INSPIRATION AND A NEW PATH FORWARD
A decade ago, I sat on then-Southridge Board member Wayne Peace’s Mayne Island porch, listening to his story about running the 1978 Boston Marathon in a lightning-fast 2 hours and 48 minutes—wow! At the time, I was 75 pounds heavier than I am now and very out of shape. Inspired by his tale, I started making healthier choices, which led me to hiking and eventually running in the mountains. Before long, I managed to break the three-hour marathon mark and even ran the Boston Marathon myself! Along the way, I gathered incredible memories: running the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim-to-rim, completing a 50-miler, and running the Juan de Fuca trail in a single day. Yet, I kept hearing about runners taking on races as long as 100 miles (160KM)—a prospect that seemed pretty daunting.

FINDING JOY AND GRATITUDE IN THE RUN
I run because movement brings me joy. I love being in nature, feeling the wind on my face, especially in the mountains. But most importantly, I find running to be an exercise in gratitude. I recognize that not everyone can do this, and that makes me profoundly grateful. It reminds me that in a world full of comfort and convenience, doing “hard things” is crucial for personal growth. Running provides a sense of accomplishment and adventure in breathtaking places. It also teaches me how to manage pain and failure, making me a more empathetic and humble person. Racing is a vulnerable experience—competing with others means facing the sting of failure when I don’t meet my goals. But it’s also a chance to savor the joy of achieving a personal best or even the thrill of standing on a podium. Rudyard Kipling wrote, “If you can meet with triumph and disaster, and treat those two impostors just the same…yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it.” Running feels like that to me.

A NEW CHALLENGE IN LEADVILLE
In 2022, I visited Leadville, Colorado, during a road trip, where my dog Oscar and I climbed our first 14,000-foot peak. That trip sparked a new chapter in my running journey. I had heard of Leadville, a town that reinvented itself with the launch of a Colorado “100 Miler” after its mine closed in the 1980s. Locals like to say, “You don’t find Leadville; Leadville finds you.” I slowly fell in love with the awe-inspiring Sawatch Mountain range and the town’s rich history. When I returned in 2023 to volunteer at the Leadville 100, I thought, “Maybe I could do this too…” Inspired once again, I signed up. After months of preparation, Oscar and I set out, ready to take on a “really, really hard thing.”

TACKLING THE RACE ACROSS THE SKY
Running a 100-mile race is a serious challenge, but Leadville is special because of its course. It’s an out-and back route with almost 16,000 feet of elevation gain, and the race takes place between 9,300 and 12,600 feet, earning its nickname, “The Race Across the Sky.” Before the 4 AM start, we gathered at 6th and Harrison in the heart of town. It was a sobering moment—everyone knew the task ahead, and that only 40-50% of participants would finish. Surrounded by incredibly fit runners, I felt humbled. One of the race co-founders, dressed in cowboy gear, fired a gun into the air, and 800 headlamps illuminated the darkness. The entire town seemed to line the streets, cheering us on—a truly magical experience. Ten miles in, I glanced back along Turquoise Lake and saw hundreds of those lights bobbing in the distance. The toughest part of the race comes at the halfway mark, with a climb up and over Hope Pass—4,000 feet up, then back down, and back up again. After the Twin Lakes Aid Station at mile 61, a friend joined me, which made a huge difference after 16 hours of running. From then on, the hope of finishing began to grow.

GRATITUDE FOR COMMUNITY AND TEAM OSCAR
The Leadville 100 is woven into the community’s fabric. Locals dressed in glowing costumes cheered us through the night, while spectators warmly welcomed me back into town after more than 28 hours of running. Crossing that finish line filled me with joy, and I’m especially grateful to my team of four friends who supported me every step of the way. In the 2.5 months leading up to Leadville, I climbed roughly 90,000 feet in elevation and logged countless miles. Along the way, Oscar summited his 11th peak over 14,000 feet. He played a big role in this achievement, and I like to think of our Leadville finisher’s belt buckle as “Team Oscar."

WATCH!
In 2023, the legendary Leadville Trail 100 Run celebrated its 40th anniversary. This Life Time Events video dives into the heart of this iconic race, bridging the gap between its storied history and the present, all through the incredible journeys of four dedicated runners.

Contributed by Norman Dods, Lower Division Coordinator and Social Studies Teacher
Originally published in Spirit Magazine - Fall 2024