The First Western States 100 in 1977

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By Davy Crockett

The 1977 Western States 100

In 1977, Wendell T. Robie (1895-1984), the president of the Western States Trail Foundation and the director of the Western States Trail Ride (Tevis Cup), decided that it was time to add a runner division to his famous Ride. For more than two decades this 100-mile endurance horse race had been held on the famous trail in the California Sierra. Could ultrarunners also race the course?

Robie had previously helped seven soldiers successfully complete the course on foot in 1972 (See Forgotten First Finishers), the first to do so, and had been pleased that Gordy Ainsleigh had been the first to finish the trail in under 24-hours in 1974. (See Episode 66). In addition, dozens of people had backpacked the trail since then, and a couple others had tried to run the course solo during the Ride. Robie believed it was time to organize a foot race on “his trail” for the first time.

This first Western States 100 in 1977 was hastily organized by riders, not runners. There was no consultation with the existing well-established ultrarunning sport at that time. Practices were put in place that mostly mirrored the endurance horse sport such as mandatory medical checks, but did not use the existing ultrarunning practice of setting up aid stations. The event would be held with nearly 200 riders and horses also competing on the course at the same time as the runners. The day would turn out to be perhaps the hottest ever for the historic race. The risks were extremely high for this small rookie running race staff and some rather naïve runners. Who were the runners who turned out for this historic first race? Did they have the experience to finish or just survive?

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Race Organization

On Robie’s race staff was Gordy Ainsleigh, of nearby Meadow Vista, California. He was perhaps the most experienced runner in on the staff with some cross-country running experience. He had also run in some Ride & Tie events and of course had run the course solo three years earlier.

Ainsleigh had hoped to get the race director job from Robie and talked about putting in a qualifier requirement that the runners had to have completed a marathon in at most 3:15. He said, “We don’t want anyone who isn’t a good runner.” Thankfully, that requirement was not put in place. Ainsleigh did not have the organizational skills to put together a race and was not the race founder. Robie was the man in charge for the 1977 race and gave the race director job to Curt Sproul.

Curt Sproul

Curtis Cutter Sproul (1948-), of Weimer, California, originally from Pebble Beach, was designated by Robie as the 1977 Western States 100 manager, assisted by his wife, Marion “Mo” Orrick Sproul (1951-). Curt Sproul was an experienced endurance rider and a young attorney. He was the grandson of Robert Gordon Sproul (1891-1975) who was the first system-wide President of the University of California system and president of UC Berkeley.

Curt Sproul, born into privilege, received his love for the outdoors from his parents. His father was also an attorney, an outdoors enthusiast and environmentalist, who frequently took his family on trips to Yosemite National Park and camping trips to Wyoming. His mother had once climbed to Everest Base Camp.

Sproul’s wife, Mo, was originally from San Francisco. Her father was an attorney and the president of the San Francisco Opera Association. The Sprouls met and married when both attending UC Berkley. They both would become very important contributors toward the founding and growth of Western States 100.

Race Planning

The first year, in 1977, the race was called the “Western States National Endurance Run.” Robie ordered a “mammoth” three-foot silver cup trophy on a black marble base, to be a perpetual trophy for the winning runner. It became named the “Wendell Robie Cup” engraved with “Worth Marks the Man and Woman.” Those who finished in 24-hours would receive a belt buckle with an etching of the figure of Hermes, messenger of the gods. Robie said he hoped that the race that year would give Auburn “a name among the physical endurance enthusiasts.” He further observed, “from the quality and number of the interested runners signing up, it looks like the run will become a yearly event.” The entry fee was $30.

Four horse inspection stations would be utilized as runner checkpoints and water stations. They were very far apart for the runners at Robinson Flat (mile 33), Devils Thumb (mile 50), Michigan Bluff (mile 68) and White Oak Flat (mile 80). No traditional aid stations were provided for the runners ahead of time. The rookie race staff had no idea about the danger they were putting the runners in. Runners would have to drink from streams and provide their own food delivered to checkpoints in drop bags. Many did not. The emphasis that year was still mainly on the horses and riders. The runners participating were mostly an afterthought and were on their own.

