#85 - Leadville 100 Ultramarathon Race Recap

In today’s episode, Nick provides a recap from the recent Leadville 100 Ultramarathon, a race that was about “more than the miles” and required the contributions of the BPN team. 

On August 21 and 22, Nick raced a distance of 100 miles through the Rocky Mountains, joining only about half of the participants in meeting the 30-hour time limit for completion.  With the help of the BPN team, Nick finished the race in 27 hours, 53 minutes, and 5 seconds, having faced 15,600 feet in elevation ascent and descent, high altitudes, and overall both a great and challenging race.  Now, he wants to share with listeners about the details of the race - talking about everything from checkpoints to nutrition strategy, ups and downs, and the role his teammates played in the competition. 

Nick’s training began in the spring after he was chosen by lottery to be allowed entry in the race.  This training included not just preparation for mountain terrain, but training for elevation shifts.   The Monday before the race, he and several other BPN workers arrived confident in Leadville ready for more altitude training and trail reconnaissance (for both Nick and his team members who would be shooting film for a documentary expected out in October!).  Nick and his team built out a plan for the race, with each member having a specific role outlined.  Nick’s main role, himself, was to embrace the suck that would come with enduring the race. 

On the day of the race, Nick was up at 2:30 am for breakfast, which consisted of a bagel and some BPN products - G1M and electrolytes; his ultimate goal was to build up his sodium and carbs.  He prepared himself mentally, got dressed in carefully chosen clothes, and loaded up about 100fl oz of water in his pockets.  The race had an exhilarating start at 4am, and Nick explains his steps crossing checkpoints, maintaining nutrition levels, making connections with his crew, and beginning to knock out the many miles of the course. 

The course had 13 checkpoints over its 50 miles (traveled twice), and Nick had 7 drop bags placed at checkpoints where he would possibly if not certainly be unable to see his crew.  He shares with listeners about the meals he chose to maximize helpful calories and keep his fluid and electrolyte levels high, the short time windows he allotted for stops, and about his plans to handle GI issues and prevent issues with injury or weariness.  Nick also explains how he felt at different points in the race, and how he paced himself.

Listeners will hear about Nick’s fall and bloodied hands, decision to refill water at a mountain stream, and shock at finding crew members at a mountain summit checkpoint.  They will also  hear about the toll the high altitude took as the end of the race drew near;  Nick found himself - with fresh shoes, a pacer, and only 38 miles to go - struggling to breathe.  He started to really feel the previous miles, and knew he just needed to get to the end.  He just needed to go one more.  And one more.  And one more.  Through a temperature drop, a bout of uncontrollable shaking, a transition to a new pacer, and the mental gymnastics of feeling excited to finish and utterly exhausted all at once, Nick approached the finish. 

As he crested the final hill, Nick could see the finish line and hear the crowd.  His crew members came to join him, and they all ran the finish together.  There have been bumps in the road as Nick has recovered from the race (most notably his brother eating his burrito!), but he has been working toward an efficient and effective recovery.  The power of human bodies to exert themselves and recover is remarkable, but, as Nick concludes, even more remarkable to him was the role of his team in the race.  It was for them about more than the miles, but about accomplishing the feat together. 

Thanks for tuning in and please remember to leave a review and share with a friend!

Timestamps:

1:04 - This episode will recap the Leadville 100 Ultramarathon.

9:32 - Nick took a lot of the BPN team.

15:02 - “More than the miles”

17:28 - The day of the race and the start of the competition

29:25 - Some say the real race starts at mile marker 37.9.

34:49 - The second Hope Pass climb - Nick sees crew, completes the worst climbs

39:10 - Running with a pacer and struggling to breathe

44:30 - Last 12.6 miles to an awesome finish with the BPN team

47:50 - Nick gets into the burrito saga

50:27 - Final thoughts on recovery and the rewarding personal/team experience

Links:

Learn more about Nick Bare and connect with him on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube.

Learn more about Bare Performance Nutrition.

Learn more about the Leadville Race Series, including the 100 Ultramarathon.

Learn about the brands Nick mentioned: Hypoxico, Hoka, Salomon