If this is your first Leadville 100, hitting the 100-day mark can feel like a mix of excitement and low-grade panic. That’s normal. I’ve been through this race nine times and was fortunate enough to win it twice, but I’ve also spent close to 20 years coaching athletes to success at Leadville — and what matters most right now is getting specific.

Long runs need a purpose now

This is the point where long runs stop being about just going long. They should start to look and feel like the race.

A good benchmark: aim for around 150 feet of gain per mile on your longer efforts when you can. Not every run has to hit that, but your training should regularly include real climbing and descending. Leadville is steady, rolling, and sneaky hard — not flat, not overly technical, but it adds up.

Use these runs to practice how you’ll actually move on race day. Hike the climbs with intent. Don’t rush the flats. Stay controlled on the descents. You’re not trying to prove fitness — you’re building efficiency.

If you finish a long run wrecked every time, you’re probably missing the point.

Get on the right terrain

A lot of first-time runners underestimate this. Leadville isn’t extreme terrain, but it’s not smooth either. There’s enough rock, uneven footing, and sustained climbing to wear you down if you’re not used to it.

You don’t need perfect course replicas, but you do need time on trails that force you to pay attention. Trails where you can’t just lock into autopilot. That’s where you get better.

And don’t ignore the downhill. If your quads aren’t ready, they’ll let you know later in the race.

Altitude — do what you can

If you live at altitude or can get up there, great — use it. Even a few weekends can help.

If you don’t, don’t stress about it too much. What matters more is learning how to manage effort. Leadville punishes people who go out too hard way more than it rewards people who are “fit enough.”

Practice holding back. Practice being patient when things feel easy. That skill matters more than any altitude hack.

Figure out your fueling now

This is a big one. Don’t wait.

A solid place to start is 360 calories per hour, 750 ml of fluid per hour, and 750 mg of sodium per liter. That’s not a one-size-fits-all answer, but it’s a strong baseline.

More importantly, you need to practice it. A lot. Try it on your long runs. See what happens when you’re a few hours in and not feeling great. Can you still eat? Can you adjust?

Race day is not the time to figure this out.

Keep it simple

At 100 days out, people tend to overcomplicate things. They add more mileage, more vert, more everything.

You don’t just need more, you just need to focus specifically for Leadville. Good long runs. The right terrain. A bit of altitude if you can get it. A fueling plan you trust.

That’s enough.

If you stay focused on those things, you won’t show up to Leadville guessing. You’ll show up knowing what to do — and that’s a big deal your first time out there. #BeBoundless

– Coach Duncan, 2x LT100 Run Winner & 9x Finisher

May 6th, 2026