Leadville 100 Trail Run - Leadman Challenge

After a full summer of racing, it all comes down to this - Leadville 100 miles Trail Run. The Race Across The Sky! 30 hours to run 100 miles and 15,000 ft of gain in the rugged Colorado Mountains above 10,000 ft of elevation. As the Grand Finale of the Leadville Trail Race Series, completing this race would officially make me a Leadman! And, I’ve done it last year in 24h23m, so in theory, that’s no problem, right?
Curious about the trail running gear I use and recommend: check out this link
linktr.ee/runningwithsimon
Well, no... I’m still hurting from my bike fall last weekend during Leadville 100 MTB. Mostly rib pain that makes me short of breath, and bruised legs. But even beyond that, it really wasn’t my day, and this race turned into a major grind fest. What a nice reminder that in ultrarunning, you can never take things for granted.
Luckily, I had an amazing crew again this week! With their encouragement and support, Nora, LeAnne and Mark made sure I reached the finish line - crewing and pacing me all night long! They even brought me my favorite treats - but my stomach was having none of it. Also, thank you to Brian, Katie, Micky, Tracy, Jack, Cory - for all the fun times this summer.
Leadville is an amazing place, and I’m incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to race the Leadman this year! Thank you to the LifeTime Foundation for letting me represent them, and thank you to Ken, Merilee, Cole and the whole Leadville Trail Race Series for making my summer unforgettable.
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Instagram:
/ simon_on_trails
Strava:
/ strava
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I am once again teaming up with the LifeTime Foundation to raise fund to feed healthy meals for kids at school. Read more about my fundraising as I attempt to complete in 2022 both the Lead Challenge and the Grand Slam
give.ltfoundation.org/fundrai...
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Music
• Country Acoustic Folk - by Infraction
• Over the Mountains - by Infraction
• Upbeat - by Infraction
• Chill Day - by Lakey Inspired
• Old Jeans - by Mokka
• Family - by Infraction
• Atlas - by Infraction
• Bay Breeze - by FortyThr33
• City Beat - by Infraction
• Dreamy - by Infraction
• New Day - by Ikson
Music from #InAudio: inaudio.org/
Track Name: ATLAS (EPIC)
inaudio.org/track/atlas/

[@YourSmilingWhen]

“At least I’m not shitting every hour” hahaha I’m going to use that one. Love the videos and the comedic touch with the clips - they’re hilarious. Also, congrats on the finish and the impressive efforts this year! Good luck at Wasatch!!

[@runningwithsimon]

Thanks!!!

[@adamxbohannon]

Love that Harvey made a cameo! Great work!

[@robertclarkson6064]

Congratulations. Rock on 💪💪💪

[@runningwithsimon]

Thanks!

[@Pegaseus]

What a great accomplishment! I visited Leadville for the first time a few weeks ago and had elevation sickness for a couple of days so watching you all finish this at 10K feet is amazing! Love the city of Leadville ⛏

[@runningwithsimon]

It’s a great place and an amazing race with great community! I got hit hard by altitude for the marathon (came straight from sea level). I was also on the tail end of COVID - it made for a difficult race! But luckily I was able to work remotely from CO all summer, so was fully adapted for the 100!

[@SeeChadRun]

Just came across your channel and subscribed. Awesome video! Really gets me thinking about my first 100 miler...

[@runningwithsimon]

It’s a great adventure for sure! I think it’s easier than it looks (but…it’s not easy lol)

[@kristophersimons4895]

Congrats and welcome to the Leadman family! Was a great time out there this year, the temps were perfect.

[@runningwithsimon]

Thanks!

[@WayneCapacillo]

Good WORK!

[@runningwithsimon]

Thanks! Good luck at Yeti100!

[@Pacertravel]

Congrats on the race. Is was great to meet you at the dinner Thursday. Jeff

[@runningwithsimon]

Thanks! Great meeting you!

[@runningwithsimon]

ps: I had to shave my mustache...

[@Kelly_Ben]

CONGRATULATIONS!! You are like Goggins... except, replace the yelling and F Bombs with calm positivity. Pulling through an extremely difficult race, covered in injuries and after months of tough races, was an incredible feat in itself. When you said that the goal was now just to finish, and you WOULD finish, I had absolutely no doubt. Other people would sleep for a month after this, but I can't wait to see what you get up to once you're recovered!

[@runningwithsimon]

Thanks! I can’t help but laugh at Goggins’ over the top style!!! But, he has inspired many people and that’s pretty cool. If I can reach and inspire even 1% of what he managed, I’d be pretty happy :)

[@gibson5056]

I DIDNT KNOW FREDDIE MERCURY RAN ULTRA MARATHONS!!

[@runningwithsimon]

You can store food in the mustache…it’s perfect!

[@CoryGrasser]

Congrats Simon! Freaking stud and completing the WHOLE SERIES!?!? AWESOME!

[@runningwithsimon]

Thanks!

[@Ice-Fall]

Good Stuff! Thanks for posting.

[@runningwithsimon]

And thanks for watching!!

[@TheVirtualSherpa]

Congrats on the Leadman finish, very impressive stuff!

[@runningwithsimon]

Thanks!!

[@freedomwon2004]

Awesome video! Thank you for sharing your adventure! Great job especially with your injuries...ouch!

[@AdrianaIbarrajulio2407]

Muy muy bueno! Felicitaciones! yo no corro ni el colectivo! Un gran logro de tu parte!

