Leadville, Colo., (Sunday, August 20, 2023) – Celebrating its 40th year, the world-famous Leadville Trail 100 Run presented by La Sportiva race returned to Leadville this weekend, the pinnacle finale event of the 2023 Leadville Race Series. Event owner and producer, Life Time (NYSE: LTH) welcomed a field of more than 700 runners ranging in age from 18 to 72 years old, representing 49 states and 30 countries.
The Leadville Trail 100 Run launched in 1983, supported by founders Ken Chlouber and Merilee Maupin and captivated the endurance sports community from its inception. The creation of the race was intended to bring economic impact back to Leadville’s struggling community following the closure of the Climax Mine, which left nearly the entire town unemployed. The inaugural race saw 45 intrepid runners take on the challenge. Of those participants, only 15 managed to complete the grueling 100-mile course within the 30-hour time limit, highlighting the formidable nature of the event. The inaugural year of the Leadville Trail 100 Run laid the foundation for the race’s legacy, setting the stage for the awe-inspiring feats of endurance and Grit, Guts, and Determination.
The famed course challenges runners with over 15,000 feet of net gain, topping out at 12,532 feet across Hope Pass. Runners toed the start line at 4 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 19 with the ultimate goal of completing the 100-mile “Race Across the Sky” in under 30 hours, which would earn them the coveted belt buckle. Saturday’s warm temperatures resulted in a 44% overall finisher rate.
“There was so much enthusiasm out there on the course – the runners, the volunteers, the crew, you just get a big boost every time you go by, it was contagious, and gorgeous, and very painful,” said Mannhard. “It was just amazing out there. This is my dream come true, it just happened today!”
“I was feeling pretty good for the first 13 miles and then I hit a really low spot, stuff wasn’t sitting, my stomach was bad, and I really thought this wasn’t going to be my day. I seriously thought about cutting it,” said Giblin. “Then, I met my hero out there, Rob Krar who is the guy who started me in this sport. He inspired me, he came up and he patted me on the back and said, “let’s go man,” and he saved my race. It was really special. After that I turned the corner and started feeling good and thought, “I’m going to win this.”
Women’s Leadville Trail 100 Run presented by La Sportiva Race Results
| Name | City | Age | Time |
| Jacquie Mannhard | Boulder, Colo. | 39 | 21:24:55 |
| Lucie Hanes | Eagle, Colo. | 29 | 23:16:51 |
| Madeline Wighardt | Ancaster, Canada | 22 | 23:32:57 |
Men’s Leadville Trail 100 Run presented by La Sportiva Race Results
| Name | City | Age | Time |
| JP Giblin | Boulder, Colo. | 29 | 17:07:25 |
| Luke Paulson | Asheville, N.C. | 31 | 17:47:55 |
| Scott Traer | Woburn, Mass. | 42 | 17:54:12 |
To view all race results from the Leadville Trail 100 Run presented by La Sportiva, please visit: Athlinks. To see how the race unfolded check out the Leadville Race Series Instagram and Twitter.
“Our 40th anniversary of the Race Across the Sky was nothing short of spectacular, inspiring, and a fair shake of grueling,” said Tamira Jenlink, Race Director. “The athletes tackled the heat, the climbs, and miles upon miles of everything Leadville has to offer. As always, they dug deep, persevered, and ultimately rose to the challenge with all their heart, courage, and commitment. Thank you all tremendously for both joining us in the celebration of our 40th year, and for yet another incredible season!”
This year, 90 total Foundation Athletes raised money for the Life Time Foundation during these two 100-mile races. All donations go towards a general fund to support grants and programming delivered nationally and locally in Leadville. Additionally, Leadville-local Rodrigo Jimenez was this year’s Dream Chaser, a fundraiser that raises money for the LT100 Legacy Foundation. Rodrigo started 2.5 hours after all of the other runners and passed as many runners as he could – the more people he passed; the more money raised.
The final running event on the Leadville Race Series is the Austin Rattler Run in Texas on Nov. 4. To view all Life Time athletic events, please visit: https://my.lifetime.life/athletic-events.html
The Life Time Leadville Trail 100 Run presented by La Sportiva is owned and produced by Life Time, the premier healthy lifestyle brand. It is among more than 30 premier athletic events owned by the company, including the Stages Cycling Leadville Trail 100 MTB, Garmin UNBOUND Gravel, Verizon New York City Triathlon, Chicago Triathlon, and Miami Marathon.
About the Leadville Race Series
Started with only 45 runners as the Leadville Trail 100 Run in 1983, the Leadville Race Series now consists of seven running events and four mountain biking events, plus six events in the Leadville Qualifying Series. The Race Series stretches across three months, and hosts thousands of racers on foot and on mountain bike in some of the world’s most iconic events. Endurance athletes worldwide now make the pilgrimage to Leadville, Colo., with the single goal of competing in “The Race Across the Sky.” Visit www.leadvilleraceseries.com for more information.
About Life Time®, Inc.
Life Time (NYSE: LTH) empowers people to live healthy, happy lives through its portfolio of nearly 160 athletic country clubs across the United States and Canada. The company’s healthy way of life communities and ecosystem address all aspects of healthy living, healthy aging and healthy entertainment for people 90 days to 90+ years old. Supported by a team of more than 30,000 dedicated professionals, Life Time is committed to providing the best programs and experiences through its clubs, iconic athletic events and comprehensive digital platform.
