Report by: Eric Barron
The Leadville Trail 100 boasts a 43% finishing rate. Mike Whitemiller was in the majority. Still, 60 miles in a day is not too shabby. In his post-race daze, Mike was able to string together the following words:
- I bashed my toe nails
- I lost ten pounds
- It was 43 degrees and raining at the 4 AM start and I froze
- My ribs and lungs ached
- My knees and quads were in serious pain
- I went-out too fast
- I went-out too slow
- Hope Pass clobbered me (three thousand up and down twice at mile forty and fifty)
- I couldn't eat at mile 50
- I got stuck in a rain and sleet storm and wound-up taking refuge in the medical tent at the top of the pass on my way back
- My flashlight died coming out of the mountains and I had to wait in the dark for help
- I missed the mile 60 cut-off time by nearly two hours
- I wimped out and went to bed