I realized a few years ago that the main reason I volunteer at the Devil's Thumb aid station at the Western States 100 is that it feels good.

It's nice to see friends and acquainstances (some of whom I only see once a year at the same place). And there's plenty of camaraderie, the air is clean and the athletes are inspiring.

But what I've come to realize is that I like helping runners continue their journey down the t
rail en route from Squaw Valley to Auburn.

I think it's the common goal of everyone working at WS100 aid stations. Making soups to filling water bottles to walking and encouraging a runner for a few paces as they leave the aid station. It's all the same, really.

And for me, it all occurs at an ideal place and time. It's 48 miles from Squaw Valley, 52 miles from Auburn and a chunk of rutted dirt road down the trail from Foresthill. It's Devil's Thumb, and on the last Saturday in June, it's a fine place to spend the day.