After 282.3 miles of trail running and mountain biking around America’s highest incorporated city, Leadville, Colorado, this summer, elite ultra endurance athlete Travis Macy stood atop the podium as Leadman winner.
The pinnacle of the Leadville Race Series that includes the world famous Leadville 100 Mountain Bike and Trail Run races, the Leadman is a six-week event that requires athletes to keep coming back for more as they race for the lowest combined time in five events: a trail running marathon that tops at 13,186’, a 50-mile mountain biking or running race that climbs over 7,000’ on gnarly Rocky Mountain mining trails, the legendary Leadville 100 Mountain Bike Race now featuring some 2,000 competitors, the “insult to injury” (according to Macy) 10K Run the day after biking 100 miles, and, last but not least, one week later, the storied Leadville Trail 100 Run, during which, “We send you over the biggest, baddest mountains this country has to offer,” according to pre-race speaker Colt Chlouber.
Macy (www.travismacy.com), an endurance coach, speaker, writer, athlete, and high school teacher from Evergreen, Colorado, credits consistency and family support as keys in cutting almost an hour and a half from the previous record to finish in a combined time of 36 hours and 20 minutes.
“Racing this many long, high altitude events at a high level over a short time,” noted Macy, “tests an athlete’s commitment and asks a lot of his or her family. I’m really lucky to have a great support team, and my wife and I enjoyed camping with our kids at each of the events. My dad finished his first Leadville Trail 100 Run in 1988 when I was five, and winning Leadman is kind of a homecoming for me–it means as much as any race I’ve done.
“One aunt and three of my uncles, including Eric Pence, who crossed the line for the 19th time this year, have finished the LT100 Run, so I had to knock it out one of these days.”
The world-class multisport athlete who has competed in over a dozen countries and earned high finishes at the Adventure Racing World Championship, Primal Quest Adventure Race, 24 Hours of Moab, MB Race, Wulong Mountain Quest, Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge and more, is not afraid to get philosophical about his pursuits.
“I’m just trying to show busy adults like me, who have kids and a job, that they really can follow their dreams in athletics and otherwise. Having kids is a reason to pursue greatness, not ignore it, and it’s all about making a commitment and using your time efficiently.”
Macy, who is sponsored by Vitargo S2 and was pushed hard in Leadman by a strong field including Bob Africa (2nd) and Luke Jay (3rd), also mentioned his forthcoming book, It’s All Good Mental Training, that supports key principles for a winning outlook and peak performance with stories from Leadman and other racing adventures. His children, Wyatt, 2.5, and Lila, 6 months, seemed to enjoy the Leadman journey as much as anyone.
The Leadville Race Series, which pushes and proves founder Ken Chlouber’s idea that “You’re better than you think you are–you can do more than you think you can” is at www.leadvilleraceseries.com.