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Jim Walmsley’s Western States 100 Disappearance.

26-year-old Jim Walmsley was on pace to shatter the course record at last weekend’s Western States Ultra Run
100 mile race, well at least for the first 93 miles of the 100. Western States is considered one of the most competitive ultras in the world, and this was Walmsley’s first-ever 100-mile race. However at the 93 mile mark, something spectators following Walmsley’s progress—both along the trail in Northern California and via social media—were dumbfounded when he just disappeared.For well over an hour, (an eternity even by ultra-running standards), the Flagstaff native was nowhere to be found. Walmsley had missed a tight left turn and veered well off course. A crew of photographers finally spotted him lying on the 40 degrees Celsius tarmac of Highway 49. He’d given up the record, the lead, and, realistically, any chance of a top 10 finish.

While some might have thrown in the towel, Walmsley walked his way back to the course and eventually finished the race, coming in 20th of the field of 20.

Full Race results can be found HERE.

@iRunFar interviewed Jim Walmsley post-race, watch it below.