Grit, Guts and Determination: The Leadville Race Series Podcast

Tune in here to this episode of Grits, Guts, and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority for all things Leadville! Host Cole Chlouber, son of race founder Ken Chlouber, takes us on a story-telling journey of the 40-year rich history of this race. We learn all the tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville community members! Joining us today is Junko Kazukawa. Meet Junko Kazukawa and hear how she has not only faced adversity since a PE class in grade school, but how she's faced all those adversities head-on to shape not only who she is but what she does for a living today. She's also a two-time cancer survivor and the best human you'll ever meet. You also won't ever catch Junko without a smile on her face, a can do attitude, and an encouraging note she'll pass along to you. If you are looking for a coach, Junko Mountain Training and Boundless Coaching is a stop for you! Please remember to give us a like and subscribe where you are getting your podcasts, and we can't wait to see you at home, we can't wait to see you in Leadville!

Tune in here to this episode of Grits, Guts, and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority for all things Leadville! Host Cole Chlouber, son of race founder Ken Chlouber, takes us on a story-telling journey of the 40-year rich history of this race. We learn all the tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville community members! Joining us today is Dr. John Byrne. In this episode John tells us what it was like growing up on the younger side of a large Catholic family. Find out what made John tick early in life to give him such a strong work ethic. You will also hear how all of this strengthened when John was asked later in his career about what "fired his jets." Fifteen years later and John's jets are still firing and in this episode he lets us know how it all started with Leadville and he's passionate about sharing it with you, his Leadville family. Listen in and hear not only what John is up to today but what you can take from what John has already done and make your own lives count, make them better! As always, thanks for tuning in! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe, and we hope to see you in Leadville!

Tune in here to this episode of Grits, Guts, and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority for all things Leadville! Host Cole Chlouber, son of race founder Ken Chlouber, takes us on a story-telling journey of the 40-year rich history of this race. We learn all the tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville community members! Joining us today is Randall "Bike" Bennett. In this episode, Randall shares what it was like growing up on the wrong side of the tracks and not knowing it. Randall and Cole unpack all of Randall's early life challenges, challenges that started so early that "Digging Deep" just might be intwined into Randall's DNA. Randall went on to find success in almost anything he touched, however, sometimes he found other parts of life that may have got lost in the shuffle. Waking up as a business success one day, left Randall realizing his physical appearance had taken a toll. In this episode you will hear how Randall not only took back control of his physical success but excelled at this also. Randal went from overweight to pedaling his bike over 12,000'! Today you can catch Randall spreading the word of Leadville while he's volunteering for, or participating in, his favorite LRS races. Thanks for tuning in! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe, and we hope to see you in Leadville!

Tune in here to this episode of Grits, Guts, and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority for all things Leadville! Host Cole Chlouber, son of race founder Ken Chlouber, takes us on a story-telling journey of the 40-year rich history of this race. We learn all the tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville community members! We are celebrating the 40th year anniversary of the Leadville Trail 100 and the third official season of Grit, Guts and Determination, the Leadville Race Series! Host Cole Chlouber is now the interviewee, with Merilee and Cole's Dad, Ken Chlouber. Listen in to hear about what the Leadville Family means to him. To begin, Merilee and Ken Chlouber ask Cole how Leadville found him. He shares that it was not by choice, but his Dad found a job in the mine, which moved their family to Leadville. In 1982, the mine closed and everyone was out of work. Cole was only 7 years old and remembers the sacrifices his family made. The Leadville Race 100 was birthed out of that situation. Ken and Marilee started the race because it gave them a sense of purpose. Cole says Leadville 100 changed his life because it made him learn what it means to dig deep to fight for something. But it didn't always start out that way! Cole quit the race multiple times when he ran and biked it. That all changed when his Dad asked him to sweep on a 4 wheeler and he was behind an individual that he believed shouldn't have been out there. As he stopped at each station, he saw an increased number of people that looked like him quit, but this individual did not. He learned that day what it means to keep going. The Leadville 100 Race is like mining- it may be dark and you're in despair, but better things are on the other side. Next, Cole shares his most meaningful athletic accomplishment in a competition that he ran for the Lake County Cross Country. It was a horrible weather day for a meet, and he remembered an opposing team saying that no one had a shot that day, it's anybody's game. His team had been training in this weather for months and it was their game- not just anybody's. His coach, Frank, said not to be afraid to lead or win. Most of the time, the team had carried Cole, but that race he got to carry them. He also shares that running the Leadville Race in 2013 was a big accomplishment for him. He gave a speech to the people of Leadville inspiring them, but when it came to race time he was sicker than a dog. His Dad saw the look in his eyes, grabbed him by the collar and said, “You remember what you told those people.” Cole didn't have another problem the rest of the race, and it taught him what these races take and to keep digging deep. Lastly, Cole discusses the preparation needed for race day. He says that the real training occurs between the 5 inches between your ears. You can physically train, and you should, but that won't get you across the finish line. Your mentality will. You need to train yourself on your why. Then, when you hear the shotgun ring out and it's your race day, nothing will stop you. In the next 20 years, Cole sees the races as bigger, brighter family reunions. The Leadville Trail 100 is about changing lives, but it had to start with changing ours. His purpose is to continue this passion they've created, to help people get to the finish line and to share the magic of Leadville with others so they can experience this family support system and the race for themselves. They say to every biker, runner and person: “You're better than you think you are and you can do more than you think you can.” This has changed thousands of lives at the finish line and they hope it will change yours too!

Tune in here to this episode of Grits, Guts, and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority for all things Leadville! Host Cole Chlouber, son of race founder Ken Chlouber, takes us on a story-telling journey of the 38-year rich history of this race. We learn all the tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville community members! Joining us today is Pro Skier, Drew Peterson, and in today's episode Drew talks about his Sub 25hr Leadville 100, mental health and more! To begin, Drew starts off explaining how the Leadviille experience is everything he hoped it would be- it included the good and the bad, lived up to his expectations and lived out his childhood dream. He explored deep parts of himself, met new people and enjoyed connecting again with the mountains. The day of the race started off rocky by getting in late and sneaking up to the front. He discusses his mistakes including not drinking caffeine at first and he made potatoes at the Airbnb, but they were bad, and created stomach issues during the race. He became frustrated with himself during the race because of those mistakes and it started to bring him down, but he changed his attitude with his mental fortitude, and decided he already learned some lessons today, but he could apply them to the rest of the race. Next, Drew goes into his entire play-by-play of the race and how he thought he was going too fast starting off, so he started talking to people to see if he could hold conversations with them. He has a weak right foot and 2 miles into the race that started to hurt, but it quickly went away and that pain didn't pop up again the rest of the race. He explained his mental state that no matter how bad things get, they're always going to get better and vice versa. He continued on and ran downhill really well, which gave him a boost of confidence, but then he hit a wall. His women coaches encouraged him and told him to have fun and go climb Hope Pass, and that's exactly what he did. The climbing part of Hope Pass was his favorite part of the race in getting to reconnect with the mountains, get some confidence and positivity and even let out a wolf howl! He kept up that positivity, but the last 30 miles were the hardest where he was full of pain and struggled. His older brother paced him for the last section and getting to share that with him meant the world. Finally, Drew explains how going across the finish line let all the emotions catch up with him. He was surrounded by his crew, was excited and cried from elation at the finish line. Drew continues on by talking about his film called “Ups + Downs,” which discusses how Drew navigated the mountains and valleys of mental health through skiing. He shares that if you or anyone you know is struggling with mental health, they can call the mental health hotline or check out his website for more resources. His last piece of advice is to start out slower in the race, but to make up your mind ahead of time that you are going to finish the race. Don't leave any space to question whether or not you will finish, but to decide you will. No matter how bad things get, things will always get better.

Tune in here to this episode of Grits, Guts, and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority for all things Leadville! Host Cole Chlouber, son of race founder Ken Chlouber, takes us on a story-telling journey of the 38-year rich history of this race. We learn all the tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville community members! Joining us today is Adrian Macdonald, who has won first place in the Leadville Trail 100 twice. On this episode, Adrian shares his experiences winning the Leadville Trail 100 race, his advice in the sport and how he found Leadville. To begin, Adrian tells how he began running during his sophomore year of high school, and fell in love with the self-improvement aspect of the sport and found it addicting. He started running longer distances and ran cross country in college at Gettysburg University in Pennsylvania. He ran his first marathon after college in the Gettysburg marathon and had a perfect first attempt. His time was 2:30 and it took him four years to beat his personal best in Houston. Adrian was living in Boston and they canceled the 2020 marathon a month out due to COVID. He still wanted to race, so he started competing in trail running and found his body did well with the elevation gains and losses. He then found Leadville and shared with his mentor, Nick Clark, that he wanted to compete in the 2021 race and he was very supportive, and volunteered to crew and pace for him. Next, Adrian shares how in his first Leadville Trail 100 race in 2021 that he was very aware of Cody Reed and Tyler Andrews- some of the other racers that were going after the record and setting the pace for the first half. He passed both of those racers and at 50 miles out, the race was very special to him after realizing that he was going to win. He was 35 minutes out on everyone else and he wanted to enjoy the last bit of the race and soak in the experience of winning. When Adrian returned to the Leadville 100 in 2022, he had a film crew and sponsors, but he says the most pressure he received was from himself. He won the 2022 Leadville Trail 100 as well, but he wasn't feeling as good during this race and spent about half of his time running and walking. The other competitors were supporting him and the crowd was cheering him by name and knew who he was. He has a film coming out on YouTube in the next few weeks called “Out and Back” by Rabbit Wolf Creative. You can also check Adrian's sponsors: Ultimate Direction for gear and On Running for shoes in the links below. Adrian continues his passion for running as a cross country coach at Mountain View High School in Loveland, CO. His goal is to create life-long runners, but he tells the kids they will have more fun if they run fast! He is also a financial officer at Colorado State University in the Department of Statistics and he gives back to the Leadville Running Community. Adrian's advice is to put yourself out there by meeting new people and going to new places. He says to enjoy the whole process of training for the Leadville 100 and that if you love what you're doing and having fun, then you will train harder for it and find people to share it with. Adrian states that the Leadville 100 was a life-changing moment for him and has opened up opportunities for him to meet new people and given him confidence. He finishes up the conversation by saying that Leadville really does change your life and feels like family. You can find Adrian racing in Australia in mid-December and potentially the UTMB next summer!

