Oregon's first 200 miler - Running the Inaugural Oregon 200

[@gobeyondracing]

Was fun watching the race through your eyes and experience. One thing that really stood out to us with the loving, caring relationship you and your wife have. She's a rockstar too.

[@wplate]

❤️❤️❤️ Thank you for making the event crew-friendly! I am so motivated to get to the aid station knowing Leah will be there. We are a team.

[@adamtyson9208]

Awesome Wes, congratulations. Thank you for taking us along. Your videos are always, so excellent. Thanks for sharing.

[@wplate]

Thanks for watching Adam!

[@JMnyJohns]

Man, you married the right person. That support and love come right through the screen. Thank you for all these vids - it's an amazing treat to see this world through our eyes. Beautiful place to run. Love to hear more about the tough parts (like bee stings!) someday as well as what the day after was like. Just want to say your mental game - ability to stay happy, rooted and together - is unreal. You sound better on day three than day one. So inspiring!

[@wplate]

Ultras are a mental game, and I was once given the advice that staying positive was crucial to success. I was told the Henry Ford quote “Whether you think you can, or you think can’t- you’re right.”

[@vagnsteen5130]

I just watched your film. Congratulations on you eighth 200 finish! I'm inspired as always, especially since I've been side lined for two years. I've never been to Oregon but WOW, the land and trails looks amazing! So green and with such beautiful old growth, just wonderful. Oregon is def on my list, although it may have to be a shorter event. So great to have connected with you via some odd chain of events. Waiting for you next adventure!

[@wplate]

Vagn, there are a lot of awesome running events in Oregon, definitely come out to the west coast and check it out. Thanks for watching my friend!

[@alesiabock9305]

So awesome! Wonderful scenery and great job!!

[@wplate]

Thank you!

[@mikemacy9479]

Wow, Wes. Good on you. Hope you're recovering nicely.

[@wplate]

Thank you!

[@reecedupler7106]

What an awesome video! Not only the incredible effort to run well and finish, but to capture the beauty along the way. Very much enjoyed it!

[@wplate]

Thank you for watching! I'm happy you enjoyed it.

[@cameronmueller]

Amazing journey as always Wes, You are a beast! You've accomplished so much. You're an inspiration for me. Being vulnerable and documenting it is something a lot of us are afraid to do but in experiences like these its what makes the journey so rewarding. Thank you for what you provide us here on KZbin. You are an idol of mine.

[@wplate]

Thank you Cameron. It has been a lot of work, but I believe anyone who is dedicated to it can do these things. We are all incredibly capable!

[@curdstheword]

Just a wonderful video. You put us there, thank you.

[@wplate]

Thanks for watching, Chris, I’m happy you enjoyed it. And extra extra thanks for being a channel member! I’m very grateful for your support.

[@peachpiration]

Congratulations! Thank you for sharing your journey - very admirable!

[@wplate]

Thank you for watching!

[@davidfecteau1027]

Thank you Wes. As always, your are so generous to share your journey.

[@wplate]

I enjoy making these videos to share the special experiences. Thank you for watching! 🙌🏼

[@imjfarley01]

So inspirational Wes!! Thanks for documenting and sharing your journey. Kudos to you and your crew...she rocked it!!

[@wplate]

Thank you! My crew is awesome, I love sharing these adventures with Leah. 🥰

[@ChooseAdventureCaliforniaStyle]

I think I've watched this 10 times and haven't commented yet. Great job, Wes! Great run, great attitude, so nice to volunteers, great music, and edits. Great work all the way around! OK, now I have commented, and I'll watch again 😉. You're an inspiration

[@wplate]

Glad you're loving this video so much! Soon you'll be a candidate for channel membership! 😉😂🙌🏼 Thank you for watching! I'm looking forward to your 24 hour video!

[@ChooseAdventureCaliforniaStyle]

​@wplate A candidate for membership! 😂😂. I went back to cheer on the 48-hour folks of my race. My new friend Ed lost to a guy you might know, Greg Ottinger. He does races you do, like bigfoot 200. He said he didn't know you 🤷‍♂️. I'm gonna have to get real creative on my 24 hour video. I didn't film as much as I thought, and some of my clips don't make sense 😂. It was my first time attempting to film something like this and I was really nervous. So much I should've filmed and didn't. Time to get creative 🎥

[@oliviagreen8853]

So awesome there’s new events like this popping up! Means there’s demand for it 🤩 great video! You rocked it like always!

