Leadville Trail 100 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leadville Trail 100 |
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| Date | August 18–19 |
| Location | Leadville, Colorado |
| Event type | Ultramarathon trail run |
| Distance | 100-mile (160 km) |
| Established | 1983 |
| Course records | David Roche 15:26:34 (2024); Ann Trason 18:06:24 (1994) |
The Leadville Trail 100 Run, also known as The Race Across The Sky or the LT100, is a super long-distance running race. It happens every year on tough trails and dirt roads near Leadville, Colorado. This area is right in the middle of the amazing Rocky Mountains. The race first started in 1983. Runners climb and go down a total of 15,744 feet (4,799 m) during the race. It's so hard that usually less than half of the people who start actually finish within the 30-hour time limit.
Contents
What is the Leadville Trail 100 Run?
The Leadville Trail 100 Run is an ultramarathon, which means it's much longer than a regular marathon. It's a 100-mile (100-mile (160 km)) race that tests runners' strength and endurance.
The Race Course: A Mountain Challenge
The race course is a 50-mile (80 km) "out-and-back" route. This means runners go out 50-mile (80 km) and then turn around to come back the same way. The race starts at a high elevation of 10,200 feet (3,100 m). The most challenging part of the course is climbing up to Hope Pass, which is at 12,532 feet (3,820 m). Runners have to go over Hope Pass twice, once on the way out and again on the way back.
History of the Leadville Race
The idea for a 100-mile race in Colorado came from Jim Butera in the early 1980s. When other towns weren't interested, Ken Chlouber, a local leader in Leadville, supported the idea. He wanted the race to bring visitors to Leadville after a big mine closed.
The first race was held on August 27–28, 1983. Jim Butera was the race director, with help from Ken Chlouber and Merilee Maupin. Over the years, the race grew. In 2010, the Leadville Trail organization was sold to Life Time Fitness, a company that organizes many fitness events.
Special Race Series and Slams
The Leadville 100 is part of several special running challenges:
- Western Slam: This includes four 100-mile races in the western United States: the Leadville 100, the Western States 100, the Wasatch Front 100, and the Angeles Crest 100.
- Grand Slam of Ultrarunning: This challenge includes the Vermont 100, Western States 100, Leadville, and the Wasatch Front 100.
- Rocky Mountain Slam: This involves the Hardrock 100 plus three other races in the Rocky Mountains, which can include Leadville.
Unlike many other 100-mile races, Leadville does not require runners to have finished other races to qualify. People can enter through a lottery, by finishing certain qualifying races, or by joining special training programs.
The Tarahumara Runners
In the early 1990s, runners from the Tarahumara people of Mexico came to Leadville. They are known for their incredible long-distance running abilities. In 1992, they had a tough time because they were not used to the trails or the way races were organized in the U.S. They didn't know how to use flashlights properly or how to get food at aid stations. All five runners dropped out.
However, the Tarahumara teams came back in 1993 and 1994 and won the race! In 1993, 52-year-old Victoriano Churro won, and his teammate Cerrildo came in second. In 1994, a five-man Tarahumara team raced against famous ultrarunner Ann Trason. Twenty-five-year-old Juan Herrera won in a record time of 17:30. This record stood for 8 years.
Race Records and Amazing Finishers
The first winner of the Leadville Trail 100 in 1983 was Skip Hamilton. He finished in 20 hours, 11 minutes, and 18 seconds.
Current Race Records
- Men's Record: David Roche holds the current course record for men. In 2024, he finished in an amazing 15 hours, 26 minutes, and 34 seconds. This broke the previous record that had stood for 19 years!
- Women's Record: Ann Trason holds the women's record. In 1994, she completed the race in 18 hours, 6 minutes, and 24 seconds. Ann Trason is considered one of the best ultrarunners ever.
Other Notable Finishers
- Oldest Finisher: Charles Williams became the oldest man to finish the race in 1999. He was 70 years old!
- Most Finishes: Bill Finkbeiner was the first person to finish the LT100 twenty times in 2003. He has now finished 30 times in a row, starting in 1984! Eric Pence finished his 25th Leadville 100 in 2019.
Race Results: Who Won?