Tune in here to this episode of Grits, Guts, and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority for all things Leadville! Host Cole Chlouber, son of race founder Ken Chlouber, takes us on a story-telling journey of the 38-year rich history of this race. We learn all the tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville community members! Joining us today is Brian Feddema, the owner of the local bike shop called Cycles of Life in Leadville, CO. There is no one across the nation who can prepare your bike for the Leadville 100 better than he can. He has brought life into and protected the Leadville community, and he is the guy to see for every cycle, Leadville and business owner need, and everything in between. To begin, Brian shares how he found Leadville. He is from St. Cloud, Minnesota and at the time, he was working in Utah in 2005. He skied in Leadville, and fell in love with the environment of the town and visited the bike shop. He remembered thinking that he could do it better. He talked to the coffee shop owner, Chris, for three hours and they opened the Cycles of Life bike shop together. Brian grew up in a small town and was involved with sports in high school- he didn't bike until college. During college, he worked at a bike shop called Out and About Gear. He loved this shop and looked up to the owner, Bruce. After he graduated college, he moved to Montana to ski and then Utah to work, but quit to start his own bike shop. Brian did not always have aspirations of opening his own business, but after working in the bike shop in college, he decided to get his degree in Business and Administration. Brian competes in four major bike races a year including the Leadville 100, Unbound, Mesa Verde, but he prefers to ride with his friends for fun. The services at Cycles of Life bike shop include: renting and buying bikes, bike maintenance, nutrition advice, shipping and service package, etc. They will help you with anything you need. Their shop has helped countless individuals with their bike needs before the race and they want to be as much of a resource as they can to maximize visitors' stay. Brian shares that his favorite part of owning a business in Leadville is getting to help and see the excitement on customer's faces. He enjoys being the master of his own destiny in that if the shop succeeds or fails, it is due to himself. The most challenging part of owning a business is hiring employees that are skilled enough to help customers and leave people with a good impression in the summer. Another challenge is hiring employees because he can't offer employees full employment since the winter months aren't as busy. Brian recently got married to a real estate agent named Heather, who owns RE/MAX at Aspen Leaf Realty. They met when Brian was trying to buy his first home. Brian shares that Leaville has helped keep him grounded and rooted in the things that matter in life. He is connected with a good core group of friends and Leadville has allowed him to focus on simple and meaningful things. He has also learned to protect what he values, including Leadville and the way that is it. He wants to add to Leadville and help everyone enjoy the city more. To finish, Brian's last piece of advice for the race is to not underestimate the power of having a proper, operating bicycle. He says too many people focus on getting in shape and eating the proper nutrition, but don't take the time to give their bike the respect that it deserves. He advises you to come to the bike shop and they will check your bike to give you that extra confidence you need to finish the race.

Tune in here to this episode of Grits, Guts, and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority for all things Leadville! Host Cole Chlouber, son of race founder Ken Chlouber, takes us on a story-telling journey of the 38-year rich history of this race. We learn all the tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville community members! Joining us today is a returning guest of the show, Cole's father and Leadville Founder Ken Chlouber. Don't miss their conversation which focuses more on who Ken is. To begin, Ken shares how Leadville found him, which he credits to his son. When Cole was born, Ken found a new job as a mechanic in Leadville, Colorado. He fell in love with Leadville, the place that gave him a job and a home for he and his family. Next, Ken shares about the hunting accident in high school which caused him a serious leg injury. Just like that, his youthful football dreams were over. Though it took a long time for him to heal the emotional wound of this, he was determined to heal himself physically. He took up running from there, and the rest is history! Then, Ken shares some of his favorite (and least favorite) running stories and the genesis of the Leadville Trail 100. Ken had gone to work like usual when his foreman called him and his crew in for a meeting. At that moment, he learned the mine was closing for good. At that moment, Leadville lost 3,250 jobs out of its population of 5,000. Ken and his neighbors all saw the need to bring money to their town as quickly as possible, and that was the beginning of the Leadville 100. Ken is a strong believer that in order to be successful in life, you need to have a vision, a purpose and passion. A key philosophy for the race was that no one involved, including Ken, could act selfishly. Don't miss Ken's personal tips on making it to that finish line. First and most importantly, you have to believe in yourself and your capabilities. What makes Leadville itself truly is its grit, guts and determination. By the late 80s, Leadville was not doing as financially well as Ken hoped. He had the bright idea to run for the Colorado state legislature in the House of Representatives to spread the word of Leadville and the economic and medical needs of the people living in the mountains. 18 years after his election, he still remains in politics. His platform and connections helped Leadville tremendously in many ways. When he first founded Leadville, it became Ken's singular life purpose. Now, however, he shares his purpose has shifted to helping people realize their unlimited potential in life. This message applies to everybody on the planet, not just those involved in sports. We all have the well of grit, guts and determination in all of us. He leaves listeners with one key message: Never quit. Thanks for tuning in! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe, and we hope to see you on the line in August!

Tune in here to this episode of Grits, Guts, and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority for all things Leadville! Host Cole Chlouber, son of race founder Ken Chlouber, takes us on a story-telling journey of the 38-year rich history of this race. We learn all the tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville community members! Joining us today is Simon Guérard who, in just one and a half years, has tackled over 10 hundred mile races with practically no experience. To begin, Simon shares how Leadville found him. He came to Leadville as part of the Grand Slam Ultrarunning Challenge and fell in love with the race. Simon does not consider himself to be an athlete, but just enjoys running for the experience of taking it slow and being in nature. He recently discovered a passion for filmmaking while compiling clips he had recorded on his GoPro during races to show his wife. The video, he realized, was able to show other people that they can accomplish similar things. To complete the Grand Slam, he explains, a person has to run 4 out of 5 of the oldest and toughest 100-miles in the U.S., with Leadville being one of the options. Simon details the differences between the trails and which were his favorites. This past summer, Simon decided to take on the challenge and complete the run and bike race at Leadville. He reveals that the 10K and the marathon were the two events he struggled the most with this summer. One of the biggest lessons that Leadville strives to teach its athletes is how to be tough and to always move forward. Without having the Leadville background, Simon shares how he persevered through his hardships. Often, he has found, it can feel like the right decision in the moment to just give up. However, we should recognize that pain is temporary and we will most likely never regret the moments that we decided not to give up on a goal we had. Then, Simon gives listeners a look into his nutrition intake during races. He typically doesn't eat while training. During races, he usually starts with gels and Gatorade. When he feels it's becoming difficult to digest these, he will slowly switch over to solid, salty foods. Later in the race, he usually eats ramen and tried this year to eat mashed potatoes at mile 40. When it comes to training, he doesn't stick to a structured plan, but listens to his body and accomplishes daily goals. As the episode draws to a close, hear what is on Simon's radar for 2023. Finally, he offers his best piece of advice for his new Leadville family members. Don't give up, face adversity head on and realize that you can do more than you think you can do. Thanks for tuning in! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe, and we hope to see you on the line in August!

Tune in here to this episode of Grits, Guts, and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority for all things Leadville! Host Cole Chlouber, son of race founder Ken Chlouber, takes us on a story-telling journey of the 38-year rich history of this race. We learn all the tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville community members! Joining us today is Former Texas Longhorn Snapper Nate Boyer. No stranger to hard work, Nate was a walk on for the Texas Longhorns in 2010. Prior to that, he went from chasing a Hollywood career to a military one, where he served tours both in Iraq and Afghanistan as a green beret. In Cole's mind, all of these things have prepared him for one thing: Leadville. Today's guest has definitely been found by Leadville, but he doesn't quite yet know what that means. Though football was his favorite sport, Nate bever actually played growing up. He attended firefighting school after high school, but moved to Los Angeles at 19. 9/11, he reveals, is the event which opened his eyes to the rest of the world and sent him traveling to different countries for the first time. The humanitarian side of the Army's special forces spoke to Nate as he geared up to go overseas as a green beret at 24 years old. He shares about the grueling nature of the life of the deployed and that watching football is what ultimately got him through. Next, Nate shares about his accomplishment of becoming a walk on for the Texas Longhorns. After leaving the military, he felt it was time to finally attend college and enrolled at the University of Texas. As he regretted not playing football in high school he made a pact with himself to try out for the team. He transitioned to long snapper during his sophomore year. Though the coaches initially never expected he would get playtime, Nate started 30 games during his 3 years of long snapper. Then, Nate dives in to discussing his next feat of taking on the Leadville Trail 100 foot race. For him, trail running is a form of meditation that allows him to unplug and find his zen. Long distance trail runs and training for them give you the opportunity to take in the world in a whole new way . Nate adds that it also offers an escape from the chaos of the world. Spending time alone in nature, on the trail, is a rewarding experience. Though he found out he wasn't going to be able to make it to the race this year, he is still training consistently on trails around Los Angeles. Finally, he speaks of the importance of having supportive people around you who you can trust to cheer you on. Thanks for tuning in! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe, and we hope to see you on the line in August!

Tune in here to this episode of Grits, Guts, and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority for all things Leadville! Host Cole Chlouber, son of race founder Ken Chlouber, takes us on a story-telling journey of the 38-year rich history of this race. We learn all the tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville community members! Joining us today is Angela Naeth. In this episode, Angela shares her experience at the Leadville Trail 100 MTB and her plans for women cycling in the future. Now having experienced the race for herself, listen as Angela talks about Leadville's mental and physical challenge. Pushed to limits she had never been, Angela enjoyed seeing just how far she could go. She begins walking the listener through race morning. Having stayed just outside Leadville with friends, she was excited and ready to begin the day. Riding up to start, the cheering crowds, energy, PA system, and overall experience was an awesome way to begin. As the racers took off, Angela shares her experience, riding downhill on pavement, pushing together with fellow mountain bikers. After her first climb, listen as Angela recounts her crash on Powerline teaching her to no go past her limits. She recovered well and went on to a single track and a flat section before she arrived at the crew station. The atmosphere of the station and the break it afforded prior to Columbine was enjoyable. After grabbing more fuel, Angela began her climb of Columbine. Halfway up, she was impressed as some of the pro male riders were already descending. The technicality offered by Columbine's surprisingly steep ascent was challenging. Over the last three to four miles, occasional bailing was necessary due to the slippery terrain. Not considering herself a mountain biker, Angela realized that practice will be required for next year's race. She coached herself to keep moving and get to the top as the final two miles of ascent proved harder than expected. Once there, four gels from the aid station were appreciated. Listen as she then describes her exhilarating descent back down Columbine, calling it the most fun she had all day. Angela finished the race in 9:07 and wants to come back. Cole asks Angela helpful questions for all to hear. Take note as Angela highlights the parts of the course which she underestimated, her future nutrition plans, how she plans to prepare for next year, and how she, who lives at sea level, plans to better prepare for the high altitude of Leadville. Angela additionally discusses the benefits of racing with groups, such as her own Race Like a Girl and Gritty Like a Girl groups. For female athletes, Angela explains why this is a good crossover race, amazing challenge, and great opportunity for women. Thanks for tuning in! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe, and we hope to see you in Leadville!