[@wplate]

I think this race will grow in popularity, Go Beyond Racing does a great job producing events and the location and trails were beautiful. Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@lizusedon9237]

Amazing running Wes and filming What a beautiful part of the world you were in You are inspiring! Thank you 🙏🏻

[@wplate]

Thank you! 🙌🏼

[@farayimabvuta626]

Always inspiring. Well done, and thank you for sharing your ultra adventures.

[@wplate]

Thanks for watching! I love making and sharing these videos. It makes me happy that you appreciate them.

[@TStrailadventures]

Congratulations on another great finish!! I enjoy seeing your journeys through your lens.

[@wplate]

Thanks so much!

[@matteoberra2599]

Wow!! What an Amazing experience! 🎉🎉 I saw you on the Oregon 200 site! congratulations Wes for the race! 9th Place!! Wow!!👏👏👏👏👏👏 This Is One of your best video since MOAB 2019, great race full of emotions, great places, and you flow Like a River!! Best part? 'Third day...HELL YEAH!" 😂😂 CONGRATULATIONS again Wes!! 🎉🎉🎉 Love from Italy 🇮🇹👏❤️

[@wplate]

I was in such a good mood coming into Sacanadaga again. The laughter was because I couldn’t form words, I was so full of good feeling. Might be the strongest runners high I’ve experienced yet. In happy you enjoyed watching this one!

[@mikes7654]

Incredible video Wes 😃👍🏃‍♂️. A huge Congratulations sir ! Your videos are always amazing ( views, scenery, etc…). We are always in for an awesome treat when you shoot a video. Than you again!

[@wplate]

@@mikes7654 Thank you! I love that you appreciate the efforts. 😊 Thank you for watching!

[@thecanopyclimber]

Love how you put this adventure together on video! Especially love how you tagged everyone with their names and bib numbers! Stay safe! And best of luck on the next one! 🤙🏻

[@wplate]

Thank you for watching!

[@brandob1238]

I've been out on IT band problems for a bit and I cant tell you how nice it is to be able to join you on the journey im missing out on. Very thankful

[@wplate]

I’m so happy my videos can help keep you company as you heal up! 🙌🏼

[@richardknowles8653]

Just, WOW! Here rehabbing and getting excited to get out there for some more long runs. Thanks for the video.

[@wplate]

Happy to be a part of your rehab time! Looking forward to you getting back out there.

[@mikemcginnis7766]

Wes. It's so great to watch another amazing video from you!! You really have tapped into the essence of what trail running means to many of us "regular folk"😊. Got my first 100k coming in just under 2 weeks and this gives me such great inspiration!! Looking forward to what's up next for ya!✌️

[@wplate]

Thank you Mike! What 100K do you have coming up?

[@mikemcginnis7766]

I'm doing Firewater Ultra in Greenback,TN. Near Knoxville... should be beautiful this time of year. Hope to see ya travel to the Southeast sometime... would be happy to introduce you to some awesome folks and great trails here in Alabama.✌️

[@wplate]

@@mikemcginnis7766 I should get to the southeast sometime. The heat and humidity intimidates me! Good luck at your 100k!!!

[@chadwilson7905]

Great video wes! I appreciate you capturing these experiences.

[@wplate]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed. I’ve been excited to share this one. 🙌🏼

[@johnaheywood]

You my friend are amazing...and taking a video the whole way Congratulations!

[@wplate]

Thank you for watching!

[@barbaraadventurespnw7032]

Wonderful capture of this beautiful race. So glad you got to be on my favorite trail.

[@wplate]

Barbara! Thanks for watching! And for the cold Coke! The North Umpqua trail made us work for all that beauty at a point in the run when weren’t really in the mood for that.😂 I would like to visit it on fresh legs and mind.

