28: Western States 100 – Legends, Myths, and Folklore

By Davy Crockett Dick Mendenhall runs in the 1977 Western States 100 The establishment of the Western States Endurance Run (Western States 100) in 1977 was one of the most important pivotal events in the history of ultrarunning. During the next decade, the existing ultrarunning sport experienced a major shift from roads and tracks to trails and mountains. Other 100-mile races were spawned from the Western States 100, patterning their mountain race formats and practices after those established by Western States. A new generation of ultrarunners came into the sport and the Western States Endurance Run became the most famous mountain trail 100-miler. Western States validly proclaims that it owns 100-mile racing’s richest and most compelling history. “Western States has been home to some of the sport’s most stirring and legendary competitions and has spurred the capacity of spirit of all runners, of all abilities and from all walks of life, from all over the globe. Western States remains one of the undisputed crown jewels of human endurance.” With such a rich and long history that has been told and retold over the years, it is not surprising that folklore has crept in, and historic errors introduced by mistake or on purpose, making the legend of Western States and its origin story even more compelling. With the establishment of the Internet and social media, much like the “telephone game” myths have been told and retold. My new book: Grand Canyon Rim to Rim History The Western States Endurance Run grew out of the Western States Endurance Ride in the Sierras, in California. That equestrian event also has quite a bit of folklore attached to it. But this fact is clear, there would not have been a Run if the Ride had not existed. The riders who were organizers of the run had the experience and wisdom to establish the Western State Endurance Run. I thought it would be interesting and helpful to look at many of these myths and some clarifying truths about the origin story of both the Western States Trail Ride and Western States Endurance Run. Major events like these, at times approach "mythical" status and place too much credit on certain individuals, pushing aside heritage and others who paved the way for these historical events to take place. The intent of this episode it to have some fun looking at the facts and get the reader to think about history. Truth: Before Gordy Ainsleigh made his historic run in 1974, more than 1,000 people had already run 100 miles in under 24 hours on roads, tracks, and trails. Read Davy Crockett's new book, Running 100 Miles: Part One - A History (1729-1960). This definitive history of the 100-miler races presents the rich history of many, both men and women who achieved 100 miles on foot. Part one of this history includes tales of the trail-blazing British, the amazing Tarahumara of Mexico, and the brash Americans. "All the world is on the go, at the rate of one hundred miles in 24 hours. It looks as if people's legs are running or walking away with their brains." - November 29, 1867, The Fremont Weekly Journal, Fremont, Ohio. Myth #1: The Western States Trail runs all the way to Salt Lake City, Utah Western States 100 runs on the historic Western States Trail. The Western States website and other websites erroneously state that the Western States Trail extends all the way from Salt Lake City, Utah. It does not and never did. The trail that crosses the desert of Nevada is the California Trail. In Western Nevada there were branches off the California trail to various gold field destinations or settlements. The main routes initially (1846–48) were the Truckee Trail to the Sacramento Valley and after about 1849 the Carson Trail route to the American River and to the Pacerville gold diggings. There was no route called the Western States Trail in the 1800s. But a route did exist, used primarily by gold miners, that went from Lake Tahoe to Auburn, California.