Announcement from American Trail Running Association (ATRA) Double Track member Life Time Events – Leadville Race Series. Photos by Life Time Events.
This weekend’s marathon will also kick off the Lead Challenge, a progressive series of trail runs and mountain bike events ranging from 26.2 to 100 miles for a total of 282.4 miles. Racers must complete each of the Leadville-based events within the allotted cut-off time in order to move on and be eligible for the next. Entrants must compete in the following events as part of the challenge: Leadville Trail Marathon, Silver Rush 50 MTB OR Run, Leadville Trail 100 MTB, Leadville 10K, and Leadville Trail 100 Run. If a racer does not meet the required finish time, he or she will not be allowed to continue in the Lead Challenge competition.
There are 120 athletes signed up to take on the Lead Challenge this year. Last year, the finish rate was just under 50%. Also noteworthy, this happens to be the 20th year that the Lead Challenge has been happening!
There are a number of athletes who we’ll be following this season, including:
- Chris Lloyd is going for his 20th Lead Challenge belt buckle. That’s right- if he finishes it this year, he will have completed every single Lead Challenge since its inception. Chris is a Leadville local, who raises money for the Life Time Foundation and he is also a run guide during the Leadville Trail Run Camp at the end of June.
- Rodrigo Jimenez
- Leadman Marvin Sandoval and his wife Jolene Sandoval
- Two athletes, ‘One Armed Willie’ Stewart and Jeff Waldmuller, who are part of the Challenged Athletes Foundation, are vying for the Lead Challenge buckle.
The Leadville Trail Marathon & Heavy Half Expo kicks off today, June 16, 2023, at 1 p.m. Make sure to check out the full schedule for packet pick-up and additional events. Additional event details such as aid stations, crew and spectator information, and the community impact can be found in the 2023 Athlete Guide. Due to heavy snow and freezing temperatures in the area, course changes have been announced for Mosquito Pass.
