Leadville 100 Trail Run

The Race Across the Sky

View From the Top of Hope's Pass 12,600  feet

I was waiting until my countdown started until I made an official post of my announcement that I have registered for a 100 mile trail run, Leadville 100 in Leadville, CO. Today marks the start of 24 week training plan to get me to the starting line at 4:00am on August 18th, 2012. 

A 50mile out and back, elevation varies between 9,200 and 12,600. With a total elevation gain of 16,000 ft. Must finish in under 30hrs.

This year Leadville sold out in January to a field of somewhere between 750-800, would be my guess. Last year 600+ runners started the race and 347 runners crossed the finish line by the 30hr cutoff, that's less then a 57% finish rate. A mere 53 of them women, that's only 15% of the finishers were women.

Why you ask? The challenge. And I love Leadville for the past 2 years I have been out there during the run, 2010 only coincidentally on family vacation. We stopped in Leadville while passing through, my dad has pictures of me standing on the red carpet under the finish line. And last year I paced and crewed for someone near and dear to my heart and much crazier then me. I was able to pace over Hope Pass between miles 50 and 60. I remember thinking, you have to do this twice and start after already running 40 miles, that's insane. One time is hard enough starting with no miles. 

I remember being home for Christmas and saw posts that it was almost sold out. Something was pulling on the threads of my heart. I didn't really plan on registering for a 100 ever, but my gut was telling me to do so. So here I am. For me it's the story of how I get to that starting line on August 18th. I have no prediction of what can happen in 100 miles and 30 hours. But I will tell you one thing, I will do everything in my power to do what it takes to finish. And these next 24 weeks outside of work are focused on getting me there physically and mentally.