Leadville 100 Race Plan/Strategy

Race Day Strategy and Plan

Elevation Map | Course Map | Race Guide | Pacing Guide | Crewing Guide

Preparation

I ask that all of my crew and pacers read the above guides, particularly the Race Guide, Pacing Guide, and Crewing Guide to establish expectations. I am a simple racer and shouldn't need too much other than encouragement, supplies, and company through this journey. My goal is to be fast through aid stations as I am treating this like a race. Here are my objectives for my pacers and crews:

• Assist me in being efficient through aid stations and re-stocking my supplies.
• Don't freak out if I am behind time early in the race because I hope to pace this thing well
• Do not allow me to quit unless there is a medical reason to do so
• Allowing me to stop and regroup at an aid station is acceptable if I am really struggling
• Push me to continue working hard even if "A" goals are slipping -- any time is better than that time plus 1 second.
• Make sure I am staying on top of eating and drinking
• Slap me if I am being dumb.  Slap each other if you need entertainment.
• Don't be offended if I put in a iPod in an attempt to zone out

Start

Gear and Food

• Saucony Peregrine
• Nathan Pack full of GU Roctane drink
• Drink Sustained Energy for breakfast (plus a bar of some kind)
• Hand held full of GU Roctane
• T-shirt and shorts plus body glide.
• 2 gels, 2 Pocketfuel, and 1 energy bar (about 920 cals)
• Assorted essentials in pack (ginger chews, S!caps, Imodium, Chapstick, ibuprofen)
• Sunglasses
• Head Lamp

Segment 1 - To May Queen Outbound

Description

The first segment of the course is net downhill and EASY to take too quickly. In fact, it may be the single biggest mistake runners make in this race. The first five or so miles lead you out of town and then to Turquoise Lake trail. The trail around Turquoise Lake is narrow and technical, making it difficult to pass.

I will begin pacing this race for a 27 hour finish. My hope is that I will not slow as much as projected in the second half of the race and finish better than that. If luck is with me, maybe even 25 hours.

Plan

Estimated Time: 2:20
Arrive at Destination Aid Station: 6:20 AM on Saturday
Pace: roughly 10:30 min/mile
Elevation Gain: 750 (roughly 55 per mile)
Miles: 13.5

Gear and Food

• Continue with gear and food from the start.
• Probably have to refill a handheld with race beverage

Notes

• Warm up slowly to ensure aerobic efficiency
• Make sure 1st mile is no faster than 10 mins.
• Start time is 4 am and temps are likely to be in the 20's or 30's.
• Trail shoes and two water bottles are recommended
• Head lamp and warmer clothes will also be necessary
• Tabor Boat Ramp is about 7.5 miles in, probably too early for crew
• Don't stay too long at the May Queen aid station
• Crew is allowed, but I think I will pass so they can get a head start on Fish Hatchery

Segment 2 - May Queen to Fish Hatchery Outbound

Description

The next segment contains the first big climb, a 1200 foot climb to Sugar Loaf Pass (elevation 11,100 feet). Portions of this section run along the Colorado Trail and Hagerman Pass Road. The decent from the top to Fish Hatchery is almost 1500 feet.

Plan

Estimated Time: 2:05
Arrive at Destination Aid Station: 8:25 AM on Saturday
Pace: roughly 12:30 min/mile
Elevation Gain: 1500 (roughly 150 per mile)
Miles: 10

Gear and Food

• Switch to a road shoe (Brooks PureFlow)?
• Swap handhelds and get a full bladder for Nathan hydration pack
• 3 gel and 2 Pocketfuel (about 800 cals)
• Sunglasses and visor

Notes

• Be sure to power climb the pass
• Try to run down the backside of the pass at a relaxed/modest pace.
• Another quick aid station stop here.
• It is probably best to drop your head lamp at May Queen.
• The next section gets warm, so shedding a layer makes sense.
• Drop head lamp
• This will be the first time I see crew.  
• Apply sunscreen.
• I think I will skip the crew access point at Tree Line and they can go straight to Twin Lakes.