[@annefrontella5248]

Another great race and video, Wes! Thank you for bringing us along again on your adventure, I can't believe this is #8. I was going to volunteer on this one, but got asked to run Hood to Coast again and it was the same weekend. The heat was brutal on Hood to Coast - it was 72 degrees at Government Camp at 9:30 Friday morning and I was thinking of you hoping it was at least a little cooler on the Oregon 200 course. Congratulations!

[@wplate]

Hi Anne! That was a busy weekend for running in Oregon! I hope you had a good time at hood to coast.

[@davidhayward1261]

Well done Wes. Great video. Fantastic scenery. Love the way you thank all the volunteers. Top man 🎉😊👍🌲🏃🏻‍♂️

[@wplate]

Glad you enjoyed it! I hope every runner thanks the volunteers, it is important! 🙌🏼

[@Kelly_Ben]

Congratulations, to you and all of the finishers!! What an incredibly beautiful race. I’ll be honest, I very much underestimated you! When you hobbled in early on in the video at 60 miles, I thought to myself… he’s got to drop at the next aid station, but then what’s all the rest of the video about!? 😂 Then you breezed in at 90 miles, and my jaw dropped. I can’t wait to watch more of your videos. They’ll help me realize there’s always more in the tank, when I’m struggling in my first 50 miler in May!

[@wplate]

When I was vomiting and feeling like death at that first-day aid station, the volunteers were worried and didn’t seem to believe our confidence that it would get better. This is one of things to love about long ultras. There’s time to turn it around when you’re not feeling great. Keeping a positive attitude helps. Acknowledge the suck, even embrace the suck, don’t let the hard times bring you down and consider stopping. You’re right, there is more in the tank when you need it. Good luck at your first 50M!

[@nestorsanchez6144]

I always enjoy watching your videos Wes!!

[@wplate]

Thank you Nestor! Thank you for supporting the channel with your views.

[@jimmiebiggs3126]

Great video and views!! One of my favorites Wes!! Great job!!! Finished so strong, that was impressive!!

[@wplate]

Thank you Jimmie!

[@jordand.7798]

See all that really made me feel at home, thanks so much for recording and sharing your journey! Is it common to group up with other runners on such a long race? Jeff seemed grateful to go along with you and he seemed really nice!

[@wplate]

Thanks for watching! It is pretty common for runners to travel together. It can add a lot to the experience to meet new people and encourage each other. I had a great time with Jeff, he is so nice!

[@cafelatte55]

You are so tough mentally and physically! I gonna keep watching from Japan.

[@wplate]

Thank you for watching! 🙌🏼

[@acatholic9784]

Wow, such a gorgeous place to run!

[@wplate]

Beautiful trails

[@runhanrunnl]

What a great course - enjoyed your footage, thnx

[@wplate]

Thanks for watching!

[@patiencemcginnis7078]

Such an amazing feat, Wes! And what a beautiful journey!

[@wplate]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@pathalderman7051]

That was awesome! Congrats to you! Such a beautiful race. Thank you for sharing with all of us.

[@wplate]

I’m happy you enjoyed the video, thank you!

[@taylorquintero7745]

Thank you for inspiring

[@wplate]

Thanks for watching!

[@lexch]

Great job, Wes -- with the video and the race!

[@wplate]

Thank you!

[@kevinjansa7775]

Hope to run this with you someday. I've got my eye on this and Bigfoot. Epic stuff man. Thank you

[@wplate]

This is definitely one to have on your list. Oregon 200 and Bigfoot have some similarities, but this one not quite as big.

[@rowdybaddogg]

Stunning views, hats off to ya Wes!

[@wplate]

Thank you!

[@irunovermountains]

Another 200 in the books. Well done Wes 👏 You got such great lighting conditions for filming. The course looked spectacular.

[@wplate]

Thank you Aaron! 🙌🏼

[@CoIoneIPanic]

My own personal law of diminishing returns makes anything beyond a half marathon not really worth it. But some people really need that extra cathartic experience.

[@gabesmisadventures]

Love this so much! Amazing movie of your experience, very uplifting!

[@wplate]

Thank you Gabe! I'm stoked that you're stocking up your channel with videos of your adventures, you're a big inspiration my friend.

