THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2019 ~ Celebrating the Adventure
9:30 a.m. WESTERN STATES WELCOME ~ Join Race Director Craig Thornley, WSER Foundation President John Medinger, members of the WS Board of Trustees, veteran buckle winners, and superstar WS volunteers in the amphitheater near the Vendor Expo for some Western States hospitality! Bring your crews, pacers, and fans — Everyone is welcome!
10:00 a.m. TREK TO EMIGRANT PASS (Mo Livermore and Tony Rossmann) ~ Gather at the Start Line Arch. Run, walk or ride the tram to the summit (mile 4.0 on the course) for unique inspiration, amazing views and special Western States camaraderie. Wear layered clothing and trail shoes. Short program will begin at Watson Monument at high noon.
Please note: A climb of 2,550 feet in four miles to an elevation of 8,750 feet, the trek to the summit can take up to two hours. Walking distance to Emigrant Pass from High Camp, the terminus of the tram, is about one mile (550 feet of altitude gain). In snow years, an alternate site on the mountain may be used.
Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.
John Muir
The Following Presentations/Clinics at TBD
2:30 p.m. CREWING A WESTERN STATES RUNNER – (Tropical John Medinger and Lon Monroe)
3:45 p.m. Ultrarunning Research and Performance – (Dr John Diana, Jason Koop, Tonya Olson & John Vonof)
5:00 p.m. Women of WSER Q&A Panel hosted by Trail Sisters – (Hosted by Gina Lucrezi) Join in our Q&A with 2019 female WSER participants. Learn about their journey in preparing for WSER, what WSER means to them, their thoughts on women’s participation in trail running, entry barriers and other interesting topics within the sport. Bring your questions and add to the discussion!
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019 ~ The Countdown Begins
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. RACE REGISTRATION ~ located near the Start Line Arch at the Olympic Plaza. Attendance by all runners is mandatory.
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. DROP BAG DELIVERY ~ Runners must leave drop bags at the collection area near the corner of Squaw Peak and Squaw Valley Road (near the tram building) for Race Day distribution to checkpoints. Be sure to read important drop bag details.
10:00 a.m. Altra 6K UPHILL CHALLENGE ~ meet at the Start Line Arch.
2:00 p.m. RACE MEETING ~ at the Squaw Valley Conference Center. Attendance by all runners is mandatory.
SATURDAY, JUNE 29, 2019 ~ Race Day
3:30 a.m. COMPLIMENTARY BREAKFAST ~ served inside the Olympic Plaza near the Start.
4:00 a.m. – 4:50 a.m. PRE-RACE CHECK-IN and BIB NUMBER HAND-OUT ~ located inside the Olympic Plaza. Mandatory. Any runner not checked in will be disqualified.
5:00 a.m. THE START!
SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2019
5:00 a.m. SILVER BUCKLE WINNERS HAVE FINISHED.
11:00 a.m. BRONZE BUCKLE WINNERS HAVE FINISHED. END OF RUN.
8 a.m. – Noon. CELEBRATION BREAKFAST ~ served at the Finish Line. Free to all entrants and volunteers. Crews, pacers, families and fans welcome; donations appreciated.
12:30 p.m. PRESENTATION OF AWARDS near the Finish Line at the Placer High School track.
IMPORTANT: If you are unable to attend the awards ceremony, please have someone else attend in your place so they can pick up your buckle for you. Finisher buckles may not be picked up early as finisher names are being engraved on the buckles. If you would like your buckle mailed to you, a $35 mailing fee must be received in the WS office by September 1st.
Drop bags must be claimed by 3:00 p.m., Sunday. Drop bags are located on the infield of the Placer High School track (the Finish Line). Any drop bags remaining at the track following the event may be disposed of. DO NOT leave valuables in your drop bags.
What they had done, what they had seen, heard, felt, feared – the places, the sounds, the colors, the cold, the bleakness, the beauty. Til they died, this stream of memory would set them apart, if imperceptibly from anyone but themselves….
Bernard De Voto