[@runningwithsimon]

Gracias!

[@seanmullins9187]

Enjoyed the videos. What a great accomplishment.

[@runningwithsimon]

Thank you :)

[@duzer]

Great job my friend!!

[@runningwithsimon]

Thanks - likewise! Wow you did great!!!

[@Freshestkid2345]

good shit!! congrats. One day i will be doing it myself, just started running this year but i will be there one day. Thank you for the video it was great seeing the pain. good luck on the rest of your runs!

[@runningwithsimon]

Thanks, and awesome! You'll get there - good luck :)

[@Gator35]

Leadville, Zion and Ouray are dream goals. I'd love to decide on one based on overall beauty and experience for the long term plan, and then develop the plan to work towards that goal. Do you consider these all just completely different races in scenery and in difficulty?

[@runningwithsimon]

I love Leadville because of our "Colorado clique" (Coach Brian's family, Mark and Leanne, Mickey and Tracy), but otherwise, it's not the most scenic or best race experience imo. It's also tricky to get in - one way is to volunteer time at their races. So you're right that planning ahead is important. It's also good to know also that it's a difficult race - not so much because of the course, but also because the cutoff are very aggressive. It really doesn't give you much buffer. Which even for me, I find stressful. I wish the overall cutoff was 33 or 36...Keith Straw (the tutu runner - not sure if you know of him but very experienced runner) says Leadville is the most difficult race he's ever done. All that said, Leadville is of the 3 the most historic, which makes it unique in many ways. And obviously, I do appreciate it enough to come back! So not trying to be too negative about it. But we're comparing to Zion and Ouray! Which I'm very biased about as these are my top 2! I'd say Ouray is the most scenic, but, well, kinda hardcore. Zion is very scenic too, in a different style. I love both. And for me coming from the north east, they are both very "exotic". Snowcapped above treeline mountains! And red rock mesa - it's just very cool!

[@Gator35]

@@runningwithsimon great perspective - I’ll have to watch your Zion stuff again and do more research - I know you have expressed that Ouray is a buttkicker! I’ll watch both again 🙌🏼

[@ambercrews2965]

When you worked remotely in Leadville all summer, where did you stay? Did you also have your regular place at sea level?

[@runningwithsimon]

We rented different Airbnb Mondays through Fridays, and spent weekends hiking/camping 14ers. So we were moving a lot in colorado, and not always in Leadville. We spent time in Glenwood, Carbondale, Montrose, Gunnison, Frisco, Copper Mountain, Breckenridge. For race week, it's really hard to find a spot in leadville, copper mountain was fine. We still had our house at sea level, but we didn't go back (sublet)

[@ambercrews2965]

@@runningwithsimon thank you for your reply. I work in the schools and often wish I could spend the summer in CO, but couldn’t figure out how to afford it. The way you did it makes a lot of sense.

[@runningwithsimon]

@@ambercrews2965 The other big cost saving piece was to drive there, so we didn’t need to rent a car (and no plane ticket). If it wasn’t for fees for my like 10 races, it would have been almost cost neutral for us.

[@mitroilavinia6913]

What pills did you took on the aid station?

[@runningwithsimon]

I think this time it was just salt pills. You lose a lot of sweat at altitude so just replenish electrolyte (might make a video about that). Sometimes I take Imodium if, huh, well,huh if I have diarrhea. But I don’t think that was the case that day - it’s was unexpected nausea I go briefly through gear and all in my Zion Course preview video posted April 2023!

[@levidaisyyoung220]

hi, im just looking at running and I came across this video.. congratulations for finishing and wow, you are injured also.. your discipline must be strong because im finding motivation isnt enough for me, I think I need more discipline.. the thing I notice tho being a naturalist scientist for cell rejuvenation, ( this is not a medical degree but actual experiences in living in a human body, using fuel to sustain optimal health & lifestyle) why would you drink an acid drink such as soda? that stuff will slow down your healing from other injuries plus will effect your recovery.. yes you finished the race but why pride yourself with toxins?? 🤷‍♀ celebrate but not with food treats.. I dont understand long distance runners that consume even cooked foods for pure clean energy.. I watched a race and seen people eating 2 minute noodles, then proceed to run again, then to vomit it up. why?? 🤷‍♀ when I watch Michael Arnstein do these runs on raw, especially fruit lifestyle, his recovery is quick and is in good health the next day.. or Janet and Alan that ran around AUSTRALIA doing a marathon a day for 366 consecutive days.. their recovery was so quick to be able to run a marathon the next day and so on for 366 days.. its called running raw around australia.. you could beat your times and finish in a better shape.. you know, im watching you for your experience and I do the same for most of the videos I watch on running long distances and if I can learn something for any one of them to help me, well I take that advice on board to better myself.. im just sharing with you.. we are cells, red cells carry oxygen and cell rejuvenation comes from food we eat.. maybe consider looking into eating raw to benefit your journey in running.. much 💜 from Australia ✨🙏🌸💞🤸‍♀

[@runningwithsimon]

Thanks Levi, I always appreciate the feedback, and always looking for idea to improve. I’m not claiming to be a nutrition expert (in fact, I literally mention it in another video) and I’m sure I can improve. What I eat comes from try and error - and except for Leadville, I’m actually very good at avoiding GI issues (the #1 problem in ultras but not for me). I don’t drink coke as a treat - it’s simply that I know it’s one of the few things that’d work at that point.

[@fritz4345]

Leaville 100 - what a sloppy production!