23.5 hours of craziness at the WS100

For the second year in a row, Travis and I helped pace/crew Topher Gaylord at the Western States 100, a 100-mile footrace from the base of Squaw Valley in Tahoe to Auburn, CA. Last year I paced Topher for 16 miles from Foresthill to Green Gate; this year Travis paced Topher for 30 miles from Foresthill to Highway 49. Last year Topher dropped out at Green Gate after spending hours puking and dry heaving. This year, despite record high temps reaching over 100 degrees, Topher battled nausea and gutted his way to the finish, earning his 7th Western States silver belt buckle.

Topher's belt buckle collection pre-WS 2013

Kim and I spent all day chasing Topher from aid station to aid station. It's mostly a waiting game - arriving at each aid station and sitting for what can amount to several hours before your runner appears from out of nowhere on the trail. When your runner arrives, you wave them down and then spend the next 5-10 minutes (or ideally less time) frantically helping them ingest calories, drink fluids, change clothes/shoes, and cool off! Then, after you've seen your runner out of the aid station, as Jay-z would say: "it's onto the next, onto the next one..."

As a crew member, you experience the same elements as your runner and often the same emotions (frustration, confusion, disorientation, hunger, sleepiness, etc.). Crewing for someone running the #ws100 is exhausting, yet so ridiculously rewarding. I got chills as Topher stepped up onto the track at Placer High with his crew in tow and was welcomed to the finish line by the stadium announcer and the cheering crowd (of 20 people or so - it was 4:30am!) 

You might be wondering what your feet look like after running 100 miles. See below.

Totally gross.

As for me, I used to think running 100 miles was crazy and that the people who chose to do something like that were literally off their rocker. And, well, I still think it's kinda crazy, but I also admire every single person that crosses the start line at 5am at the base of Squaw and attempts to cover the 100 mile course. They are "normal" people, like you and me. They love to run, adventure, and explore the great outdoors. But they also possess an incredible spirit and drive that enables them to push down barriers and achieve incredible feats.

Perhaps my favorite thing about this race is not watching the runners, but watching all of the volunteers, crew teams, pacers, spectators, etc. It is an amazing group of people that enables these runners to tow the line and reach the finish each year. The spirit of selflessness and generosity is everywhere along the course.

My parting words for this blog post:  Travis, you're next! #ws100 #2014

Travis crossing the Rucky Chucky River at 9:25pm