26 Photos of Scenery and Suffering at the Lake Sonoma 50

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On Saturday, April 9, some of the best trail runners in the country showed up for the Lake Sonoma 50 Mile. With a fairly fast course and the season’s last chance to earn entry into the Western States 100, the front-of-the-pack competition was fierce.

Photographer Mahting Putelis captured many of the top competitors in action, against Sonoma’s backdrop of rolling hills and vibrant greenery. Some are smiling, some are suffering—an apt portrayal of the range of emotions experienced when pushing yourself for 50 miles.

—Paul Cuno-Booth

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