Want to qualify for the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run? It takes skill—and a bit of luck.
■ International Famous Races
Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run
Entry is as hard to get as a golden ticket
One of the oldest ultra-endurance running events in the U.S., established in 1977. The course was originally the 55-year-old Tevis Cup endurance horse race route, featuring an elevation gain of 5,700 meters and a descent of 7,000 meters. Entry is extremely limited, with the organizing committee allowing no more than 400 participants per year for environmental protection reasons. Qualification is determined by lottery, based on the last three digits of the Dow Jones index closing (participants are randomly assigned a number between 0–999). Those who draw a qualifying number must also submit proof of at least 8 hours of volunteer service at an endurance running event to secure their final spot.
Location: Squaw Valley to Auburn, Sierra Nevada, California, USA
Total distance: Complete 100 miles (166 km) within 30 hours
Entry fee: $370
Marathon des Sables (MDS) in the Sahara Desert, Morocco
Every runner is like a grain of sand in the Sahara
Founded by Frenchman Patrick Bauer and first held in 1986. Participants endure six grueling days to complete the 250-km course—equivalent to six regular marathons. The longest stage is 84 km. The entire journey is akin to a trial by fire: nothing but desert lies ahead, and runners must carry all their own supplies, including first aid kits and distress signal flares… They climb undulating sand dunes, run painfully across gravel-strewn wastelands, cross parched riverbeds with parched throats, and struggle over barren, rocky mountains. Every participant feels like an insignificant speck of sand in the vast desert. The race route traverses quicksand zones, massive dunes, rolling hills, rocky plateaus, and dry riverbeds. The Sahara Desert reveals its hidden face as a reward for the runners’ arduous efforts. Chen Penbin, an ultra-endurance runner from China, has completed this toughest of ultra-marathons.
Founded by Frenchman Patrick Bauer and first held in 1986. Participants endure six grueling days to complete the 250-km course—equivalent to six regular marathons. The longest stage is 84 km. The entire journey is akin to a trial by fire: nothing but desert lies ahead, and runners must carry all their own supplies, including first aid kits and distress signal flares… They climb undulating sand dunes, run painfully across gravel-strewn wastelands, cross parched riverbeds with parched throats, and struggle over barren, rocky mountains. Every participant feels like an insignificant speck of sand in the vast desert. The race route traverses quicksand zones, massive dunes, rolling hills, rocky plateaus, and dry riverbeds. The Sahara Desert reveals its hidden face as a reward for the runners’ arduous efforts. Chen Penbin, an ultra-endurance runner from China, has completed this toughest of ultra-marathons.
Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB)
This extreme trail run features a total elevation gain of 9,400 meters, circling the hiking trails of the Alps and crossing France, Italy, and Switzerland. The 166-km course consecutively summits 10 ridges over 2,000 meters high. Each year, tens of thousands of trail running enthusiasts undergo rigorous training and preparation to compete for the 3,000 available entry spots.