Race Across the Sky 2012

CMC Leadville student Becky Aurora offers a quick wrap-up of the plethora of summer endurance races offered in Leadville, Colorado, in the post below, first published in her blog, Life at 10,200 feet.  CMC had several staff compete in the races, including Ken Keister, in the Leadville MTB 100, and Johann Aberger, in Saturday’s Leadville 100 Trail Run. Congrats to all!  (If you know other CMC’ers who took part, let us know!)

“This is it. The race of all races. One hundred miles across the high-altitude, extreme terrain of the Colorado Rockies. Created for only the most determined athletes. Starting at 10,152 feet and climbing to 12,424 feet, you’ll be challenged to catch your breath — while the views try to take it away.“

This year’s Leadville Trail 100MTB race took place on Saturday, August 11th and involved 53 men and 12 women racing in the pro division.  Overall 1,481 athletes completed the race- a mere 146 of them female.  Athletes competed on single and multi-speed bikes along with tandems.

Among those competing in the race, all 50 states and 38 countries were represented including Germany, England, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Canada, and Mexico.  CEOs, cancer survivors, and a winner of The Bachelor competed alongside athletes representing the Phoenix Foundation, Wounded Warriors, and the Challenged Athletes Foundation.

On Sunday the Leadville 10K race took place on the first and last 3.1 miles of the Leadville Trail 100 Run course.

This coming weekend (August 18th and 19th) the Leadville Trail 100 Run takes place.
“The race where legends are created — and limits are tested. One hundred miles of extreme Colorado Rockies terrain — from elevations of 9,200 to 12,600 feet. You will give the mountain respect, and earn it from all.“

Then on Monday, August 20th, the USA Pro Cycling Challenge kicks off with athletes riding from Durango to Telluride.  On the 21st they ride from Montrose to Crested Butte.  Wednesday brings them from Gunnison to Aspen and Thursday they go from Aspen to Beaver Creek.  Friday takes them from Breckenridge to Colorado Springs.  On Saturday they ride from Golden to Boulder before wrapping up in Denver on Sunday.

Finally, we round out the summer with the 12/24 Hours of Leadville competition which will include both run and mountain bike competitors.  Both races consist of solo competitors or teams doing laps around the course.