Medical students under the direction of Dr. Robert H. Lind (1934-2016), a physician at the Roseville Community Hospital, would check the health of runners and riders as they came through the four checkpoints. They checked blood pressure, pulse and weight. Lind and the medical students were inexperienced in checking ultra-distance runners, with a lack of understanding what to expect. They did not yet understand the dangers of electrolyte imbalance and hyponatermia.

Lind said, “I don’t understand how they can do this physically.” He also added, without any understanding of past ultrarunning history, “This is the hardest race on the face of the earth. It embodies nearly every hazard known in long distance running, including heat, fatigue, altitude and fluid loss.”

Western States Race Announcement

Word did not get out well about the 1977 race. Locally, in Auburn, a news article was published that announced plans only two weeks prior, on July 18, 1977. “Spectators of the Tevis Cup this year may be in for a surprise. Some of the contestants just might gallop up out of the canyon without a horse. This year the Western States Trail Foundation will sponsor a ‘100 Miles In One Day Run’ in addition to the horseback ride, and 10 people have signed up for the July 30 event.”

Race founder, Robie was surprised that even ten runners had so far signed up. He said, “We’ll do the best we can to provide administration for these runners and see if we can make this impossible run a yearly event.” He anticipated that the riders would encourage the runners and help the experience to not be lonesome on the trail. He really hoped that the new race would give the city of Auburn “a name among the physical endurance enthusiasts.”

Word spread and a week later another article appeared in the Auburn Journal on July 25, 1977. It included, “Why would anyone want to run 100 miles in 24 hours, over a course so rough it taxes the strength and endurance of a superbly trained horse? For the first time in the 23-year history of the annual Tevis Cup ride, more than 10 runners will participate.”

The Runners

What kind of runners were attracted to run this difficult race?

Andy Gonzales

Andy Louis Gonzales (1955-), age 22, of Colfax, California, would be one of the starters of the first Western States 100. Gonzales spent his childhood years in the San Francisco area. He never did any running in his youth but remembered an experience in kindergarten. “We used to have these little 25-yard races on the school playground. I would organize these from one side to the other.”

At Colfax High School, Gonzales excelled on the football team. He ran a little on the track team, but did not enjoy it. After graduation in 1974, he entered the Navy and trained at the Naval Training Center in San Diego. Soon he was deployed to Italy where he discovered his love for running which he took up “for something to do.” He explained, “I was laying in my rack (bed) one day onboard ship and a guy by the name of Rob Roberson from New York was going to run on the beach for about ten miles and wanted to know if I wanted to go. He got me involved in running and I became addicted to it. It was my favorite past-time. During my time in Italy, I was able to meet John Walker from New Zealand, who became a world record holder in the mile, the first to run in under 3:50. I also met Rod Dixon, an Olympic bronze medalist in the 1500 meters. They became my heroes. In my mind I was going to go to the Olympics. I just wanted to be the best runner in the world.”

Two year later in 1976, out of the Navy for a time, serving in the National Guard, Gonzales ran for the Sierra College Wolverine cross-country team as one of their top runners. The team was ranked 7^th in the state and they won their division. The workouts were grueling. He said, “I can remember crawling to the transport bus after a workout was finished. Once the coach threw a clipboard at me because he thought I was dogging it one time when I was super tired. That is probably where I got my running base. All I can remember is a lot of pain and a lot of enjoyment.”

Gonzales ran his best mile time of 4:24 at an all-comers meet for the military branches held at Salano College at Fairfield Community College. His fame had spread and his competition could not keep up with him. He won, but did not enjoy running on the track. He wanted to be on the trails.

He had a favorite training trail in his hometown of Colfax, California, called Steven’s Trail. It was 3.8 rugged miles down to the North Fork of the American River and 3.8 miles back, climbing 1,200 feet. The trail had very little shade and was terrifying for hikers because it ran close to cliffs. He loved that trail and called running his “girlfriend.”

Before hearing about the 1977 race, Gonzales had a set goal to run the Western States Trail solo with the horses in 1978, just like Ainsleigh had done in 1974. He had been training to build up his ultra-distance strength by doing some long 50-mile runs. For other days, he typically would get up at 5 a.m., run 10 miles, and in the afternoon add another 15 miles, many times on Stevens Trail. He was asked if the heat of the canyons bothered him. “No. Look at the African runners. They run at home in extremely hot weather. They come here, run in cooler weather, and beat us.”

