August 10, 2010
The Competition Plan
In my continuing look into my upcoming race, the Leadville Trail 100, today we focus on the other people joining me!
That’s how I hope the competition looks on race day as I zoom by!
Sure, I probably talk about like this like I am the only one that ever attempted such a feat and it will never be repeated. But that’s hardly the case. The first run was in 1983. Since then the race has grown in popularity. There are 780 names on the registration list for this year so far. Some late entries will be also be accepted as permitted by the race director. Finisher statistics vary year to year but the average of late seems to be about 45%. Yep 1 out of 2 people that start the race DO NOT FINISH (DNF). They either quit for a variety of reasons or they miss a time cutoff and are pulled from the race.
While I have prepared for this race, I have come to personally know current and former runners of this race. Some of them are virtual connections — blog followers, or blog followees or both. Some I have run with. Some I just know their name and they don’t know me. I am not going to make any predictions — OK, maybe just 1 or 2 — but I would like to highlight a few of the people that I know that I will be racing alongside of me (or likely in front of me) in this adventure. On course, we will be competing against each other but at the same time we will be battling it out together. A shared bond of happiness and agony.
In alphabetical order:
Boyack, Chris - Littleton, CO - Met Chris at the night run. Followed his blog for some time. He finished the race in 24:44. Proving that even with a big buckle in hand already, there is motivation to return.
Callahan, Duncan - Gunnison, CO - Solid runner on the Colorado scene. Has won this race before.
Clark, David - Northglenn, CO - Former heavy dude that works in Longmont and is going for his first 100 mile finish.
DeGrave, Leila - Evergreen, CO - Blog follower from way back. BQ’d with me last fall. Been stepping up her game since then. If I get chicked by her, I won’t be shocked.
Donaldson, Jamie - Littleton, CO - 1st female at Badwater. You think Leadville is tough? Badwater is tougher.
Jones-Wilkins, Andy - Ketchum, ID - Well known on the ultra circuit. Continually top 10 at the Western States 100.
Koski, Kraig - Longmont, CO - Fellow Longmonter that I met through friends. Should put down a very solid performance. I blame myself if/when he beats me — we were on Green Mountain and I said “register already” and he did the next day he announced.
Labbe, Chris - Longmont, CO - Another local guy. Never met in person but chatted here and there. Chris does a lot for the LT100 online community.
McDonald, Barefoot Ted - Seattle, WA - Read Born to Run? Then you know.
Mika, Shad - Boulder, CO - Another friend of friends. Never ran together. That’s a shame.
Smith, Paul - Colorado Springs, CO - Met him on Longs Peak a few weeks back. He gave me props on my ascent there and told me this race would be a piece of cake.
Teisher, Jon - Old Colorado City, CO - I have nothing to say about this wanker. Our feud is well documented.
Waggoner, Tim - Golden, CO - Otherwise known as Lucho. Former #1 ranked Ironman dude. He is sick fast. Unproven at 100 miles. Struggled at some shorter ultras for non-fitness reasons. If he gets his head together, he will be up front. Way up front. Many of us are very excited to see how he performs here.
Williams, Brooks - Colorado Springs, CO - A friend of many friends, Brooks has been raising the bar. Finishing Leadville last year in big buckle time and recently breaking 3 hours for 26.2. He is the only runner competing at these distances with Cystic Fibrosis.
And that’s about it….except for my pick to win.
Krupicka, Tony - Boulder, CO - If he shows up! He isn’t registered but has made claims of being there. Maybe. So how could you pick anyone else? Coming off 2nd at Western then the surprise entry and subsequent course record at White River. This guy is ready to rock. Its his home turf — from last summer. He has had a whole year to think about the well documented DNF attempt from last summer. He has more strategy and maturity now. Surely, he will be chasing that elusive course record again. He is on the top of the list when it comes to people that I have learned from, enjoyed watching, and have motivated me in pursuit of this sport.
Some of my usual running buds are not on the list. Why not? Well, you see they run the Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon on the same weekend most years. And a ton of those guys are headed to that mountain instead of this race. So its a jam packed weekend in Colorado for exciting end of summer races!
There’s the list. Might have missed someone. Probably a few that know me or of me that I don’t know. Let your presence be known!
See the rest of you at the race!
