SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Juan Carlos Morales Rodriguez , 36 , of El Marques , Mexico , is overcome with emotion after finishing during the final hour of the 100-mile race . PHOTO BY STEVE MARTARANO
pickle juice to grilled cheese sandwiches to sodas like Mountain Dew , Coca Cola and ginger ale .
Theo Wirth , 58 , of Roseville , a 2005 Western States finisher who also competed in the race in 2022 , explains that Coke gives a sugar boost , which he ’ s happy to grab late in the race . “ I never drink Coke unless I ’ m racing an ultra ,” Wirth says .
When he ran his first Western States in 2005 , Wirth finished in 23 hours , earning a buckle for people who finish in under 24 hours . But he suffered bad blisters , with his feet thrashed at the end and had to go to urgent care that night for a shot of antibiotics after one of the blisters became infected .
This year , Wirth has a plan . At the race ’ s first major aid station at Mile 30 , he will change his shoes and socks and lubricate his feet with Squirrel ’ s Nut Butter , which he says is popular in the ultramarathon community . His wife and three daughters will be split between two support vehicles .
One daughter , 19-year-old Chico State sophomore Hannah Wirth , paced her dad for the final 20 miles . ( He finished in 27:30:25 .)
In general , competitors seem to be moving strategically as they reach Devil ’ s Thumb near the race ’ s midpoint . Most are wearing lightweight vests that allow them to bring supplies like salt tablets or power gel with them on the course . Seemingly all walk into the aid station , which is on a plateau after a valley . It ’ s just one climb in a race where runners go up a total of 18,000 feet and down 22,000 feet .
This aid station can be a critical point to reach in the race , though not everyone makes it beyond . Last year , 36 competitors had to leave the race at Devil ’ s Thumb due to heat and other factors , says Alene Aldrich , a longtime medical volunteer for the race .
“ We see dehydration ,” Aldrich says . “ We see some hyponatremia . But I haven ’ t had it really bad that they need an IV or worse .”
Dr . Julie Ingwerson , a UC Davis Health assistant clinical professor whose specialties include sports medicine and who volunteered at Western States in 2014 , says extreme sports are definitely a healthy pursuit .
“ You just have to be wise about it , like anything in life ,” Ingwerson says .
Finishing the race
Events like the Tevis Cup and Western States don ’ t come and go quietly in places like Auburn . They are points of immense local pride .
“ We call ourselves the Endurance Capital of the World because we had the first long endurance race ( done on horse ) and then ( a ) run of 100 miles ,” says Rachel Radell-Harris , an Auburn city councilwoman .
Once a year , Western States is a boon to both Olympic Valley and Auburn , says John Donlevy , city manager for Auburn . He notes via email , “ A reality of Western States is that Auburn serves as the base for all of the training leading up to the
56 comstocksmag . com | August 2022