On June 24, 1977, Gonzales attempted a very long 65-mile run from Colfax, up and down the mountains to the State Capital at Sacramento, California. He started in the evening, hoped to complete the run in 14.5 hours, and was accompanied along the backroads by a Colfax police escort, along with an ambulance. He drank periodically, a glucose and electrolyte solution and as a vegetarian he ate only walnuts and fruit. As he ran down I-80, he became bored with the pavement run and cut short of his goal at 53 miles with swollen knees. Otherwise, he felt good and was not even sweating. He said his trainer and doctor “kept yelling at me to stop so I wouldn’t really wreck my knees.” Gonzales recovered fast and had plans to run in some 50-mile races. He was pleased with his progress and said, “My legs are even beginning to look like horse legs. They’re all muscle now.”

A week before the 1977 Western States 100, Gonzales still had not heard that a running race would be held and was not yet signed up.

Ken “Cowman” Shirk (1944-), age 33, originally a farm boy from Salinas, California, had signed up to run. He had become an award-winning high school athlete, a volunteer fireman, and loved his home in the mountain wilderness surrounding beautiful Lake Tahoe. In the late 1960s, he took up skiing and running and said, “I got to ski all winter long and experience the mountain life. Running the diverse terrain made me a stronger, faster and better runner.” He skied in the winter and in the summer worked construction.

Shirk running in 1976 carrying gallon jug

Shirk started ultrarunning in 1976 when he ran the 72 miles around Lake Tahoe. He later entered another race, signed up as Cowman, and competed wearing horns. The name stuck. He tried a solo run on the Western States Trail during the 1976 Tevis Cup and completed the course in 24:20. He felt confident that he could win the inaugural 1977 race. “Living up at Tahoe, I’m used to high altitudes and I run in rough terrain almost every day. I’ve trained in this area for a long time. Depending on the weather and what happens on the trail, I’m hoping to run it in around 22 hours.”

Bob Woodliff

Bob Woodliff (1947-2007), age 30, of Woodland, California, with a bachelor’s degree in physical education, was also among the entrants. He had experience running and riding in Ride & Tie events. He typically ran between 40-50 miles per week, about 5-6 miles per day. He was interested to use the race as an experiment on his body and said, “I am a long-distance runner, and I have run some marathon events, but I’m nowhere near in shape to run 100 miles.” Woodliff planned to run with his mind in a “meditative state” so his body could relax. He said, “I don’t have to run the full 100 miles. If it becomes work and drudgery rather than fun, I’ll stop. I’m going to relax and enjoy it.”

John Cappis

John Cappis (1944-), age 33, signed up. He was from Las Alamos, New Mexico where he worked as a chemist at the Scientific Laboratory there. Before age 24, his only athletic background was a little freshman football in high school. In 1968, he was only in shape to switch channels on the T.V., but then went on a backpacking trip with a friend and was motivated to get into shape. He started running about five miles a week and built up from there. He ran his first competitive race in 1973, a 14-mile race. He said, “The first time I entered one, my wife’s reaction was, ‘You’ll never make it. We’ll be up there to pick you up.’” He finish and became an instant long-distance addict and soon ran Pike Peak marathon. In 1975, all his hard work came together when he finished the Boston Marathon in an impressive time of 2:36. By 1977 he had ventured in the ultrarunning and had run 77 miles in 12 hours on a high school track. He felt ready to take on the mountains.

Peter Mattei, Ralph Paffenbarger, and Paul Reese

Three veteran ultrarunning buddies were among the entrants who were unknown to the rookie race staff and other entrants who were not yet informed about ultrarunning. These three would make a significant impact on early Western States 100 history.

Peter Mattei (1924-1998) of Alamo, California was a very successful real estate developer who received his degree in architecture from UC Berkley. He had been a naval aviator during World War II. During the early 1970s, he became very active in distance running in Northern California. Mattei was the co-founder of the Northern California Seniors Track Club and the long distance running chairman for the Pacific Association-Amateur Athletic Union (PA-AAU). He was instrumental in organizing many races in the area. He started competing in ultras in 1969 and in 1971 finished 8^th in the 1971 50-mile National Championship with an impressive time of 6:34:02.

