In 3 short days, I'll be embarking on an adventure of a lifetime, that as an entrant in the world's oldest and most prestigious trail run, the Western States 100. For me, it's been quite a journey to get here.
I didn't return to experience the event until 2011, when I went down with a friend of mine to support a runner from Ballwin, Missouri named Chad, who finished in less than 20 hours. This was the first year that I had placed my name into the raffle drawing, held twice a year and one of the several ways of getting into the race. My name wasn't selected.
The next year, I went down to support some local running friends of mine, Juan, Brandon, Dalius and John, who were all entered in that year's run. I was fortunate enough to see them as they passed through the aid stations of Michigan Bluff and Foresthill, and again at the finish line in Auburn. This was the 1st year that I had qualified to enter 1 ticket into the lottery drawing, held each year in early December at the Auburn High School Auditorium. My name wasn't selected.
Two years ago, I returned again, this time as a volunteer/pacer at Foresthill. I arrived at the aid station around noon to help setup. After I greeted and assisted other runners, I was eventually paired up with a young pony named Chris Mottola from Bozeman, Montana. I paced him throughout the night and into the next morning and we finished the run in just a little over 26 hours. That year, I had qualified a second time to enter my name into the lottery, this time I had 2 tickets in the drawing. However, I had also entered my name into the Striders running club drawing, which determined who would represent the Foresthill Aid Station in the run. My name wasn't selected in either one.
Last year, I volunteered again to help setup and greet the runners coming through at Foresthill. Several hours later, I made my way over to the finish line area in Auburn to support some local running friends of mine, JB, Andy and Scott, who were all entered in the run. I had also qualified again to enter my name into the lottery, but with changes to the lottery process, this time I had 4 tickets in the drawing. I had also entered my name, once again, into the Striders drawing for a second year. The Striders drawing was to be held one week before the race lottery, so I thought I had a fairly good change of getting in.
On the morning of Saturday, November 29th, 2014, the Strider running group met up at the Michael D Thompson trailhead for their morning run, potluck and Western States drawing. I felt pretty nervous as the run finished up and the potluck got under way. I had heard there were 3 people in the drawing, so I thought having a 33% chance of being selected wasn't too bad. The time of the drawing finally arrived and to my surprise, my name was selected. Deep inside, I felt unbelievable excitement, knowing that in 7 short months, that I could actually be toeing the line at the most prestigious 100 mile trail run in the country. To this day, I still can't express how honored and privileged I am to have been chosen to represent such an incredible and inspriing group of local runners.
The next weekend, I drove down to the lottery in Auburn. I knew quite a few familiar names in the drawing and was anxiously awaiting for their tickets to be drawn. By the time the lottery had finished up, the Reno-Tahoe area was well represented, with my running friends, Jackie, Jill, Derek, Katie and Darren being selected to run. Also, another friend, Mike had also been selected. My first thought then was that this year's run is shaping up to become one of the most exciting for the local ultra running community in recent memory.
Now, here we are in the 4th week of June, 2015. My time has finally come. I may not be the fastest horse in the stampede, but I hope some of you can come out and enjoy this life-changing journey with me.
I wish the best of luck to all our local runners and whether you're out there volunteering, crewing, or supporting a runner in this year's run, go out and make this one of the most epic weekends of your lives. Happy Trails.
"The best gift you can ever give a runner is being there at the finish line."