Here are some of the past winners of the Leadville Trail 100 Run:
Men's Winners
| Year | Winner | Time | Age | State/Country |
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| 2024 | David Roche | 15:26:34 | 36 |  Colorado |
| 2023 | JP Giblin | 17:07:25 | 29 | Colorado |
| 2022 | Adrian Macdonald | 16:05:44 | 33 | Colorado |
| 2021 | Adrian Macdonald | 16:18:19 | 32 | Colorado |
| 2020 | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | |||
| 2019 | Ryan Smith | 16:33:24 | 40 | Colorado |
| 2018 | Rob Krar | 15:51:57 | 41 |  Arizona |
| 2017 | Ian Sharman | 17:34:51 | 36 |  England |
| 2016 | Ian Sharman | 16:22:39 | 35 | England |
| 2015 | Ian Sharman | 16:33:53 | 34 | England |
| 2014 | Rob Krar | 16:09:32 | 37 | Arizona |
| 2013 | Ian Sharman | 16:30:02 | 32 | England |
| 2012 | Thomas Lorblanchet | 16:29:28 | 30 |  France |
| 2011 | Ryan Sandes | 16:46:54 | 20 |  South Africa |
| 2010 | Duncan Callahan | 17:43:25 | 27 | Colorado |
| 2009 | Timmy Parr | 17:27:23 | 27 | Colorado |
| 2008 | Duncan Callahan | 18:02:39 | 25 | Colorado |
| 2007 | Anton Krupicka | 16:14:35 | 24 |  Nebraska |
| 2006 | Anton Krupicka | 17:01:56 | 23 | Nebraska |
| 2005 | Matt Carpenter | 15:42:59 | 41 | Colorado |
| 2004 | Paul DeWitt | 17:16:19 | 36 | Colorado |
| 2003 | Paul Dewitt | 17:58:45 | 35 | Colorado |
| 2002 | Chad Ricklefs | 17:23:18 | 35 | Colorado |
| 2001 | Steve Peterson | 17:40:53 | Colorado |
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| 2000 | Chad Ricklefs | 18:07:57 | 33 | Colorado |
| 1999 | Steve Peterson | 18:47:31 | 37 | Colorado |
| 1998 | Steve Peterson | 18:29:21 | 36 | Colorado |
| 1997 | Steve Peterson | 18:10:45 | 35 | Colorado |
| 1996 | Steve Peterson | 19:29:56 | 34 | Colorado |
| 1995 | Kirk Apt | 20:33:05 | 33 | Colorado |
| 1994 | Juan Herrera | 17:30:42 | 25 |  Mexico |
| 1993 | Victoriano Churro | 20:03:33 | 52 | Mexico |
| 1992 | Rick Spady | 19:51:10 | 40 | Colorado |
| 1991 | Steve Mahieu | 19:38:04 | 44 | Colorado |
| 1990 | Jim O'Brien | 17:55:57 | 37 | Colorado |
| 1989 | Sean Crom | 18:56:40 | 33 | Colorado |
| 1988 | Rick Spady | 18:04:03 | 36 | Colorado |
| 1987 | Skip Hamilton | 18:44:55 | 42 | Colorado |
| 1986 | Skip Hamilton | 19:26:09 | 41 | Colorado |
| 1985 | Jim Howard | 19:15:57 | 30 |  California |
| 1984 | Skip Hamilton | 18:43:50 | 39 | Colorado |
| 1983 | Skip Hamilton | 20:11:18 | 38 | Colorado |
Women's Winners
| Year | Winner | Time | Age | State/Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Mary Denholm | 18:23:51 | 37 | Colorado |
| 2023 | Jacquie Mannhard | 21:24:55 | 38 | Colorado |
| 2022 | Clare Gallagher | 19:37:57 | 30 | Colorado |
| 2021 | Annie Hughes | 21:06:58 | 23 | Colorado |
| 2020 | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | |||
| 2019 | Magdalena Boulet | 20:18:06 | 46 | California |
| 2018 | Katie Arnold | 19:53:40 | 46 |  New Mexico |
| 2017 | Devon Yanko | 20:46:29 | 35 | California |
| 2016 | Clare Gallagher | 19:00:27 | 24 | Colorado |
| 2015 | Elizabeth Howard | 19:34:09 | 43 |  Texas |
| 2014 | Emma Roca | 19:38:04 | 41 |  Spain |
| 2013 | Ashley Arnold | 20:25:42 | 26 | Colorado |
| 2012 | Tina Lewis | 19:33:44 | 30 | Colorado |
| 2011 | Lynette Clemons | 19:59:06 | 30 | Colorado |
| 2010 | Elizabeth Howard | 21:19:48 | 38 | Texas |
| 2009 | Lynette Clemons | 20:58:01 | 35 | Colorado |
| 2008 | Helen Cospolich | 23:21:53 | 31 | Colorado |