Dr. Ralph Paffenbarger (1922-2007), of Berkeley, California, was a nationally renowned epidemiologist working at Sanford University and he made a huge impact on sports science. He had served in the military during World War II and trained for his first marathon in combat boots. He did eventually purchase running shoes, but gave up running as he spent years earning his degrees. He earned his doctorate in public health from Johns Hopkins University.

During the 1970s, Paffenbarger was published about the relationship between a sedentary life and heart disease. He eventually was able to show that with regular exercise, coronary death rates were reduced by up to 33 percent. His finding would help launch the aerobic exercise movement of the 1980s. He believed that for each hour of physical activity, a person gained an extra 2-3 hours of life. Paffenbarger took up competitive marathon running in 1968 at the age of 46 and progressed to an impressive time of 3:06:58. He took up ultrarunning in 1970 and finished 6^th in the 1971 50-mile National Championship held at Rocklin, California with a speedy time of 6:13:41.

Paul Reese (1917-2014), of Sacramento, California, was a retired Marine lieutenant-colonel who served in World War II and in Korea. He earned a master’s degree in public education and was the director of secondary curriculum and instruction for the large school district in Sacramento. He took up competitive running in 1964 at the age of 27. In 1969, he received national recognition of being one of the best distance runners 50-59 years old and was a sub-3-hour marathoner. His 2:58:10 was listed 5^th in world in his age-group. He organized many races and took up ultrarunning in 1969 and was the top over-50 runner to finish a 50-mile race. With his two other running friends, he also ran in 1971 50-mile National Championship. He finished 10^th, with a time of 6:41:40. He was a PA-AAU Director and chairman of the Camellia running festival that put on road races in the early 1970s, including 100-miler races well before Western States 100.

The Three Experienced Ultrarunners Sign Up

During the early 1970s, Mattei, Paffenbarger, and Reese had finished a road loop 100-miler, the Camellia 100 that was held each year in the Sacramento area. Mattei finished the 1971 version with a time of 20:56:30 when Jose Cortez and Natalie Cullimore set the American 100-mile records (see episode 64). In 1972, Paffenbarger and Reese also ran the Camellia 100. That year the race was held on a three-mile loop at the California Expo in Sacramento. The two battled closely at the 90 mile mark. Paffenbarger finished in 16:42:58 and Reese in 17:15:34, both very elite times. Earlier in 1969 they ran a three-day version of the 100-miler, 33 miles per day. Reese was hit by a car during that race.

Two weeks before the 1977 Western States 100, Mattei, 53, called up running buddy Reese, age 60, and tried to persuade him to enter the race and run as a trio with Paffenbarger, age 54. The phone call sounded like this, “Paul, I know you and Paff have run Pike’s Peak, and the 72 miles around Lake Tahoe, and a 100 miler. I’ve got one now that will make all that look like sissy stuff, and I want you to run it with Paff and me.” Mattei described the rugged Western States Trail to Reese.

Reese recalled, “Despite Peter’s coaxing, cajoling, and cussing, and despite realizing I’d not satisfy my curiosity over how I’d fair on this safari, I refused to enter, explaining to Peter that I was committed to two upcoming marathons, Crater Lake and Silver State. Finally, we compromised by my agreeing to only run the first 33 miles to Robinson Flat with them as a workout.

Gonzales Enters Last Minute

Two days before the first Western States 100, Gonzales was going for a run on Steven’s Trail when a mailman warned him about fire along the trail. So Gonzales instead decided to run east and came upon his friend, Gordy Ainsleigh, who was changing a flat tire on his car, on Placer Hill Road. Gonzales had known Ainsleigh since high school days when Ainsleigh would meet students at the school to go for runs on the cross-country trail. Gonzales stopped to talk with Ainsleigh who asked, “How would you like to run 100 miles tomorrow?” Seeing his surprise, Ainsleigh backed that down and suggested that Gonzales try to only run the first 33 miles. Ainsleigh did not think Gonzales had the ultrarunning training to go the distance.

