June 25, 2026 / by Joel Rigonan
For most runners, the Western States Endurance Run is more than a race—it is a dream, a pilgrimage, and for many, an obsession years in the making.
This Saturday, that dream becomes reality for Baguio City ultrarunner and coach Don Santillan as he stands on the starting line of the 2026 Western States Endurance Run (WSER) in Olympic Valley, California. After years of qualifying, hoping, and waiting, Santillan was finally selected through the highly competitive WSER lottery in December 2025, earning his place in what is widely regarded as the most prestigious 100-mile trail race in the world.
While Don is not the first Filipino—or even the first Cordilleran runner—to take on the legendary course, his participation adds another chapter to the growing legacy of Filipino ultrarunners on the world stage. Among those who previously chased the Western States dream is Romnick Tongkaling, an elite national trail runner from Baguio City who tirelessly pursued a place in the race through qualifying performances and lottery entries. From nearby Mankayan, Benguet, Jovencio Luspian built a reputation as one of the country’s toughest endurance athletes, conquering grueling 100-mile races and earning qualifications for internationally renowned events such as Western States and Hardrock 100. Meanwhile, Simon Sandoval, one of the Philippines’ most respected ultrarunners, etched his name into local trail-running history by completing Western States in an impressive 27 hours and 9 minutes, once holding the fastest finish by a Philippine-based runner.
Now, Santillan carries that tradition forward.
Established in 1974, the Western States Endurance Run traces its roots to the historic Western States Trail, originally used during the California Gold Rush. Covering 100.2 miles (161 kilometers) from Olympic Valley to Auburn, the course is infamous for its relentless terrain, punishing heat, and dramatic elevation changes. Runners will climb approximately 18,000 feet (5,486 meters) and descend nearly 23,000 feet (7,010 meters), crossing rugged mountain passes, deep canyons, and the legendary American River before reaching the finish line at Placer High School.
For Santillan, the journey to this start line has been nearly a decade in the making. Western States was never just another race on the calendar. It was the race. For nine years, the dream lingered in the background of every training block, every ultramarathon finish, and every qualifying effort. Lottery after lottery came and went, but the vision remained unchanged: one day standing among the world’s best endurance athletes at Olympic Valley, ready to tackle the legendary trail to Auburn.
Now, that dream is no longer a distant possibility. It is real. The countdown has ended.
Behind him stands the unwavering support of the Don’t Stop Running Community (DSRC), one of Baguio’s most active and passionate running groups. Through countless training runs, mountain adventures, and shared miles, the community has rallied behind Santillan as he prepared for the biggest race of his career.
A certified UESCA Ultrarunning Coach with 15 years of experience in both trail and road racing, Santillan brings a wealth of knowledge, discipline, and resilience into the event. Yet Western States has a way of humbling even the most accomplished athletes. Temperatures in the canyons can soar, fatigue can become overwhelming, and fortunes can change within a matter of miles.
Beyond chasing a personal goal, Santillan carries a deeper purpose. He has dedicated years to sharing the beauty, challenges, and life-changing rewards of trail running with fellow Filipinos. Through coaching, mentorship, and community leadership, he continues to encourage runners to venture beyond the roads, embrace the mountains, and discover what is possible when they step outside their comfort zones.
That uncertainty is what makes this year’s race so compelling.
Can the Baguio runner conquer the searing heat of California’s canyons? Can years of preparation overcome one of endurance sport’s greatest tests? Can a dream survive 100 unforgiving miles?
This Saturday, thousands around the world will be watching to find out.
As the sun rises over Olympic Valley and the field charges into the Sierra Nevada mountains, viewers can expect dramatic battles at the front of the race, emotional stories of perseverance throughout the field, and the ever-present challenge of heat, terrain, and fatigue. But for many Filipinos, one story will stand out above the rest—the Baguio coach and ultrarunner chasing a dream nearly a decade in the making.
Whether you are a runner or simply someone who appreciates stories of courage and perseverance, tune in to the Western States live stream and cheer for Don Santillan as he carries the hopes of his community from Olympic Valley to Auburn, California, across one of the most storied courses in endurance sports.
The road to Western States took nine years. The next 100 miles could become a lifetime memory.
