More than 2,500 runners, including a deep elite field, are gearing up for a thrilling weekend at Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB in Auburn, Calif. Racers in the 100K event will traverse over parts of the Western States 100 (WSER) course in what is also the final Golden Ticket race of the spring, with the top two finishers in the men’s and women’s categories earning automatic entry into the 2024 edition of WSER, to be held on June 29. Here’s what you need to know to tune in and who (and how) to follow.
Steep climbs and big stakes
The 100K 2024 Canyons course is a new route (after heavy snowfall in 2023 and fires in 2022 caused damage to the previous course) and will be run in the reverse direction (the race alternates directions annually, similar to Hardrock 100). The course has runners climbing 3,962 metres over the 100K distance, but is a net downhill (similar to WSER).
Canyons hosts a 25K, 50K and 100-miler along with the 100K marquee event and is also the UTMB World Series Americas Major. The top 10 finishers for men and women in all events receive automatic entry into the UTMB World Series Finals race (100-mile UTMB, 100K CCC, or 50K OCC) in August in Chamonix, France. All race finishers will earn double points, or “running stones,” heading into the 2025 UTMB lottery. With top age groupers also earning entry, there is a grand total of 210 automatic entries to be captured over this weekend’s events.
Women’s 100K race
American runner Katie Schide, who lives and trains in France, is the race favourite after taking second at WSER in 2023, and following that with a win at the Diagonale des Fous 100-miler. (Schide won UTMB in 2022.) While her top 10 finish in 2023 has already earned her a spot in WSER this year, she’ll still be gunning for that podium. Schide will be lining up against Riley Brady, who took second at the 2022 Javelina Jundred 100-miler. Fellow American Addie Bracy (fifth at 2023 Canyons 100K) joins them, along with Canada’s Arden Young, who took second at the San Tan Scramble 50K in Arizona in January, and was 11th in the 50K race at Black Canyon Ultras in February.
Men’s 100K race
The 2022 winner of WSER (in his 100-mile debut), Adam Peterman, is making a return to racing after dealing with a pelvic stress fracture throughout much of 2023, and will see some fierce competition in Sweden’s Petter Engdahl, who won CCC (100K) by UTMB in 2022 and Eiger Ultra-Trail by UTMB in 2023. U.S. runners Matt Daniels (fourth at WSER in 2019 and ninth, in a tough race at Canyons 100K in 2023) and Drew Holmen (fifth at CCC in 2023) will also be top contenders.
You can check out the Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB 100K livestream, starting on Saturday, April 27, 8:00 a.m. ET, by clicking here.