Indeed, at that point Gonzales had not even run a marathon. He was just a mountain runner who as he put it, “chased women and drank beer.” On the next day Gonzales hitched a ride with Ainsleigh to head for Squaw Valley. “I had five bucks on me, a bag of green apples, and a tube of biscuits. I packed up my sleeping bag.” On the way, Ainsleigh told him that Cowman Shirk was going to win the race.

Prerace

When Gonzales saw the other runners determined to run the 100 miles, he because somewhat intimidated. A race briefing was held that afternoon, conducted by Robie, assisted by Sproul and Ainsleigh.

Major David Niederhaus (1941-), a Marine from Indiana, a Vietnam veteran, was an entrant who Robie thought would win, was at the briefing. Sproul, the race manager was not impressed with the serviceman and recalled, “The Major was wearing the standard mirrored sunglasses made famous in the movie “Cool Hand Luke,” and as the briefing began, three fighter jets roared through the Olympic Valley, heading toward Reno at low altitude. The Major looked up, gave his best salute, turned to our little group and said, ‘Those are my men.’”

Some of the younger runners, seeing old runners Mattei, Paffenbarger, and Reese, scoffed at their chances to finish. They did not know that those three were by far the most experienced and accomplished ultrarunners in the field.

Ainsleigh went over the course and its profile. The course went up and over Squaw Pass, to Little American Valley, Hodgson’s Cabin, Red Star Ridge, the north border of French Meadows Game refuge, Robinson Flatt, and to Last Chance via Cavanaugh Ridge. The total descent was believed to be 15,250 feet with a total climb of 9,500 feet. (A few years later the course was measured and discovered to be only 89 miles.) At the briefing it was remarked, “We try to mark the Trail, but the bears keep destroying the markings.” Medical checks of the runners were also conducted at the briefing.

The runners spent the night before the race sleeping under the stars in their sleeping bags. Gonzales was next to Mike Catlin (1952-), a graduate student at U.C. Davis who was studying exercise physiology. “We laid there the night before drinking beer, wondering what we were getting ourselves into. It was pitch dark and the stars were in full bloom. We talked. We were both a little anxious and nervous. Basically, we did not know what we were doing.”

The Start

1977 was the only year when the Run was held concurrently with the Ride. It turned out to be the hottest day of the year. After a morning weigh-in completed by Dr. Lind, sixteen runners started at 4 a.m. with an hour head-start on 183 riders who started at 5 a.m. in waves.

The runners were mostly dressed in nylon shorts, T-shirts, windbreakers, and running shoes. Most of them started off carrying flashlights. Gonzales did not carry a flashlight and only wore a singlet, a plaid button-down shirt, and Speedo swimming shorts. He never wore socks when he ran and did not during the 1977 race.

Reese commented, “I started the 2,400-foot ascent from Squaw Valley and the unfolding of many lessons. First, and indelibly inscribed, was the arduous effort required to keep moving. The heat became intense and stifled breathing. The water was scarce. At one stretch in 100+ degrees heat, I was four hours without water. The altitude, ascents and descents were problems.”

Gonzales did not carry anything with him. No food or water. He held back on his pace early on, concerned about how the heat would affect him. Since the checkpoints were so far apart, he had to drink water wherever he could find it. For example, at Devil’s Thumb, he drank out of a small mountain mud spring with a horse. Later that same horse dropped a dump in front of him that barely missed his face. It was the hottest day in the long history of the race, more than 115 degrees.

The narrow sections of the course became crowded with horses and the runners. If a runner or rider wanted to pass, they would yell “Trail.”

Runners Drop out in the Heat

Mo Sproul had the duty of trying to keep track of runners and assisted Dr. Lind with their medical data. She said, “We had no checkpoint between Squaw Valley and Robinson Flat, which is about 30 miles—no water, no anything. Those of us who were trying to help the runners were a moving aid station and would produce for them the supplies they brought. This was before Camelbacks and plastic water bottles. One guy was carrying an Aunt Jemima syrup bottle for water; most people didn’t carry any, and we didn’t know what needed to be carried. We had scales and saw that there were precipitous drops in weight from many of the runners, and by Michigan Bluff.”