[@Dinckelburg]

What a treat of a video and an excellent effort by you Wes. Really hope i can run some of this trail in the future x

[@wplate]

This race includes some beautiful trails, that’s for sure! Thanks for watching.

[@MRNBricks]

Nice work, sir. That’s amazing.

[@wplate]

Thank for watching!

[@SeeChadRun]

I've never been to Oregon, but it looks beautiful! Great video as always Wes. Loved that waterfall at 21:12 and 22:38. Was the smoke at 34:00 hard to deal with (I know it affects people differently)? Strong finish!!! Well done!

[@wplate]

Yep that's smoke. I think the smoke was a factor in me feeling bad the first day, then the second day I was away from the smoke, then here on day 3 I returned to it. Thankfully on the return trip the smoke didn't bother me. Get thee to Oregon!

[@ramboray80]

I hope to meet you one day you brave soul !!

[@wplate]

🙌🏼 hope to see you out there!

[@walterhogie]

Congratulations!! Looks like a beautiful race!

[@wplate]

Truly beautiful! 🙌🏼

[@Steviestixx]

Congrats Wes! Another one done!

[@wplate]

Thank you for watching!

[@JorgeMartinez-uv4eh]

Congrats Wes!!!!

[@wplate]

Thank you!

[@Mattbarentsen]

Wow also such a beautiful course

[@wplate]

That Umpqua trail was some eye candy when we weren’t cursing it.

[@philipcoomber1548]

Great stuff Wes...fantastic footage...always inspirational...keep on keeping on...

[@wplate]

Thank you! 🙌🏼

[@martinc9096]

Awesome Brother! 🤙🏼🙌🏼💪🏼 Another one to add to the to do list...

[@wplate]

This is definitely one for your list! 🙌🏼

[@josepablogonzalez9047]

Just wow dude! Congrats

[@wplate]

Thanks!!

[@runningtowardultra7183]

Great video, as always, brother.

[@wplate]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!

[@mr.mueller7704]

Beast! Way to go

[@wplate]

🙌🏼 thanks for watching!

[@jackson_wolf]

Thank you for the incredible video. It was perfect to show my family that were following the tracker. They now see the course like I saw it. I’m def doing it again next year.

[@wplate]

Congrats on your strong finish Jason! I remember I had rolled into Timpanogas 1 and was sitting and trying but failing to eat a burger, marveling that you had already finished the loop and you were filling a ziplock bag with food to take on the trail. I felt a mess but you looked very well put together. I’m glad you enjoyed the video, thanks for sharing it with your family!

[@terryfnk2060]

Epic!!! Love your videos

[@wplate]

Thank you! 🙌🏼

[@comissiotecnicacrossmatade682]

Very good video i´m enjoyed, Thanks to Barcelona!

[@wplate]

Thank you for watching!

[@mikemcginnis7766]

9th out of 31 finishers?!? Gonna need to think about changing that IG "handle" to something different!! Wes... you crushed that event, sir!! What a journey that was!

[@wplate]

I have been getting a little faster, but I'm sure it's temporary! 😂 Thank you so much for being a channel member, your extra support means so much to me. 🙌🏼

[@nmcgourty22]

Eric McGee bib 123. Sounds very Dr Seuss.

[@wplate]

Eric McGee bib 123 he runs a lot more than him or her or me

[@jasonlackey1960]

This was amazing Wes and definitely motivational! What brand lights are you running with on your head and waist?

[@wplate]

On my waist I'm using the Lumen 850 Duo from UltrAspire ultraspire.com/products/lumen-850-duo-waist-light and on my head I have an old Petzl MYO. www.rei.com/product/887896/petzl-myo-headlamp I have the waist lamp at its low brightness setting, a single battery lasts all night, then I carry a backup battery. The waist lamp illuminates the ground in front of me so I kick fewer rocks and roots. The headlamp is pointing further ahead, so I can see the trail and course markers up ahead. The combination is awesome. Thanks for watching!

[@jasonlackey1960]

@@wplate thank you sir I appreciate it! I’ve hiked and been a runner all of my life, I’m 36 now, and I think I want to try to get into Ultra, but I don’t know if I can do it, will have to see..

