Western States 100: Who to Watch and How to Follow It All

Western States is the oldest 100-miler in the U.S.—and this Saturday, it’s back with one of the most competitive fields we’ve seen in a long time.

But you’re a PaceSetR—you already know this race hits different. That’s why you’re here. Send this to your crew. Or don’t. But they’ll probably be asking you for updates anyway.

Here’s your bite-sized preview:

⚡ TL;DR – Western States 100 at a Glance

• Race starts: Saturday, June 28 at 5:00 a.m. PT

• Distance & Elevation: 100.2 miles, 18,000 ft up, 23,000 ft down

• Cutoffs: 30 hours to finish; sub-24 = silver buckle

• Where to watch:

  • Live tracking via UltraLive

  • YouTube livestream on the official WSER channel (limited coverage)

• Jim Walmsley is OUT – 3x champ and course record holder won’t toe the line

• Kilian Jornet is IN – but coming off a cold and heat training at 110°F

• Men’s favorites: Rod Farvard, Daniel Jones, Caleb Olson

• Women’s race is wide open – Keep an eye on Fu-Zhao Xiang, Emily Hawgood, and Ida Nilsson

• Weather: Potential snow early, heat in the canyons—classic WS carnage ahead

• PaceSetR tip: Follow @rod.farvard, @daniel.c.jones, @xiang.fuzhao and more for race-day posts and story updates

  
  

⛰️ What the Western States 100 Course Actually Looks Like

• Stage 1, Mile 0: start at ~6,200 ft. Gate’s open, heart rate’s racing.

• To Emigrant Pass (~4.5 mi): +2,550 ft in less than 5 miles.

• Then: 100 flat-out miles of Sierra grind—18k up, 23k down.

• You’ll cross old miner trails, crash down through canyons, dodge heat, and after Devil’s Thumb, sprint into Placer High. Buckle territory. 

⏱️ How Long Runners Have to Finish (and Why Buckles Matter)

5 a.m. Saturday till 10:59:59 a.m. Sunday = your 30-hour cutoff.

• Under 24 hours? Silver buckle.

• Up to 30? Bronze.

• That extra hour over 30 = DNF.

📆 Race Week Schedule

• Thurs, June 26: pre-race warmup—4-mi shakeout, elite podcast panel, crews schooling, HOKA flag at High Camp. Trailhead to trail politics in one morning. 

• Fri, June 27: bib pick-up, drop-bag hustle, low-key expo, pack-and-pray eve. Crew zones get loud from 4–5 p.m.

• Sat, June 28:

  • 3:30 a.m.: first-light Escarpment hike—views that make the agony worth it.

  • 5 a.m.: we’re off.

  • From Foresthill to Auburn: cheer stations, pacers flying, crews staging—community on speed.

  • Highlights: direct sunrise, tram rides, golden hour on the Placer High track. 

    
    

👀 Who to Watch at Western States 100

🔥 Men’s Contenders

• Rod Farvard – Tactical, sharp, and confident—expect race-week insights and sharp post-race breakdowns.

• Daniel Jones – Down-to-earth New Zealander with honest training updates and no-BS trail takes.

• Caleb Olson – New-gen talent with a throwback racing style—gritty posts, solid captions.

• Kilian Jornet – The GOAT. Pure mountain porn. Even if he doesn’t race, his stories and reflections are gold.

• Vincent Bouillard – French engine with scenic shots and beast-mode training logs.

• David Roche – Endlessly positive coach and podcast host—expect big race-week thoughts and athlete insights.

• Adam Peterman – Clean, fast, consistent—his feed shows what top-tier prep looks like without the ego.

💪 Women’s Field

• Fu-Zhao Xiang – Quiet presence, but when she posts, it’s race-focused and all business.

• Eszter Csillag – Great visuals, with reflective posts on racing, motherhood, and mental strength.

• Emily Hawgood – Pure trail joy—fun-loving, race-ready energy that brings you into the moment.

• Heather Jackson – From triathlon to ultras—fierce race-day vibes and honest post-run reflections.

• Ida Nilsson – Gorgeous alpine training shots, Scandinavian-style race prep, and effortless grit.

🧭 PaceSetR Insider Playbook

• The UltraLive tracker updates splits every few aid stations. Here’s where you actually learn something:

  • Mile 30 (Robinson Flat) – If someone’s not moving well here, they’re not just “starting slow”—they’re toast.

  • Mile 62 (Foresthill) – The biggest mid-race time check. Gaps form fast here.

  • Mile 78 (Rucky Chucky) – River crossing. If they’re limping here, it’s over.

  • Mile 94 (No Hands Bridge) – The heartbreaker. This is where comebacks stall and legends are mad

• Sort by aid station, not overall, and compare how many minutes runners gain or lose between splits. That’s where races are won.

• Want to really go deep? Follow the crew! Look at a runner's “Tagged” tab an hour or two into the race. You’ll find IG accounts with names like @emilyhawgoodcrew or random friends posting from aid stations before the livestream even notices.

• Here’s what makes you the PaceSetR in your group:

  • You already know Jim’s out.

  • You call a late charge at Mile 62 before anyone else sees it.

  • You’re following someone’s pacer’s story at Mile 78 before the leaderboard updates.

  • You’re the one who tells everyone “Kilian’s crew just posted a pic. He’s not looking good.”

🌟 Be Part of the Pack

You’re not just here for Western States. You’re here because you care about this stuff—about big moves, late-race blowups, and knowing who crossed the line before the dust settles.

If you’re into this world, you should probably be getting our texts.

👉 Sign up now at pacesetr.com – it’s free, and way more fun than scrolling Twitter for scraps.