2009 Western States 100 Roundup [Updated 7/3/09]

Yeah, I was on the course and could report on what I saw at this year’s Western States 100. Not gonna do that as such coverage would be incomplete due to my switch from reporter to Andy Jones-Wilkins’s pacer at Bath Road. I’ll leave the reporting to those who had a consistent role (be it as a competitor, a photographer, or a videographer) from the start to the finish… or at least the finish of their attempt. We’ll be adding some additional sources as we see fit. Congratulations to all the runners, volunteers, crew, board members, and pacers who made the 2009 Western States Endurance Run a race to remember!

Race Reports and the Like
Here are post-Western States dispatches from the some of our favorite bloggers:

• Andy Jones-Wilkins lets us know what it’s like to really race for a top 10 men’s spot at States. He gave that extra 2%!
• Craig Thornley provides ten highlights of this year’s race prior to his full race report.
• Kiwi Paul Charteris writes about his path to a DNF.
• Ultra newbie and mountain running sensation, Caitlin Smith, shares her pacing experience including a list of “the best part[s] of pacing.”
• Scott Dunlap’s extremely thorough race report!
• While he wasn’t there, Ed from TrailrunningSoul.com followed the race and provided this excellent wrap up post. His post includes links to many articles on the race.
• Jasper Halekas (4th, second American) posted a great blow-by-blow on Facebook.
• Ultra-stud Sean Meissner pukes profusely, but shows his strength as he survives a suffer-fest.
• Donald provides the best report from a middle of the pack runner that I’ve read so far.
• Jean Pommier gets tougher during this year’s race.
• Why you won’t see Brian Morrison toeing the line in Squaw Valley next year.
• Krissy Moehl clearly gave it her all en route to a second place women’s finish.

Matt Hart’s Videos
While we here at iRunFar would prefer to see Matt Hart running in this year’s WSER, boy are we glad he showed up to be the race’s unofficial videographer. Below are links to Matt’s great interviews and shots from the race.

• Hal Koerner (men’s winner) finish and finish line interview
• Anita Ortiz (women’s winner) finish and finish line interview
• Bev Anderson-Abbs pre-race interview
• Jasper Halekas pre-race interview
• Michael Wardian pre-race interview
• Flyin’ Brian Robinson pre-race interview
• Gary Robbins on-course footage
• Start of the 2009 WS100
• Bryon Powell’s race predictions

Hart also took a bunch of photos over the WS weekend.

More Photos
If you want photos of a West Coast ultra, the first person to whom you should look is Glenn Tachiyama. WSER ’09 was no exception. Here ya go!

• WS teaser album on Facebook.
• A larger Facebook WSER album.

Of course, some folks other than Hart and Glenn Tachiyama took some great shots of this year’s race.

• A small set (13 photos) by Akim Aginsky that are well worth the look. I love shot 12 of AJW!

Conclusion
Please feel free to leave a comment if you know of a good 2009 WS100 race report, photo set, video, article, or other resource.

Hal not following the rules coming into Michigan Bluff! :-)
(click to enlarge)

Related articles:

1. 2010 Western States 100 Roundup A round-up of the best coverage of the 2010 Western States 100 from around the internet....
2. Bryon Powell Post-2011 Western States 100 Interview Andy Jones-Wilkins interviews Bryon Powell of iRunFar after Bryon's fourth Western States 100 finish....
3. 2011 Western States 100 Post-Race Story Roundup A roundup of the best stories of the 2011 Western States 100 from around the web....

Filed under News, Races · Tagged with Western States 100

Bryon Powell is the Editor-in-Chief of iRunFar.com, which he founded five years ago. Also the author of Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons and a contributing editor at Trail Runner magazine, he's quickly approaching 10 years as an ultrarunner and 20 years as a trail runner. These days he calls Park City, Utah and its trails home.
All posts by Bryon Powell