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Three Fat Asses go for the Leadville 100: The Race Across the Sky

Giddy Up!! That's how we roll in Leadville!!

The boys get ready for their race in the morning by doning on the traditional Western attire. The hat will come in handy with the thunderstorms and snow that they're predicting. Don't know how the jacket could help, except scaring away some mountain beasts.

I will try to update this posts regularly pending wi-fi access

 

Comments

Chad Hyson's picture

Back to Back 100's are for Suckers....

When I signed up to run Stormy, Leadville, Cascade in a row it seemed like a good idea, that tells you I have been spending too much time with Gilles. Despite the horrendous weather and a bad ankle Leadville was great.  Usually, the only place where people hit bad weather is at Hope Pass, elevation 12,600 feet.  This year was the opposite, besides one small hail storm, small is relative to all the other crappy weather we experienced, the sun was shining and made for spectacular views.  I think that is the only time I saw the sunshine, the rest of the time was cold and wet and when I say cold I mean below freezing and we experienced the full gamut of precipitation.  Because of a sprained ankle I wasn't moving too quickly for the last 35 miles so I was wearing a long sleeve zip, two fleeces, and a rain jacket, if I stopped moving I began to shiver uncontrollably.

This year tied for Leadville's lowest finish rate, the weather and altitude definitely contributed to a lower rate but I was surprised just how many people choose to do this as their first race.  This is not a beginners race on a out and back course there is 5 aid stations so you hit an aid station once roughly every ten miles, and for May Queen to the finish it was just over thirteen miles.

For those with a couple of 100's under your belt, I would recommend checking out Leadville, the whole town gets behind the race and it is just a lot of fun.  I'll be going back again next year with the hopes of getting my sub 25 buckle.  You can eat dessert off of the sub 30 buckle but you can eat a whole meal off the sub 25 buckle.

Since I have decided to not do Cascade this weekend, need to let my ankle heal before Wasatch, I'll try to write up a race report this weekend to share.  Good luck to all who are doing Cascade.

Ean Jackson's picture

Desert Photo

Sounds like fun.  Ha ha ha.  I ran 45 minutes last night with the Capilano Eagles and for the whole time, the black clouds had me thinking I'd have to cut my run short or risk getting wet!

I paced Enzo at Leadville one year.  Weather was beautiful.  He had some grief, but came back to life and earned the desert plate. I always thought it looked like a WWF prize.  I'll bet you'd do well in the Club Fat Ass t-shirt photo contest with a variation of the desert plate theme!

Probably a good call for Cascade.  Wishing you a speedy recovery and, if I don't see you in the meantime, all of the best at Wasatch.

Ean Jackson's picture

Can't win them all

Gilles, Sorry to hear that you and Ryne didn't finish. Always disappointing... especially after traveling so far. Hey, you did fine last week and I'm sure you will have recovered by next week! I'm a bit worried about Ryne, tho. Any news?  Congrats to you, Chad.  Can't wait to see the reaction on people's faces if you wear your finisher buckle to a Vancouver watering hole.

Dream BIG

Gilles - I agree with Dan; how do you know that you can't do something if you haven't even tried??? Train specifically and go for it!! YOU CAN DO IT! "Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it." Johann Wolfgang Goethe
mudrunner's picture

Wow! Yes...I heard that the

Wow! Yes...I heard that the conditions were miserable...or as someone put it..."Full Coloradan conditions". Congrats Chad...I guess the elevation didn't totally nail you? Gilles & Ryne...sorry you didn't get to finish, but at least you saw the course in one direction. Sometimes it's that "unfinished business" that gives us the motivation to break through a new level in the future.

Is Ryne still kicking?

just checking

Nice work Chad!

Wow! your becoming one of us and even better at it. will I see you at Hardrock? You, Gilles and I will have to party down in silverton next year.

How do you know how fast you can go?

I knew that wasn't an easy race. I was just thinking today that that can be a brutal race. Rain ,snow, hail and elevation is what that race is all about. I know what it feels to come from sea level and race above the clouds. I was moving at a snails pace at anything over 11'000. I even had to stop to catch my breath running down hill. Don't give up on hardrock! entry is not until January. How do you know what you can not do if you have not trained for it. I know you are capable of finishing hardrock. But yes you do have to spend 2 weeks to acclimate. this will make all the difference. I will see you at Cascade.

Sea level is for suckers

The Leadville 100 adventure is coming to an end and it's with a bit of disappointment that I return home without a buckle. I didn't make the cut off at the halfway point in Winfield, I was 40 minutes late. Too bad because I was feeling very good but the climb up Hope Pass at 12,600' got the better of me. I would have needed 4 extra hours beyond the 30 hours cut off to finish this thing.

Turns out that I'm not the only one that could have used some extra time. Out of 455 starters only 186 runners were able to finish. Only 313 made it to the halfway point before the 14 hours cut off. The story of Leadville 2008 was the weather. Cold with nasty storms. I ran most of the day dressed the same way I dress in Vancouver in January, hat, gloves, tights and all.

As for my other running companions, Ryne had to drop at Winfield due to some medical issue that we won't discuss in details here but let just say that it has to do with his urine being the color of a Guiness beer rather than the more suitable color of a Coors Lite. Chad finished in 27:32, good for 72nd overall. Quite a strong performance considering that he ran STORMY last weekend. Chad made it back to Twin Lake (mile 60) over Hope Pass at the same time I got to Winfield. It was a miserable, cold, wet night by all accounts.

So I leave Leadville with unfinished business. For me to be able to complete this I would have to be able to spend 10-14 days prior to the race to get some altitude training. And I've decided that I will never try to enter Hardrock. It's just beyond my capacity.

From Rob O'Dea, photograph for Leadville 100

The 2008 Leadville Trail 100 saw winter arrive in August. Racers and their inexhaustible crews braved snow, rain, hail, and lightening in their race across the sky. Those who were there will never forget it. Those who missed it are glad they did.

www.robodeaphotography.com

run100widow's picture

First Aid Station Check-in

GOOD NEWS!! I saw all three at the May Queen Aid Station (13 miles in). They are look good and don't seem to be feeling the effects of the altitude. First came Ryne, then Chad and then Gilles. All were in good spirits which is what you hope to see at 13 miles. Just as Gilles left the aid station, the rain started - he was well dressed and before the start he said he felt resilient. BY the time I got to the car it felt more like a mix of sleet and hail. Hopefully, he will stay dry or at least dry enough until the next aid station where he can get dry clothes. As for me, I headed to the Grand Burro for breakfast. It is equally important for me to be well fed and dry or I will be no good to Gilles. SO I'm taking advantage of this time at the restaurant to post a few pictures. I will try to update again later. These first ones re not that great since life light was not very good. Check them out at : http://flickr.com/photos/gillesylucy/sets/72157606754836339/
run100widow's picture

Aid Station updates from Race officials

Sibylle's picture

Giddy Up and Run

yeeha!

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