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About RaceIndexOur methodologyData coverageCyclingTriathlon
  • Ultramarathon
  • 161 km
  • Olympic Valley to Auburn
  • Event dates –
  • Past event

Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon

This race edition

Race date
Date not confirmed for this distance
Race timezone
Timezone not confirmed
Edition status
Status not confirmed

Entry options

2026 edition

Entry options are not yet confirmed for this edition. Check the organiser before making plans.

Modelled energy-cost change 5.7% versus flat · net elevation -1,506 m · median finish 25:42:15

View verified GPS mapOfficial event website ↗
Data current as of

Decision summary

Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon at a glance

Route ascent
4,960 m

Lower than 23% of comparable mapped races

Cut-off average pace
11:11/km

30:00:00 total limit divided by distance. Check gun/chip timing and intermediate limits; allow time for stops.

Typical conditions
9/100

Historical race-date favourability, not a forecast

Evidence depth
50 verified facts

Stored GPS route

Quick answers

What runners ask first

Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon route map

raceindex.org has a GPS course file for Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon, so runners can inspect the route line on the map. Elevation charts and ascent figures appear only when that file includes usable elevation data.

How hilly is the Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon?

The Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon route has 4,960 m of ascent, 6,466 m of descent and an estimated 5.7% grade-adjusted pace penalty versus a flat route.

Where does the Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon route go?

The Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon route starts at Olympic Valley, California (elevation 6,200 ft) and finishes at Placer High School track, Auburn, California. Underfoot, expect trail. It passes Emigrant Pass, Granite Chief Wilderness, Robinson Flat, Last Chance and Devil's Thumb. World's oldest 100-mile trail race.

What should runners know on race day for the Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon?

20 aid stations including 10 major medical checkpoints.

Race character

Scenery

  • Mountain
  • Riverside
  • Historic
  • Forest
  • Canyon

Terrain

  • Trail
Elevation character
Mountainous
Technicality
Very Technical
Net elevation
-1,488 m

Entry, logistics and records

Records and field

Men's course record
14:09:28 (Jim Walmsley)
Women's course record
15:29:33 (Courtney Dauwalter)
Field size
Field limited to 369 runners by U.S. Forest Service permit.
Field cap
369

Entry requirements

Entry status
Past event: The listed edition date has passed.
Cut-off
30-hour overall cutoff (5:00 a.m. Sat start, finish by 10:59:59 a.m. Sun). Sub-24h earns a silver buckle; sub-30h a bronze buckle.
Ballot
Yes
Qualification status
Entry by weighted lottery; applicants must complete a recognized qualifying race (100K+) within the qualifying period. Lottery uses 2^(n 1) tickets per prior failed year.
Prior experience
Must finish an official qualifying race (100km+, or sub-100mi with 2500m+ gain) within the qualifying window to enter the lottery

Race day logistics

Aid stations
20 aid stations including 10 major medical checkpoints.
Medal
Belt buckle: silver for sub-24h, bronze for sub-30h.

Access and course status

Start
Olympic Valley, California (elevation 6,200 ft)
Finish
Placer High School track, Auburn, California

Course facts

Course type
Point To Point
Surface
Trail
Landmarks
Emigrant Pass, Granite Chief Wilderness, Robinson Flat, Last Chance, Devil's Thumb, Michigan Bluff, Foresthill, Rucky Chucky river crossing, Green Gate, Robie Point, Placer High School track
Notable features
  • World's oldest 100-mile trail race
  • crosses the icy Middle Fork of the American River at Rucky Chucky (mile 78)
  • silver/bronze belt-buckle awards

How hilly is the Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon?

30%18%20%11%21%
  • Steep descent 30%
  • Descent 18%
  • Flat 20%
  • Climb 11%
  • Steep climb 21%
Total ascent
4,960 m
Net elevation
−1,506 m
GAP factor
5.7%
Longest climb
5,560 m at 13.4%
Gradient mix and ascent are derived from the course geometry under our published normalisation, not taken from organiser marketing.

What are realistic finish times?

17:37:34p1025:42:15median29:25:15p90
Finishers
322
Median time
25:42:15
Aggregate finisher statistics only — we never publish or store individual results rows.

What are typical race-day conditions?

  • 28°CTypical temperature
  • 19 kphTypical wind
  • 8 mmTypical rainfall
  • 9Favourability /100
Typical conditions for the race date and locality, warmer than the endurance-optimal window. These are climatological norms, not a forecast, and are shared across every distance at this event.

More race details

Is the Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon flat?

Its normalised GAP factor is 5.7% slower than a flat course, with about 4960 m of total ascent.

What is a typical finish time for the Western States Endurance Run Ultramarathon?

The median finish time is 25:42:15 across 322 finishers.

How we calculated this

Published facts and derived model outputs on this page are tied to stored sources or a published, version-locked methodology. We show the provenance so runners, coaches and organisers can check it. Data on this page is current as of .

Derived numbers use scoring-methodology-v1.0.

Sources used on this page (3)

Read the full methodology →