Welcome to Grit, Guts, and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority for all things Leadville! The show is hosted by Cole Chlouber, son of race founder Ken Chlouber, and it takes us on a story-telling journey of the rich, nearly forty-year history of this race. In each episode, we hear eccentric stories from Leadville community members, and along the way learn the tips and tricks to get to the line this summer! Today, Cole interviews highly decorated Canadian triathlete Angela Naeth about her racing career, efforts to give back, and current preparations to compete in the Leadville Trail 100 MTB! Angela first explains how both Leadville and athletics in general found her in a very natural way. She can't remember a time when she wasn't interested in athletics, and Leadville has been on her radar for the past decade, coming to the fore more recently as her passion for mountains and gravel biking has grown. Of course, biking has long been a component of her racing career; Angela has had an illustrious triathlon career culminating in three full Ironman wins. She shares how the Ironman competition caught her attention and drove her to explore triathlons, and how she has a particular love for endurance races. Being out on a race course, Angela says, is a way of refocusing and maintaining a sense of connection. Her most recent racing passion, cycling, won her heart by allowing her to adventure in nature and feel like a kid riding again. Angela is driven by love of her sports, and her motivation has pushed her through countless injuries and even the trial of a Lyme disease diagnosis (and to others with this diagnosis, she urges, take your meds, trust your gut, and find a Lyme-literate doctor!). Angela's love for her sports has also driven her to give back to the community of women in sports, and she shares about her coaching and podcast, as well as her efforts with triathlon-focused club I Race Like a Girl and gravel biking team Girls Get Gritty. In her own career right now, Angela is in the top half of the Life Time Grand Prix, and is building toward her first time on the LT100 MTB starting line! As the episode wraps up, she shares about her race day plan, from plans for a crew and her diet to her thoughts on drafting, pacing, and managing the stress of the race start. Thanks for tuning in! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe, and we hope you'll join us for Part 2 of this conversation, this time focusing on Angela's thoughts post-race! Links: Learn more about Angela Naeth. Check out Angela's sponsors, especially the two she mentioned: Shimano and Oofos. Check out Angela's go-to resource for race day nutrition: The Feed. Learn more about I Race Like a Girl and Girls Get Gritty. Check out the Leadville Race Series and the Life Time Grand Prix.

Tune in here to this episode of Grits, Guts, and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority for all things Leadville! Host Cole Chlouber, son of race founder Ken Chlouber, takes us on a story-telling journey of the 38-year rich history of this race. We learn all the tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville community members! Joining us today is Elden “Fatty” Nelson. Elden's story of his health journey and all of his accomplishments since have shown his own grits, guts and determination. Elden put on thirty to forty pounds in his early thirties after moving to a high stress job, his wife having a mastectomy, two young twin girls and then having Bell's palsy himself. He then started a blog called the Fat Cyclist just for his friends and to have some accountability in losing weight. Microsoft put it on their homepage and then his readers went from a handful to more than a couple hundred thousand. He loved telling stories, sharing the difficult path he was in and making jokes. He wrote more than a dozen years on the blog, and then wrote two books called “Comedian Mastermind” and “The Great Fatsby.” He has stopped writing since because he enjoys hearing other people's stories now more than telling his own. He is now co-hosting a podcast called “Leadville- the 100 Mile Mountain Bike Race Podcast.” With more than 20 years of doing the Leadville Mountain Bike Race, Elden shares his tips on the race and hears from other experts on the podcast. Elden's slowest time in the race was eleven hours and thirty minutes, while his fastest speed time was eight hours and twelve minutes. He said the biggest piece of advice that helped him the most in Leadville was hearing, “It is an eating contest disguised as a race.” After he started fueling his body with a hundred calorie snacks and drinks every half hour, that's when his time dropped. Elden says that Leadville hasn't changed his riding, but instead made his riding. He says the race is challenging, but not impossible, and if you work at it and reach into yourself, anyone can do it. In this episode, Elden shares the meaning behind his nickname, his start to the Leadville race, the Fat Cyclist blog and why he quit it, his books, his goals and stats in riding, why he switched to a single speed bike, the LT100 mountain bike podcast, his passion about Leadville, his wife's riding, bike hardware and stories about riding. The main theme in Elden's story is that he continues to ride and not quit. Even when he put on weight, lost his first wife to cancer and had a bike crash, he continues to persevere. Elden's biggest advice is to laugh at your demons. Everyone has them and in racing, they especially talk when you are tired. He says to be prepared for them, don't listen to them and to keep going. It is now Elden's twenty-third year competing in Leadville and he says he will keep continuing to race as long as he can! Thanks for tuning in! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe, and we hope to see you on the line next summer!

Drew Petersen is a professional skier with a running habit. And now that summer running habit has brought Drew to the start line of the Leadville Trail 100. He grew up just north of Leadville in Silverthorne, so running Leadville has been a lifelong dream. This spring, he also spent some time skiing in the Sawatch Range to start to build a relationship with these peaks and the course. As a skier, he has graced magazine covers, including one of the last covers of the now defunct Powder Magazine, and starred in dozens of award-winning ski films. His writing has appeared in Outside Magazine, Powder Magazine, SKI Magazine, and more publications. Most recently, Drew produced, co-directed, and starred in “Ups and Downs,” a mold-breaking film that mirrors the mountains and valleys of ski touring with his own mental health journey. Within the film he gets raw and vulnerable, talking openly about his struggles with PTSD, biploar disorder, and suicidal ideation. Building on how the film has helped others, Drew is using his platform and opportunities as a professional athlete to change our culture surrounding mental health. While most folks know him for his skiing, trail running is a core part of his mental health journey and really, who he is as a person. So, in advance of the upcoming Leadville 100, we linked up to talk about what this race means for him. You can find out more about Drew on his website at: www.drew-petersen.com If you know someone battling depression and suicide, help them get help. One way is the National Suicide Prevention Hotline 800.273.8255 or online at: www.suicidepreventionlifeline .org

Meet your Leadville Sheriff, Leadman, family man, and all around great guy, Heath Speckman! When we say "you don't find Leadville, Leadville finds you" we couldn't mean that more than in Heath's case. Tune in as Heath takes us through his journey from the north east to the colorful Rocky Mountains that he now calls home. Heath is up for election, to learn more about Heath, his run for sheriff, or to support Heath, visit: https://www.speckman4sheriff.com Don't forget to give us a like and subscribe wherever you are getting your podcasts, and we can't wait to see you at home, we can't wait to see you in Leadville!

Tune in here to this episode of Grits, Guts, and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority for all things Leadville! Host Cole Chlouber, son of race founder Ken Chlouber, takes us on a story-telling journey of the 38-year rich history of this race. We learn all the tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville community members! Joining us today is Sandy Monahan. Sandy has 33 years of experience of crewing and being “Cutoff Queen.” In 1989, she set up her crew for the first time. She shares that her husband, Mike, was the runner and she had already had experience crewing him several times in the past. Mike's first crew at Leadville consisted of Sandy, their children and their dogs. She shares how her support pack has changed since she first started compared to now. In addition to Mike as a runner, Sandy has crewed for Nick the biker, too. She finds the run is far more difficult to crew for because it is a longer amount of time. For biking, the crew is there mostly for emergency purposes. After a certain point, the crew has to be the voice of reason for the runner and know what needs to look for. The biggest piece of advice Sandy can offer for crews is to always be prepared for potential weather changes for both running and biking. From her experience, people who transition between biking and running always report that the run is the more difficult feat of the two. In the early dyas of her crewing, there weren't as many meal supplements available as there are today. During the first 50 miles, Mike would eat solid foods before transitioning to only consuming liquids. Runners are advised to eat as much as they can and more during those first 50 miles, because those are the calories they will be relying on later once they can no longer stomach food. It's important to train with whatever you're going to be eating during the race. Crewers have to be very mentally tough in order to carry their runner on to the finish line. Sandy shares some challenging stories she and Mike have faced on the trails. This race is not one from point to point, but rather from the beginning to the end. Cutoffs are there for the crucial safety of the runners. Even in just a 2 hour ride up the mountain, Sandy warns to be prepared for snow, rain, wind and more. At the very least, make sure you have a rainproof windbreaker in your pack. In closing, she offers final advice: always expect the unexpected, make sure your runner always has drop bags at every location and pay close attention to the cutoff times. Thanks for tuning in! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe, and we hope to see you on the line in August!

Tune in here to this episode of Grits, Guts, and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority for all things Leadville! Host Cole Chlouber, son of race founder Ken Chlouber, takes us on a story-telling journey of the 38-year rich history of this race. We learn all the tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville community members! Joining us today is Jason Romero, the legally blind Leadville participant who also ran across the country. To kick off the conversation, Cole asks Jason to share how Leadville found him. In 2010, Jason found himself at a crossroads in life, including moving back to Colorado after 6 years and going through a traumatic divorce. He needed something to challenge him, and found Leadville. Jason suffers from tunnel vision, a degenerative disease of the retina which causes him to lose eyesight. He was diagnosed at age 14, and at 52 years old now, is still able to see colors, shapes and movements. Though he had always been athletic, Jason's interest in running began when he saw his Uncle Ted running an indoor 6 day race. Jason's very first marathon was the first Denver International Marathon during his time in college. As of now, he has been at Leadville's start line 6 times and the finish line 5 times. In 2016, Jason took on the transcontinental Run Across America, and finished as the sixth fastest time. This particular race began while Jason was in a deep depression and saw it as a calling. When he returned home, organizations began inviting him to speak about his inspiring life and run. Now, Jason is a keynote speaker and author of Running Into the Darkness, a book detailing his experience. Jason set his personal record at Leadville with a time of 26:02 in 2019. At the age of 49 and with more physical challenges than ever, he shares all about making it in record time on that day. Leadville, Jason believes, has overly prepared him for how to run with a visual disability. In 2019, he released another book, The Success Cycle. It reveals Jason's number one secret to accomplishing all of the things he has: just don't quit. He believes that success is not linear, and failure is an inevitable part of succeeding. Another big lesson Leadville has taught Jason is that if we are not helping others, we are not running our best race. Kids today are more isolated than ever before and need to hear these inspiring stories of struggle and triumph. Finally, Jason shares what word first comes to mind when he hears the word Leadville. Thanks for tuning in! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe, and we hope to see you on the line in August!

