My plan for running Leadville today

As you're reading this newsletter, I am likely two hours into running the Leadville 100-mile race.

Too often, people quit on big goals because they do not have a set of responses to support their plans. Today I’ll share some of the strategies I am going into this race with to set myself up for success regardless of the curveballs thrown at me.

If you are keen to follow my adventure today you can track my progress here.

💨 The Race Across The Sky

Leadville 100 was the second 100-mile race ever started. First run was in 1983. It’s essentially an out-and-back course, going 50 miles to the ghost town of Winfield, and returning along the same route back to Leadville, for a total of 100 miles. The biggest challenge of this race is the altitude.

Leadville is the highest city in the United States at 10,152 feet of elevation. The air is thin, making it hard to breathe, and the race stays mostly above 10,000 feet, dipping below to 9,200 feet for a short period at Twin Lakes. Another big challenge along the route is a huge climb on the way out called Hope Pass, which goes from 9,200 feet to 12,600 feet. But the real challenge is going over Hope Pass, down to Winfield, and then back up and over again.

The race doesn’t truly start until after this, around 62 miles. At this point, you can pick up a crew member to run with you and pace you. The last 30 miles is where the race is won or lost. This is where it gets tough, dark, cold, and hard. Where the personal battles with your demons and your big goals are won or lost.

This is the point your resilience is truly tested.

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🧠 Learn From Past Attempts

I have attempted Leadville three times in the past, and finished twice. I’ve also completed two other races over 100 miles. So yeah, as we would say in Texas, this is not my first rodeo. Mark Twain famously said, "Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment."

I've run enough of these races, faced struggles, and had moments of suffering, missteps, and setbacks to have gained experience and a better judgment.

☯️ It’s Not All Rosy

At some point, it's going to suck. Things will get really hard, and I'll want to quit, stop, or sit down. The solution is to keep moving, one step at a time. As long as I'm moving forward, I'm making progress. Stopping is the enemy here.

Doing #75Hard and #LiveHard program has built my mental discipline and grit. So this is the moment for that discipline to be put to work. A friend once said, "If it hurts to run, walk. If it hurts to walk, crawl. Whatever it takes, keep moving forward." My response to this has always been, "If it hurts to walk, and it hurts to run, just run and get it over with."

This is going to be a key part of my strategy going forward.

👻 It’s Gonna Get Really Dark…

There's an adage that says “It’s always darkest before the dawn”. During the race, there will be some really dark moments around 3 to 4am. It’ll be cold. No single light, in the middle of nowhere in the forest. It might feel like there's no end in sight. But I know that dawn in Colorado comes pretty early around 5:30am. That moment when the sky starts to get a little lighter, and things start to feel more positive.

Darkest moments are truly very close to the arrival of light and success.
Just keep going.

❤️ Know Your Why

When taking on a big challenge, it’s essential to be clear on why you're doing it. Your ‘why’ is often driven by the standards you set for yourself. It reignites your energy in low moments and keeps you focused on your goal. In my past newsletter, I talked about why I am running this race. This isn't just about running a 100 miles. There's something about the challenge — the unknown.

No matter how fit or prepared you are, there’s a level of uncertainty ahead — the weather, how you feel on that day, fatigue, and more. It's the need to problem-solve when faced with these inherent challenges that makes the race so intriguing. I want to inspire others to their own greatness, move people emotionally by witnessing the endeavor, and put the grit I have cultivated over the past month to real test.

But my biggest “why” is to set an example for my son — to show him what it’s looks like to set and pursue a goal.

🤲 Focus on the Process

When I ran the Leadville race in 2017, I lost. I was fixed on a target time for completion leading to disappointment even though I had an excellent result. But this time, I’m focusing on the process. I’m visualizing a successful day without setting any specific time goals. I am embracing the experience.

I’m excited to run this incredible race, enjoy the beautiful course, and take in the high altitude. I have an incredible crew to support me along the way, and to pace me for the last 40 miles.

My wife and son will be there to support and cheer me on. The smiles on the faces of everyone at various checkpoints along the course. I look forward to a race filled with joy and appreciation, and that is what I intend to manifest on the race day.

🐢 Start Slow, Finish Strong

Another key strategy I’m adopting for this race is to start slow and finish strong. Think of it like the tortoise and the hare. It’s easy to start too fast in this race, especially at high altitude. If you push hard for the first 25 miles, the rest of the race can feel like a long, painful struggle. So this time, my focus is different.

I’ve trained well and I know my limits. I have the experience to start slowly and avoid getting caught up with those speeding off at the start. I’ll pace myself for the first 30 to 35 miles, letting the race come to me. I’ll be deliberate in my approach, taking my time with the climbs and conserving energy.

Once I hit 70 miles, I’ll push harder. That’s when I’ll let the lion out of the cage, and really go hard up that final claim of the power line. In past races, I’ve had to power through the last 12 miles, but this time, I plan to conserve enough energy to run purposefully to the end.

📝 What’s Your Strategy?

When you’re pursuing a big goal, knowing what strategies to employ when things get rough is key to getting to the finish line. Whether it’s a keynote presentation, a pitch to investors, or a personal goal, always have a game plan. Things are going to get tough. When that happens, you’ll be better prepared to deal with whatever is thrown at you.

PS: I'd love to hear about your strategies for tackling big challenges, and the experiences that forged your approach. Hit reply to share your experiences - let's inspire each other.

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