the Way of the Turtle

2008 WESTERN STATES 100 CANCELLED DUE TO CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES
Thursday, June 26, 2008

This will be old news for many folks out there (well, 24 hours old) but I just learned that the premiere event of trail ultrarunning, the 35th Annual Western States Endurance Run, has been cancelled due to the various dangers posed by the California wildfires.

The official notice can be read here.

In many ways, this emphasizes how much we're at the mercy of the elements when it comes to races and especially trail events. Sometimes nature just doesn't cooperate with our plans, no matter how carefully we make them.

I have to applaud the race organizers for putting the safety of the runners, aid station personnel, and volunteers first.

And I can only imagine how the folks who have prepared for months for this awesome race are feeling right now.

Sigh.

JMH