Welcome to Grits, Guts, and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority for all things Leadville! The show is hosted by Cole Chlouber, son of race founder Ken Chlouber, and it takes us on a story-telling journey of the rich, nearly forty-year history of this race. In each episode, we hear eccentric stories from Leadville community members, and along the way learn the tips and tricks to get to the line this summer! Today, Cole interviews a para-cyclist and Paralympian with a heart of gold: Meg Fisher! Listen to hear how she's taken life by the horns and how she's going to inspire you along the way! Meg has always been athletic, and prior to 2002 she was playing NCAA Division 1 tennis. In 2002, the unthinkable happened, and Meg was in a car accident that cost her her left foot. Meg eventually made her way into triathlons, and she explains how the process was shaped by both her own self-consciousness and her opportunity to complete her early training with a service dog. Meg's progress caught the attention of the US National Cycling Team, and she was able to compete and medal on the Paralympic level. Meg's experience with the Paralympic gave her, among other things, a deepened appreciation for the empowering sport of cycling. Today, Meg competes mainly in gravel mountain biking, and she uses her influence to see the cycling community draw more and more people in and recognize them for their efforts. Recently, she has consulted for Leadville race leaders, helping with their language and ultimately leading to a new development: all of the Leadville races now have a para category! Moving forward, Meg explains why she enjoys gravel racing over road racing, and shares about her experience with Unbound Gravel. This 200-mile race, like many of Meg's other ventures, have given her opportunities to enjoy the journey of a race, show herself what she can do, lean into her own grit and toughness, and experience the empowerment of saying no when necessary. Meg's Leadville experience has afforded particular opportunity in saying no, as Meg's first two efforts to compete were met with obstacles that kept her from the starting line. In 2021, when she was finally able to race in Leadville, Meg treasured the difficulty of the race and the deep sense of camaraderie. As the conversation wraps up, she advises listeners hoping to race at Leadville in 2022 to realize they're more capable than they know, explains the value she finds in her Leadville race buckle, and shares why Leadville makes her think of both flowers and positive community change! Thanks for tuning in! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe, and we hope to see you on the line in August!

Tune in here to this episode of Grits, Guts, and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority for all things Leadville! Host Cole Chlouber, son of race founder Ken Chlouber, takes us on a story-telling journey of the 38-year rich history of this race. We learn all the tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville community members! Joining us today is retired colonel Tony Hoffman. Not only has he towed that line in the Leadville 100, he has also taken his mission further by starting a team of veterans to go against veteran suicide. To kick off the conversation, Cole asks Tony to share how Leadville found him. He first learned about Leadville in 1995 when he was stationed in the military and visited the town of Leadville. However, the race didn't really find him until 2013 when he chose to take the plunge and participate in the Leadville 100 run. Through this and other subsequent races, he gained a newfound appreciation for all of Leadville's history. His view regarding his personal marathon completion is quality over quantity. Shifting gears, Tony discusses his career in the service. He initially enlisted for only two years with the plan to later attend college, but was accepted to the U.S. Military Academy and received deployment from his home state of Minnesota. He summarizes the privilege it was to serve and the discipline aspect of the job, which circles back into running. Marathoning, which Tony began in 1990, has always been a constant stress reliever and dedication for him. The idea for the veteran running team came about over a few beers with his military colleagues to challenge each other to partake in marathons. The first team consisted of 7 people and was completed as a team who raised $7500 to fight against the veteran suicide epidemic. In 2016, they linked up with the Kansas City nonprofit Warriors Ascent who helps veterans and first responders overcome PTSD through a 5 day program. The team will enter its 8th year of raising money for the non-profit at the Leadville race. To date, they have raised $282,000. Tony has written two books around his Leadville race experiences: Embracing Grit and Embracing Teamwork and Grit. They contain tips for listeners for conquering the Leadville 100 and chronicle the formation of Team Leadville and their mission of stopping veteran suicide. He shares advice for being successful as an athlete, what his nutrition plan looks like during the race, which equals 2,500 calories per hour, and the key pieces of gear. Finally, he shares what comes to mind when he hears the word Leadville. Thanks for tuning in! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe, and we hope to see you on the line in August!

Welcome to Grits, Guts, and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority for all things Leadville! The show is hosted by Cole Chlouber, son of race founder Ken Chlouber, and it takes us on a story-telling journey of the rich, nearly forty-year history of this race. In each episode, we hear eccentric stories from Leadville community members, and along the way learn the tips and tricks to get to the line this summer! Today, Cole has a fun and spirited conversation with Sterling Mudge, a Leadville local of over twenty years and an active member of the community. Among his many projects to serve Leadville, Sterling is currently the Executive Director of the Cloud City Wheelers. Starting with how Leadville found him, Sterling explains how he came to Leadville in 2000 as a college student transitioning to Colorado Mountain College. He had a great experience at CMC; it furthered his love of the outdoors, helped him get to know Leadville, and offered a deep sense of community. He stayed in the area after graduating, and his second job in Leadville - one he held for fifteen years - was with Parkville Water. Along the way, Sterling got involved with the Leadville race series. He and Cole reminisce about racing their single speed bikes, and Sterling explains how he moved from racing into other race involvement after becoming a father. Moving forward, Cole asks Sterling about the organization he leads: the Cloud City Wheelers. The organization was founded in 2007 as an effort to build and maintain trails in Leadville. Sterling explains the organization's name, as well as how it began as a relatively small cohort of volunteers. In 2018, Sterling left his position with Parkville Water and redirected much of his attention to making the Wheelers more of a professional organization. The Wheelers have grown tremendously and multiplied their efforts at building and preserving trails, and they continue to plan further trail efforts. Recently, the organization has also been fundraising for a bike park, running a winter bike series, and launching what it expects to be an annual art gala. For Sterling, love for the Leadville community is a family affair. To him, Leadville means home, with beauty well worth the effort needed to maintain it. His wife, Sarah, is the county commissioner, and she and Sterling have raised their two kids to treasure the outdoors. Sterling hopes to see community passion spread, with people valuing the beauty of Leadville, respecting neighbors on the trails, leaving the trails and land as they find them, and even finding ways to volunteer and financially support the community. Thanks for tuning in! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe, and we hope to see you on the line in August!

Welcome to this episode of Grits, Guts, and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority for all things Leadville! The show is hosted by Cole Chlouber, son of race founder Ken Chlouber, and it takes us on a story-telling journey of the rich, forty-year history of this race. In each episode, we hear eccentric stories from Leadville community members, and along the way learn the tips and tricks to get to the line this summer! The interview for today's episode is a special treat for Cole, and he's thrilled to share it with listeners! His guest for the episode is Christopher McDougall, author of Born to Run; Christopher has been coming to Leadville for years, and has had a hand in pushing the sport of running forward. To kick off the conversation, Cole asks Christopher when Leadville found him. Christopher first came to Leadville to complete research for a book. He came with negative expectations, but found a far different reality than he anticipated! Not only was he won over by the people and place, but he soon found himself turning into a Leadville racer. Christopher shares about his wild first experience with a burrow race before the conversation shifts to his paradigm-shifting book. The book is grounded in a minimalist approach to running and uses an engaging race story to portray running as fun, cool, and adventurous. The book has achieved commercial success even without much direct marketing. On an indirect level, the efforts of big-name shoe companies to develop minimalist shoes helped the book, and vice versa. As Cole and Christopher discuss, story has a profound power to drive people, and Leadville holds a unique status within the folklore of running. It has a sort of magic about it, centered in its people and commitment to grit, guts and determination, and carried forward by those who have been and continue to be shaped by Leadville. Christopher jumps into some of his own stories, starting with his experience starting his first Leadville race far too fast before turning to the time he was a pacer for barefoot-running Ted, the darker story of Caballo Blano and his disappearance, and his memories of Leadville legends Ken and Merilee. Christopher also shares his book Running with Sherman, which gets into the tale of Christopher's as he runs with his donkey, Sherman. The book is another adventure story and an exploration of human-animal partnership. He also comments on his newest project: Born to Run 2. This book follows up on Christopher's initial Born to Run, but in addition to stories offers practical advice on minimalist running. As the conversation wraps up, Christopher advises listeners looking to get to the line this summer to sample the course, and explains the mountain snowshoeing is what he pictures when he hears the word Leadville. Thanks for tuning in! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe, and we hope to see you on that line come August!

24 Carat Corner is a roughly 24-30 minute podcast that also offers a video component on our website and Facebook page. These will be monthly productions that cover off on important race information as it concerns your upcoming LRS event for the 2022 season. This week's topics cover: Expos, parking and athlete guides for your Leadville Trail Marathon & Heavy Half weekend.

Tune in here to this episode of Grits, Guts, and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority for all things Leadville! Host Cole Chlouber, son of race founder Ken Chlouber, takes us on a story-telling journey of the 38-year rich history of this race. We learn all the tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville community members! Joining us today are Patti and Al Iverson, a couple who are members of both the Leadville and the Bahram Akradi Life Time family. To kick off the conversation, Cole asks Patti and Al to share how Leadville found them. Their introduction to Leadville was in 2007 over a beer with a friend who had done one of the first races. At the time, participants could sign up for the race in groups of five, and they made it in! Today, Al has 12 total finishes and Patti has 11. Even though she didn't finish the first time, Patti knew she would be back next year to finish. Listen as they share how Braham Akradi, CEO of Life Time, became the sponsor of the next year's race and ran alongside the couple. Then, Al speaks of his transition from the real estate business world to the athletic world. The secret to life, they both believe, is to surround yourself with wonderful people in all stages of life. For Al, the friendship, connection and comradery atmosphere of Leadville is what really drew him in. Leadville really opened the door for big adventures and inspired Al and Patti to embrace many other mountain bike adventures worldwide and meet like minded people. They share their favorite memories with Ken and Mary Lee, including Ken's encouragement for Al to bring Patti back to the race next year. Leadville is proud to be founded on the backs of strong women and Patti is no exception to this. In addition to their athletic feats, Al and Patti have a CBD company alongside their son, Dark Horse Hemp Farms. Their products are especially pioneering care for teenagers with diabetes, though they are quite universal. For new Leadville family members, Al and Oatti share their most valuable advice. First, don't overlook the importance of finding valuable mentors who are familiar with the race or practice in the stage race offered at Leadville. Additionally, embrace the ebb and flow of the race. Patti recommends you come to the race with perfect nutrition and low weight, as you don't want to carry extra weight up a mountain. Finally, they compare and contrast crews and backpacks and share what the word “Leadville” evokes for them. Thanks for tuning in! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe, and we hope to see you on the line in August!

