2017_BC-SummerEnquirer-Digital

WESTERN STATES
16
Dispatch from the WSER 100
By Sarah Larson
This year’s Western States Endurance Run was a battle against the elements. Squaw Valley was still covered in
snow and slush after a long winter, but the California summer heat and sun were there with vengeance. By the
time runners reached Devil’s Thumb aid station (run by Buffalo Chips volunteers), they had been through slushy
snow, swampy conditions in the bottom of the canyons, and brutal heat along the canyon ridge. And to reach
the Devil’s Thumb, they had to climb 1,500 feet up El Dorado Canyon.
Luckily, the WSER runners had the volunteers at the Devil’s Thumb Aid station to help them. Many of the
Devil’s Thumb aid station volunteers have run Western States in prior years. They are full of encouragement,
knowledge, and advice. They shared their experience and gave the runners the motivation they needed to keep
moving. And the rest of the volunteers (myself included!) were there with anything else the runners could need
– every food imaginable, ice baths, popsicles, etc.
The real drama of the day came as we approached the cutoff time for the aid station. Several runners were
having trouble making it out of El Dorado canyon. The tough course was catching up to them, and there were
runners sick and cramping on the trail. I hiked down with several other intrepid volunteers. We each assisted
runners out of the canyon. My father and I helped a runner from Minnesota who was struggling with the heat
and cramping so badly she couldn’t walk. We encouraged her to walk, made sure she drank water and electrolytes,
and even carried her piggy-back up the mountain. It took a couple of hours to get her from the bottom of
the canyon up to Devil’s Thumb, where other volunteers made sure she got to her crew.
Some people might see that and think they would never run an ultramarathon. But for me, it was an inspiration.
To see someone work as hard as that runner did inspired me to push myself, too. I was also inspired by all
of the Devil’s Thumb volunteers who shared their ultra experiences. They were enthusiastic about giving me
advice on how to train, fuel, and mentally get through an ultra. I am grateful for their guidance, which helped me
to finish my first ultra run this weekend. Ultra running is a real community – helping each other and helping the
runners out at WSER – and I’m happy to be part of it.
Racer Jim Wamsley
Chip volunteers hard at work
Sarah Larson