Western States 100 - The long haul

TWO FRIENDS. ONE FINISH LINE. A HUNDREDS REASONS TO QUIT.

100 miles.
18,000 feet of climb.
23,000 feet down.
Blistering canyon heat.
No detours. Just. Forward.
Just a start line that takes years to reach - and a finish line that most never see.

Our SAYSKY colleague Don stood ready to support his buddy Shad through grueling miles of the Western States 100, offering encouragement, strength, and friendship money could never buy. Years of buildup, and now Shad was ready to take on 160 km of mountain heat, canyon silence, and the quiet war between body and mind.

It’s not about medals. It’s not even really about finishing.
It’s about staying out there when every part of you wants to stop.
When your legs are gone. When your vision’s blurred. When your thoughts are no longer useful. It’s about finding something deeper - something still moving when everything else is done.

And yeah - when the hours stretch past 20, the gear you wear starts to matter too.
Because when it’s just you, the trail, and the voices inside your head - your kit better hold up as long as you do.

Massive respect to Shad for crossing that finish line in Auburn.

Find the gear they were using right here