Soul Mining: Training for Leadville 100 with La Sportiva, Part 1

Keeping It 100

Losing eight toenails was probably the easiest part of running 100 miles. 

It was my first race at that distance, a total of 26 hours deep in the mountains of Idaho at the Palisades Ultra 100. Legs and feet pounded into jerky, seasoned with dirt and dust. As with most baptisms in the deep end of ultra running, it would prove to be unforgettable, both for its physical demands and its test of mental fortitude.

The aftermath was real, a lactic acid wash through every muscle in my lower half. Lying in my tent after the race, all I wanted to do was sleep, but couldn’t. It was every bit as painful as the race itself. Even now, it haunts me.

Running 100 miles isn’t easy and it isn’t for everyone. For most normal humans, the idea of running that distance is absurd. As corny and cliché as it is, they’re not wrong to say, “I don’t even want to drive my car that far!” They have a valid point. Even writing this, I’m questioning why this is the thing I’m pursuing again.

One thing is for sure– ultra running is trending up and to the right. Some say it’s because our daily lives lack hardship. Again, they’re not wrong. It’s possible this whole endeavor is just supplementary punishment.

Maybe that’s true for some folks, but for me, it has never been about suffering. Running has always had the common theme of exploration– of place, community, and self. From this viewpoint, maybe running 100 miles does make sense.

Still, it’s a long way to go, even for a car.

The Lure of Leadville

Since the Palisades Ultra there have only been two other 100-mile races that have piqued my interest. Both of them happen to be in the Sawatch Range of Colorado, and both pull heart strings for very different reasons. 

One of those is the historic Leadville 100. Believe me, as someone who has been to trail events all around the world, there is nothing quite like Leadville. Words like grit, guts, and glory get thrown around, and deservedly so. They’re all requisite qualities for survival in these parts. 

The town itself sits at 10,000 feet above sea level, making it the highest habitable community in the country. Simply standing there after coming from a lower altitude is tough enough; start from sea level and you may think you’ve been afflicted with an outdoor version of the bends. With its lore comes an allure, something that is both certain and unique and impossible to pinpoint all at the same time. A mystery wrapped in an enigma, a high and lonesome sound.

One thing is for sure, though– the beauty of this place is laid out in full technicolor. Colorado’s highest peak and its mountain chain are the town’s backdrop. Most of the race runs just below their gaze. That is, until Hope Pass escorts runners to the sky before dropping them back down the other side. It’s an exhilarating and gut-wrenching experience, one that you get to experience twice in the same day since this is an out and back race.

As for the trails, one can imagine that they are pretty magical based on location alone. They would be correct. Grand aspen stands, gorgeous lakes, and charming communities are littered like cookie crumbs along the track. On collective occasions, I’ve run every inch of this course with the exception of the segment between town and Turquoise Lake. I have intentionally saved that portion for when I have the opportunity to do the race.

That route, however, is only part of the reason for my attraction to the Leadville 100. 

Outside of the actual race course, the major draw is the unique sense of community. Many trail events could boast the same, but the Leadville 100 certainly has its own flavor. If you have ever hung out at Twin Lakes over race day, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Take it from me who has experienced this race for multiple years in many capacities (pacer, spectator, crew member, and coach), the Leadville 100 is special.

Supported by La Sportiva

Now, as long as training goes well and life allows, I’ll get to take part in this spectacle in a new way. Thanks to La Sportiva, I’ll be one of the lucky few who gets to toe the line at the Leadville 100 this year. You can be dang sure that exploration will be my A goal. 

For many, this will be their first time digging into the Colorado dirt of the Sawatch Range. You already know I’ve seen most of the course. So what’s left to explore?

Self.

My training will focus on chiseling parts of myself that need to be refined or discovered. I’ll call it soul mining. I believe that my running journey not-so-coincidentally started when my personal spiritual journey did. These are two things that I don’t desire to, or even think I could, separate from one another. 

What I love most about training for running is that lessons learned can also be applied on a metaphysical level.  So, I’m eager to “get educated” in this training block leading toward Leadville.

I know that experience is going to pay the biggest dividend for me. It has been a few years since I’ve pursued any ultra-distance races. Long runs will take highest priority, of course. I’ll be using them to beat down my legs and boost my confidence to stay on my feet for many many hours. 

I’m one who loves the process more than anything. So, all of this is more exciting to me than race day even. To double down on the exploration, I have planned adventures on unexplored trails near my home in the Rocky Mountains. In this way, I’m hoping my long runs are just the physical manifestation of my inward training. It’s a constant course of wonder as I wander.

As mentioned before, my last 100-mile experience left me literally scarred. Part of that was due to my own gear choices. A lot of my training will be done in the very gear I’ll be sporting come race day. 

Most of my big long days on foot will be logged in La Sportiva’s upcoming Prodigio Max – a shoe that meshes the technical DNA of the Prodigio line and with the protective promise of a max stack option – hence the name Prodigio Max. Honestly, it seems like the best tool for long, mountainous ultras. I plan on it playing a mighty role in my race day experience as well when comfort and confidence are needed most. 

Much of my other weekly miles – workouts, shorter runs, and filler runs – will be logged in the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro. This shoe quickly gained steam in the trail running space because of its outstanding versatility, high performance, and purely fun ride. It’s a confidence-inducing shoe on a variety of terrain and at any effort. The Dirt Division at Believe in the Run has it currently ranked at the top of the race day category. There are definitely portions of the Leadville 100 course that I’ll be using this shoe very intentionally as in training. 

Heck, I’ll even be throwing on the OG of this group. I love the La Sportiva Prodigio, which won our Best in Gear award for the technical category last year. It’s a great option for general trail running and technical performance. 

So far, the miles I’ve put in this month have been splendid. Again, it has been a while since I’ve trained for long ultras. I’m mainly figuring out how to slow down and be as efficient as possible…. and swallow my ego a little. Keeping it easy isn’t always easy (especially with shoes like the Prodigio Pro), but I’m enjoying the process of discovering different gears for longevity that have previously been hard for me to hone. 

One of my upcoming goals is to complete a personal route that links some long segments of trail that I haven’t been on in Rocky Mountain National Park. Both are segments that are way off of the beaten path. So, linking them up in a home-to-home route brings even more meaning to this training process. Along the way, I’ll gain valuable experience about what it means to “go the distance” again.