South African Ryan Sandes Wins 100 Mile Endurance Run in the USA

Waving the South African flag high, ‎Western Cape ultra-distance runner Ryan Sandes has just won the 2017 Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run in California.

Ryan  (from Salomon Running) accomplished the incredible feat – from Squaw Valley to Auburn – in 16 hours 19 minutes and 38 seconds.

Debby Hunter‎ posted the proud news to Comrades Marathon’s page, saying: “?? South Africa, we just won!!”

Ryan has long been an awesome achiever. As one of the world’s leading ultra trail runners, he became the first person to win all 4 races in the 4 Desert Series, and in 2013 became the first person to ever win an ultra trail race on all 7 continents!

According to his website, in 2011, Ryan won the Leadville 100 miler mountain race in Leadville, Colorado, setting the 3rd fastest time in the history of the race and the fastest time by a non-American – it was his first 100 miler.

When he’s not running, Ryan is a motivational speaker, involved with a number of philanthropic ventures and is an ambassador of the prestigious Laureus Foundation.

In 2016 he launched his autobiography, Trail Blazer which has been a world wide success, as he inspires people with his down-to-earth approach to life.