Image by Hough Boy

Seems appropriate that with Western States just literally days away that maybe we all should remind ourselves how this race started…

August 3rd 1974, Gordy Ainsleigh was the first to run the course of the Western States Endurance Run. At the time, the trail was used only by horses participating in the 24-hour Western States Trail Ride. When his horse went lame prior to the race, Ainsleigh decided he would run the torturous 100 miles (160 km) of mountain trail. This was the beginning of the Western States Endurance Run.

Listen to the Talk Ultra interview here:

Gordy Ainsleigh