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End of the Road to Leadman: The Leadville Trail Run 100 Race Plan

And just like that there's just 100 miles running through the Rocky Mountains between me and the Leadman.  

I survived the MTB 100 to make it to the finish line but didn't hit my goal of under 12 hours.  Most people think the cutoff is 12 hours, but I knew it is actually 13 hours.  I had poured over previous Leadman results and read a blog by a Leadman who didn't make 12 hours and thought he was done but was allowed to continue since he finished.  You just don't get a buckle.  I puked for the first time in a race at mile 70 and was on track for a sub-12 hour finish up to that point.  I dug super deep and made it to the Finish off nothing but Coke for the last 30 miles.  I did the Leadville Trail 10k the next day ultra conservative, treating it like my most expensive recovery run ever.  I'll pull together a race report after the Trail Run 100.

So here's my draft race plan for the Trail Run 100.  My best buddy from college Nick is crewing me, and the amazing @Mark Cardinale is pacing until the last section when Nick will get to take me to the Finish.  I modeled three scenarios:
  1. The best case where I make it in 25 hours and get the big buckle.  I know my legs have it in them to do this on a good day.  However, a week after a 100 mile MTB ride and 10k run creates a lot of unknowns.
  2. The median case where I come in at 27.5 hours and get the small buckle.  This would be going pretty conservative and having a decent day.
  3. The worst case where I am laying in ditch puking my guts out at some point, or something similar.  This brings me in just under the 30 hour cutoff and I'd still get a buckle.
I used this timing app based on the 2012 race.  This year's course follows that same route, which probably makes it closer to 102 miles, and I'd expect the times to be similar.

The day before the race, I'll drive to each Aid Station with Nick, and we'll agree on a spot where he'll be.

The race plan will be printed so my crew can just go to the page for each Aid Station and treat it like a checklist as well as make notes.  

Leadville Trail Run 100 Race Plan

Many thanks to the EN crew who has coached me, supported me, and kicked me in the ass when I needed it!  I'll probably forget someone but in no particular order: @Coach Patrick for helping me create the Roadmap to Leadman, @Scott%20Dinhofer for all the advice and resources on the MTB 100, @tim cronk for endless feedback, guidance, and support of my adventures and misadventures, @Francis Picard and @Scott Alexander for your enthusiast support of my adventures and misadventures, and of course @Mark Cardinale for coming out to the Silver Rush with me and picking me up at the Finish when I was toast and most of all thanks in advance for getting me to the Finish of the Trail Run 100!
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