[@wplate]

@@jasonlackey1960 Of course you can do it!

[@jasonlackey1960]

One more question, which Ultrapsire vest are you running with? Thank you!

[@lanceharpe205]

Congrats on another 200 finish! I'm curious how you liked the course compared to the other 200s. Unfortunately this race doesn't strike my interest the way moab and coco did and after watching your vid and Doug and Drew's vid, my impression of the race seems a little validated. That being said im open to a different opinion, change my mind please! Cheers!

[@wplate]

Hey Lance! I thought of you during this bad boy, as I occasionally had flashbacks of Rogue Gorge 50k. Beautiful! It was more challenging than I expected, and I love/hated long sections of it. I even puked and rallied. What more could you ask for? I was excited for this one because of my fondness for Go Beyond Racing, as they produce Mountain Lakes 100, my first 100. And I like Oregon. 200 miles in Oregon sounded like a good recipe. The course runs along two main trails, the Middle Fork and the North Umpqua. Both are visual feasts, absolutely beautiful, and they are different from each other. The trails are physically and mentally challenging. First you have to get to the Middle Fork trail, and that involved a wonderfully strong hike from the start followed by the longest paved downhill you’ve ever seen, and then you run around and past a reservoir on mostly flat gravel and paved forest roads. The trail really starts at mile 26. Later there’s another forest road transit section, which isn’t postcard worthy, but these features are both necessary and add to the overall challenge of the run. I find it difficult to rank or compare any of the 200s, they’re all so different. I think this race will invite runners who wouldn’t have considered Bigfoot or Moab. Growing the appeal of the sport!

[@Simco_]

Did they happen to mention why everyone's bib numbers were in the 100s when they had 50~ runners?

[@wplate]

They didn’t mention it, nor did I hear anyone ask, but bib numbers are arbitrary and very often don’t reflect the number of entrants.

[@Simco_]

@@wplate Sometimes you'll get a race that ordered 1000 a couple years ago so each year gets bigger. Or they separate numbers by distance. But it looks like they just chose to order starting at number 100. Just funny and wondered if they mentioned a reason.

[@wplate]

@@Simco_ Not sure what their design is, but three digit bib numbers are my preference. Bibs are printed with runner names too, I have always appreciated that. If we could just get all the runners to wear their bib facing backwards, it is nice for identifying yourself to other runners. I know aid station volunteers see that less-well. He answer could be a bib belt (feels like a road running thing, but Cocodona gave us bib belts the first couple years, I liked it), you can spin the bib around your body easily.

[@patmadlener6349]

How challenging was it for your wife(crew chief) to get to the aid stations that allow crew?

[@wplate]

For Leah, the drive to Lemolo from Timpanogas was the worst. She said other crew complained about that road. On the return, Leah and a couple other crews caravanned a different much longer way around that was a better drive. Other than that the driving was easy she said.

[@stephenpiccolo]

What kind of shoes did you wear?

[@wplate]

I used four pairs of shoes in this event, alternating road and trail shoes Mile 0-26, 174-200 HOKA Clifton 9 Mile 26-69, 142-174 Topo Athletic MTN Racer 3 Mile 69-89, 121-142 Topo Athletic Phantom 2 Mile 89-121 Topo Athletic Ultraventure Pro

[@lasted_leather]

Eric McGee the beast

[@wplate]

Everyone needs to be talking about Eric McGee. He’s amazing.

[@Mattbarentsen]

What was the elevation gain?

[@wplate]

My watch said 24,236 ft

[@Mattbarentsen]

awesome, strong legs = strong mind @@wplate

[@Snaerffer]

Wish I had a loving and supportive wife like you …. Great effort by you too. 👍

[@wplate]

I’m very lucky to have the support that I do. 🙌🏼

[@erinsheridan4470]

So much solitude on trail….

[@wplate]

It was a small field in this inaugural year, just 45 starters I think. I pingponged with mostly then same few people. The out and back made it so everyone passed each other, I liked that.

[@miahrun]

Love you Wes

[@wplate]

Thank you!