A Late Welcome to Statesmas
Its the most run-derful time of the year
Basketball has March madness, the NFL has the Superbowl, Track has the Olympics. In the trail and ultra world, there is Statesmas. For those unfamiliar with the Western States 100 mile Endurance run, let me introduce you.
If a horse can do it, so can you.
We will start with a little history: In 1974, Gordy Ainsleigh stood at the start line of the Western States 100 Trail Ride, a 100 mile endurance horse ride starting in Olympic Valley, California. Unlike the other riders, Gordy had no horse. Gordy’s horse went lame the year before, leaving him “up a trail without a horse”. Instead of finding a new horse, the ride director convinced Gordy to run the whole length of the ride on foot. Just under 24 hours later, he crossed the finish line in Auburn, becoming the first Western States finisher.
Since then, the Western States Endurance Run (WSER) has grown to become the premier 100 mile race in the US. It has immortalized athletes like Scott Jurek, and Ann Trason.
One of the most beautiful parts of this race is, in spite of the prestige, everyone lines up on the same start line, pros and cutoff chasers all start together.
Over the years the Western States course has been the backdrop for amazing stories of triumph, failure, underdogs, dynasties, wrong turns, comebacks, and obsessions.
Getting into Western States
The race is capped at 369 runners. To get in, you must first run a qualifying race then you are eligible to enter into the Western States lottery. Around 4000 people enter each year. In early December, names are drawn from a hat to fill the start list. Once the start list is filled, a waitlist is formed from the remaining lottery tickets. If anyone withdraws from the race, names are pulled from the waitlist. If you don’t draw out one year, you get additional lottery tickets the next year.
Western States also has a “Golden ticket system”. The top 10 athletes (male and female) from the previous year are guaranteed a spot on the Western States start line. Fifteen other spots that can be “earned” by placing in the top 2 or 3 at four other races, ranging in distance from 100 kilometers to 100 miles. This means a total of 25 spots each (men and women) at Western States are guaranteed, if you can run fast enough.
The 2025 Western States
This is shaping up to be one of the most competitive years yet. In both the men’s and women’s fields some of the biggest names in domestic and international trail running are converging in the Olympic Valley this Saturday. The depth is deep. To introduce a few,
On the men’s side:
Kilian Jornet. In 2011, in a similarly deep field, Kilian Jornet (then 23) won Western States as an up an coming athlete. Since then, he has become arguably the greatest trail runner of all time. Still a force to be reckoned with, he is returning to western states to show the new kids how it’s done.
Rod Farvard. Last years runner up, Rod has quickly exploded from a relative unknown to a household name. With relatively few performances since last years race, he is again, somewhat of a mystery going into this race.
David Roche: After breaking into the 100 mile distance scene last year, David has shown the trail running community he’s not done tearing it up. His dedication to complete transparency in his training and racing leading up to Western has earned him a substantial following.
Dan Green: Recent winner of the 2025 Cocodona 250 Dan got into western states off the waitlist when reigning champion Jim Walmsley withdrew earlier this year. All indications point to a speedy recovery from Cocodona and completing this double well would cement him as one of the most impressive athletes of all time.
Adam Peterman: Winner of the 2022 western states, Adam is returning to Western States after battling substantial injuries to solidify his legacy.
Jeff Browning: Another veteran of the sport, Jeff (age 53) narrowly missed a win at the 2024 Cocodona 250. With more top 10 western states finishes than any other individual in the field, Jeff is a favorite to break the 50+ record, but isn’t out of the conversation for an overall spot either.
Joe “Stringbean” McConauhy: Joe has been on a 6+ year quest to get into Western States. This year he got himself a golden ticket at the Black Canyons 100k. The self-supported Appalachian trail record holder, and also a 4:03 miler. Stringbean has range.
On the women’s side:
Tara Dower: In august Tara added her name to the record books, securing the OVERALL Appalachian trail record. She made a speedy recovery and secured a golden ticket at Black Canyon 100k.
Riley Brady: Riley has recently really come into their own this past year, winning several golden ticket races and obliterating course records left and right, they are a favorite in this years field.
Abby Hall: Returning from a freak running injury last year, Abby is quickly breaking back onto the scene. Abby got a golden ticket at black canyons after Emkay Sullivan deferred her entry due to pregnancy.
Fuzhao Xiang: Last years second place female, Fuzhao has the 3rd fastest women’s time on the wester states course, but can she make this years the second, or even first?
These are only a few names, not to mention the several high profile athletes who have had to withdraw from the race for various complications.
Statesmas
So with this background, let me introduce you to Statesmas. For the entire week leading up to Western States, anyone with any stake in US trail running media pumps out content like Balloon animals from a clown. Podcasts, live streams, mini series, charts, maps, and so many memes. Some years, like in 2011, we even get a full documentary. There are so many stories to tell, and some many stats, and possible outcomes to discuss. Its almost too much.
Then, to cap it all off, there is 30 hours of live race coverage, from the start, to the very last person to come in under cutoff. And you thought the Superbowl was long.
A Statesmas Miracle
So why do I write about this in the same place I write about heart attack stuff? Mostly because I love it, and maybe I should keep my contributions to running content separate, but more than that I wasn’t sure I’d still love it after I a heart attack.
You see, the heart attack, and subsequent medical adventures have altered my relationship with running I worried Statesmas would lose some if its shine. I wondered if my experiences would put a damper on the excitement and wonder this time of year brings.
Carrying this worry, I got a late start on my Statesmas content feast. I finally gave in on Wednesday. To my relief, I’m finding, the excitement is all still there. I’m behind on my podcasts, but I’m catching up. Just like last year, Emily and I spend all our spare time revising our top 10 picks, creating wild theories, and playing out the most entertaining potential outcomes.
That’s the miracle.
I worried I would hate running because, for now, I can’t participate like I could before, or like I want. I am happy to report this is not holding true. Sometimes it’s hard to see others do things I’m not sure I’ll ever even be able to dream of doing, but sometimes running was hard to.
From watching Emily come into her own at the Utah Valley marathon, to captaining an aid station at the Logan peak Trail race, to Statesmas 2024, I’m learning how to still love running, even if its sometimes in different ways. Because of that, I think, If I ever do get to run like I did, I will love running even more, even more than before. So just know, if Emily and I ever win Superbowl tickets, we’ll still happily trade them for a campsite in Auburn the last weekend in June.
Merry Statesmas.
P.S. As a fun side note Ben Gibbard, front man for Death Cab for Cutie and the Postal Service, got into Western States off the waitlist this year and will be hopefully finish his first Western States sometime Saturday night or Sunday morning.
P.P.S. To learn more about Western States, the early “turn of the century” PBS documentary does a pretty good job of laying out some of the basics. Be warned, it got Emily hooked.
Happy Statesmas!