I completed my first ultra-distance trail run (or rather, speed hike) in August 1989. I started at 4:00 am at Carter Notch Hut, the eastern-most of the Appalachian Mountain Club's system of mountain huts in northern New Hampshire, and started to run westward toward the Presidential Range, Zealand Valley, Franconia Range, and finally, Lonesome Lake … Continue reading Dreams
Tag: Leadville
Road to Leadville: Dispatch #4
On Wednesday, Jen and I hiked up the Sheep Gulch Trail from near Winfield to Hope Pass, which at 12,600 ft, is the highest point on the Leadville 100 course. Runners cross the pass at mile 44.5 and again at mile 55.5 as they return from the turn-around point at Winfield. The climb and … Continue reading Road to Leadville: Dispatch #4
Road to Leadville: Dispatch #3
Finally, Leadville! I took a short (6.5 mile) acclimatization run on Tuesday afternoon along the Leadville race route on the north shore of Turquoise Lake. At almost exactly 10,000 ft, the lake trail was a great run to start getting used to the thinner air here. We scouted a few key spots on the race … Continue reading Road to Leadville: Dispatch #3
Road to Leadville: Dispatch #2
After only 48 hours, it already feels as though I've been in Colorado for weeks. Although I haven't kept track, I think this is my 12th trip to Colorado as an adult -- and 13th if you add my family's cross-country van trip in the 1970s. Over the years, these mountains have come … Continue reading Road to Leadville: Dispatch #2
Road to Leadville: Dispatch #1
"Why are you going to Colorado?" "To run in a hundred mile race" isn't really a great answer. It's much more complicated. And much harder to explain. In the week leading up to the Leadville Trail 100 (which starts at 4:00 am Mountain Time on Saturday the 20th), I'm going to explore some … Continue reading Road to Leadville: Dispatch #1
