![]() ![]() I finally gave myself permission to take my training seriously, and to dream recklessly. I started behaving and carrying myself like someone who could, in fact, run Western States. While the workouts and long runs were a step above what I’d been doing previously, the biggest change was in my own head and heart. ![]() The six months of training leading up to Western States were the most transformative of my athletic career. I got lucky and received a sponsor spot after running a qualifying race. Qualifying, then getting picked in the lottery (or racing one’s way in by earning a Golden Ticket) is a process, and one that can take athletes years, and upwards of 160 lottery tickets to achieve. There may no longer be gold in the hills around Auburn, but giving yourself over to their magic is its own kind of alchemy. And while you can’t see Patti Smith live or hear a Kerouac book reading, you can still see the best athletes of our time gallop up the Escarpment at sunrise, and that’s pretty dang special. Sometimes these special places capture something vital about the culture they reflect back. It’s a scene the way CBGB was a scene, the way City Lights was a scene. What’s not to love about a race directed by someone who proudly, and professionally goes by Lord Balls across all social media platforms, and whose origin story ( brilliantly reported by Sarah Lavender Smith, which should get a Pulitzer for Excellence In Twitter Handle Investigation ) reveals that the course humbles even its RD. RELATED: Nine Training Takeaways from Adam Peterman, World Champion and Western States 100 Winner Is that Ruth Croft, drinking a cappuccino, in broad daylight, as if she isn’t one of the greatest athletes of all time? And just like good princes and princesses, they’ll even take a beaming selfie with their loyal subjects while we try to soak up their speed through osmosis. In the days prior to the race, Olympic Valley is the Disney World of endurance sports, where the princesses and princes walk among us. ![]() It was a scene, in the best way possible. Galloping from one shakeout run to another, doing strides between panels and film screenings and gear giveaways and happy hours and quasi-recreational VKs. Everyone seemed to be jogging everywhere. When I first arrived into Olympic Valley, I felt a tectonic shift. ![]() Honestly, I approached it with a bit of a shrug and an eye-roll, because, well, isn’t it so overdone? Isn’t Western States a bit played out, and over-hyped? I first came to States as a young reporter, covering the race for this publication. Here’s why I’m all-in on the Western States Stoke Train. Even though I DNF’d at mile 80 (a profound thank you to the resident near Green Gate who so generously gave me a ride in his Subaru so I didn’t have to hobble-cry my way out of the aid station), training for and participating in WSER made me level up as both a human and an athlete, and it brought me closer to the trail community than ever. The process of getting ready for that race changed my life, and it made me fall even more in love with the sport. Last year, I trained for and raced (most of?) the Western States Endurance Run (WSER). If our Policy changes in the future, we will notify our customers and website users of any such changes by posting an updated policy on our website.Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! This Policy also describes the choices you can make about how we collect, use and disclose your information when you provide it to us on any EPG Brand Acceleration properties will not collect, use or disclose your personal information other than in compliance with this Policy.īy using the any of our websites and/or making online requests of products, you agree to the terms and conditions of EPG’s Policy. This privacy policy (this “Policy”) describes the personal information we may collect from you, the purposes for which we collect it, how we use it and when we may share it with third parties. If you do not agree to these terms, do not use the services. This Privacy Policy sets forth the privacy practices with respect to your information when you use our software, mobile applications and services (“Services”). This Privacy Policy sets forth the privacy principles we follow, in accordance with our operations. We discuss our information collection practices below. In order to achieve this goal, we may collect information from you. Our goal is to provide you with an experience that delivers the information, resources and services that are helpful to you. We want you to know that we respect the privacy and security of our users. EPG Media LLC wants you to have a positive experience in connection with our products and services. ![]()
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