7atStates

(7inSquaw will be retired; read here)

Back in 2014 we printed some 7inSquaw stickers when Adam Hewey was running the race and I committed to pacing and crewing duties. I figured I’d get into the race the next year…

Five years later, I made it in! Burning River 100, Pine to Palm 100, Gorge Waterfalls 100k, Big Horn 100, and Big Horn 100 were my 5 qualifiers.

When I toe the line in Squaw Valley 2020, it’ll have been 10-years since I’ve run the race; 15-years since I first ran the race; 13 years since I finished in 5th place. Three finishes and a decade off.

I opened Seven Hills Running Shop in 2012, and I’ve dreamt about racing Western States again many of the nights since 2010. Almost always, it was an unfamiliar setting with a flat loop before going up a big mountain with lots of snow. The flat loop served as a chance for me to catch up, because I always start the race late in my dreams. Late and unprepared as if I had registerd last minute.

It’s been awhile since my last WS100 dream…will they resume again tonight now that I’m finally in?! I’ve thought about how I would run the course again from Squaw to Auburn on countless runs–envisioning the dry dusty climbs and descents; feeling the heat of the canyons; reminding myself how long the last 20 miles felt even though they’re the easiest miles of the course; deciding which shoes I would start with and which shoes I’d have with my crew.

I hope to post some blog updates on training as it progresses–so check back early in 2020. As it stands now, I am likely to wear the Hoka Speedgoat 4 start to finish. I’m just not sure if it’ll be the regular width or the new Wide Width that comes out in January. I haven’t ruled out starting in a less cushioned shoe like the Altra Timp 2.0 and then switching to the Speedgoat later in the race.

2005 – I wore the original Brooks Cascadia to Forest Hill and then switched to the Brooks Radius.

2007 – I wore the Mizuno Wave Elixir v1 the whole way!

2010 – I wore the Scott T2C to Green Gate and then switched to the Columbia Ravenous.

7inSquaw

team7hills

Phil Kochik