Nearly half of the field dropped out by Robinson Flat at mile 33 including Woodliff. Major Neiderhaus was also among the early drops, only making it to mile 27. Many had gone out too fast. When Gonzales arrived at Robinson Flat, he was feeling good and decided not to stop there as Ainsleigh had suggested, and go on to run the entire race. He then started to catch up and pass runners.

Near Last Chance, at mile 48, Gonzales caught up with Cowman Shirk who was sitting down by the trail not looking very good along with Dick Mendenhall (1943-), age 35, of Oklahoma City. They looked at him and said, “whoever you are, keep going, you have a chance to win.” Gonzales moved into first place with a fire now in his belly.

During that year, there were not too many spectators along the course. But Gonzales would always wave, stop, and shake their hand. Word got out that he was coming and more came out to greet him.

Shirk and Mendenhall dropped out at Last Chance. Both Cowman and Mendenhall were suffering from dehydration. Cowman had lost an astonishing 20 pounds during the run, going from 204 to 184 pounds. Mendenhall has lost 15 pounds. After this inaugural race, Dr. Lind analyzed the weight-loss of those that did not finish and determined that run performance was significantly affected as when the runners lost 7% or more of their body weight. And thus, was established the 7% rule used for many years after that in 100-miles ultras. Gonzales was cruising well and initially only experienced a 3% drop in weight.

Three more runners were out of the race at Michigan Bluff at 68 miles because of the terrific heat, including Catlin, Cappis, and John Evans (1949-) of Vallecito, California. All would get their finish the next year. (Cappis would later help dream up the original Hardrock 100 course.)

That left just three runners in the race, Gonzales, and the two veterans, Mattei and Paffenbarger. At about mile 65, Gonzales had to step over horses that were exhausted, laying in the trail. He was also really struggling at that point. As he was stumbling along out of water, he came upon an old rancher sitting by his camper with his dog. The old man thought that Gonzales was crazy and offered him two cold beers, which he gladly drank. Feeling greatly revived, Gonzales continued on his run toward Foresthill. At Foresthill, in dire straits without water again, he was experiencing hallucinations. He went up to a random house, grabbed a hose, and with his chapped lips, drank some warm water. It was not until later in the race that the staff, including Doctor Lind, realized that the runners needed aid and set up an aid station for them during the last ten miles.

Running at Night

Shannon Yewell Gardner (1947-), was originally from Altadena, California. Her father, George Yewell (1917-2011), was a boating adventurer and spent a couple summers on a crew in a trans-pacific yacht race from Los Angeles to Hawaii. As a youth, Gardner attended school at the Pacific Coast Equestrian Research Farm in Badger, California and developed her love for horses.

In 1976 she rode the historic Pony Express Trail from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento California in a group of 14 riders. In 1977 she rode in the Tevis Cup and recalled, “As I left Michigan Bluff, I matched pace with Andy Gonzales who was in the lead and I was able to watch his beautiful rhythm relaxed running style.” She rode the final 35 miles or so guiding Gonzales. He carried no flashlight but was helped by Gardner’s light shining from up on her horse.

Robie announcing finishers at Fairgrounds

He made his way to the fairgrounds finish in Auburn with plenty of energy. He could hear an announcement over the load speaker informing everyone that the first runner was arriving. Many of the spectators still did not know that there were runners on the course.

The Finish

Gonzales became the first official Western States 100 finisher in history and established the course record in 22:57:00. Robie greeted him holding a cigar. A full stadium of riders and spectators cheered his finish. Ainsleigh was surprised to see him win. For Gonzales, it was a dream come true. “I wanted to become a running champion. I had dreamed of it day and night for years. The 100-miler turned out to be my cup of tea.”

Because of the official 24-hour cutoff that year, Gonzales was the only official finisher among the runners. The two veteran ultrarunners, who the younger runners doubted, Mattei and Paffenbarger, ran the entire way together. They had missed the previous checkpoint cutoff, but were given permission to continue together unofficially on their own with no support from the race staff. They both reached the finish in 28:36. It was said that these two finished due to their power of mental attitude which was the driving force that carried them through all the obstacles. (For some reason these two were later given official finishes along Ainsleigh and Shirk who finished the course solo before the race was founded in 1977. But sadly, the first seven soldier finishers of 1972 still have not been recognized as finishers in results). The solid slower times accomplished by Mattei and Paffenbarger helped race organizers consider extending the finish cutoff time the next year to 30 hours.

