the list got in, in 2017 the 39th person got in. All the historical data from the wait lists can be found here.

Good luck to all.

Craig
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 sponsorship agreement between the world’s oldest 100-mile trail race and one of the fastest-growing performance footwear and apparel brands. The agreement extends the current presenting sponsorship partnership, originally formed in 2019 between the two organizations, through 2029.

“Western States has always focused on partners that have shared values and commitment to building our community and elevating the dreams of all runners throughout all of our sport” WSER President Diana Fitzpatrick said. “HOKA has engaged with Western States at every level of our organization to support our shared values, elevate the runner experience, and reach the global community through our live race day broadcast.

“We are thrilled that this partnership between Western States and HOKA will continue on for many more years to come.”

Added WSER race director Craig Thornley: “Alignment is critical to any successful and productive partnership between a run and a presenting sponsor. I’ve been so impressed over the past five years with HOKA’s understanding and championing of our mission in all aspects of what we do – our run, the runner experience, trail stewardship and medical research as well as the growth of a more inclusive sport for all runners. HOKA holds the same organizational values as WSER, and this shared commitment for the health and growth of the sport of ultra running has made for some of the most unforgettable years in Western States’ long history.”

“As the oldest 100-mile trail race in the world, Western States has demonstrated leadership and community building for its entire 51-year history. We are honored to continue our partnership with this outstanding organization that tests the best athletes in the sport and creates a transformative experience for every runner” said, Mike McManus, Director of Global Sports Marketing at HOKA. 

The new five-year agreement between WSER and HOKA also continues the highly successful “HOKA Golden Ticket” series of races. The HOKA Golden Ticket races allows the top finishers in the races that comprise the yearly series to gain entry into that year’s Western States. The 2025 schedule of Golden Ticket races was announced last week and includes six events from around the globe:

  • CCC – HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc 100K France, Italy, Switzerland, August 30, 2024 (top three Male/Female)
  • Javelina Jundred Presented by HOKA 100M Arizona, October 26, 2024 (top two M/F)
  • Black Canyon Presented by HOKA 100K, Arizona, February 8, 2025 (top three M/F)
  • Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB 102K New Zealand, February 15, 2025 (top two M/F)
  • Chianti Ultra Trail by UTMB 120K, Italy, March 22, 2025 (top two M/F)
  • The Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB 100K, California, April 26, 2025 (top three M/F)

ABOUT WESTERN STATES: First held in 1974, the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run has a 369-runner field from throughout the United States and more than 30 countries. Western States is considered one of the world’s preeminent 100-mile trail races, WSER believes in staging a transformational and quality world-class event for its runners, as well as performing trail stewardship and conducting medical research studies for the betterment of the sport. Held on the last full weekend in June from Olympic Valley, Calif., the 100.2-mile event travels through the Sierra high country and the canyons of the American River on the ancestral lands of the Washoe and Nisenan tribes, before finishing at Placer High School in Auburn, Calif.

About HOKA®

HOKA® is one of the fastest-growing performance footwear and apparel brands in history. Conceived in the mountains, HOKA footwear delivers an unprecedented combination of enhanced cushioning and support for a uniquely smooth ride. Every day, HOKA pushes the innovation and design of its footwear and apparel by teaming up with a deep roster of world champions, taste makers and everyday athletes. From finish lines to everyday life, HOKA fans love the brand for its bold and unexpected approach, and its belief in the power of humanity to create change for a better world. HOKA empowers a world of athletes to fly over the earth. For more information, visit HOKA.com or follow @HOKA. #FlyHumanFly.