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

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.

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.

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

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.

just checking

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.

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.

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.

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/

yeeha!