November 23-24, 2024
Dinosaur Valley Endurance Run
About being a Western States qualifier...
After our 2023 event, we had grown large enough that we were granted the status of being added retroactively to the list of Western States qualifiers in the 100K distance for the December 2024 lottery to get into the 2025 Western States Endurance Run event.
Our event is very unique in that the 100 Mile course shares the exact same course for the first 100K distance as the 100K race. Therefore, our event is set up that 100 milers also get a recorded finish for their 100K time, and if they do not complete the 100 miles, they can still get a 100K buckle. More details below!
About the Qualifying Period
Western States Endurance Run is a dream or goal race for many ultrarunners, and it's so popular that there is a lottery to get into it, and it is a difficult 100 mile mountain race so you are also required to run a qualifiying race to enter the lottery.
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The qualifying period runs from early November each year to the next year. They announce the qualifying races list in September before the qualifying period begins. Historically, for planning purposes, we want you to know that races are typically added to the list, not announced to be removed!
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Therefore, the expectation and timeline for upcoming races looks like this:
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September 2024 - they announce the 2026 list. We should be on it and currently you need to complete the 100K distance in 22 hours to earn your qualifier.
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November 2024 - you run the 100K or the 100 miler with us at Dino Valley and hit the 100K mark (which is also a recorded finish for the 100 milers) in under 22 hours, and earn your qualifier!
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Some time before November 2025 - you apply for our Western States sponsored athlete spot - a chance for a qualified athlete to skip the lottery and get in automatically!
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November 2025 - the qualifying period ends (we are the first 100K qualifier in the US in this period!) and you apply for the lottery.
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December 2025 - the lottery is held. Read more about the Entry Process and the Lottery on the Western States website. Hopefully, you're lucky and get in!
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June 2026 - you run Western States 100!
100K and 100 Miler overlap
What makes us a unique qualifier and one where we encourage you to dream big!
100K Entrants - when you complete the 100K, you earn an official recorded finish time and a 100K buckle. If it is under 22 hours, you earn your qualifier for that year's qualifying period for the Western States Endurance Run.
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100 Mile Entrants - once you complete the first 100K of the race (which is run on the same course and same start time as the 100K entrants), you will have a recorded 100K finish time automatically, and if this is under 22 hours, you earn your qualifier for that year's qualifying period for the Western States Endurance Run. You then continue on your quest to completing the 100 miles with us. If you are not able to, your 100K finish stands, you receive a 100K buckle, and you do not show as a 100 Mile DNF in results. If you complete the 100 miles, you basically upgrade and receive your 100 mile buckle instead of a 100K one, and you have a recorded finish time in both the 100K and the 100 miler. Your 100 mile time has no bearing on your qualifying status; only the 100K time counts.
