Kevin ran the WS 100 in 2009 and 2010 and finished a bit over 25 hours both times. But he's a lot more experienced now and he's on a pace to break 24 hours with plenty of room to spare.
The next three hours should tell the story. He's got back-to-back 1,400' to 1,600' canyons to go in and out of in the heat of the day.
If he gets through those without blowing out all of his fluids and electrolytes, he's in great shape to get his first silver buckle, which is the most revered trophy in all of trail running.
Da' prize!
The WS 100 is run almost entirely on rocky and root-strewn single-track trails. There is 41,000' of elevation change!
Outsider magazine rated the WS 100 as "The Ultimate Challenge" back in the late '80's.
That he did it in 1:14 tells me he's still feeling good.
Next is Michigan Bluff @ 55.7 miles. I want to see him there nlt 4:40.
At the 10.5 mile check point he was 105th. Now he's 74th.
Go, Kevin!
Actually, it's not nearly as hot today as it normally is for this race. Which is a very good thing for the runners.
His time between the last two check points shows me he's feeling it, but he still has a reasonable cushion. You go through major mental and physical ups and downs in this race. Hopefully Kevin's about to rally.
He needs to get to Foresthill (mile 62.0) nlt 6:30 or I'll start worrying.
OTOH, he's moved up to 73rd, so that's a good thing.
Lookin' good for the Silver Buckle!
The last 38 miles are piece of cake compared to the first 62. Good trails, long, gentle down hills and the temperature is starting to drop.
OTOH, you're getting physically wasted at this point and most of the rest of the run will be in the dark if you're lookin' to go under 24 hours.
Go for it !!
Good luck, Robb
Congratulations, Kevin!
Well done!
Another guy dropped out at No Hands Bridge, the 96.8 mile mark at 2:30 AM, meaning he had two-and-a-half hours left to go the last 3.2 miles and still 'buckle.' Ouch!
Just wait a few years when his knees are done, then he wont keep up with you!
Huge accomplishment, I couldn't do it nor would I want to, done a few half marathons and messed myself up!
Running won't cause arthritis but it can make it worse. Two orthoperdic surgeons told me my knees are in terrific shape. I actually had knee surgery four years ago because my Reno guy was sure I'd torn a ligament. But when he went in, all he saw was terrific ligaments and tendons. So he simply cleaned out some of the arthritis.
I'm almost 68, yet my primary care doctor tells me I have the lungs and heart of a twenty-year-old..
An incredible feat by any measure !
Mark
I can remember finishing the WS 100, getting a leg massage in the infield of the stadium at the finish line, going to the motel, taking a shower, getting a few hours of sleep, getting up, having a big breakfast, driving 2 1/2 hours home, then realizing there were still runners out on the course!
There's a 30 hour deadline, which means you have until 11:00 Sunday AM to get to the finish line. If you're not on schedule to make it by then at various check points, you're disqualified.
The people who are top runners are amazing, but they're finished in 20 hours or less. Imagine how mentally tough you have to be to be out there for 30 hours! Not only are you out there an extra ten hours, but the reason you're still out there is because you are not nearly as good of a runner and not nearly as efficient of a runner as are the best runners. So you have to work harder to cover each and every mile and you have do so so for a LOT longer.
Those people who are out there until 9:00, 10:00, 11:00 get my greatest respect and admiration.
Good runners hit this in the middle of the day, There's no air movement in the canyon and the temperatures frequently get over 100 degrees. The trail up the other side is the steepest, nastiest, rock and root infested trail you could imagine.
He finished 69th out of 358 starters.
When he got to Bath Road just before the Foresthill check point at 62 miles he was limping and obviously hurting.
At Foresthill, he sat down and took his shoe off. Yikes! The sock was bloody, skin was torn and there were blisters.
So what did he do?
He put the shoe back on and ran the last 38 miles to the finish line.
Talk about mental toughness!
About the same time, there was a video made of the WS 100, appropriately named "Desperate Dreams," the same name as the song by Eddie Raven. A couple of other Eddie Raven songs were also part of the music for the video, including, appropriately, "A Little Bit Crazy."
In "Desperate Dreams," and "Who Do Know In California," just substitute the WS 100 for the woman in the song and you'll totally 'get it.'
"Desperate Dreams"
"A Little Bit Crazy"
"Who Do You Know in California?"
But CONGRATS to Kevin on a very rare accomplishment!
I can't imagine the disappointment that guy is feeling who suffered for 96.8 miles and could NOT finish! :(
Brought tears to my eyes and my legs and feet still hurt just by setting in the chair reading about just what ultra runners go through mentally and physically.
If anyone is interested in reading a book about ultra runners, this might be a must read.
my best, Paul
"A Little Bit Crazy" helps a lot. But "A Whole Lot Crazy" helps even more. ;^)
As the song says, "It ain't how you run, it's the fact that you ran."
Many years ago, I read an article on the WS 100 and it quoted a guy who knew the race very well, having served on the WS 100 board and more. He said something like, "What's amazing isn't just that people actually finish the race. What's truly amazing is how many people have the courage to show up at the starting line in the first place."
Paul,
It brings tears to my eyes as well, esp. because having been there, done that so many times, I relate very personally to what Kevin and the rest are going through during the race.
I LOVED "Born to Run." As I recall, I read most of it in a ground blind on an elk hunt in Idaho a few years ago. I couldn't put it down.
You're right. It's a tribute to the human spirit that people will even attempt this race.
It's got to be a passion which burns in your belly. The reason I quit running the race is because the fire in my belly had died out. The last couple of times I ran it, it was just because running the race was what I did.
That was not a good enough reason, so I 'retired' and let someone else have my spot, even though I had a guaranteed automatic entry, regardless of the lottery to get in.
If you liked "Born To Run,' you'll also like "The Boys In The Boat."
It's about the 1936 University of Washington Crew team that beat out all the top college crew teams in the USA and thereby represented the USA in the Munich Olympics.
It's another book I just couldn't put down and it's an amazing story about determination and perseverance.
Another great read. Need to find a few more for this hunting season.
Paul
Jared Campbell of Utah, who ran this event for the first time at the shooting of this film in 2014, completed it for a record 3rd time this year. Which is quite a feat considering since the race's inception in 1986, only 14 runners out of about 800 have completed the race within the official 60-hour cut-off.
I'd assumed Jim Walmsley, who was leading the race by well over an hour at the 89.9 mile mark and was on a record pace, had crashed and burned, hence his very slow finish.
Wrong!
What happened is he missed a turn on the trail just before he got into the Highway 49 Check Point at 93.5 miles and was way off course before he realized his error. He was so frustrated, he simply walked the rest of the course once he got back on course.
Bummer!
Big congrats all around!
my best, Paul
If the desire for the buckle burns like hot coals in your belly, you'll get 'er done.
It did and you did.
I am VERY happy for you!
No one glides through a task of this magnitude, even elites. It is not a matter of if you reach the physical and emotional depths, it is a matter of how many times you descend into those holes and how you pull yourself through them. Very few things in life generate this type of deep self exploration and self education.
You are an alpha dog Kevin!
I love that! You're raising her right, Kevin. No snowflake there, that's for sure!
I feel for Jim. Wow. That sucks.