Tune in here to this episode of Grits, Guts, and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority for all things Leadville! Host Cole Chlouber, son of race founder Ken Chlouber, takes us on a story-telling journey of the 38-year rich history of this race. We learn all the tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville community members! Joining us today is someone who knows all about digging deep, James Lawerence, better known as Iron Cowboy. James has done 50 IronMan Triathlons in 50 days in 50 states, the Conquer 100 and has been a part of the Leadville family out on the mountain bike course. To kick off the conversation, Cole asks James to share how Leadville found him. He was found completely unexpected and unprepared in 2016 coming out of other competitions. The beautiful thing about the Leadville family, James believes, is that they how and why looks different for everybody's hearts. James has a love of finding human potential and views the competition as a way to improve either areas of his life, too. In 2012, James made it into the Guiness Book of World Records for the most half Ironmans done in a single calendar year. Then, James speaks of his family's campaign which raised over $80,000 to fight the childhood obesity epidemic. James created the new challenge of the Conquer 100 in 2021. To learn more about the challenges Jame has taken on, James urges listeners to check out his website. James's hardest feat, the 50.50.50, presented many challenges including the unpredictability of weather and bodily reactions. There were of course highs and lows in each and James is no stranger to feeling like quitting, but rejecting these urges created a high level of confidence for him. James reveals the news that he will be retiring from the long distance racing and triathlon world and trading it for full time road, dirt and mountain biking. He shares his excitement for every aspect of biking and the ease it has on his body. He predicts how his life will unfold in light of this change and his plan to tackle Cape Epic in 2023 among many other races. Finally, James discusses his strategies for such strenuous feats. Don't miss what he will be keeping on his bike during his races this year! Signing off, James urges the Leadville family to take their training one day at a time. Thanks for tuning in! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe, and we hope to see you on the line in August!

Welcome to this episode of Grits, Guts, and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority for all things Leadville! The show is hosted by Cole Chlouber, son of race founder Ken Chlouber, and it takes us on a story-telling journey of the rich, nearly forty-year history of this race. In each episode, we hear eccentric stories from Leadville community members, and along the way learn the tips and tricks to get to the line this summer! Today the host is joined by Garth Prosser as they both discuss Garth's journey of cycling and his experience with Leadville. Garth begins by sharing about his connection to Leadville and how it caught his attention early on. Before sharing more about his story towards Leadville, Garth then discusses a recent accident he was in and how he has been able to continue staying active and his journey towards recovery. Even though this has caused him to take a break from cycling for now, he shares how he still works hard to stay active and healthy with the goal of going back to cycling soon. This desire to be active started for Garth at a young age when he made the decision to try to be healthy, which resulted in him running and eventually participating in competitive running. This later opened the door for his love for cycling and joining different cycling races. Next, Garth then goes into listing some of the businesses that have helped sponsor him and his races in the past and the current local bike ship that sponsors him now. He shares how these sponsors have helped increase his focus and determination in his journey of racing. Additionally, he also shares about some of the races he has been a part of. When it comes to the different kinds of bikes, Garth takes some time to share about his favorites he has used as well as goes into details such as how often he changes the tires and different bikes that are used for different races. Flat tires have been a common setback for Garth, and he discusses some tips he has learned from his years of experience. Garth then moves to a more personal note as he shares about his fight against cancer and what kept him going through the hard times. He did this by focusing on the end goal of getting back to doing what he loves and continuing to stay active in new ways. He also shares about the importance of getting multiple opinions from doctors so the best-informed decisions can be made. Through all this fight and effort, Garth was able to win his battle with cancer and is still cancer free. He goes on to talk about some of the other setbacks and accidents he has had over the years and how he overcame these obstacles. The episode concludes as Garth reflects over his many years of experience in cycling and races and shares some advice to listeners who may be new to this sport. He encourages these listeners to stay chill and to make smart and safe choices. Instead of stressing out over small details, he encourages them to just keep putting one foot in front of the other and to continue moving forward. Thanks for tuning in! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe, and we hope to see you on the line in August!

Tune in here to this episode of Grits, Guts, and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority for all things Leadville! Host Cole Chlouber, son of race founder Ken Chlouber, takes us on a story-telling journey of the 38-year rich history of this race. We learn all the tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville community members! Joining us today is the bubbly Becky Lynn Bauer. To kick off the conversation, Cole asks Becky to share the story of how Leadville found her. In 2012, she stumbled upon the book Born To Run while she was in Japan for a marathon. She was asked to pace a mutual friend in the Leadville 100, and the rest is history. She ran her very first marathon in Hawaii and won 2nd place in the female division. Realizing she was good at competing, she committed to coming back the next year, placed 1st female and was sent to Japan to compete in their sister race. Her first Leadville race was in 2013. Listen as she recounts the experience of her very first Leadville and the hardest lesson she learned along the way. Becky recalls her one DNF and her frustration about it to this day. However, to this day she has 3 Leadville finishes. In 2014, her time was 24:16:31 and in 2015, it was 23:56:35. For Becky and her husband, coming to Leadville is like a coming home party. In 2021, Becky took on an even higher mileage challenge of the Cocodona 250. She knew that all 2020 registrations were rolling over to the next year, so she decided to take a chance with the 250 miler. Her coach developed a master training plan and she began training on May 3rd. Her initial goal going into the race was to simply reach the finish line, then began inspiring herself to make it into the top 10. She finished 7th female overall! Though she lived the 200 experience, she likely will stick with the 100, which is her ultimate favorite distance. Finally, Becky touches on her life outside of running. She has worked in the pharmaceutical industry in benefits for 22 years. Her boss recognizes that Becky's real passion is running, and encourages her to pursue it. Before wrapping up, she shares her favorite local training spots. Beyond race day, Leadville has taught Becky that she is stronger than she thinks she is and that she can always dig deep. For the Leadville family going into upcoming races, Becky advises that now is the best time to address even the smallest injuries and shortcomings. Thanks for tuning in! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe, and we hope to see you on the line in August!

Tune in here to this episode of Grits, Guts, and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority for all things Leadville! Host Cole Chlouber, son of race founder Ken Chlouber, takes us on a story-telling journey of the 40-year rich history of this race. We learn all the tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville community members! Joining us today is John Stamstad, Leadville's very first mountain bike champion. To kick off the conversation, Cole asks John to share the story of how Leadville found him. He was a passionate runner in high school, and was thrilled to learn about the mountain bike race. Cole and many others view John as the godfather of endurance cycling. In 1985, he entered and rode a nonstop 547 mile race across Missouri. Being on his bike all day is something John enjoys immensely, and he discovered the thrill of mountain biking in 1991. He rode in and won Race Across Australia in 1993! Next, John tells the story of his first Leadville Race experience in 1994. For him, the real draw of these extreme endurance events is that just finishing them is a huge accomplishment. Next, John gives a look into his diet and nutrition leading up to these big events. He was introduced to GU Energy Gel in Australia, before it was on the market. One of the hardest parts of mountain biking is eating on a rough trail. Many foods end up freezing in such high altitudes, so you have to be strategic about what you bring. In these environments, John reveals, you have to think differently about everything and learn by doing. Since he has reentered the sport in the last few years, technology has changed a lot. Following a GPS makes the race all the more efficient, because you can be prepared for the hills to come and see how much further you have to go. In addition to his many other accomplishments, John entered a 24 hour solo race in Moab. Originally, the race wasn't meant to be done alone, but when John wasn't allowed to enter the event as a solo participant, he decided to go for it anyway. Because of him, the race began to allow solo participants the very next year. In 1990, John pioneered yet another big challenge, the Tour Divide race. Listen as he tells the story of how the race came to be. While he initially planned for the race to be a supported one, he ultimately realized it was ultimately meant to be unsupported. He believes that solitude is part of the challenge and the enjoyment for such races. The Tour Divide is a 2,745 mile annual mountain biking ride traversing the length of the Rocky Mountains, from Canada to the Mexican border. In 2005, John's FTK shifted from the Divide Race to the 320km John Muir Trail, this time on foot. He quit bike racing in 2000 to devote his time to his family and career. During this time, he turned to running for recreation. He participated in several races by foot and enjoyed the novelty of it, and being introduced to new trails which couldn't be traveled by bike. Discussing his training regimen, John reveals that he often does best when he rides hard for multiple days in a row. Power meters are his most suggested method for measuring training. Finally, John shares his most proud accomplishment, which is that he changed the perception of endurance sports as something which is fun and approachable for everyone. Thanks for tuning in! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe, and we hope to see you on the line in August!

Tune in here to this episode of Grits, Guts, and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority for all things Leadville! Host Cole Chlouber, son of race founder Ken Chlouber, takes us on a story-telling journey of the 38-year rich history of this race. We learn all the tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville community members! Joining us today is Ryan Krol, a runner, biker and new founder of his own coaching business, Boundless Coaching. Listen as he shares about his move from the midwest, his career start with Lifetime, and his recent move into endurance sports himself. To kick off the conversation, Cole asks Ryan to share the story of how Leadville found him. He fell in love with endurance sports while living in Oregon and participated in the Mt. Hood 100 miler and Ironman. He got a job at Life Time with the hopes of transferring to Colorado in the future. To do well as a trainer, Ryan believes it important to find your niche. He established himself as the endurance trainer and built a solid clientele. Ryan has always been interested in athletics and tried his hand in wrestling and track during high school. It was during the 100 miler that Ryan really found what he was looking for from endurance sports - being broken down mentally and physically. After moving to Colorado, Leadville became his next goal. Then, Cole asks Ryan to explain what drew him to endurance sports in the first place. He has always had a good work ethic, and was drawn to endurance sports because they are all about commitment, rather than having a special gift or talent. Race day is the one day science can be proven wrong, and it all comes down to who wants it the most. At this point, Ryan has 4 of each Leadville run and bike races under his belt. Ryan's run time at Leadville has gotten even faster since his first race. He reveals his best time happened the only time didn't enter the race with the expectation to beat his record. The external pressure of having people count on you is a huge motivation for finishing. The bike race at Leadville has much more of a teamwork atmosphere compared to the run. The training methodology is much more specific and tends to attract more analytic people. The DNF rate for the run is much higher than the bike because of it's time length. Though Cole often hints that the bike race is easier than the run, he urges himself not to forget about just how challenging the bike race is. Though he has always finished at Leadville, Ryan shares his DNF stories from other races. Next, they discuss Leadman, the challenge beyond all other challenges. What makes Leadville so unique, Ryan says, is the friendships and relationships one builds there. Everyone who participates has such an interesting story, which only adds to the energy of the race. Cole and Ryan were both furloughed from their positions at Life Time in 2020. Ryan took this as an opportunity to start his own coaching business, which he considers now to be a blessing in disguise. The clientele he had previously built really helped him establish his new path. As the episode wraps up, Ryan shares advice for Leadville family members to help them make it to the finish line at any event this upcoming summer. To avoid injuries at all costs, consistency and forming good habits now is key. To Ryan, the word Leadville evokes the memories of family reunions, fun summer nights and his tribe. Thanks for tuning in! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe, and we hope to see you on the line in August!

