The History of the Western States 100

[@ryanholler7463]

Great video! I am from Arkansas, and was fortunate enough to attend Western States in 2010 to crew for my friend, Jeff Genova. I think I was bitten by the 100 mile bug when I watched the leaders run through Foresthill. So I ran the Pinhoti 100 in 2011, and was lucky enough to be drawn for Western States in 2014, with only 2 tickets in. It is still the highlight of my now 17 years of running. Thanks again for the great video!

[@bencook9989]

I’m running in 2023, great video

[@theultratrailbreakdown]

Oh amazing! Good luck, hope you have an awesome time out there.

[@matthewmyers7826]

Had an amazing experience last year even though the race didn't go as planned. My advice, don't underestimate the course will all the talk about it being a fast course!

[@codyrobinson5130]

Great breakdown, and history lesson. Love this race. Cheers!

[@theultratrailbreakdown]

Thank you 🙏

[@andrewinpompey]

Excellent script and narration, thanks

[@kstoeb]

I love that you recommend other authors‘ movies in your „History of …“- films. And yours are great. Thanks 🙏

[@theultratrailbreakdown]

Thanks, glad you’re enjoying them.

[@swiftcolin]

Man this was fantastic, I thought I knew most of the history already but I didn’t. Well done!

[@theultratrailbreakdown]

Thank you Colin, glad you enjoyed. Can’t wait for this years race now!

[@emmawagner3483]

I'm volunteering this year and could not be more excited!! Great video :)

[@theultratrailbreakdown]

Wow, very jealous, I hope you have an amazing day!

[@thestreakpodcast]

Super video. BTW. I've watched Unbreakable at least 50 times. Great fact about Kat Bradley.

[@pathalderman7051]

Great job! This is my favorite race and this history of it is 1st rate. Awesome!

[@mbaleva5677]

You outdid yourself with this video. And I get why you're talking way too fast. You don't want to lose your audience. But since your audience is trail runners whom you know have immense amounts of patience and we enjoy the process. So, kudos again to this latest upload.

[@theultratrailbreakdown]

Thanks, much appreciated! Good point, I was just worried the video would be too long if I didn’t speed up. A lot of history to get through. Thanks for the feedback

[@ob1447]

Do you know where you can find footage of the 1994 and 1995 races?

[@enemyofthesun]

"Old Domination 100" just want to clarify that it is Old DOMINION 100 which was founded in 1979. nice vid

[@theultratrailbreakdown]

Thank you for the correction, apologies for the error, I’m unfamiliar with that race and clearly misread the name. It’s a shame a race that old doesn’t get the coverage (at least worldwide - I’m in the UK) that some of other US 100milers get.

[@enemyofthesun]

@@theultratrailbreakdown no problem and yeah, it's a pretty low-key race and I believe it is almost entirely on gravel roads so it's a different beast!

[@N8TRONOUS]

That was awesome, thank you

[@kevinjames1930]

Excellent video.. thank you. Do we have a list of elite men for this year as yet??

[@theultratrailbreakdown]

Thank you. There’s a full start list on the WS website. I’m working on some preview videos discussing some of the favourites, hopefully be out in a couple days.

[@KTravRuNEr]

Love this video

[@JaySizz]

What a great video. Here's another "how" for ya... HOW do you only have 587 subscribers??

[@JackKinross]

Thanks, great video.

[@theultratrailbreakdown]

Thanks Jack, appreciate it 🙏

[@Lalo_Runs]

As a road runner and done 3 spartan 10k in Big Bear CA. I salute every trail runner 😅

[@KelpandFern]

Great video but the LDWA 100 miler started in 1973 and is the longest 100 miler in the world that is still going, it's also a UK event.

[@dewilderdbetter]

some of the old-timers will remember there was credible evidence one of the well-known top runners was “assisted” up the long, long hill to Devil’s Thumb by holding onto a horse’s tail.

[@JaySizz]

I've been somewhat aware of the untold and skewed history for years, but really, how did we ever hear so much about Gordy and so little about Andy Gonzalez? That really is disappointing enough to make me a little angry.

[@theultratrailbreakdown]

Yeah Andy definitely deserves to be a household name within ultra running. To run 18:50 in 1978 is insane! (Even with the short course) that’s like top 20-30 place even now. Gordy just knew how to market himself, he’s been giving interviews since the beginning, from what I’ve read it seems like Andy was much more shy/humble

[@matthewmyers7826]

@@theultratrailbreakdown 18:50 on the 80 something mile course or was it 93 then?

[@fabians2799]

I love the video but already the first sentence "WS100 the most important Race of the Ultra world"...sorry this is such an typical american sentence...you got your NBA Finals, you got the Superbowl but sorry UTMB is the most important Ultra...ask Jim ;P

[@theultratrailbreakdown]

Thanks, glad you loved the video. I think the two races are up there together, above all the others, but it’s hard to compare them against each other. In a previous video I have said that UTMB is the Super Bowl of trail running, due to the scale and atmosphere of the race. But I also think WS100 holds an equally important place due to its history. Plus I think it’s smaller scale captures the core trail running values a bit more, with UTMB being seemingly all about making money. Either way, both are great/important races, apologies if you thought I was being biased towards WS, that’s just my personal preference, if offered the chance to take part in either, I’d be choosing WS. Will probably make a similar video about UTMB in august, but June is WS100 month so next couple of videos will be focusing on that. Also, I’m not American haha!

[@Mr_Fairdale]

Yes clearly an American bias. The accent is a dead giveaway lol

[@andrewb1367]

one could say you've got a bias for utmb. sounds like its up to who you ask. btw the other sports mentions are irrelevant and don't support the statement.

[@Jdibb36]

Would be great to speak slower (that’s from a Brit!)

[@rbell7666]

I have always wanted to institute a new award for the last official finisher. Shaped like and anchor and named after Gordy's lame horse.