The Leadville Race Series started with the Leadville Trail 100 Run, also known as “Race Across the Sky,” one-hundred miles of extreme terrain that reaches 12,600 feet of elevation at Hope Pass. The course comprises forest trails and mountain roads through the Colorado Rockies and is held in San Isabel National Forest with a special permit. There are 13 well-stocked aid stations along the way. The event covers three days — Day one includes mandatory athlete meetings in the morning and participant pack-up pickup that includes t-shirts and drop bags. There is also an expo for all runners to browse throughout the day. Day two is Race Day! Starting line opens early, from 3:00 to 4:00 am, with a 4:00 am start time. Day three continues the race with the final cutoff time at 10:00 am. The awards ceremony starts at noon, and awards must be picked up in person. There are three awards per age group with ten categories. This ceremony includes Finisher jackets for all participants that make it to the finish line.
The Leadville Trail 100 Run is an opportunity to explore history. Leadville has six local museums, and the Museum Passport is available to share among friends and family to tour the historic attractions any time during race season, Memorial Day through Labor Day. A detailed list of dining and lodging options is available in the area. The most popular restaurant among locals and tourists is High Mountain Pies. Guests can stay at area hotels, bed & breakfasts, home rentals, and campgrounds. Also, remember that the gorgeous Copper Mountain Resort is close-by and open for summer starting in early June.
The Leadville Race Series started in 1983 with just a single race through the Rocky Mountains. Produced by Life Time Events, it has expanded in the United States with multiple running and biking events. For trail running, the series includes the following summer events presented by La Sportiva; Leadville Trail 100 Run, Austin Rattler Run, Leadville Trail Marathon & Heavy Half, Silver Rush 5 Run, and Leadville Trail 10K. Due to popularity and participant demand, the challenging series also invites runners to a 3-day Leadville Trail 100 Run Camp camp. It is a long weekend of getting to know your fellow racers through intense training with expert runners and celebrating the amazing scenery of the Rocky Mountains with great food and trails. Leadville Race Series has many MTB events throughout the summer and fall for those also interested in mountain biking.
The Leadville Trail is also a Grand Slam of Ultra-Running and a Rocky Mountain Slam Series event. The Grand Slam of Ultra-Running is a series of five races representing the oldest and most prestigious 100-mile races contested in the US. The series includes the Old Dominion 100 in Virginia, Western States 100 in California, the Vermont 100, Leadville Trail 100 in Colorado, and the Wasatch Front 100 in Utah. To be eligible for the award, participants must officially complete three of the four first Grand Slam Series races and then complete the Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run, all in the same summer. The Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run is the series’ final race and is mandatory. You must apply for all the races you plan to run during their open registration period.
To complete the Rocky Mountain Slam, men and women have to finish four out of five annual races in the Rockies: the Bighorn 100 in Montana in June, the Hardrock 100 in Colorado in July, the Leadville Trail 100 in Colorado in August, the Wasatch Front 100 in Utah in early September and the Bear 100 in late September.