Segment 3 - Fish Hatchery to Halfmoon Outbound

Description

And now comes a lot of road running with a few hills mixed in.  Running a good portion of this section is a must.  Tree Line is a crew access area, but not an official aid station.

Plan

Estimated Time: 1:30 minutes
Arrive at Destination Aid Station: 9:55 AM on Saturday
Pace: roughly 12:30 min/mile
Elevation Gain: 700 (roughly 100 per mile)
Miles: 7

Gear and Food

• No crew, so no food.
• May refill with race provided beverage

Notes

• There are a few climbs along the road that should be walked
• Running the 4.5 miles to Tree Line provides an opportunity to walk the rest
• Be sure to work a good run/walk pattern and monitor HR
• This section is mostly road and road shoe friendly

Segment 4 - Halfmoon to Twin Lakes Outbound

Description

This section is on single track trail in the woods. You gain about 800 feet (to the Mt Elbert water stop about 7 miles in), topping out at 10,600 feet, before dropping 1,400 feet into Twin Lakes. The descent into Twin Lakes is not a quad killer.

Plan

Estimated Time: 2:00
Arrive at Destination Aid Station: 11:55 AM on Saturday
Pace: roughly 11:30 min/mile
Elevation Gain: 950 (roughly 105 per mile)
Miles: 9

Gear and Food

• Saucony Peregrine (switch back if not already)
• Nathan Pack full of GU Roctane drink
• Handheld full of GU Roctane
• 2 gels, 1 Pocketfuel, and 2 energy bars (about 670 cals)
• Rain jacket tucked into pack

Notes

• You will be weighed at Twin Lakes
• There are 3 climbs in this section and the first is the toughest.
• Spend a few minutes at the Twin Lakes aid station to prepare for Hope Pass
• Great trail running on this section
• There is a water stop at the base of Mount Elbert
• The descent into Twin Lakes is very runnable
• Wear breathable trail shoes when leaving Twin Lakes
• Apply sunscreen

Segment 5 - Twin Lakes to Winfield

Description

And here it is, Hope Pass. The first time over features a 3400 foot climb and a 2500 foot descent.

Plan

Estimated Time: 3:30
Arrive at Destination Aid Station: 3:25 PM on Saturday
Pace: roughly 21:00 min/mile
Elevation Gain: 3800 (roughly 361 per mile)
Miles: 10.5

Gear and Food

• Saucony Peregrine
• Nathan Pack full of GU Roctane
• Hand held full of GU Roctane
• 2 gels, 1 Pocketfuel, and 1 energy bars (about 670 cals)
• Keep Jacket tucked into pack

Notes

• It is rare that it will be more than 60 degrees on the pass
• Push it as hard as possible without going anaerobic
• Walk the road to Winfield as well
• A 10 minute refueling period is appropriate here
• Taking some NSAID might not be a bad idea
• Carry a poncho or Gortex jacket
• Could be here as soon early as 2:30 pm
• The road to Winfield is about 12 miles long and slow, count on an 1:15 to get here
• Plan should be to pick up Chuck at about 12:30 pm at Cabin
• This might be a good place to have a bite of a turkey sandwich or something

Segment 6 - Winfield to Twin Lakes Inbound

Description

If you've made it this far and are still ahead of the cut-offs, now is the time to push it a little. The return trip over Hope Pass is not as bad because you didn't loose all the elevation coming down and because you get to run down the road to Winfield. The bad news is that you are probably exhausted. The good news, your first pacer.

Plan

Estimated Time: 3:35
Arrive at Destination Aid Station: 7:00 PM on Saturday
Pace: roughly 21:30 min/mile
Elevation Gain: 3000 (roughly 285 per mile)
Miles: 10.5
Pacer: Chuck

Gear and Food

• Switch to road shoes?
• Two handhelds full: 1 with GU Roctane, 1 with Perpetuem
• 1 gels, 2 Pocketfuel, and 1 energy bar (about 820 cals)
• Handlamp
• If the weather is nice (no rain), switch to a breathable Jacket
• Make sure the pacer has a full Hydration pack and spare food

Notes

• Run the Winfield road back to Hope Pass
• Push it as hard as possible without going anaerobic
• It is going to be dark soon, be sure to switch mindsets
• Allow for a good 10 minute break to recover from Hope Pass
• Stay positive and just keep moving forward
• Need to pick up Jen at Cabin by 5 pm

Segment 7a - Twin Lakes to Halfmoon Inbound

Description

The hardest part of the race is done. But this section contains an underrated climb of 1400 feet.

