It's Western States Endurance Run Time!

Ultra trail running is a niche sport, but even niche sports have their own “Super Bowls.” The Western States Endurance Run is the tippy-top peak of importance and prestige for 100-mile trail races in North America. You win “States” and you are a legend. The race starts on June 28, 2025. It is my favorite sports day of the year, 20+ hours of viewing and listening (I go for a nice slow, flat long run during the early part of the race to show my respect).

The Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run is the world’s oldest 100-mile trail race. The Run starts in Olympic Valley, California, near the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, and ends 100.2 miles later in Auburn, California.”

Sounds fun, right? If you need more incentive to check it out — a little more background on the race and the down-to-earth athletes who have tackled it in years past — you are in luck! Strap on an ice bandana and pop a few gels. I put together a playlist of Western States documentaries and videos to get you prepped and pumped up.

Here is the grandaddy of all ultrarunning docs…

‘Unbreakable: The Western States 100’ follows the four lead men on this amazing journey that took place in 2010. Hal Koerner, two-time defending Western States champion, is a running store entrepreneur from Ashland, Oregon. Geoff Roes, undefeated at the 100-mile distance, is an organic chef from Juneau, Alaska. Anton Krupicka, undefeated in every ultramarathon he has ever started, is a graduate student living in Boulder, Colorado. Kilian Jornet is a young mountain runner and two-time Ultra-trail du Mont-Blanc champion, from Spain.”

Pair that with this other stone-cold classic, “Life in a Day,” which follows four professional female runners — Magdalena Boulet, Devon Yanko, Kaci Lickteig, and Anna Mae Flynn — vying for the win and a coveted top 10 finish in the 2016 WSER.

This year’s race takes place on June 28-29, 2025. The Men’s field is insanely stacked, Kilian (The GOAT) is back after 15 years, along with a formidable list of veteran trail and mountain crushers (Daniel Jones, Adam Peterman, Jeff Mogavero, Vincent Bouillard, Hannes Namberger, Ryan Montgomery) and young gun first-timers (Seth Ruhling, Dan Green, Hans Troyer!)

The women’s elite field is also incredibly strong: Last year’s top finishers, Fuzhao Xiang, Eszter Csillag, Emily Hawgood, Ida Nilsson, Priscilla Forgie, and more will be back. I am so excited.

Resources:

Header Photo: “Emily Hawgood enjoying crossing the American River during the 20204 Western States 100.” Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell