The Leadville Trail 100, A Celebration Of Endurance And Community

Natalie Nicholson. Leadville Marathon. 2025.

Life Time Leadville Race Series

At 10,152 feet above sea level, Leadville, Colorado is the highest incorporated city in North America, and every August, it becomes the beating heart of endurance racing.

The Life Time Leadville Trail 100 Run, known simply as the “Race Across the Sky,” is one of the world’s most iconic ultramarathons. The course is a brutal, out-and-back journey of 100 miles through Colorado’s rugged high country, demanding over 15,000 feet of climbing. Runners grind up Powerline, battle through Sugarloaf, and face the thin air atop Hope Pass at 12,500 feet, where oxygen is scarce and determination is tested. For those who endure, the prize is more than the coveted silver or gold belt buckle, it’s entry into a global community of athletes defined by grit, guts, and resilience.

Born in 1983, the Leadville Trail 100 was created by local miner Ken Chlouber as a way to save a town devastated by the closure of its largest employer, the Climax Mine. What began as a bold experiment has grown into a legendary proving ground, attracting athletes from around the world while pumping millions into the local economy. Four decades later, the race is more than an ultramarathon, it’s a cultural institution rooted in community, perseverance, and transformation.

The Trail 100, of the Life Time Leadville Race Series, is more than trails and buckles. For athletes who return year after year, it’s the people and the community that make the experience unforgettable. Women are stepping into Leadville’s thin air and redefining what’s possible. Elite competitors like Anne Flower dominate the marathon and Silver Rush distances, while competitors like Katy Anderson return for their 10th start, and Natalie Nicholson takes on the grueling five-race Lead Challenge. Behind the scenes, Michelle Duffy Smith, VP of Event Marketing at Life Time, works to support the Leadville community, amplifying the race experience and ensuring everyone feels fully supported.

Katy Anderson, Leadville Trail 100, The Power of Coming Back

For Katy Anderson, now returning for her 10th Leadville Trail 100, the race’s true magic lies in the connections made along the course. “Leadville feels like family,” she says. “You don’t get there alone. You do it with your family, your friends, and the community. That’s what makes it so moving.”

It’s this spirit, shared effort, mutual support, and unwavering encouragement—that transforms the Race Across the Sky from a grueling 100-mile ultramarathon into a celebration of human resilience, connection, and perseverance. A Sydney, Australia native, Anderson stumbled into the 100-mile course in 2014 when her partner surprised her with an entry. “Suddenly I had a goal and no choice but to train,” she laughs. “My first race was terrifying. It was freezing cold, and I genuinely thought I might get hypothermia in the middle of the night. I’d never done anything like it, but my partner and our crew kept me going.”

Now, a decade later, “Leadville feels like family,” she says. “I’ve met so many friends here over the years, runners, cyclists, volunteers. There’s just something in the air that keeps pulling you back.” Her focus has never been speed. “I’m very much a back-of-the-pack runner. I’d love to be faster, but for me, the goal is to finish. I don’t care if I’m the last one across the line.”

It’s the people and the sense of shared struggle that make the race unforgettable. “One year, my pacer got stuck in a crash on the highway, and a complete stranger jumped in to run a full section with me. She stayed with me for 15 hours, just to help me finish,” Katy recalls. “At Leadville, you don’t get there alone. You do it with your family, your friends, and the community. That’s what makes it so moving.”

For those considering their first Leadville Trail 100, Katy’s advice is simple: “You can do this. I’m living proof. I didn’t run in school, I’m not a natural athlete, and I started late. Training takes six to nine months, and life will get in the way. But if you commit, even imperfectly, you can get there.”

Even after ten years, the draw hasn’t faded. “Leadville is addictive, whether you’re running, crewing, or just supporting. That’s what keeps me coming back,” she says.

Michelle Duffy Smith, Leadville Community And Event Impact

That sense of community doesn’t happen by accident. Behind the scenes, leaders like Michelle Duffy Smith ensure that the town, volunteers, and athletes all come together to make the Leadville Race Series a life-changing experience.

Michelle Duffy Smith, VP of Event Marketing at Life Time, emphasizes that the Leadville Race Series is as much about the town as the athletes. “Leadville is such an iconic location, and these races genuinely change people’s lives while also benefiting a small mountain community,” she says. “Protecting, supporting, and giving back to Leadville, that’s at the heart of what we do.”

The series generates both economic and emotional impact. “Last year, the race contributed around $25 million to Leadville,” Smith notes. “Standing at the finish line and watching athletes cross, it’s life-changing for them, and also for us as organizers. That’s incredibly motivating.”

Community runs deep in every detail. Locals participate, some athletes invest in homes, and foundations connected to the race provide scholarships, holiday gifts, and resources for schools. “These programs matter, because many parents commute long hours for work,” Smith explains.

What sets Leadville apart is the sense of family and inclusivity. “Community is at the core of most races, but here it feels even deeper. Our partnership with Trail Sisters has been powerful. We hosted a Hope Pass training run specifically for women—seeing that group come together was incredible.”

And when it comes to finishing, the focus is on perseverance. “At many races, it’s about what place you finished. In Leadville, it’s about did you finish? Finishers get buckles—big ones if you go under 25 hours, small ones if you finish within the cutoff. That tradition has become iconic.”

“The Leadville Race Series is more than an endurance event,” Smith concludes. “It’s about lives being changed, for the athletes and for the community of Leadville. That sense of connection and shared purpose is what makes this series so special.”

Anne Flower, Leadville Elite Running And The Drive To Excel

For elite runners, the support and energy of Leadville are more than motivational, they fuel extraordinary performances. Anne Flower, a medical doctor and ultrarunner, taps into that energy as she competes at the top of the series.

Anne Flower’s path to the top of the Leadville Race Series is as unconventional as it is inspiring. “I actually started med school before I really became a runner,” she says. Growing up playing soccer and exploring the outdoors, Flower always knew she wanted a life surrounded by mountains. Running became her way to stay physically fit while navigating the rigors of medical school. “I ran my first marathon in my third year of med school, and I had such an awesome time that I was hooked.”

Today, Flower is a dominant force at Leadville, having placed first in both the Marathon and Silver Rush this year. “I’m curious about what my body can do. Running is so simple, it’s just one foot in front of the other, but when you add obstacles like altitude, terrain, and distance, it becomes really exciting,” she explains. The electric atmosphere of the mountains and the community energy elevate every stride. “There’s no way I’d run as well if I were out there alone. The Leadville Race Series really makes running feel like a celebration.”

The challenges are formidable. “The hardest moment was in the marathon, climbing Mosquito Pass, the highest point of the race,” Flower recalls. As a stronger climber than descender, she was particularly nervous about the downhill, but even amid the struggle, camaraderie endured. “We were all cheering each other on, which made it fun.” And the rewards are equally memorable. “The most magical moment was in the Silver Rush 50, running through a valley filled with wildflowers while storms built in the distance. It was an explosion of color I’ll never forget.”

Flower’s perspective is deeply informed by her work as an emergency medicine physician. “In the ER, I never know what’s going to walk through the doors, but my goal is always to be a little bit better with every patient, every shift. I carry that same philosophy into ultrarunning, a little better, a little farther, each time.” Looking ahead to the 100-mile race, she keeps her goals grounded yet ambitious. “I’ve never run 100 miles before, so first, I want to finish. That’s goal number one. But with how healthy I feel, I’d love to earn a big belt buckle and a dream goal would be under 20 hours.”

For Flower, the Leadville Race Series is more than a test of endurance, it’s a fusion of challenge, community, and personal growth. “It’s the mindset of doing a little more, a little better, that drives me,” she says. “And that’s exactly what Lead

Natalie Nicholson, Leadville Trail 100, Strength And Joy Of Recovery

Natalie Nicholson has taken on the ultimate test of endurance, the Lead Challenge, five grueling events across trail running and mountain biking, totaling 282.4 miles, all above 10,000 feet in the Rocky Mountains. She’s already completed the Leadville Marathon, Silver Rush, Trail 100 MTB, and 10K Run, with the Trail 100 Run as the final race to complete this epic series.

“My motivation is pretty simple: I want to win the series on the women’s side,” Nicholson says. “After the marathon, I was actually leading overall—men and women—which had apparently never happened before. That was a cool moment.”

Her preparation has been relentless. Living at 7,000 feet in Dolores, Colorado, she trains at high altitude, stacking back-to-back hard runs and rides. “I really listen to my body,” she explains. “If I’ve planned a hard workout but didn’t sleep well or feel run down, I’ll adjust. Flexibility is key, you can’t just force it every day.”

Nicholson has faced challenges far beyond the trails. “I’ve faced significant personal challenges, including overcoming addiction and surviving domestic abuse,” she shares. “Running has been therapeutic for me. It’s helped me heal in ways nothing else could.” This resilience informs her approach to endurance racing: “When you’ve survived really dark times in life, the dark patches of a race are easier to navigate. But you still need tools, mantras, music, positive self-talk, to keep pushing when your body is screaming at you to stop.”

She recalls breakthroughs on both the bike and the run. “The hardest part was the 100-mile bike. I’d only been mountain biking for about a year, and the technical descents terrified me. But by race day, I felt confident, and it went great. That was a huge breakthrough.” Her mental toughness carries over to running: “This upcoming Leadville Trail 100 will be my first 100-miler since 2018 or 2019. My body feels strong again, and I’m excited to test it.”

For Nicholson, the Lead Challenge is about more than finishing. “I hope people see that you can survive horrible, awful things and still thrive. Whether it’s running, parenting, or anything else, you can get through the hard stuff. Our bodies and minds are tougher than we give them credit for.”

And while the competition in Leadville is tough, joy and giving back remain central. “Running has been such a gift for me, and I love being able to pass that on. I coach kids, and one of my biggest passions is getting young people excited about running, especially in a world where it’s easy to just stay inside on video games. Inspiring the next generation to find joy in movement is a big part of why I do this too.”