Leadville Trail 100 Training Camp Day 2 continues
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Hawaiian Shirt Ray continues on Day 2 of the Leadville Trail 100 training camp:
Winfield to Twin Lakes (Inbound)
Leaving Winfield during the race is a great feeling knowing that distance-wise (not time-wise) you are halfway done and now returning to Leadville. It feels like progress is being made. For the most part, this section is downhill to the base of the Hope Pass Trailhead. Now the real fun starts because the climb inbound over Hope Pass is a grind all the way up to the tree line. During training camp there are a few “runable” sections, but during the actual race I have never been able to “run” them. So, during training camp I tried my best to simulate my race day pace and I walked the entire section of the inbound climb to the top of Hope Pass.
Once cresting over the top and running past where the Hopeless Aid Station will be, runners should be cautious through this section because it always seems to be wet and sloppy all year long. I suggest that runners take their time through this short section before running down Hope Pass. After that section it is runable all the way down to the bottom. However, during training camp the runners do not run all the way to the bottom, rather they return on the trail groing back to the Parry Peak Campground. Again, the point at where the actual race course continues down is at the rusty sign. I say this again to let the runners at the training camp know that during race day it will be different and they will need to realize that they must keep running downhill and not turn as they did in training camp.
Talking with Fellow Ledville Training Camp Runners
I spoke with many fist time ultra 100 runners and veterans of other 100 mile ultra trail runs and the general consensus of the Double Crossing was “that was a lot harder than I imagined it was going to be.” The training camp is a great opportunity to test where you are at in your training and what you areas that you will need to work on. One runner I spoke to is putting in about 90 miles per week and realized that she needs to change his training to include power hiking. Another runner mentioned that she realized that she needed to incorporate a lot more downhill running into her training program otherwise her quads will be “blown-out” early into the race. Although I will not be running this weekend I will be taking Simon (my pup) into the high country around Leadville and climbing some 14,000 foot peaks (aka 14ers) just to get my power hiking muscles in shape and to get used to the altitude of Leadville.
Dinner and the Q&A with the Panel of Experts
For me the Q&A session during my first Leadville Trail 100 Trianing Camp theree years ago was the most important part. Although getting familiar with the course was very important, I left the the Q&A session with the feeling that “I CAN DO THIS!” It lifted the veil to so many unknowns on what to expect on race day.
Founder and President Ken Chlouber and Race Director Merilee Mauqin
One of the best parts for me was when the panel discussed how to get from aid staiton to aid station outbound and inbound. They shared their experiences of their highs and lows, and what to expect during each section. They also mentally prepare you to dig deep. They give you the encouragement that when you are physically spent and mentally finished that you should go to the well one more time to see if there is anything left. Beacuse, if you look deep inside yourself you will find that there is still something there. Do NOT QUIT! As Ken Chlouber says, “You are better than you think you are, and can do more than you think you can.”
Tags: Leadville 100