western states 100

western states 100
Gilles, who ran cross-country at Nevada, has competed in many ultra-distance runs. She's one of several area runners participating in the 100-mile Western States run that begins today at Squaw Valley and heads west to the finish line at Auburn, Calif.

But Gilles is the only female runner who is diabetic. Being diabetic does not hold her back, though.

She has been running for 15 years and found out she was diabetic three years ago, so she uses an insulin pump during runs.

"The pump makes it a lot easier to do these sorts of activities," she said. "You can maximize your insulin delivery."

Gilles, 32, who works as a traveling nurse, now based in Winnemucca, said she will not need much insulin while running, but her body will require some.

She has long wanted to run the Western States, but had never been invited to the high-profile event until this year.

Her training involves running up to 50 miles at a time.

Although it is her first Western States, Gilles said she is calm.

"Any nervousness has already gone away," she said.

Gilles fully expects to break the 24-hour mark, which is the goal of all the runners.

"I want to be the first diabetic finisher," she said. "Twenty-four hours is realistic if all the cards fall the way they should, it can happen."

The Western States starts at 5 a.m. today. Runners must reach the finish line no later than 11 a.m. Sunday in order to be eligible for an award.

The run is along the Western States Trail, starting at Squaw Valley and ending in Auburn, for a total of 100 miles. The trail ascends from the Squaw Valley floor (elevation 6,200 feet) to Emigrant Pass (elevation 8,750 feet), a climb of 2,550 vertical feet in the first 4½ miles. From the pass, following the original trails used by the gold and silver miners of the 1850s, runners travel west, climbing another 15,540 feet and descending 22,970 feet before reaching Auburn.

The Western States was canceled last year because of wildfires. There are 445 entrants this year, including the top men's finisher in 2007 -- Hal Koerner, 31, from Ashland, Ore. -- and the top woman -- Nikki Kimball from Bozeman, Mont. -- who are back to defend their crowns.

Also today is the XTERRA Tahoe City Off-Road Triathlon at Commons Beach in Tahoe City, starting at 8 a.m., and Sunday is the Burton Creek Trail Run 5K, 10K, 1/2-Marathon and Marathon Distances, also at Tahoe City.