Gut Check

"You're tougher than you think you are, and you can do more than you think you can."     Ken Clouber, co-founder of the Leadville 100

"Race Across The Sky" refers to the Leadville 100 (LT100) trail run, a race that starts and ends in the highest incorporated city in the United States.  At an elevation of 10,152 feet, simply walking around Leadville, Colorado makes people gasp for oxygen.  Once a booming mine town, Leadville's population was decimated when the mine closed and Ken scrambled for its resurrection.  He had heard of some crazy horse rider competing in a 100 mile race, but prior to the race, the rider's horse became lame.  Undeterred, Gordy Ansleigh toed the start line in sneakers and ran against the mounted riders and finished the race in 23 hours and 47 minutes.  That was in 1974 at the 24 hour Western States Trail Ride which pioneered today's frequent 100 mile trail races.

Ken knew he needed an event with such holy-shit punching power that it would arch eyebrows and get people talking.  So, in 1983, why not host a similar event, but at altitude...extreme altitude...Leadville altitude?  Hence, the beginning of the LT100.

The race begins in town on a Saturday in August at 4 a.m., but not with Ken simply tooting on some silly whistle or popping off a half-assed starter's pistol.  That simply won't do.  He starts the race in grand style, with a throaty shotgun blast into the air.  Runners begin their journey with a cut-off time of 30 hours to complete the grueling run.  A flat course is impossible in Colorado's high country so runners know to expect ups and downs.  And Hope Pass provides THE memorable up and down for the course.

The pass summits at 12,540 feet and an aid station is strategically placed just prior to the top.  The Hope Pass aid station is at mile marker 44.5 where runners will leave and go up and over the pass.  Upon dropping down the other side and enjoying the Winfield aid station, which is at mile marker 50, its time to turn around and retrace the trail back to Leadville.

The Hopeless Crew starts packing in supplies about a week prior to the race.  The aid station is remote and only accessible by single track trails, so llama pack trains are the beasts of burden to carry in all the gear.  This crew, spearheaded by veterans with over 20 years of volunteering (yes, volunteering!) at the station, sets up quite a camp to include a cooktent, medical tent, and a never ending supply of water. 

Do the llamas pack in all the water from the road?  Nope.  One longtime volunteer, who's an engineer, masterminded a purification system making potable water from a stream below the station.  Once water containers are filled from the stream, llamas then carry them up the hill to camp. 

I was fortunate enough to join the Hopeless Crew last year beginning on Friday night and lasting through Sunday morning when everything was packed out.  It was an eye-opening experience where I was a thirsty sponge absorbing all the activity.

Many, many, many memories were seared into my little brain, but two burned deep.

While assisting runners coming/going from camp, I noticed one runner had an extra bib attached beside his numbered race bib.  This extra bib had "Visually Impaired" silkscreened on it.  This man covered 44.5 rough miles and was pushing forward as he stumbled his way along the rocky trail heading up to the summit.  Remarkable!  Shortly afterwards, I was in camp and did a double take on a runner.  A woman entered camp wearing running shorts.  No big deal, right?  Except her left leg was a prosthetic fiberglass blade!  Simply Inspirational!

All the runners battling the course were absolutely examples of Ken's quote.  But, these 2 runners specifically take his quote to an entirely different level.

I doubt excuses fall from their lips! 

I want to be more like them.