Grind On: Leadville Trail 100, Leadville, Colorado

I think we all have those rides where we feel immortal, our legs are bottomless in terms of "go-power" and everything just feels balanced and 'right'. That was this year's LT100 for me. It was hands down, the most amazing ride I'd ever had. The type of ride where you feel like crying afterwards because it just felt so damn good.

My lead-in to training for the LT100 was a complete wash. The Wilmington 100 in Wilmington, New York, just east of Lake Placid is a 'mostly road/dirt road' course 100km in length and is one of the qualifiers for the LT100. My preparation and planning all came together, in sync and I was able to push the pedals and endure the 100 mile course and finish with a smile on my face.

I participated in '12 and '13 and was granted a qualifying spot for the LT100 in June of 2012 but deferred my entry date to August 2013. I did this because of two friends who also qualified for the LT100 in 2012 and thus I decided to wait a year but go with them in 2012 to check out Colorado, the event and crew for them. It all worked out beautifully in the end with a finishing time of 9h03m - just shy of my 9 hour goal but having my girlfriend and folks there for on-course support made everything just perfect. Being able to stop and say HI, grab some food and new water bottles, give'm a hug and then keep going just to see them again somewhere down the course, was an absolute necessity that I would not pass up for anything. My other goal for the LT100 was to climb EVERYTHNG and that, I did. I was able to power back up Powerline, Columbine and all the short steeps in between with my legs just not wanting to give in.
Healthy discontent is the prelude to progress.

Mahatma Gandhi