On Saturday, August 17, 2024, history was made at the Leadville 100 Mile. Trail runner and coach David Roche broke one of the sport’s historic course records by finishing in 15:26:34, resetting the record by more than 16 minutes.
The prior record was set in 2005 by mountain running legend Matt Carpenter at 15:42:59. Carpenter’s was an effort that could best be called calculated, honed from multiple years of racing Leadville and hundreds of hours of training on the course. Carpenter incredibly details his 2005 effort on his website. Carpenter’s was a record that many runners aspired to, but none could beat — until David Roche ran the 2024 edition.
The course has changed a small amount in several spots in the interim 19 years since Carpenter set his record. However, most Leadville experts would call the current course a little longer and harder than in 2005. Generally speaking, the Leadville 100 Mile course runs on an out-and-back route described as largely runnable, with a couple of big climbs, including the double crossing of the high point at Hope Pass, and several other punchy climbs. All this takes place at high altitude, with the start and finish in downtown Leadville, Colorado, at over 10,000 feet.
Read the full article at iRunFar.com.
Meanwhile Mary Denholm went closer than anyone else had ever done to Ann Trason’s best mark (1994, 18:06:24) as she clocked 18:23:51.
She led early on through Mayqueen, followed by Katelyn McDaniel and Molly Hurford as they prepared for their first big climb.
And as they descended into Twin Lakes Village, Denholm’s advantage was up to 22 minutes.
By the Winfield turnaround it was a whopping 50 minutes, with Julie Wright now second and McDaniel in third.
And Denholm was never remotely threatened as she cruised further and further clear.
Read more about the women’s race at Run 247.