Stoked for all of you that got in! Excited to share the journey with you.
Just finished my first block of SS base and kicking the year off with plenty of momentum. A snowy day here in Colorado… gonna be plenty of trainer time for this rest week.
2 Likes
Well shoot, I got in. Guess it’s time to build an XC bike.
5 Likes
I agree the WS100 has a great model. You must also run and finish a qualifier race under a set time in order to enter the lottery each year. I would love to see leadville adopt this if nothing else in order to weed out the less serious racers but provide some space for people who can’t quite make the podium at qualifiers.
3 Likes
In my opinion, the wide range of abilities is a big part of what makes this race special. Everyone has their own goals, but there should be a place for experienced racers to fight for a big buckle or podium and also for less experienced riders fighting to beat time cuts and finish in under 12 hours. Both are big accomplishments to be proud of, but the most impressive performances in this race usually come from the back. This race would lose a lot of it’s vibe if it were limited to “serious” racers (again, just my opinion).
4 Likes
So like 20 people are at the front racing for an overall podium. Most of the rest of us are just racing chasing our own time goals. I don’t know why people being less serious racers would matter.
If you are saying weed out the people who probably aren’t going to finish no matter what, that MAY be a better argument, but as someone training my ass off on the bubble of 12 hours because off all the climbing? I kinda like it the way it is.
3 Likes
The other reason this doesn’t work is the lack of qualifiers. Even with the new one in Alabama (see the other thread I posted), the closest event to me is 18+ hours of driving and over 1000 miles away. They’d need at least something in someplace like PA, even better if there was a Northeast and Midwest…
Boston Marathon has like a million qualifying courses in comparison.
What was your place for Lutsen that got you a coin. How far down do the coins waterfall. I am looking for an Orange or Blue Corral time (7:45ish) from Lutsen 2025 to get me a coin.
It was a lottery coin, not position based. The true position based coins are usually podium within age group or thereabouts, sometimes they drop down a little. If you’re targeting Orange or Blue Corral, you won’t be in the mix for the qualifier coins, just the ~25 lottery ones.
There were a TON of people in the mix for the available coins at Lutsen - I definitely got lucky.
When I say serious I mean people who are committed to the sport, the event and the training. Not just some guy who wakes up one morning and decides this is his new bucket list item and gets lucky in the lottery. Or an event tourist who is just checking boxes off for their instagram account.
As far as the qualifiers- WS100 has qualifiers all over the world. It doesn’t have to be limited to the exclusive bunch lifetime currently has. And I’m talking about just to enter the lottery, not to get a guaranteed entry.
2 Likes
Makes sense. More work for Lifetime though, so not sure it will ever change.
Go watch the finish line at any Ironman around midnight…amazing to see what some people accomplish.
2 Likes
From the Silver Rush website: “ There are a minimum of 35 LT100 qualifier coins up for grabs at each of the Leadville Race Series qualifier events.”
The 50 you saw at Rattler aligns with this.
When I got my qualifier coins at Silver Rush (2016 and 2017) they probably gave out 100, maybe more.
A friend of mine is doing the Lead Challenge this year. I might ride the Silver Rush with him, which would be worth doing even if there’s not much chance of a coin.
The LRS qualifier events are pretty amazing in and of themselves. The 3 top that I would recommend if you’re training for the LT100 MTB:
- Leadville Stage Race - perfect way to pre-ride the entire course over 3 days in a chill environment.
- Tahoe Trail MTB - super fun course with actual mtb’ing. It’s one of the most underrated XCM races out there IMO. Perfect time to be in Tahoe, fun vibe.
- Silver Rush - killer for a high-altitude test IN Leadville. Hard AF course, completely different from the 100 course. You have to run up a stupid hill at the start, but you’ll be fine.
The rest of 'em are great events as well. You can’t go wrong.
1 Like
I had a teammate do this last year. I think it’s technically the cheapest way to buy your way into the 100mtb race ($1500 registration), but you have to at least start the events prior to the MTB race, so lots of travel cost and time if you don’t live close to Leadville. A good option though if you have interest in all those events. The 100 mile run probably has a bigger cult following than the MTB race.
A higher percentage qualifying path is to enter a dumb category like single speed or tandem. I say “dumb” with the utmost respect for anyone attempting these races on a single speed or tandem. Every category gets at least a single coin and I’ve seen years with zero or maybe 1-2 tandems and usually a very small number on single speed as well. But I think you have to race Leadville on tandem/single speed if that’s what you qualify on, so it better be your thing.
Got in through the lottery yesterday and registered for the stage race today. Turning 50 this year so I decided to go big while I still can (relatively). That’s going to be a fun few weeks in late July/early August. Can’t wait.
3 Likes
Right there with ya…. 50 stage rave and 100…. 9 th time
2 Likes
WESR has hundreds of qualifiers from all over the world. Qualifying Races – Western States Endurance Run
If Lifetime did the same it would be great for small regional races that would get to say “Leadville Qualifer”. It’s a win for everyone.
And who sees Lifetime actually doing that, being that they closed down the last qualifier they had like that?
They may, it really would build community and make them a leader in offroad cycling. They could still give bonus tickets for their races. . . . Who am I kidding.