| 2007 | Tammy Stone | 22:44:54 | 45 | Colorado |
| 2006 | Diana Finkel | 20:43:19 | 34 | Colorado |
| 2005 | Nikki Kimball | 20:28:21 | 34 |  Montana |
| 2004 | Anthea Schmid | 20:50:05 | 32 | Colorado |
| 2003 | Valerie Caldwell | 22:54:16 | New Mexico |
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| 2002 | Anthea Schmid | 19:44:24 | 30 | Colorado |
| 2001 | Janet Runyan | 21:47:44 | Colorado |
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| 2000 | Amanda McIntosh | 22:16:17 | 35 | Texas |
| 1999 | Amanda McIntosh | 22:05:22 | 34 | Texas |
| 1998 | Ann Trason | 20:58:32 | 37 | California |
| 1997 | Julie Arter | 24:08:07 | 36 | Colorado |
| 1996 | Martha Swatt-Robison | 23:30:11 | 34 | Colorado |
| 1995 | Linda Lee | 22:59:01 | 39 | Colorado |
| 1994 | Ann Trason | 18:06:24 | 33 | California |
| 1993 | Christine Gibbons | 20:55:59 | 31 | Colorado |
| 1992 | Theresa Daus-Weber | 23:37:23 | 37 | Colorado |
| 1991 | Alice Thurau | 22:10:35 | 35 | Colorado |
| 1990 | Ann Trason | 20:38:51 | 29 | California |
| 1989 | Kathy D'Onofrio | 20:50:41 | 25 | Colorado |
| 1988 | Ann Trason | 21:40:26 | 27 | California |
| 1987 | Randi Young | 24:12:57 | 35 | Colorado |
| 1986 | Maureen Garty | 22:45:01 | 36 | Colorado |
| 1985 | Marge Hickman | 26:57:50 | 35 | Colorado |
| 1984 | Teri Gerber | 28:17:41 | 35 | California |
The Leadville Race Series: More Challenges
The Leadville Trail 100 Run is just one of six races in the Leadville Trail series. These events offer different challenges for runners and bikers:
- Leadville 10K Run: This is a shorter race, 10-kilometre (6.2 mi), held the week before the main 100-mile run. It covers the first and last parts of the longer course.
- Leadville Trail 100 MTB: This is a 100-mile mountain bike race that started in 1994. It follows a path similar to the running race. Famous cyclists like Lance Armstrong and Levi Leipheimer have competed in it. The current record for this race is 5 hours, 58 minutes, and 35 seconds, set by Alban Lakata in 2015.
- Silver Rush 50 MTB: A 50-mile (80 km) mountain bike race through the mining areas near Leadville.
- Silver Rush 50 Run: A 50-mile (80 km) trail run that uses the same route as the Silver Rush MTB race. It was added in 2008. If someone finishes both Silver Rush events, they get a special "Silver Queen" or "Silver King" award.
- Leadville Trail Marathon: This is a 26.2-mile (42.2 km) marathon held in June. It goes through the mining districts east of Leadville. The highest point of the course is at Mosquito Pass, which is 13,185 feet (4,019 m) high! There's also a "heavy" half marathon (15 miles) that goes to the top of Mosquito Pass.
Becoming a "Leadman" or "Leadwoman"
If a person officially finishes the Trail 100 Run, Trail 100 MTB, the Marathon, either Silver Rush event, and the 10K, they earn the title of "Leadman" or "Leadwoman." This is similar to the "Ironman Triathlon" title. Charles Bybee holds the record for the most Leadman titles, with 10 finishes of all events. In 2019, Dion Leonard became the first man to complete both the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning and the Leadman series in the same year.
In 2020, all events in the Leadville Race Series were cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. People who had signed up were given options to get a refund or save their spot for a future race.
See also
- Leadville Trail 100 MTB