Plan

Estimated Time: 2:45
Arrive at Destination Aid Station: 10:00 PM on Saturday
Pace: roughly 16:30 min/mile
Elevation Gain: 2000 (roughly 220 per mile)
Miles: 9
Pacer: Jen

Gear and Food

• Probably have to refill a handheld with race beverage.
• No food since this is not a crew station.

Notes

• This is where the race can be the most mentally difficult
• It is now time to run with as much effort as you can
• No crew access at Halfmoon

Segment 7b - Halfmoon to Tree Line Inbound

Description

This is a quick aid station with a crew stop to come.  This section should be runnable.

Plan

Estimated Time: 40 mins
Arrive at Destination Aid Station: 10:45 PM on Saturday
Pace: roughly 15:30 min/mile
Elevation Gain: -
Miles: 2
Pacer: Jen

Gear and Food

• Two handhelds full: 1 with GU Roctane, 1 with Perpetuem
• 1 gels, 2 Pocketfuel (about 600 cals)
• Make sure the pacer has a full Hydration pack and spare food

Notes

• It is time to start wearing warmer clothes: Hat, gloves, tights, long sleeve
• Need to pick up Jon at Cabin by 7:30 pm

Segment 8 - Tree Line to Fish Hatchery Inbound

Description

This section may be the easiest on the course.  It is mostly downhill road section that is entirely runnable.

Plan

Estimated Time: 1:15
Arrive at Destination Aid Station: 11:50 PM on Saturday
Pace: roughly  16:30  min/mile
Elevation Gain (From HM): 500 (roughly 70 per mile)
Miles: 4
Pacer: Jon

Gear and Food

• Two handhelds full: 1 with GU Roctane, 1 with Perpetuem
• 1 gels, 2 Pocketfuel, and 1 energy bar (about 820 cals)
• Make sure the pacer has a full Hydration pack and spare food

Notes

• You will be weighed at Fish Hatchery
• Once again adding more layers here would be a good decision
• Refuel and regroup

Segment 9 - Fish Hatchery to May Queen Inbound

Description

And one last beast before you finish, the "Power Line". Be sure to remember that Power Line has many as four or five times. The return trip will include Hagerman Road and the Colorado Trail. The trail is mildly technical and long (mentally).

Plan

Estimated Time: 3:40
Arrive at Destination Aid Station: 3:30 AM on Sunday
Pace: roughly 21:30 min/mile
Elevation Gain: 2000 (roughly 200 per mile)
Miles: 10
Pacer: Jon

Gear and Food

• Two handhelds full: 1 with GU Roctane, 1 with Perpetuem
• 1 gels, 2 Pocketfuel, and 2 energy bar (about 1040 cals)
• Make sure the pacer has a full Hydration pack and spare food

Notes

• It takes roughly 90 minutes to climb Power Line
• Be sure to be bundled up and re-fueled as it will be getting cold

Segment 10 - May Queen to FINISH

Description

This is the final section past Tabor Boat Ramp and around Turquoise Lake. Tabor Boat Ramp is a crew access point that can be valuable.

Plan

Estimated Time: 3:30
Arrive at Destination Aid Station: 7:00 AM on Sunday
Pace: roughly 15:30 min/mile
Elevation Gain: 1500 (roughly 110 per mile)
Miles: 13.5
Pacer: Heather

Notes

• Tabor Boat ramp is at mile 93 and can be used as a crew access point
• Be sure to have enough layers on
• Be sure to give it all you have and keep moving forward

See Also

• Wyatt Hornsby Part I | Part II
• Dana Roueche Strategy
• Brandon Fuller Garmin Connect Data