Simply put, the nation’s toughest marathon. The Life Time Leadville Trail Marathon and Heavy Half presented by La Sportiva takes trail runners through the historic mining district’s challenging trails to the highest point of any Leadville Race Series event: Mosquito Pass (13,185 feet). As you take on the baddest trails …
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Simply put, the nation’s toughest marathon. The Life Time Leadville Trail Marathon and Heavy Half presented by La Sportiva takes trail runners through the historic mining district’s challenging trails to the highest point of any Leadville Race Series event: Mosquito Pass (13,185 feet). As you take on the baddest trails and thinnest air in all of endurance racing, you’ll need all the Grit, Guts and Determination you can muster.
The Leadville Trail Marathon is 26.4 miles of out-and-back dirt roads and single track that takes you through the historic mining district on the east side of Leadville. The Heavy Half consists of 15.46 miles along the same path as the marathon minus the Ball Mountain section. The course is primarily on old mining roads and trails, topping out at 13,185 feet at Mosquito Pass. This is the HIGHEST continuous pass in the country and the highest trail Marathon in the USA! There is a chance you’ll see snow on the course. The courses will be well marked with fluorescent pink-and-black striped ribbon and flour arrows on the ground.
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Top 5 best American Races
Good folks, well ran, great running organization. Good Expo, great food at the end, can't beat that part. Views are just the best. Today was very good temps, had to … MORE
Good folks, well ran, great running organization. Good Expo, great food at the end, can’t beat that part. Views are just the best. Today was very good temps, had to put on gloves, it did warm up. The thin air is the pits going up hill but no big deal going down . They also have mountain bike races and Ultras. Headquarters is in Leadville and right on main street. You can’t go wrong with this one.
Best of times, worst of times...
After almost 50 marathons in 30 different states, this was by far the most unique and most difficult race I've ever completed. I can't say "run", because I ran very … MORE
After almost 50 marathons in 30 different states, this was by far the most unique and most difficult race I’ve ever completed. I can’t say “run”, because I ran very little. Unless you are a mountain goat, or an elite trail runner, be prepared to do lots and lots of hiking/walking. The course overall has 6000 feet of elevation gain, which is packed into basically 3 never-ending climbs. Even when you get to come down those climbs, they were often either too steep or too rocky for me to run. I’ve only run 1 road marathon that was over 4 hours, and that was the 2nd race of a weekend “double”. Therefore, completing this one in 7.5 hours should give you an idea of how difficult it really is!
Now…the climbs are rewarded with some of the most amazing snow-capped mountain views I’ve ever seen, so I’d suggest that the torture is worth it. Furthermore, although it’s not the 100 miler that Leadville is famous for (and the course is completely different), it’s still put on by the same folks in the same cool Colorado town. Therefore, it’s incredibly well-organized, and you feel well-supported. The aid stations are manned with awesome volunteers and stocked beyond belief!…tons of GU products, waffles, chips, pop, water, GU drinks, fruit, etc. Anything you could possibly want!
Following a few miles of much-needed downhill to the finish, you are rewarded with a red carpet-lined finish, a nice medal, a “finishers” coffee mug, a few cold beers, and a BBQ pork sandwich. You also get emailed FREE race photos, which you will definitely want from this one!
Holy Crap! Do it!
This 'race' kicks your butt. But you will like getting kicked! So many nice people and amazing views. Course is simple... but the altitude will get you :) I trained … MORE
This ‘race’ kicks your butt. But you will like getting kicked! So many nice people and amazing views. Course is simple… but the altitude will get you 🙂 I trained for the hills so my legs were good… mostly… but about 12,500′ the best i could manage was an ungraceful walk. At the top got water and a quick pic and back to where the oxygen was!! Going down was great, felt better with every step… until the course goes up again. Heart rate was zone 5 the whole race and 100+ the rest of the day even just sitting having a drink. Acclimate to the altitude for as long as you can before the race. I did not stay in town, I wish I had, cool town!