The Leadville 100 Run, first held in 1983, is among the oldest and most prestigious 100-mile trail-running races in the U.S. Set against the backdrop of Colorado’s Sawatch Range, the race is renowned for its grueling high-altitude course.
The race has played a significant role in transforming Leadville into a hub for endurance sports and eventually led to the creation of the Leadville Race Series.
What Is The Leadville 100?
The Leadville 100 was conceived by Colorado Ultra Club president Jim Butera, who envisioned a 100-mile trail race in the Rockies—a novel idea back then.
Initially, Butera wanted a route from Aspen to Vail, but logistical challenges led him to Leadville, thanks to a suggestion from Lake County Commissioner Ken Chlouber. Chlouber, along with local travel agent Merilee Maupin, helped Butera design the course and rally community support.
The inaugural race in August 1983 saw around forty-four starters, with ten men finishing within the thirty-hour limit. Skip Hamilton, a marathoner, won the race in 20 hours and 11 minutes.
By the early 1990s, the race had gained significant attention, partly due to the presence of the Tarahumara runners. Ken Chlouber and Merilee Maupin, who took over race management, focused on boosting Leadville’s economy through the race.
In 1994, they introduced a companion mountain bike race, which grew rapidly in popularity after Lance Armstrong participated.
The publication of “Born to Run” in 2009 further elevated the race’s profile. In 2010, Life Time purchased the Leadville Race Series, expanding the event and drawing thousands of competitors. Despite criticisms of overcrowding and commercialism, the race has successfully supported Leadville’s local economy.
Leadville 100 Course
The Leadville Trail 100 course has remained largely unchanged since its inception, characterized by its out-and-back route from Leadville to the ghost town of Winfield and its high-altitude challenges.
The race begins at 4 a.m. in downtown Leadville, with runners heading out to negotiate challenging terrain and steep ascents like Sugarloaf Pass and Hope Pass. The latter, reaching nearly 12,600 feet, is the most challenging part of the course. Runners return to Leadville the same way they came, with the grueling Powerline climb near mile 80 posing a significant late-race obstacle.
Leadville 100 Course Record Falls After 19 Years
At the 2024 edition, David Roche made history at the Leadville 100 Mile, shattering the longstanding course record with a time of 15:26:34. This marked his debut in the 100-mile distance, and he surpassed the previous record, which stood for 19 years, by over 16 minutes.
The previous record of 15:42:59 was set in 2005 by Matt Carpenter, a legend in mountain running. Carpenter’s record came after years of focused training specifically on the Leadville course.
His meticulous approach to the 2005 race has been documented in detail on his personal website. Over the years, many elite runners attempted to break Carpenter’s record but came up short—until Roche’s run in 2024.
The course has undergone some modifications since Carpenter set his record, with most experts agreeing that the current course is actually slightly longer and more challenging.
Roche entered the 2024 race with a ton of experience in shorter trail races but was new to the 100-mile distance. From the start, he ran at a pace that matched or exceeded the course record, maintaining his lead throughout the entire race.
While it’s common for runners to slow down after 50 to 60 miles, Roche managed to hold his pace, crossing the finish line with a comfortable margin under the record.
Comparing Splits: Roche vs. Carpenter
Here’s a breakdown of how Roche’s splits compared to Carpenter’s:
- May Queen 1 (mile 12.6): Roche – 1:31:34, Carpenter – 1:41
- Outward Bound 1 (mile 23.5): Roche – 2:59:11, Carpenter – 3:07
- Twin Lakes 1 (mile 37.9): Roche – 4:51:20, Carpenter – 5:21
- Winfield (mile 50): Roche – 7:09:08, Carpenter – 7:35
- Twin Lakes 2 (mile 62.5): Roche – 9:27:00, Carpenter – 9:39
- Outward Bound 2 (mile 76.2): Roche – 11:35:30, Carpenter – 12:00 at the old Fish Hatchery 2
- May Queen 2 (mile 87.4): Roche – 13:29:03, Carpenter – 13:45
Roche’s victory was particularly impressive given that he had recovered from serious injuries sustained in a bike crash earlier in the year.
In the women’s race, Mary Denholm also had a dominant performance. Denholm took home the victory in 18:23:54, the second-fastest time in race history.
