Western States Endurance Run — The Realm of Possibilities
I have conflicting feelings about the way Western States Endurance Run is portrayed, valued, and the images we often see from the race. On one hand, what an honor it would be to run 100 miles through California — from Olympic Valley to Auburn — into canyons, through what we refer to as “gold country” and across the American River. Then be celebrated when you cross the finish line on the track at Placer High School. Yet, there are also many barriers to access the sport of trail running, let alone this specific race! The exclusion, the privilege to even get to the start line. The egos (my god the egos). The horrific lack of diversity — both in gender and race. The realization that most people probably don’t know why the areas they are running through are named as they are, let alone their original names before colonization. How many of the 300+ runners can name more than a handful of plants they are running with as they traverse this coveted course?
All of that can be true along with the truth that while spectating at this race, you will see beautiful celebrations of friends and family and the running community. Western States is all of that. While also making incremental changes to do better, and there is a lot to be improved upon, such as their transgender and nonbinary policy for example. Humans want to categorize everything. Put things in order, in their place. We’re adverse to chaos. Yet, who created what we know to be truth? Who created the binary of male and female? Who decided on the order of life? And is it not quite chaotic in the way we’ve been told is “natural?” (Side note, one of my favorite reads in the past few years, Why Fish Don’t Exist, answers these questions as well as urges us to consider what lies beyond our binary thinking).
The focus of images we see from this race are of the runners, and rightly so. And what if we also focus on the land? How are runners connecting to the land through their journey of 100 miles? Who are they noticing as they run the course — and I don’t mean the elite athletes who get all the attention — I mean who do they notice in bloom along the way? I can imagine the lines of where you begin and end as a person and where the landscapes begin and end begin to blur. How can they not when you’re literally spending all day running? My focus for these photos was the land first, then the people, yet they are still shot in a way as to emphasize our interconnectedness with it all. Considering all of the truths that intersect at this specific, iconic race, what if the running community more earnestly recognized our interconnectedness? What if the running community truly came to terms that we are always running on stolen land, which is one cause of the disconnect runners (people) have when it comes to trail running. If we could have honest conversations on these topics — front and center, not as an after thought or a box to check, what could that accomplish within running culture and in turn our culture on the larger scale? And of course, running doesn’t always have to be so deep and serious, but truly it has to be more than accumulation of things and experiences for the ego. And in all honesty, I firmly believe it does always have to be more thoughtful.
The last hour of WSER, golden hour, is where you see what is possible within yourself and within your running community. And I think the non-human life along the course is rooting for us to do more within the realm of possibilities.
Double exposure shots of Nisenan & Washoe Land + WSER at Foresthill. Corn lilies supporting the support crew.
Double exposure shots of Nisenan & Washoe Land + WSER during golden hour. Lupine standing with the crowds in the bleachers, also cheering for the runners. Cinquefoils bright and celebratory at the finish line.
Double exposure shots of Nisenan & Washoe Land + WSER and Mal’s Pals at Foresthill and the Placer High School finish line. Lupine watching over as bibs are pined to the pacers, also ready to get Mal to the finish. Asters showing support with the crew, and serving as celebratory bursts along with Indian Paintbrush as Mal crosses the finish line.