Tune in here to this episode of Grits, Guts, and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority for all things Leadville! Host Cole Chlouber, son of race founder Ken Chlouber, takes us on a story-telling journey of the 39-year rich history of this race. We learn all the tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville community members! Royalty guest bearing multiple Leadville titles and victories, Lori Brant joins today's conversation. Listen in as they chat about topics such as her passion for biking, training and victories in Leadville, biking innovations over the years, competing with dogs, and the priceless mark Leadville has left in her life. To kick off the conversation, Cole asks Laurie to share about when Leadville found her, in 1994. Laurie recounts her past as a professional mountain-biker, and when she first heard about the 100 mile race. Appealing to her on multiple levels, she tells more about the actual Leadville biking journey and how to train for it. Learn about all of the unknowns of health, snacks, hydration, and so much more during this time in history. Over just a few short years, innovations and research in these areas has taken off. Laurie worked to take care of herself and raced each weekend as her training! They move on to discuss Laurie's inaugural victory in more detail. With a total of 5 finishes in Leadville, Laurie's best time was in 1997. She describes this as the “ride of her life”, as she finished in 7:58:53. Listen as they chat about the various bikes she has owned and the famous Clark Kent box truck. Laurie's memories of the hundred are joined also by her accomplishments in the Silver Rush 50, yet another Leadville race event. Cole reminds listeners that you don't find Leadville, Leadville finds you! Laurie shares about how Leadville implants itself in you and becomes part of who you are. The terrain, people, support, and memories all play in! As the only champion Leadville has had to come back 17 yrs later and win, Laurie is a great ambassador and advocate for Leadville. Cole recounts the years in between wins and asks what has kept her coming back. Learn about her love for riding with her daughters, and helping build programs where she can share her love of the sport with others. Laurie's daughter is involved in collegiate cycling, and Laurie discusses how it's been amazing to see what the sport has done for her, her daughters, and their community. Going back for a moment, Cole asks Laurie what initially kicked off her cycling career and got her into it. She shares a bit of her background, up through what she is up to today. While she loves biking, she has a unique set of winter sports that also capture her attention. Listen as she shares more about competing with dogs and the whole new world of sport opportunities that opens up with that. With a passion for competing in sports that are both physically and mentally challenging, Laurie has found a handful of activities that she loves, and she even participates in advocacy work and volunteer work revolving around bikes and trails. As the episode draws to a close, Laurie offers her personal advice to those wanting to get to the finish line, she shares early memories of the founders, and offers last words to today's listeners. Laurie's love for Leadville goes both ways, and her memories with the founders are sweet ones she will not forget. She shares about the inspiration she thinks of when she simply hears the word, “Leadville”. Don't forget, just keep going, put one foot in front of the other! Thanks for tuning in! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe, and we hope to see you on the line in August!

Welcome to this episode of Grit, Guts and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority on all things Leadville. Host Cole Chlouber, son of race founder Ken Chlouber, takes us on a story-telling journey of the 38 year rich history of this race. Listen in for tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville members! Today's episode features minimalist, runner, and Luna Sandal ambassador Patrick Sweeney! He first heard of Leadville from Christopher McDougall's book, Born to Run. As the conversation begins, Cole asks Patrick about his relationship with Barefoot Ted McDonald, founder of Luna Sandals. Ted is an independent athlete committed to rediscovering primal human capacities and encouraging others to do the same and he introduced Patrick to the Luna Lifestyle. In the early days, Patrick said he lived pretty simply hanging out on the internet, running on the beach, and finishing his days with good food and beers. He's recently moved in with girlfriend, Sam who he says is also very independent and minimalistic They live out on a ranch with plenty of room to run. Reflecting on his first Leadville experiences, Patrick shares that he was able to stay with the mayor and on a whim decided to run a 5K the next morning before running the Burro Race and coming in next to last. He couldn't get the burro to move, but he still remembers it as a great experience. When his first Leadville race started, he was shirtless and didn't have any crew or pacers. At one point he remembers doing a mile to a mile and a half off course. Then he started to experience a lot of knee pain, he had to slow to a walk and started feeling pretty demoralized. Eventually, his body mechanics changed and he started feeling a lot better and calculating how he could widdle down his run time. Patrick has five finishes at Leadville and the community keeps him coming back. He still does burro racing as well, having finished it about five or six times, enjoying it because you never know what to expect and have to adjust based on the donkey. He's hosted at Leadville as well and has been using it as an opportunity to raise money for the Leadville Animal Shelter. He also gives away plastic shovels he used to collect when running on the beach. One of his best memories though is running his TransCon and shares how his biggest takeaway was the generosity of Americans across the states. As the episode ends, Patrick reflects on the meaning of Leadville, the race, the people, and the town itself. Thanks for joining! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe, and we hope to see you on the line in August!

Welcome to this episode of Grits, Guts, and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority in all things Leadville. Host Cole Chlouber, son of race founder Ken Chlouber, takes us on a story-telling journey of the 38-year rich history of this race. Listen in for tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville members! Today's episode features Ty and Roxanne Hall, the entrepreneurial power couple and longtime finishers of the mountain biking race. Listen as they talk about topics such as their connection with Leadville, their entrepreneurial journey, and their passion and love for biking and Leadville. The episode begins with Ty and Roxanne bringing us on their own journeys to Leadville and what got them connected into this community. After meeting in Leadville and deciding this was where they wanted to stay, they both got jobs there and planted their roots in the community. This eventually led to the founding of their own business, the Tennessee Pass Cookhouse. They also share about their family history and the impact their families had on their lives. They move on to a more emotional and personal story of Roxanne's injury when she was hit by a car while riding her bike. Both Roxanne and Ty share about the difficulties they faced during this time. Ty shares how inspiring it was to watch Roxanne come back after this tragic accident and continue to push forward in her goals and dreams. The process of healing was a long one, but it was a miracle. This recovery later led to Roxanne creating her own Guardian Angel of the Bike designs which represented her miracle recovery and to inspire and motivate others. Next, Cole asks Ty and Roxanne to share about their entrepreneurial journey to the creation of the business they have today. They both begin by sharing that the beginning journey of creating their business was based on a desire to stay in Leadville and make a life there. This business began as a restaurant called the Cookhouse which has now over the years expanded into the Tennessee Pass Cookhouse. They also both point out the huge impact the community of Leadville had in helping them reach their goals and create what they have today. The episode concludes with Ty and Roxanne both sharing their experiences with biking. Ty has become involved in the Leadville races through becoming the dream chaser for the Leadville Trail 100 Legacy foundation. Roxanne shares about her own experiences and how she has pushed through many different injuries and continues to ride today. Lastly, they both share what keeps them coming back to these races which is the desire to follow their passions and live every day to the most. Not only that, but they also share how their lives have been shaped outside of just racing in teaching them endurance and the importance of community. Thanks for joining! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe, and we hope to see you on the line in August!

Welcome to this episode of Grit, Guts and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority on all things Leadville. Host Cole Chlouber, son of race founder Ken Chlouber, takes us on a story-telling journey of the 39 year rich history of this race. Listen in for tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville members! Today's episode features two members of the Leadville family, the cutoff king and queen themselves - Mike and Sandy Monaghan! Mike has about a dozen races under his belt, and Sandy is an involved crew member; for decades, Mike and Sandy have been investing in the Leadville community, making memories on the trails, and amassing stories to share. As the conversation begins, Cole asks Mike and Sandy how Leadville found them. In a sense, it found them by accident following an issue with Mike's training in 1989. He and Sandy found themselves in Leadville and immediately fell in love with it. Mike made new running friends, had a great training experience, and ultimately never looked back! Over the years, Mike and Sandy have seen it all - all kinds of weather, a high river, circumstances that hindered Mike from finishing a couple of his races, and so much more. There's really no end to the stories Mike and Sandy can tell. They remember Cole as a child helping with races, share about the memorable year the river level rose when their young son was planning to pace Mike, and explain how Mike won the now-discontinued Jackass Award. Listeners get a look at Mike and Sandy's race dynamic as the two describe the rigors of racing, and ingenuity needed to support a runner, difficult moments in pacing Mike, and Sandy's insistence that Mike keep going. From the time a moth flew in Mike's ear, to the years of makeshift equipment and finishers sweatshirts, to the time Cliff Davies had an ice adventure, Mike and Sandy span much of the Leadville history with their stories. Reflecting on their time as part of the Leadville family, Mike and Sandy share about how much the community and its support have meant to them. They have found a true family in Leadville, a family which has shaped their children, been an anchor for them through the years, and driven them to serve in whatever ways they can. In 2004, they transitioned to be cutoff king and queen, a move Sandy wanted to use to make the cutoff experience as thoughtful and encouraging as possible. She also now gives the race crew talk, and ultimately works each year to provide the sort of guidance she received when she first came to Leadville and carry forward a spirit of sharing and community. She and Mike talk about the Leadville Legacy Foundation, advice they would offer to new racers, and what they think of when they hear the name “Leadville.” Thanks for joining! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe, and we hope to see you on the line in August! Links: Check out the Leadville Race Series

Welcome to this episode of Grit, Guts and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority on all things Leadville. Host Cole Chlouber takes us on a story-telling journey of the 39 year rich history of this race. Listen in as they provide tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville members. In today's episode we meet Travis and Mark Macy, who you may know from the Prime series covering the Eco-Challenge. Mark is also one of Leadville's early 100 mile runners and his son, Travis, has followed in his dad's footsteps. To begin, we hear from both Mark and Travis about how Leadville found them. Mark first heard about Leadville in 1988, and participated in their first ever 100-miler. Travis shares just a few of the great memories Leadville has provided him and his family with over the years. Travis has done the bike 5 times, first in 2006 when he finished in 12th place. As the race grew more and more popular, it became more difficult to place in the top. During Mark's first bike race, he recalls having no clue what to expect. The conversation then shifts to discussing adventure racing and Travis and Mark's appearance on the Amazon Prime Eco-Challenge series. It was in Moab, Utah that Mark was first introduced to adventure racing. The challenge hadn't happened since 2002, and rumors began circulating that the show was making a return in 2018. After long discussions, Travis and Mark decided to apply. They were accepted, and were able to race alongside a great team. Even though they didn't win in the end, the experience was one they wouldn't trade for the world. Mark has been very open about his diagnosis with Alzheimer's disease. Although Alzheimer's is a difficult and heartbreaking thing, Mark wants those impacted by it to see him living a fine and happy life now. He even participated in the Leadville race a few months back, and has no plans to stop anytime soon. Many people with Alzheimers are worried and scared, but Mark urges them to continue doing what they need to do and focus on what makes you happy today. No matter what it is that's important to you, don't give up on it. Then, Travis shares his admiration for his father, who has always prioritized helping others rather than getting himself to the finish line. As the episode wraps up, Travis stresses the importance of being prepared to handle the curveballs life will present you with regardless of what you're preparing for. For those hoping to make it to the Leadville starting line next summer, the most important thing is to keep on going. No matter how hard it is, you have to stick with it if you want to finish. Thanks for joining! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe.

