Race Preview: Western States 100

Grand Slam Race #1
Project 2010 Race #3
Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run
Squaw Valley to Auburn, CA
100.2 Miles
18,040' of climb : 21,970' of descent

June 26-27, 2010

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It's finally here.. my chance to run the oldest 100 mile race in the country. What a long painful road it has been to even have my chance to run in this race. And by painful I mean, emotionally painful. I first qualified for the race with my first 50 mile run at the Vermont 50 in 2006. I applied to the lottery and became a one time loser. The following year, I qualified, applied and lost the lottery again to become a two time loser. Because there were more two time losers then spots available on what would have been my 3rd and automatic year.. I went into another lottery, lost, and became a 3 time loser. Then, the race was cancelled because of forest fires in 2008, putting me into yet another lottery where my name was finally drawn to run this race in 2010.

Western States is the Boston Marathon of 100 mile races. It's the big dance, where it all began when Gordy Ainsleigh ran 100 miles in under 24 hours during the Tevas Cup horse race. He received a belt buckle, typically reserved for the horse-riders, and the tradition was created. I'm excited beyond words to head out West again, finally, to run amongst the Western Peaks. This time the Sierra Nevada, 100 miles from near Lake Tahoe to near Sacramento. I'll have to handle extreme temps from the 30's to over 100 degrees. Snow, dust and frigid rivers. Rattlesnakes, cougars, bears and a whole host of other dangerous wildlife all in my mission to run 100 miles on the Western States Trail.

Project 2010 - Race #3 - Goals:
1.) Finish
2.) Sub 30 Hours
3.) Sub 24 Hours

Follow the race LIVE! : http://ws100.ultralive.net/webcast.php

My bib # is 279