Meet Craig Thornley, Western States race director

By Henry Howard

Craig Thornley found his life’s mission in seventh grade when he ran the 100-meter dash.

“Maybe you should try distance running,” his coach recommended.

That led him on a path to running throughout middle and high school, close to the Western States Trail in Auburn, Calif. Soon enough he met runners who had competed at the historic race in the early 1980s.

In time, Thornley became the race director for Western States, arguably the most beloved, prolific and popular 100-mile race in North America. Thornley, who also directs the Waldo 100K in Oregon, is this month’s selection for my ultra and trail, race director to highlight. Given the popularity of Western States, I decided to break the mold from the previous honorees and go deeper with a one-on-one interview with Craig.

Given the popularity of the race director series, it will continue in 2025. If you have any nominations, feel free to email me here.

Meet Craig Thornley, Western States race director

Thornley’s first encounter with a Western States race was purely by accident. He and his brother, Chris — the founder of Squirrel’s Nut Butter (read an earlier profile here) — were camping unbeknownst to them somewhere along mile 80 to 85 of the course, between Green Gate and Auburn Lake Trails.

"We didn't know Western States was happening,” Craig says. “We didn't even know about it. This was before I met Bruce (Von Borstel, a top 10 finisher at Western States). And we saw these guys one at a time coming through asking about where the next aid station is. We were just camped randomly right on the Western States course. We saw the look in their eyes, like someday we want to experience exactly what they were experiencing.”

Von Borstel introduced Thornley to trail and ultra running.

“I started running on the trail and learning more about Western States and ultra running,” he recalls. “At the time, I thought ultra running, 100-milers, were for older people, and ‘I was still young and faster.’ I waited until I was 37 or so to run my first ultra.”

Of his 100 or so ultras, nine have been Western States finishes.

“I hear they have a cool buckle for 10,” I say.

“Yeah, it is a cool buckle,” he says with a chuckle. “I ran eight before I took this job. And then in 2017, I ran the race as the race director and it was really hard to do, mostly because of the stuff going on before the race. Number 10 has to wait until I retire. I keep getting older as everybody does. So it's looking harder and harder to get that 10. I haven't given up on it, but it's going to have to wait until I retire.”

Craig Thornley’s ‘other’ race

Thornley founded and co-directed the Waldo 100K, which was held for the 23rd time in 2024.

“It was just a hobby,” explains Thornley, who co-directed the race with Curt Ringstad for its first 10 years. “I hadn't directed anything before. This is 20-something years ago, so the landscape was very different.”

They wanted to create a 100-mile race. But since Waldo is surrounded by wilderness on three out of four sides, it would've been difficult to get a natural course. So they settled for a 100K race with a “beautiful course that climbs several peaks and the last three aid stations are remote. As Andy Jones-Wilkins calls it, it's an old school boutique ultra, really high quality.”

It’s an interesting dynamic for Thornley: race directing one of the most high-profile, much-hyped, UTMB-connected championship races and also one that gets little fanfare, few sponsors and no live feed.

“I love the juxtaposition with directing this old school boutique ultra,” he said. “It (the UTMB-Western relationship) has absolutely zero negative effect on Waldo. We had an incredible race this year, an 85% finish rate. It was just awesome. At Waldo, it couldn't be further from the commercialization. And I love that I'm involved in both.”

Why is Western States so popular?

The popularity of Western States has surged in recent years with applications setting another record in 2024 with 9,993 entrants submitting 68,724 total tickets.

What does Thornley believe fueled that impressive growth?

“It would be hard to ignore that there's been massive growth in the industry in general, but that doesn't necessarily show in every race,” he says. “There are some races that are dropping in numbers. The quality races are rising to the top or stand at the top, but some of the smaller races or lower quality races are losing ground. We started working with Ultra Trail World Tour in 2014, and that gave us exposure around the world. We've seen a massive increase in number of applicants from overseas.”

He also points to the volunteer force of 15,000 or more that makes the race memorable for participants.

“They are so dedicated and focused on the runners,” he says. “They provide these individual interactions throughout the 100 miles. It's just overwhelming how incredibly helpful and positive they are. Many of them have run the race or know the course very well so they can provide input to runners.”

The course itself is a draw.