Welcome to this episode of Grit, Guts and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority on all things Leadville. Host Cole Chlouber takes us on a story-telling journey of the 38 year rich history of this race. Listen in as they provide tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville members. In today's episode we meet six consecutive time Leadville Trail 100 mountain biking champion Dave Wiens. As the conversation begins, Dave tells the story of how Leadville found him. Growing up in suburban Denver, his family often spent recreational time in Twin Lakes near Leadville. Dave's first mountain bike race in Leadville was just his 4th ever race. Over the years, Dave has never lost the drive to compete. His wife, Susan, is a 1996 mountain biking bronze medalist and stands alongside Dave in the Mountain Biking Hall of Fame. Then, Dave tells the story of Gunnison Trails, the hiking, running and mountain biking nonprofit he founded in 2006. It involves trail maintenance, trail stewardship, education and development at Gunnison Valley. While thinking about ways to fund the organization, Dave was approached to help develop the Sage Burner Trail Race. The Race is 100% owned and operated by Gunnison Trails and fully funds the organization. He also discusses Pennies For Trails, a fundraiser for Gunnison Trails made possible by a handful of local businesses. Dave is now the Director at IMBA, the International Mountain Bicycling Association. IMBA is focused on providing great mountain biking trails for more people in more places across the country and even globally. They are largely focused on towns who have lost major former extraction industries, such as mining, and transforming them into recreation areas. Dirt industries, such as trails and mountain biking, are incredibly important to the health and wellness of communities and can contribute to local economies. Next, Dave discusses his 6-time Leadville Trail mountain biking championship, a feat that is unlikely to be matched any time soon. In late 2006, he committed to the mountain biking race at Leadville. According to Dave, the Leadville trail is so special because it offers every kind of terrain along its course. Once he discovered he may be competing alongside pros such as Lance Armstrong, Dave created a whole new training regimen for himself. Aside from being a competitor, Dave has a history of volunteering, helping races, supporting the Leadville Legacy Foundation and has stuck alongside the family during their darkest and brightest times. Leadville is really one huge family, which Dave said he felt from day one. Knowing the roots and history of Leadville from long before the race began is another element in Dave's connection and appreciation of the town. Thanks for joining! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe.

Welcome to this episode of Grit, Guts and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority on all things Leadville. Host Cole Chlouber takes us on a story-telling journey of the 38 year rich history of this race. Listen in as they provide tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville members. In today's episode we meet the best coach in America, Coach Frank Mencin. Frank knows all about digging deep, sacrifice, commitment and has found his own inexhaustible will of grit, guts and determination. As the conversation begins, Frank talks about his journey in competitive running, beginning in high school. In 1979, he ran a marathon in Eugene, Oregon and qualified for the Olympic trials the year it was boycotted in Moscow. Following the retirement of the current coach, Frank began coaching the cross country team at Lake County High school in Leadville. His focus on running shifted from his own practice to coaching other promising young athletes in the sport. He learned lots from former coach Dick including how to manage endurance in the high altitude. Of the twenty Conference Championships Frank's teams competed in, they won sixteen and placed second in the remaining four.In June of 1991, Frank took an opportunity to become an elementary principal, where he remained for 8 years before moving up to the high school. He treasured his experience at the schools and recalls the supportive parents and opportunities which were offered to him. Then, Frank talks about the Leadville 100 MTB and his surprise at the sheer amount of die-hards it attracts. Aside from being a great healthy activity, the race also generates a substantial economic benefit for the town of Leadville. It offers something for everyone: physically and emotionally. Frank gives listeners a little insight into his cycling training regimen. He was a Nordic skier in college and still practices the sport today as cardio and upper body training during the winter, when biking is nearly impossible. Frank believes that life, much like cycling, is a test every day. Good nutrition, training and sleeping are a recipe for success in the race. A large hurdle for many of the Leadville participants is the altitude. Even coming from Denver, which is considered high altitude, Leadville doesn't compare. Frank shares a few preparation tips that have helped him become accustomed to this factor. He recommends everyone develop a personal plan based on their own goals and fitness levels. He urges people to start a training program at least 6-8 months in advance and test themselves out in the mountains to get used to the terrain. Higher altitudes require more rest and recovery time. Additionally, he says you should train in all different elements as the weather during Leadville can be unpredictable. The most important thing is to be prepared and know how to deal with the elements. In closing, Frank encourages listeners to take a chance with Leadville, no matter how old you are, accept the challenge and believe in yourself. Thanks for joining! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe.

Welcome to this episode of Grit, Guts and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority on all things Leadville. Host Cole Chlouber takes us on a story-telling journey of the 38 year rich history of this race. Listen in as they provide tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville members. In today's episode we meet the character of the book Born To Run, Barefoot Ted McDonald. Ted has not only experienced Leadville and the Tarahumara, but has taken it a step further to create his own running sandal brand called Luna Sandals. As the conversation begins, Barefoot Ted recalls how Leadville found him. He served as a pacer in 2007 for a friend participating in Leadville and was captivated by its deep history, tradition and familial aspect. Needless to say, Ted has been coming back to Leadville every year since. Barefoot Ted is the subject of the popular book Born To Run written by Christopher McDougall. The book covers a race and captured people's attention by telling the story of running through the history of humanity. Thanks to the book, many people have been awakened to their own potential as a human and athlete alike. In Ted's later 30's, he didn't consider himself a long distance runner. He made it his mission to overcome the feeling of pain he felt running long distances. Ted grew up in barefoot surf and skate culture in southern California in the 70's. After doing some research, he became intrigued by the concept of barefoot running and the anatomy of the foot. Barefooting ended up becoming the tool which allowed Ted to reconnect and understand what it was like to move well. Next, Ted discusses his own company Luna Sandals, which he started in a basement in Seattle in 2009. He was totally new to the craft but after realizing the superior functionality of the sandals, has yet to look back. The name of the company came from another character in the book, Manuel Luna. Listen as Ted tells the fascinating story behind this inspiration and the Tarahumara. In addition to paying homage to Manuel, Ted held on to the hope that over time he would be able to do something good for the world in return. Ted gives insight into Busuréliame, a grassroots program he is a spokesperson for. Busuréliame, meaning “inner awakening”, aims to spread cultural awareness and education to Tarahumara children. Finally, Ted praises Leadville 100, believing it to encompass 100 years in a single day. He explains his secret philosophies to training. He says it's the setbacks in life which really propel you forward. To the Leadville family members coming from sea level, he recommends learning new breathing techniques for the different atmosphere. To him, Leadville is happiness, family and community. Thanks for joining! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe.

Welcome to the Grit, Guts and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority on all things Leadville. Son of race founder, Cole Chlouber, hosts this podcast to take us on a story-telling journey of the 38 year rich history of this race. Sit back and enjoy the best tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville members. In this episode, Cole invites on a unique guest. Turkish immigrant and Leadville's current Mayor, Greg Labbe joins the conversation to add color to the scene. You won't want to miss this stroll down memory lane with a man who has lived and breathed every facet of the Leadville race! The conversation gets rolling as Greg shares his story about when Leadville found him and how. Listen in as he talks about the funky-town vibe that appealed to him as he found this gem in the mountains. Greg recalls that buying a home in Leadville was one of the best life decisions he has ever made. He shares about how he first learned about the race and his family participation through pacing for people. Both intimidation and thrilling, Greg chats about what it's like to be the mayor and the one to step up and introduce everyone to Leadville for this race. Cole shifts the focus towards the in-and-outs of being Leadville's mayor. Going on 5 years now, Greg says that this position marks a pinnacle of his life. Nearly an accident, Greg's term as mayor has proven to be an unexpected, but thrilling ride. Listen in as he shares some of his favorite accomplishments that have happened as he has been mayor. From brining buildings up to code, to rounding up help, to managing taxation, Greg has been a part of it all. As this episode continues, Cole asks Greg about more of his personal life and experiences. Greg talks about the extracurricular activities he enjoys—most of which is motorcycling. Racing for over 50 years now, Greg says that he will be racing until the day he can't. Learn about the intense heart rate he pushes through and the lifestyle that allows him to do this. Cole also asks Greg to share about his hoarding athletes and ultra-runners as they stay at his home for the race. Hear stories about people like Joe, Barefoot Ted, and Patrick. All big-names that have incredible stories. Greg discusses how this event proves near and dear to his own sons' hearts and how they have created a silly and eccentric fashion trend with crazy tights. What are some of his more memorable moments being part of this event? Learn about his love for pacing and the guttiest performance he has ever seen. Greg shares his passion for getting behind the people that do not seem to have a chance. Cole asks about the memorable moments Greg had with his father. Sharing about how they developed a friendship over the years and created an adventure Mecca in Leadville, Greg appreciated Cole's father's way of keeping his cool and being willing to put his butt on the line to do the course that he asked others to do. Learn about the magic that has brought it all together, the PR Leadville has seen, and the value and pride that have come with diversification. Learn what Leadville is up to these days. As the episode draws to a close, Greg shares what he's learned through personal changes and the lifestyle critically impacts one's ability to perform. Greg offers a few pieces of advise for new athletes—don't forget the importance of relentless forward motion. Learn of his love for the community and the most important part of Leadville. Thanks for joining! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe!

