1 Jun

Intriguing Storylines and Predictions for the 2024 Western States 100 – iRunFar

With Memorial Day weekend inside the U.S. behind us, the calendar flips to June. And with that, the eyes of the ultrarunning world — and other people of this columnist! — are directed to the 2024 Western States 100.

Taking place on June 29, this 12 months’s event, like yearly, is stuffed with intriguing tales. I’d wish to highlight 5 of most likely essentially the most compelling tales on this 12 months’s race and as well as present the 12 runners — let’s identify them AJW’s Dirty Dozen — who I really feel are vulnerable to be on the doorway of the pack come sundown on the tip line at Placer Extreme School in Auburn, California, on race day.

The start of the 2021 Western States 100. {Photograph}: iRunFar/Bryon Powell

Eric Spector

California’s Eric Spector is making an attempt to turn into the oldest finisher of Western States 100. The 77-year-old from Marin County has had a robust build-up to the race this 12 months, with sturdy finishes on the Massive Alta 50k, Napa Valley Endurance Run 50k, and Marin Extraordinarily Downside 50 Mile. In present weeks, Spector has moreover logged over 200 miles on the course in preparation for the massive day.

1,000-Mile Bucklers

Due largely to the rising drawback of getting into the race, it has been 5 years since we now have seen a 10-time finisher circle the monitor at Placer Extreme School. This 12 months, however, three runners are attempting to assemble their 1,000-mile buckles. Philip Sanderson of California, Ken Ward of Oregon, and Kaci Licktieg of Nebraska are all making an attempt to achieve the feat this 12 months.

Kaci Lickteig worthwhile the 2016 Western States 100. {Photograph}: iRunFar/Bryon Powell

No Defending Champions

Whereas Jim Walmsley and Kaci Licktieg, two earlier Western States winners, are inside the topic this 12 months, neither winner from the 2023 model of the race is returning. Tom Evans and Courtney Dauwalter, the 2023 winners, have chosen to take care of completely different races this 12 months, leaving the sphere open for a model new or returning champion.

Women’s Race

In 2023, we seen an unbelievable girls’s race, with Courtney Dauwalter worthwhile in a course report time of 15:29, and the tenth place lady, Colorado’s Meghan Morgan, ending in 18:11, a time that can have acquired the race outright a variety of events over time. With this 12 months’s girls’s topic far more stacked than closing 12 months, I’m anticipating far more density on the doorway of the pack this time spherical.

Environmental Parts

Mother Nature has not been type to Western States over the last few years. Between wildfires, snow, and freeway closures, the challenges going by means of the race group have been immense. This 12 months, however, it looks as if points are returning to common.

Whereas the harm from the 2022 Mosquito Fireside stays, the forest is slowly returning. Mosquito Ridge Freeway, crucial freeway accessing the Duncan Canyon and Dusty Corners help stations, has not too way back been reopened after being closed for over 18 months on account of fireside. And till there are necessary late spring storms, it appears identical to the snowpack inside the extreme nation could be minimal.

Normal, it’s shaping as a lot as be a constructive 12 months!

Jim Walmsley worthwhile the 2021 Western States 100. {Photograph}: iRunFar/Alex Potter

AJW’s 2024 Western States 100 Race Predictions

There are clear favorites in every the women’s and males’s fields this 12 months: Jim Walmsley, the lads’s course report holder, and Katie Schide, the lady with the second-fastest time ever on the course. Behind them, a slew of various runners could be chasing. It’s anyone’s guess as to who will lastly drawback for the very best spot. Nonetheless listed below are my picks for the very best six men and women:

Women

Katie Schide
Rachel Drake
Leah Yingling
Heather Jackson
Emily Hawgood
Devon Yanko

Males

Bottoms up!

Katie Schide - 2023 Western States 100 second place

Katie Schide after taking second on the 2023 Western States 100 and working the second-fastest time in race historic previous. {Photograph}: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks

AJW’s Beer of the Week

This week’s Beer of the Week comes from Pigeon Head Brewery in Reno, Nevada. Silver Sage Pale Ale is a fundamental American-style pale ale that’s gentle and crispy, with a contact of sage added to the brewing course of. A deliciously drinkable beer, Silver Sage is a perfect summer season ale.