“There's other races that are probably more, dare I say scenic; UTMB is pretty incredible going around Mont Blanc,” he says. “Western States has diversity in the course that is probably unmatched. You go from the crest of the Sierra near Lake Tahoe and then come down through the mining towns, through the American River drainages until you get to Auburn at 1,200 feet. The diversity of the trail is pretty incredible. And then the history that lies in there too. Gold mining towns with cemeteries where people died in their 30s because they came out here from the east or from somewhere else and tried to make a living, which is super hard and they died early. It was a rough life just trying to make a living. So you feel that, that's palpable.”

Also notable is how progressive Western States has been. For example, the pregnancy deferral it created a few years back.

“We're not sitting back and saying, ‘Well, we were successful in the '80s, so we're not going to change anything.’ We're trying to adapt and move as the sport changes. We have a lot of very progressive policies that we're proud of and other races, including UTMB, either use ours directly or they consult with us. We're proud of that too. I think being a leader also makes us attractive. Again, I don't know how to quantify that, but there's a lot of things we do at Western States that make it really awesome.”

A transparent lottery drawing

One of the biggest changes Thornley has instituted is the transparency of the lottery drawing, which is broadcast live each December.

“When I first got here, there was a lot of criticism in the way the lottery was conducted,” he recalls. “I thought we could do that better. I think I have achieved that, no one questions the integrity of the lottery anymore.”

He is also proud of the contributions by his trail team, an important part of his life since he started Waldo 23 years ago. He credits his trails manager, John Catts. “We've done lots of really incredible stuff with volunteers, contractors and the Forest Service.”

A prime example of that is the recovery last year after the Mosquito Fire burned 16 miles of the course, putting the 2024 race in jeopardy.

“Many races like Angeles Crest or Gorge Waterfalls, which were affected by fires in the National Forest, were shut out for years,” he says. “We did not miss a year. It was absolutely an incredible joint effort with the Forest Service, with the state of California, with us. We had private donors, we got donations from huge contributions to the tune of $50,000 from Ironman/UTMB, from Tevis, from a couple of private donors, and we put in money ourselves. It was just an incredible effort.”

So, you wanna be a race director?

Many ultra runners have turned their passion into a career like Thornley, or a side hustle. For those who are interested in becoming an RD, he suggests talking with race directors. Dale Garland of Hardrock Endurance Run, Jamil Coury of Aravaipa Running and Thornley himself are all open.

“I talk to race directors or potential race directors all the time,” he says. “When Tim Tollefson was contemplating Mammoth Trail Fest just a couple of years ago, he talked to me several times. We can definitely tell you some things that we did wrong or what we do right.”

At some point, Thornley will hand over the reins of Western States to someone else. What would success when that day comes?

“For Western States, I hope that the next race director that the board hires will be able to improve on the things that I wasn't able to do or that I'm not the best at,” he says. “And hopefully, they can use the infrastructure and the changes in the policies and the procedures that we put in place that are good. Hopefully, they'll just be able to take Western States to the next level. That will be success in my eyes.”

But for now Thornley is focused on the 2025 race, and also silencing one rumor.

“There's still a little bit of speculation about Western States selling to UTMB,” he says. “That is just so far from the truth. Western States is an independent organization. We're a nonprofit. We're not for sale. We're not changing to a for-profit entity. There's no threat that Western States is going to sell to UTMB. Let’s put that to rest for once and for all.”

Speed drill

Name: Craig Thornley

Hometown: Auburn, Calif.

Number of years running: “Been running since seventh grade, I'm 60 years old now.”

Point of pride: Mental toughness.

Favorite race distance: 100 miles

Favorite pre-race or training food/drink: “I seem to be really into root beer lately. I also love watermelon.”

Favorite piece of gear: “Poles. how the heck did I run so many ultras without poles?”

Who inspires you: “Two of my older friends have had both knees replaced and are still running long ultras. Jim Howard and Ed Willson.”

Favorite or inspirational mantra/phrase: “I don't have a mantra/phrase but I try to stay present even when the discomfort is quite distracting, knowing that it will end.”

Where can other runners connect or follow you:

• Instagram: Lord_Balls

• Twitter: Lord_Balls

• Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/3657784

• Website: I have an old blog that has been dormant for several years but still hasa lot of good ultra and Western States content: http://conductthejuices.com