Welcome to this episode of Grit, Guts and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority on all things Leadville. Host Cole Chlouber takes us on a story-telling journey of the 38 year rich history of this race. Listen in as they provide tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville members. In this episode, Cole speaks with Tamira Jenlink who is the new Leadville Race Series director. Tamira is passionate about the outdoors, mental health, and Leadville. Listen as she shares about her passions and her love for Leadville. The episode begins with Tamira sharing about her mountain biking past history and skills. She fell in love with bikes at a young age and several years later, fell in love with mountain bike racing after her first 24 hour race through the woods. She shares how inspired she was by the ability to join together her love for biking and working with a team through racing. Not only is biking a big part of her life, but so is rock climbing. She shares about this passion and her view on how connecting with a community and the outdoors promotes health and emotional wellness. Tamira goes on to share about her history of racing and her first time participating in the 100 mile race. For her, one of the most inspiring moments of her first race was being able to become a part of the biking community and see the bigger picture. She also shares some of her injuries and close calls from her years of racing. Even these parts of racing have shown her the importance of working together as a team and being there for each other. Cole then asks Tamira to share how Leadville has shaped her life beyond racing. For Tamira, Leadville has offered her not only a community, but a family that is there to support and encourage her. She wants to be able to support her community and give back to them, which she is able to do through her bike coaching to girls. She talks about her desire to see them reach their goals and shares her love of biking with them. Additionally, she also shares her desire to use this as a means to promote mental health through movement, connection with humans, and being outside. Lastly, Cole then brings up the new journey Tamira is about to encounter in becoming the new Leadville Race Series director. This is a huge dream come true for her and she talks about her excitement to have a connection with an even bigger group of people through this job. Her desire is to cheer on and encourage others and use this position to open new doors for the people there and to continue to make impacts. She wants it to be a place where people can come together and be a part of something bigger than themselves. She concludes by sharing some of her best coaching tips for racing. Thanks for joining! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe.

Welcome to this episode of Grit, Guts and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority on all things Leadville. Host Cole Chlouber takes us on a story-telling journey of the 38 year rich history of this race. Listen in as they provide tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville members. In today's episode we meet Donna Marie Provenzano, resident of Twin Lakes, a mother with a full-time career and is involved in multiple philanthropic endeavors. Despite all of these commitments, she still found a way to be successful on that trail. Sit back and hear Donna Marie's story and her journey to being found by Leadville. As the conversation begins, Donna Marie recalls how she was found by Leadville 20 years ago, when a friend was participating in the race and asked Donna Marie to be her timer. She was a marathon runner, but Leadville seemed untouchable and impossible for her experience level at the time. After a few years of trail running, she decided to take a chance and put her name in the hat for Leadville, and she was chosen! She has since ran in 5 Leadvilles, with 2 DNF's. After the race of her first DNF, it became the mission of her and her team to ensure she finished the following year. Much of Leadville is a mental game that requires your brain's commitment to finishing when you show up at the start line. The Leadville family is one very close to Donna Marie's heart. Despite her recent medical setbacks, she details her upcoming plans for races in the future and her hopes to be back with Leadville in the next few years. She is a teacher in Denver, but comes to Twin Lakes during weekends for the serenity and mountain views. Between being a single mom, an artist, a teacher and a runner, she has her hands quite full. As a teacher, she shares her appreciation for the Leadville Foundation and all of the different ways they help out the local community. Because of the intense training schedule, Donna Marie always makes a point to ask her daughters for their permission to commit to the race. The Leadville family has been more than welcoming to her three daughters, who love the community just as much as their mom. In response, Cole iterated that Leadville is founded on the backs of strong women. Donna Marie has instilled in her three daughters the fact that they can do anything they put their mind to. They have found many role models in the Leadville community. Leadville 100 has instilled in Donna Marie the knowledge that she can overcome anything. People and community help you be the best person you can be, to volunteer and to give back to them and your own family, too. In closing, they speak of unexpected challenges that could present themselves during Leadville and how to prepare for them. Thanks for joining! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe. Links: Check out the Leadville Race Series

Welcome to this episode of Grit, Guts and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority on all things Leadville. Host Cole Chlouber takes us on a story-telling journey of the 38 year rich history of this race. Listen in as they provide tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville members. In today's episode we meet Leadville 100 founder Ken Chlouber's right hand man Carl Miller. Carl and Ken served together in the mine, as county commissioners and at the State House in Denver. Carl also had a great deal in developing the National Mining Hall of Fame and is seven time generation Leadville resident. As the conversation begins, Carl discusses his family's background. Carl's maternal grandfather moved to Leadville in 1896 from Ireland to work in the mines and ended up serving three terms in the city council. After working in the mine and serving two years in the army, Carl came back to his hometown, Leadville, where he married his high school sweetheart. Ken and Carl met when Ken first came to Leadville in 1976. Carl recalls the day Ken came to him with the idea of the Leadville 100. The idea was sparked when Governor Lamm urged them to create a new staple in Leadville's culture to entice more people to come to the town. When Ken first presented his idea, Carl thought he was crazy, but he stood beside him for support. There weren't many participants in the first year, but the numbers increased with each passing year. There were two factors behind Ken's idea. The first was to help out the local small business community and economy. The second was to convince people to believe in themselves and know they can do anything. He succeeded in both. The drive behind Carl and Ken's desire to be in the state commissioners office was to serve the Leadville community. Working with the energy committee, they took international trips together to Canada, Venezuela and more to advocate for their local energy and mining resources. Carl's granddaughter herself is now involved in local politics. Leadville is founded on the backs of strong women, and Carl's granddaughter Kayla is one herself. Carl stresses that his community has been the biggest reason for his success. He tells the story of how he came to develop the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum in Leadville. The community of the town holds magic in all accounts, which Cole attests to. There is so much to see in the mining museum, but Carl's favorite is the underground mine portion, which he designed based on his experience working in the early mines. If you're in town for the off season, Carl recommends checking out the snow sports scene, including skiing and snowboarding. Many people are drawn to Leadville for the multitude of outdoor activities, and never leave. Thanks for joining! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe.

Welcome to the third episode of Grit, Guts and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority on all things Leadville. Host Cole Chlouber takes us on a story-telling journey of the 38 year rich history of this race. Listen in as they provide tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville members. In this episode, Leadville's leading lady, Merilee Maupin, is invited into the conversation. Don't miss the rich knowledge and stories she has to share from the very beginning days—what it took to get the race up and running and how you can get across that finish line. The conversation starts with a brief introduction of Merilee and the various roles she's had in life. From being inducted into the Colorado Women's Sports Hall of Fame, to hanging the medals around Leadville's winners, she has done it all. What does she remember about the early years? Merilee recounts the day in 1982 when Kenneth Chlouber, Cole's father, presented the grandiose idea of a 100 mile foot race to her. Merilee and Kenneth participated in various types of running together, even burro racing. She shares about what the buy-in looked like and the early day race operations from a directing standpoint. Despite the challenges, Merilee recalls the fonder memories of being at the finish line and part of such great victories, along with the friends gained over the years. Gain a deeper look into the finish line as Merliee shares about this experience. Learn about the signature hug from her at the end and how this was never planned. She chats about how joyous it was to be part of such a big and victorious moment in people's lives. The last hour of the race is absolutely epic. Cole asks Merilee about Harry's signature finish as a gentleman in pure white clothing. Cole shifts the conversation to head about the biggest challenge of it all—that it was only Kenneth and Merilee to do everything. Marketing, t-shirts, pre-race, mailings, marking the trail, signage, ordering for stations, cleaning, removing trail markings, and taking care of the chairs; they did it all as a team of 2. Were there any big catastrophes in losing people on the course? Learn about Essie Garret, a Colorado ultra-runner who spent an evening out in the woods after getting lost. Would Merilee do it all over again? In a heartbeat, she says! In wrapping up this episode, Merilee shares a few thoughts with the listeners and what to take away. Do not underestimate the courage it takes to sign up. There are no limits in life, except for those we put on ourselves. Draw from the inexhaustible well of grit, guts, and determination inside of you. Take what you learn in Leadville home with you to make your community a better place. Thanks for joining! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe.

This is an into to describe what "Grit, Guts & Determination: The Leadville Race Series podcast" will cover, how frequently. So join host Cole Chlouber, son of Race Founder Ken Chlouber, and a host of guests for all things LEADVILLE.

Welcome to this episode of Grit, Guts and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority on all things Leadville. Host Cole Chlouber takes us on a story-telling journey of the 38 year rich history of this race. Listen in as they provide tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville members. In this episode, race founder Ken Chlouber tells the second part of the Leadville story. Don't miss the rich knowledge and wisdom Ken has to share - from motivation and inspiration to the values Leadville cherishes most. If there is one thing Ken could pass on from the Leadville family to another, it's that you just don't quit. A good attitude, integrity, honesty and character matter to Ken and to the Leadville 100. It's what gets the athletes to the finish line. Leadville is like one big intimate family, but it could be even bigger. More people are coming out of the pandemic understanding that health is vital and the importance of being fit for a lifetime. Ken relays the magic of Leadville and the sacredness you can only experience there. No matter what, the story has to continue on. He stresses the importance of believing in yourself and sharing that belief with others. Through this, they have made a better Leadville, now let's make a better world. He passes the torch on to Cole, who will step up in his father's place. Leadville is a source of hope for many and soon the whole world will see it. Ken gives Cole some of the credit for the motivation he provided his dad the times he completed the Leadville 100. His father taught him from early on that it's never okay to quit. Cole hopes to pass on all of the lessons his father has taught him over the years. Putting one foot in front of the other is simple if you know how to, but if you don't, it's the hardest thing in the world. It's not the Leadville way to determine if someone is good enough to participate. If there's enough room, everyone is welcome. There's no finish line, but a line where you start training for the next one. Thanks for joining! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe. Links: Check out the Leadville Race Series

In this episode of Grit, Guts, and Determination, Race Founder Ken Chlouber shares what Leadville was like during the dark days of the mine. In the 80's Ken worked in the mine when one day his boss called him in for a meeting. This was abnormal, Ken says “miners don't have meetings.” His boss told him they were shutting down the mine and they needed to go home, it was a short meeting. He and the community lost not just their jobs, but also their identity that day, they were no longer hard rock miners. Ken needed a job, but he also recognized they needed to save the town. They needed to bring people to Leadville to spend money, and one of the best ways to do that was to get people to stay overnight. That's where the 100 mile race was born. They had no money, but the miners were out of work and came together volunteering to put the work together and other members of the community stepped up to help as well. Leadville found him, and Ken says it taught him he was better than he thought he was, he could do more than he thought he could. You just have to dig deep. Leadville shows people what they can do without limits. They hit their target because the race brought economic survival to the community, but Ken says more importantly it's changed lives. Links: Learn more about the Leadville Race Series The format differs as this is less of an interview and more of Ken offering a story.