The Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run (WSER) is the world’s oldest and most iconic 100-mile trail race. Held annually on the last full weekend of June, this point-to-point journey traverses the rugged Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, starting at the base of the Olympic Valley (Palisades Tahoe) and finishing on the Placer High School track in Auburn. For an endurance athlete who loves the trails, Western States is the “Crown Jewel” of ultrarunning—a high-stakes race that requires a perfect blend of high-altitude strength, heat resilience, and the grit to survive a course designed to break even the most elite athletes.
The course profile is notoriously brutal and unique, characterized by a “quad-busting” net descent. While runners endure a staggering 18,000 feet of cumulative ascent, they must also manage 23,000 feet of descent. The race begins with a 2,550-foot climb in the first 4.5 miles to Emigrant Pass (8,750 feet), where snow often blankets the trail. As the race progresses, the challenge shifts from altitude to extreme heat; temperatures in the deep “Canyons” often soar above 100°F. Athletes must master the technicality of the Rucky Chucky river crossing—wading across the American River with a guide cable—before the final push toward the historic No Hands Bridge and the finish line.
Winning a Western States silver buckle (for finishing under 24 hours) or a bronze buckle (under 30 hours) is one of the most prestigious honors in the sport. The race’s history is rooted in the Tevis Cup horse race, famously proven “runnable” by Gordy Ainsleigh in 1974. Today, due to its remote wilderness route, the field is strictly limited to approximately 369 starters, making entry through the lottery or a “Golden Ticket” race nearly as difficult as the run itself. Western States represents the ultimate intersection of historical legacy and human endurance limits.
