Western States Endurance Run.
The Western States Endurance Run is regarded as the world's oldest 100-mile trail race, crossing the high country from Olympic Valley, near the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, to Auburn, California. It starts as a mountain race, yet it mostly tests your quads: the course loses far more height than it gains, and anyone who underrates that pays over the final 60 kilometres.
Western States Endurance Run 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
This is a one-way crossing: you leave a piece of Olympic history and arrive 100.2 miles later in a Californian town more than 1,500 metres lower. The longest climb of the race comes first, a little over six kilometres at nearly 12 percent straight from the start. By kilometre 8 you have already passed the high point at just over 2,500 metres. The route stays up there past kilometre 30, at around 2,100 to 2,200 metres, then drops and returns to that height one last time from kilometre 45.
At kilometre 50 the character changes. The next 25 kilometres shed more than 1,200 metres, and the bottom leads straight into the hardest ramp of the day: almost 500 metres of gain in just 2.6 kilometres, averaging 19 percent. After the following descent, two more climbs from kilometre 86 add over 500 metres between them.
From there the course falls to around 300 metres by kilometre 116 and carries on nearly level. The rest rolls: moderate climbs from kilometres 125 and 147 interrupt the running, and a final 240 metres or so of gain still stands between you and Auburn. The total comes to about 5,000 metres up and more than 6,500 metres down.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0 | 6.5 km | 11.5 % | 22.5 % | +746 m | Cat. 1 |
| km 45.1 | 1.5 km | 12.8 % | 18.7 % | +188 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 74.7 | 2.6 km | 19 % | 27.2 % | +495 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 85.6 | 2.6 km | 14.6 % | 22.6 % | +372 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 88.4 | 1.3 km | 12 % | 17.2 % | +156 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 125.3 | 2.9 km | 7.8 % | 15.4 % | +223 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 147.2 | 2.7 km | 7.5 % | 15.9 % | +201 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 155.6 | 4.2 km | 5.9 % | 18.7 % | +244 m | Cat. 3 |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Western States Endurance Run.
Start under control
Treat the first 50 kilometres as the commute to the real race. The opening climb is only sensibly done at a hike anyway, and above 2,000 metres any extra pace costs more than it returns. Keep the effort in the high country low enough to feel almost too easy.
Hold your rhythm
The biggest trap opens at kilometre 50. The long descent runs freely and the watch rewards every kilometre, but the muscles keep the bill: more than half of this course goes downhill, and this is where the damage is done that only surfaces hours later. Take it with short strides and brake against the slope as little as you can.
Spend what is left
The race is decided between kilometres 75 and 90. Those three steep climbs arrive on legs the descent has already hurt, so hike them calmly and without chasing time. The payoff is the gentler ground from kilometre 116: it is where running is still possible, and jogging it gains more time than any quick kilometre in the high country.
Training plan for Western States Endurance Run: 12-week build
Build the base
Age-group athletes are out for roughly 24 to 30 hours, so the race spans two calendar days and at least one night. The load is almost entirely aerobic, an alternation of hiking the climbs and easy running. What limits you is rarely lungs or heart rate; it is how long your legs and stomach keep cooperating.
Train race pace
Your key stimulus is downhill running on tired legs. Build long runs with the steep descents in the second half, and raise weekly descent gradually over months. Strength work for quads and glutes belongs in the plan as well, because more than 6,500 metres of descent cannot be prepared by running volume alone.
Rehearse the course
The stretch from kilometre 75 to 90 demands that you can still climb steeply after a long drop. Train exactly that order: the descent first, then brisk hiking straight afterwards on slopes of 15 to 20 percent, with poles if you intend to race with them. Back-to-back long days also prepare you for the final 40 kilometres, where you have to start running again.
Arrive fresh
The race falls in late June and spans more than 2,300 metres between its highest and lowest points. So do not set your kit and fluid plan by the conditions at the start alone. If you live at low altitude, plan time high up before race day, because nearly all of the first 50 kilometres sit above 1,700 metres. At least one long run into the night will also show you how you handle a headlamp and fatigue.
Courses
Download the Western States Endurance Run course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Western States Endurance Run dynamically
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Everything about Western States Endurance Run.
How long is Western States Endurance Run?
Western States Endurance Run is 161.26 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Western States Endurance Run have?
Western States Endurance Run has around 4,983 m of elevation gain over 161.26 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Western States Endurance Run?
Western States Endurance Run is classified as Mountainous, averaging 30.9 vertical metres per kilometre. 10% of the route is flat, 19% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 17% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Western States Endurance Run have?
The hardest climb of Western States Endurance Run starts at kilometre 0, runs for 6.5 km at an average of 11.5% and gains 746 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 1. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Western States Endurance Run a loop course?
No, Western States Endurance Run is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the Western States Endurance Run course?
Yes. The Western States Endurance Run course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Western States Endurance Run?
Preparation for Western States Endurance Run should account for 161.26 km, 4,983 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Western States Endurance Run?
The pacing strategy for Western States Endurance Run should reflect 161.26 km, 4,983 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Western States Endurance Run 2027 take place?
Western States Endurance Run 2027 takes place on June 26, 2027.
Where does Western States Endurance Run 2027 take place?
Western States Endurance Run 2027 takes place in Olympic Valley, United States.
How do I register for Western States Endurance Run?
Registration runs through the organiser: wser.org. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
