This week I have some very exciting news that I think a lot of you are wondering about...so I decided to take a leap and start a blog!
I just returned home from a trip to Leadville, Colorado (about 2 hours from Denver). Gavin has been living in Leadville for a little over a year attending college and enjoying all that living in the Colorado Rockies has to offer - hiking, mountain biking, camping, skiing...you name it!
About 8-10 months ago Gavin informed us that he was training and preparing for a well-known Leadville Race...The Leadville Trail 100. This historic event is held annually and includes racing and hiking through forests & hiking up and down mountains (the highest is 12,600 feet!). Their is no sleeping, no resting, no stopping, because if you don't make it in 30 hours or less, you lose. As a matter of fact, if you don't make it to certain check-points throughout the race within the allotted time, they pull you out of the race and you are done competing.
Well, I am pleased to inform you that despite some very unforgiving weather (we encountered everything form of precipitation - snow, rain, sleet, freezing rain, hail, plus thunder & lightning!) Gavin made it to the finish line in 29 hours!!! We are so proud! Only 42% of the racers that started running at 4 am on Saturday were able to cross the finish line by Sunday morning, and Gavin was one of them.
If you want to read more about the Leadville 100, go to http://www.leadvilletrail100.com/
I am going to try to tell the story of Gavin's 100 Mile Race with the photos I took and some short explanations. However, these photos will never be able to capture the true heart and soul that went into the months and months of physical and mental training or the act of completing this race.
Thank you for giving me such a wonderful experience, Gavin. It was an honor following you and being part of your "Crew" for 29 Hours. Your diligence and perseverance is an inspiration to us all, and we can all learn from you.
Congratulations Gavin!!! We are so proud of you!!!
Gavin arrives at the first check-point at 6:30 a.m. He completed the first 13.5 miles of the race without breaking a sweat!
This is the second check-point...23.5 miles. Gavin asked us to make him a Turkey & Avocado Wrap for energy and protein...he ate it on the run. It was storming very badly at this point. It was 8:30 a.m.
Gavin arrives at his third check-point right on time - his pace is excellent despite the grueling weather. It has stopped raining, so he changes some gear, grabs some drinks, eats some cooked sweet potatoes and takes off running again. It's 10:30 a.m. and he has completed 26.5 miles!
Racers enter the 39.5 mile check-point by running down a wet, muddy mountain. Despite freezing rain and hail Gavin arrives in great spirits. He is wet and very cold, but he is 30 minutes ahead of the pace he has set for the day.
It's 4:30 p.m. and this is the half-way mark...50 miles down, 50 miles to go! Gavin is starting to look a little tired and he is dealing with nausea. In order to get to this check-point, Gavin had to cross a river, climb up a 12,600 ft mountain and back down. Mind you, when he leaves this check-point, he has to turn around and go back the same way he got here...climb back up and back down the same 12,600 ft mountain and cross the same river...only this time, it will be getting dark!
It is 8:40 p.m. and it is dark. Gavin finally arrives...we were getting nervous. It is the 60.5 mile check-point, and despite a full-moon, clouds are moving in very quickly. Gavin eats some hot Ramen Noodles, changes into some dry shoes and socks, puts on his head lamp and heads up the mountain into the cold dark night.
Gavin has now ran 76.5 miles! He acts like he is numb. He barely speaks and we are worried about him. It has been pouring down rain since we last saw him - it is now 2:00 a.m. He changes gear, grabs some hand warmers and some drinks, and keeps running.
We stand in the rain at the last check-point and watch numerous head lamps round the corner of the trail. Gavin emerges at 5:15 a.m. We get emotional at the sight of him. He is exhausted. He has ran 86.5 miles and he has 13.5 remaining. His energy is spent, and he is mentally exhausted. If he is going to cross the finish line by 10:00 a.m., he has got to really push. He is back on the trail by 5:30 a.m.
We were anxiously waiting for Gavin at the Finish Line that morning not knowing if he was going to make it or not. We were so excited when we saw him at the top of the hill.
Racers emerge from the trail in a subdued fashion. This is Gavin less than 5 minutes away from the Finish Line. It was 9:15 a.m. and the end of his 100 Mile Race was minutes away.
At the end of every race, Gavin likes to save a little energy to sprint to the Finish Line. This is where he began his 100 yard sprint to the end. I can't believe he could muster up the energy to do it this time! Very impressive!
Here's Gavin crossing the Finish Line in Leadville after racing for 29 hours. Way to go!
