Program

After a couple of years of record high number of finishes and record course times, Western States this year showed how hard it could be. Deep snow at the start, a change in the course, and brutal temperatures in the canyons took it's toll. With an almost 50% drop-rate, this was the lowest finish in more than 10 years.

None the less, there were a number of very spirited performances by Striders and friends. Dennis takes up the story:

It was very hot & hard at WS. 92F in the shade at Last Chance. People came in very late. Lots of drops even before Last Chance. We had 7 that needed to be taken back from Last Chance.
While Peggy & I were going to leave earlier to Foresthill, we decided to wait until the Aid station closed - no point going earlier, and we'd have had to walk to Dusty Corners in the very hot.
Peggy's runner dropped at Duncan Canyon - quite early. We go got to foresthill at about 7pm, and Mark Williams was just coming in. I suggested to Peggy she ask Mark, and he said "sure", so Peggy paced Mark to the finish.
My runner arrived in ForestHill at 11.30pm - and we left 11.34pm - just 11 minutes ahead of the cutoff. Very tight. I hustled him down to Rucky Chucky, and we were ahead of schedule then, but he got slower, and then it got hotter, and we were touch & go, and I was really whipping him to keep going. Lucky to get in with 7 minutes spare. Given so many DNFs, he did really well. Also the longest I've run 11.5hours !

John Styer's Report

June 26, 2006

Well, fellow runner dudes, here I go again (taken from some obscure country song). Tomorrow PM I head up to the high country for a couple days of acclimating to the altitude. Friday I check in at Squaw Valley, and Saturday @ 5AM I once again toss myself against the mountain. My plan is to finish at the Auburn High School track by Sunday, 9AM. Any thoughts, prayers, Karma, or whatever that you can send my way will be greatly appreciated. If any of you can make it up on Sunday, burgers are on me. My number is 391.

See you on the other side (of the mountain).

Macgyverunner

Hi all, Thanks for your support. I am sure that helped to keep me going. To paraphrase (or just plain obliterate) a quote from the great Julius Caesar; I came , I saw, and it kicked my butt! I felt so ready for this one- Ole Sol had other ideas. By mile ~20 the "heat cramps" set in and my calves began to talk to me. From Red Star I anticipated a smooth run. It was, but the sun began to get ugly and I emptied my water with 2 miles to go to Duncan. By the time I reached the Duncan Canyon aid station they (the calves) were singing in perfect harmony- first one screaming them the other. I made Robinson Flat well ahead of the cut-off but low on electrolytes (four bottles of fluid for the 6 mi trek up from Duncan). Greeted with no electrolyte replacement fluid or E-caps at the aid (?) station, I filled up with 4 bottles of water and headed West. I was drinking and eating well. Unfortunately, I had gotten too far behind on my electrolytes. Upon arrival at the Last Chance aid station (~ 15 minutes ahead of the cut-off), I was weighed (only down 3 lbs. from the start) and refilled my bottles. If my recollection serves me correctly, the medicos asked me some questions that I was unable to coherently answer. I was given a seat and some chicken soup. The Doc strongly suggested that I sit a spell and get some more salt on board. As the cut-off time neared, I made the decision to ride out from Last Chance rather than be carried off of the trail up Devil's Thumb! My wrist band was cut and I slept. On the way out I speculated that possibly I could have made the "Thumb." I began to question my decision to drop. I met my pacer when I arrived at Foresthill. The combination of physical exhaustion and a sense of failure made it an emotional reunion. After what seemed an eternity of watching and waiting for others of the Modesto contingent to arrive at the Forresthill aid station, one came it. He was one of my mates with whom I had run most of the way, and had pulled ahead strongly just East of the Last Chance aid station. However, the trek up to Devil's Thumb took him down and he didn't make the cut-off. I took another look at my decision to drop, and silently thanked Dr. Bob and the RNs from Utah.

My thanks to my crew, my pacers, all who make this run possible, and those who help to keep us safe. The trails will be there next year and, if I am lucky, I will once again embrace the mountain.

Down, but not defeated,

Macgyverunner