I have been to many ultra marathon races, but this was my first time participating at a 100 miler. Along with 4 others, I was crewing for my friend Justin Angle at the Western States 100. This is a brutal course that travels from Squaw Valley to Auburn, CA. It travels over mountains and across rivers for a total of 18,000 feet of climbing and 22,000 feet of descending. With 5 crew members, Justin had a large support staff which should have made for a perfect day.

Well, things didn't go so smoothly, a course change because of snow in the mountains made for a faster race. That meant Justin came through the checkpoints about 20 minutes ahead of schedule and we missed him at the first two. He didn't get his bottles and food until mile 40 or so. At mile 52, the Michigan Bluff checkpoint, I got to see Justin for the first time. He was hurting. Temps were in the upper 90's, sun was blazing and he had hit a big wall. A little rest, chicken soup, and encouragement from his other crew members got him going again. At mile 58 or so, his crew was allowed to start pacing him. That with the food at Michigan Bluff got Justin to rally and he looked strong as ever at mile 62. From there out for the next 38 miles he fought hard as his 3 pacers traded off. My next sighting of Justin was at mile 93, and he was ready for this race to be done. I don't blame him, it had been 17 hours of hard running. 7 miles later, the race ends at the Placer High School in Auburn, CA. The runners enter the school stadium and take one final lap around the track before crossing the finish line. Justin came through under the lights at 19 hours, 20 minutes, and 2 seconds. That put him at 20th overall (out of over 400 runners). I think he rocked. I know he wanted better, but in a 100 mile race over some of the most brutal terrain anything can happen. I spoke with Justin 24 hours after the race and he proved to me that he is one of the best athletes I know. I asked him how he felt and he said his legs hurt a little bit but the worst thing is a blister on the bottom of his foot. A BLISTER!!!!!! 100 miles of running and a blister. He is awesome. I don't know what's next for Justin, maybe finishing that PhD, raising his newborn daughter, but I'll be there at that next race he does.