Canadians: here’s how to qualify for the Western States lottery

If you’re an ultrarunner, odds are you’ve at least toyed with the idea of racing the Western States 100 (WSER) in California. The race has one of the most sought-after start lines in the world of ultramarathons, but it’s not easy to get there. Unlike most races, you have to qualify to get into the WSER lottery, and you can only do so at select races. For Canadians, there are currently just six races where you can earn yourself a lottery ticket, plus a few others not too far south of the border. Here’s that list, plus how you have to perform at each race in order to secure your ticket. 

The 2024 qualifying races list has been published. The qualifying period for the 2024 race lottery is November 7, 2022 through November 5, 2023.https://t.co/zZL6yM7Ox9

— Western States 100 (@wser) August 31, 2022

Qualification window 

Your chance to qualify for the 2023 WSER lottery is already almost over, as the window closes on Nov. 6. However, the 2024 qualification period starts the next day and runs until Nov. 5, 2023. There is still technically time to qualify, but you won’t have much time to prepare for the few races left this year. In Canada, there are two more races before the Nov. 6 cutoff, but unless you’re in ultramarathon shape already and primed to race, it’s probably best to wait and focus on qualifying for the 2024 WSER.

Unfortunately, hitting a time standard in a qualifying race  isn’t all that it takes to make it to WSER. Instead, if you hit a qualifying time, you’ll be put in the lottery to win a spot in the race. The lottery is held in December. This may sound unfair, but don’t worry, if you miss out on a spot in the race in your first year of applying for WSER, you don’t lose your place in the lottery. As noted on the WSER website, each runner “who enters the lottery and fails to gain entry into the Run … will have additional tickets in the hat when entering their next lottery, regardless of whether it is the next year or a future year.” So, if you miss out next year, you’ll have two tickets in the lottery hat for the following year. If you miss again, your ticket count will double to four. This doubling continues until you’re selected.

Canadian races 

As already mentioned, six Canadian races have earned WSER qualifier status. First up on the schedule is the Quebec Mega Trail, from June 29 to July 2, which finishes at Mont-Ste-Anne. This event actually has two separate qualifying races. The shorter of the two options is the 110K race, and anyone looking to qualify must complete the run in 22 hours or less. The QMT 100 miler, which has a time cutoff of 41 hours, is also a qualifying race.

Next up in the calendar is the Canadian Death Race, which is set for Aug. 5 in Grande Cache, Alta. To qualify for WSER at this race, you must complete the 118K course in 24 hours or less. Also in August (2023 date TBA) is the Fat Dog 120 miler, which starts in Keremeos, B.C., and must be finished in 48 hours or less. (It’s important to note that you cannot sign up for the Fat Dog 120 as a rookie ultrarunner. The race requires participants to have previously completed a 100-miler, the Fat Dog 70-miler or a shorter but notoriously difficult race, like the Vancouver 100K, which features 23,000 feet of elevation gain.)

The Lost Soul Ultra in Lethbridge, Alta., takes place in Sept., and while it has 100K and 100-mile options, only the former is listed as a WSER qualifier. If you can complete this course in 21 hours or less, you’ll earn a ticket into the WSER lottery. Finally, the Ultra-Trail Harricana on Sept. 10, which is held in La Malbaie, Que., has a 125K race that will get you into the WSER lottery, provided you make it to the finish line in 26 hours. 

There are many more American races with WSER-qualifying opportunities, including some close to the Canadian border. To see full details on the qualification requirements for each of these races, visit the WSER website.