By Dana Miller
Two of five starters completed the first Wasatch 100 in 1980. In 2021, 165 of 298 starters finished. Wasatch, and trail ultrarunning in general, has changed considerably during the past 40 years. What hasn’t changed is Wasatch’s mind-boggling difficulty, the course’s beauty and the comradeship between runners, race volunteers and race organizers.
It’s an honor to chronicle Wasatch’s history. I’ve been hanging around Wasatch (in various states of fitness, celebration and dejection) since 1985, even managing to cross the finish line 20 times. Regardless of the outcome, the race always challenged me to be my very best. The lessons learned have enriched virtually every aspect of my life. I hope veterans, would-be rookies and race enthusiasts find this history both informative and motivating.
I’ve provided in depth articles about Wasatch’s pre-history and each of the first four years because I consider that era (1980 – 1983) foundational in the race’s development. Laurie Staton, co-winner of the first Wasatch and 10-time finisher, also shared her delightful “I Did It On A Dare” tale of the 1980 Wasatch.
The 1984 through present day annual episodes were published in Ultrarunning magazine and appear with their permission. Ultrarunning magazine founders Fred Pilon and Peter Gagarin attempted the 1982 Wasatch, dropping out at Mile 73. Peter did finish Wasatch in 1988. It’s fair to say that Wasatch and Ultrarunning magazine have grown up together.
I encourage you to help me continue preserving the spirit and history of Wasatch by suggesting corrections and sharing personal memories. Please email those to me at mudngutsmiller@gmail.com.
ARTICLES:
I Did It On A Dare – The 1980 Wasatch 100 (by Laurie Staton)
1981 – Wasatch 100 – The Year No One Finished
1982 – Wasatch 100 – 3 of 19 Survive Suffer Fest
1984 – Landis Subdues Tough Wasatch Course (Again)
1985 – Dana Miller Shatters Course Record at Wasatch
1986 – Course Records Fall at Cool Wasatch 100
1987 – Locals Dominate at Wasatch; Two More Grand Slammers
1988 – Fire, Wind, Hail, Snow – Just Another Wasatch 100
1989 – Eleven Finish Grand Slam as Good Weather Visits Wasatch
1990 – Miller, Dixon, and Temperatures All Set Records at Wasatch
1991 – Wasatch ’91 – The Race Only a Mudder Could Love
1992 – Vaughn Smashes Wasatch Record, Miller Wins Fifth
1993 – Debbie Wagner Shatters Record as 71% Finish Wasatch
1994 – Laura Vaughan Finishes Wasatch in Under 24 Hours
1995 – Wasatch – Great Runners and Volunteers, Perfect Weather
1996 – Seminoff, Superbly “Paced” by Spence, Takes Wasatch
1997 – No Suspense as Spence Winds Wasatch; Swatt Sets Course Record
1999 – Barker and Vaughan Conquer New Course at Wasatch Front 100
2000 – Triumph Over Adversity at the Wasatch Front
2001 – 2001: A Wasatch Odyssey
2002 – A Wild and Wooly Wasatch
2003 – A Wasatch Finish an Achievement Worth Savoring
2004 – Hot Wasatch 100 Tests Runners
2005 – Meltzer Wins Again at Wasatch 100
2006 – Wasatch Front 100 Mile: “Couldn’t Ask For A Nicer Day”
2007 – Speed Demons Attack Wasatch Course
2008 – And Even The Weather Was Perfect
2011 – Ultra Families New And Old
2012 – The Joy Of Ultrarunning
2013 – It was hot…then it got wet
2014 – The Year of the Crimson Cheetahs
2018 – Wasatch Front: Getting Tougher Every Year
2020 – Race Cancelled Due to Covid-19 Pandemic
© 1980