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WS 100 Race Report

June 30, 2015 by Bill Hunter Leave a Comment

(photo courtesy of Bill's UltraSignup page)
(photo courtesy of Bill’s UltraSignup page)

I am finding my race report for the 2015 Western States surprisingly difficult to write. From a factual point of view, it is straight forward. The day started well, cooler than anticipated, and with me running comfortably and close enough to my goal pace for 27 hours. Hydration and nutrition went well and my stomach was solid. The canyons took a higher toll than expected, and somewhere along the way I kicked a rock into an already tender Achilles tendon. I got it rubbed and taped at Michigan Bluff and moved it on down the line. I picked up my pacer in Foresthill, and we moved along into the night, where I found my normal abilities reversed – it was difficult to sustain downhill progress, but my uphill didn’t deteriorate much.  I adapted to the conditions on the fly, I watched the clock, and I finished in 29:28, 10 minutes ahead of my previous finish 6 years ago.  Yay!

But for me, that’s a hollow account of the day/night/day, as it relates only to my isolated, individual details. What was more noteworthy to me was how deeply I saw and felt the depth of the ultra community. I saw friends I had been running with for over a decade, as well as people I had met as recently as the Training Weekend.  At nearly every aid station, I was surprised by seeing someone I knew, either volunteering or spectating – even at RuckyChucky at 3:30 in the morning. I could write at length about the incredible support from my crew and my pacer, or the Michigan Bluff aid station where I’ve volunteered for the last 5 years, but those would be expected.

This is what I didn’t expect –

Somehow the slider on my bladder gets jammed at Foresthill. At Peachstone it is impossible to remove. Without hesitation, one of the volunteers there takes my bladder and sens me off with the one from her pack. Shannon from Portland.

At Brown’s Bar, in the early light of day, a volunteer checks on me as I drink some coke. Then with conviction he tells me, “You’ve got this, just keep moving.”  Hal Koerner.

Coming up from Robie Point. Rob Krar is coming down. He crosses to my side of the street to shake my hand and says “Good job”. The next time I see him he’s in front of a small group of people hustling onto the track in the final minutes of the race. The winner of the race is leading in the final competitor.

Without exception, each and every person I encountered on race day made me feel like I was the most important person in the world.  Whether they were checking me in at Squaw, a volunteer at an aid station, or the winner of the race (including today’s race!).  My race report from Western States boils down to this: I had a good time participating in an exceptional race and encountered the most extraordinary people along the way. I couldn’t be more fulfilled.

Filed Under: General, Race Reports

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DPMR Weekly Social Run & Hangout @ Alibi Public House, Truckee @ Trout Creek Pocket Park
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It's #medalmonday! Congrats again to all our runne It's #medalmonday! Congrats again to all our runners and thanks to everyone who came to cheer and volunteer, this inaugural #pointmariahmarathon wouldn't have happened without you! Let's continue the celebration with our weekly Tuesday social run starting from @alibialeworks Truckee at 6pm. Come for the run or just the social time afterwards.

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Who's excited about the Point Mariah marathon tomo Who's excited about the Point Mariah marathon tomorrow 🙋‍♀️ ? See you there to run, cheer and celebrate!

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Share all the excitement from TRT, celebrate and d Share all the excitement from TRT, celebrate and demo some @adidasterrex shoes. See you tomorrow!
It's #statesmas ! See you at the escarpment tomorr It's #statesmas ! See you at the escarpment tomorrow! 
Meet at the start line at 4am!

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Looking for some training runs for the #pointmaria Looking for some training runs for the #pointmariahtrailmarathon? Check out the Regional Park Fun Run/Walk 5K series from @northtahoerecreation. 

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Tuesday Social tomorrow with @salomonrunning and @ Tuesday Social tomorrow with @salomonrunning and @insidetracker! Come share all the energy from the past weekend or excitement about the coming weekend!

Meet at 5:45pm at the Trout creek pocket lot, run at 6pm, follow up with social time at @alibialeworks. 

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Thanks to our volunteers at the Julia Millon Memor Thanks to our volunteers at the Julia Millon Memorial Aid Station who helped our runners stay hydrated and fed as they went through High Camp and cheered to Julia. See you tomorrow at High Camp and stop by in the Village for pancakes!

@brokenarrowskyrace 

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Our President is #unafraid. Send her your cheers f Our President is #unafraid. Send her your cheers for the triple crown at @brokenarrowskyrace this weekend.

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Are you ready for @brokenarrowskyrace fun this wee Are you ready for @brokenarrowskyrace fun this weekend? There is still a chance to fully take on the energy of the event through volunteering: Julia Millon Memorial Aid Station at High Camp for either Saturday’s 52K race or Sunday’s 26K distance (or both!) or at the pancake breakfast in the village Sunday morning. Sign up in bio!

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Double the fun tomorrow! On top of our regular Tue Double the fun tomorrow! On top of our regular Tuesday Alibi social run (meet at 5:45p, run at 6pm), we have a pole clinic co-organized by @leki.trailrunning and @tahoemountainsports at Johnson Canyon at 5pm. We will regroup for social time at Alibi afterwards.

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Ready for the weekend? We are looking forward to s Ready for the weekend? We are looking forward to seeing you at the picnic on Sunday. Learn more about it in the Newsletter! https://bit.ly/dpmrjune22

Besides the picnic, there is a lot of interesting content: join us at the inaugural Point Mariah Trail Marathon, our weekly Tuesday group runs, trail work and aid station volunteering opportunities; get inspiration for where to get vert to get ready for all your summer adventures; meet @kellyfuson and the women running one of the @utmbmontblanc races this summer and pick up your next book: Endure by @sweat_science.
Today is Tuesday which means it's Social Run Day! Today is Tuesday which means it's Social Run Day! Lots of places to explore and people to meet or catch up with. After the run, stay for post run refreshments (and more social time) at @alibialeworks!
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