Later during that day Gonzales ran a 20 mile shake-down run before the awards banquet, where he received a lot of attention and the first Western States Endurance Run buckle. News of Gonzales’ historic finish was only a footnote in a few articles about the Tevis Cup in California papers only. This running race in the Sierra went unnoticed by the rest of the country and the rest of the ultrarunning sport. Four months later an official Western States Run Board of Governors was established that included both riders and runners.

What Happened to the First Three Finishers of Western States 100?

Andy Gonzales went on to win Western States 100 again in 1978, lowering the course record to 18:50:00. He hoped to in the future break the world 100-mile road record. In 1979 he ran Western States 100 again but became sick and did not finish. He backed off from racing and instead ran privately in the mountains. He placed 3rd in a 1981 marathon with a time of 2:48:49. In 1985, he again finished Western States 100 but felt that he was past his prime at age 30. That year he was elected to the Colfax City Council. Sadly, during his 40s he had difficulties with his legs and later discovered that he had Parkinson’s Disease. He retired from his construction career in his 50s and in 2021 he is living in Grass Valley, California. He said recently, “There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about that experience. It will stay with me the rest of my life. It is in my dreams. I love these mountains and the trails that run through it.”

Peter Mattei went on to finish Western States three additional years. In 1978 he became the first person to both run and ride the Western States events in the same calendar year. He passed away in 1998 at the age of 73.

Ralph Paffenbarger went on to finish four more Western States 100s and finished the Comrades Marathon (54 miles) in 1989 at the age of 66. In 1996 he received the first International Olympic Committee prize for sport science. He ran the Boston Marathon 22 times during his life and finished a total of 150 marathons and ultras. In 2007, he died from heart failure at the age of 84.

Paul Reese, their running buddy who paced them for 32 miles, would later finish Western States in 1981 at the age of 64. He moved to Auburn, California, and finished the Comrades Marathon in South Africa in 1989 at the age of 72. He went on to run across all 50 states, and at the age for 73, ran across America in 124 days and published the book, Ten Million Steps: The Incredible Journey of Paul Reese, Who Ran Across America. He set many American age-group records from three miles to 100 miles. He was known in the Northern California running community as “Father Time”

The parts of this 100-mile series:

Sources:

The Sacramento Bee (California), Mar 9, 1969, Mar 27, Jun 30, 1970, Aug 31, Dec 5, 1972, Feb 27, 1973, Sep 17, 1976, Jul 28, Aug 1, 18, Sep 15, Nov 24, 1977, Jun 1, 25, 1981, Nov 10, 2004, Apr 17, 2016
Auburn Journal (California), Aug 31, Sep 7, Nov 23, 1972, Jan 9, 1974, Jun 24, Jul 1, 18, 25, Aug 3, 1977, Jun 28, 1978, May 4, 1979, Jan 29, 1986
The Press-Tribune (Roseville, California), Feb 13, 1970, Jul 4, 1993
The Santa Fe New Mexican (New Mexico), Apr 27, 1975
Albuquerque Journal (New Mexico), Mar 23, 1977
NorCal Running Review No. 29
The Press-Tribune (Roseville, California), Aug 1, 1977
The New York Times (New York), Jul 5, 1982
Ultrarunning Magazine, Nov 1983
The San Francisco Examiner (California), Dec 8, 1985
The Napa Valley Register (California), Jan 9, 1998
The Los Angeles Times (California), Jul 14, 2007
2017 interview with Shannon Yewell Weil, Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run Trustee for 30 years.
2014 Western States history presentation by Shannon Yewell Weil at the 2014 Western States Training Weekend. This Will Never Catch On: The birth of an Icon
2021 Interview with Andy Gonzales
Shannon Yewell Weil, Strike a Long Trot: Legendary Horsewoman Linda Tellington-Jones
Shannon Yewell Weil, Sacramental Running Association, HOF Speech

71: The 100-miler: Part 18 (1977) Western States 100

By Davy Crockett