Leadville 2013

[Spirit Unleashed]

Just read this blog about how crowded it was:
http://sherpajohn.blogspot.com/2013/11/ ... ville.html

I think some of our own had the same opinion. Any others want to comment?

[ian]

In the words of Yogi Berra, "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded." I think some similar sentiments apply to the Canadian Death Race as well. Without intending to be facetious, I wonder if the people who complain about overcrowded races would also object to:
(1) substantially higher entry fees
(2) smaller fields chosen in a manner which, more often than not, excludes them
In other words, the proposed solution can't just apply to "everyone else".

[c_mcpeake]

I wonder if the people who complain about overcrowded races would also object to:
(1) substantially higher entry fees
(2) smaller fields chosen in a manner which, more often than not, excludes them
In other words, the proposed solution can't just apply to "everyone else".

The answer would be a resounding NO most would not object. (1) You mean higher entry fees then the 300+ dollars they are already charging? I dont mind higher fees but I do expect the race to provide things like water and gels at the aid stations. Running out is not acceptable. Also for that money I expect a course that is safe from live traffic (2) smaller fields by lottery. Its a no brainer but it will not happen unless the town forces it on LF. Lifetime Fitness has been marketing the race in all their gyms as a lifestyle race, not an ultra. Way too many untrained and completely unprepared runners and this is a race that will eat even the most experienced alive.

The overcrowding made this race dangerous. Also Lifetime Fitness showed complete and utter disregard for runners, the town and the ultra community. We were an afterthought to the "race series" and bike races. Maybe try putting an ultra runner in charge as RD instead of a mountain biker might help.

Part 1 of my leadville blog is below, part 2 will be coming shortly.
http://chrismcpeake.blogspot.ca/2013/08 ... -2013.html

Then there is Leadvilles removal as a qualifier for Hard Rock. Although they dropped a couple of races from the list this is the only one that they made a comment on and it says it all.

A note about the 2013 Leadville 100: The Leadville 100 includes many of the features that are important for a HR qualifier: high altitude, long climbs, potential for mountain weather, and more. However, the 2013 Leadville 100 ignored other traits of importance to the HR: environmental responsibility, support of the hosting community, and having a positive impact on the health of our sport. Because of timing, the 2013 LT100 will still be accepted as a qualifier for the 2014 HR. LT100 finishes will not be accepted as qualifiers for the 2015 HRH and beyond.

I would like to say that I will not attempt Leadville again but I cant. Its become my white whale. I seriously hope that they cut the field in half and add a qualifier or move to a lottery but honestly I just dont see that happening.

[Chainsaw Baby]

Good to hear from you Chris! I wonder if Leadville is tearing a page from Barkley's... No, let's not go there.

Part II please!

[Dstew]

Ban pacers and how many extra bodies are off the course. But they will not happen for the same reason that any of the old throw back suggestions are not going to be accepted as the economic forces far exceed any other concern. Simple math suggests 100 purists will lose any arguments to 10 purists and 340 "pseudo or faux" ultra runners. Every pacer is going to spend money in the community and the real reason for the race was to attract people so until the numbers drop, there is zero incentive to make the sort of major changes suggested. Add more supplies and other minor changes, yes but other suggests is spitting into the wind.

[c_mcpeake]

@Dstew.
I agree with most of what you said however a couple of things. I personally dont think it matters how many purists complain. Lifetime fitness is all about the bottom line. IMO they dont care at all about the race or the runners involved. Its true that originally these races helped save the town economically but that doesnt seem to be the case or driving force anymore. From what I saw the town is getting sick of it. At some point more is not better. It appears to be all about how much cash Lifetime can put in the coffers.

Pacers. I could not disagree more and I didnt have any pacers. This is for 2 reasons. First the drop out rate. If you look at how the drops happen at leadville you have about a 50-55 percent drop out rate (on a good year). The number one place drops happen is Twin Lakes outbound before you get to the pass. The second is Winfield (with the exception of 2012 where the longer course caused large numbers to miss the cutoff at twin inbound). This surprised me but I guess people get to TL and with the pass coming they decide they have had enough. By the time you head outbound from Winfield the majority of drops have occurred so you are ending up with (I would guess) around the same number of people on the trail.

Second the pass is a beast especially inbound when you are already beat up from the first time over and have the much steeper climb on the back side. The altitude can really mess with you here. I think its somewhat of a safety issue. If you get in real trouble on or at the top of the pass its a big problem. NO roads, no medical or crew access apart from what is at the hopeless aid station. You will have to get down under your own power. Having a pacer that can make rational decisions is kind of helpful. When I dropped last year my decision was based strictly on the fact that I was in trouble and was worried that it would be much worse by the time I got to the top of the pass. I have no doubt that I would have kept going if I had a pacer with me as I have bounced back from mid race problems in other 100s but my main concern was that I would unable to evaluate my health and safety. Quite frankly I worried I would get stuck on the pass alone.

The winfield situation is a simple solve. Bus in pacers and crew (one pacer one crew per runner). I would say no crew but given the aid stations ran out of everything I would really like to not rely on them.

[Spirit Unleashed]

http://runlonger.blogspot.com/2013/11/h ... isten.html