Leadville or Bust

Each year on the second Saturday in August for the past 32 years, hundreds of riders (now over 1,600 annually) have taken on the 50-mile out and back course that includes five major climbs totaling over 11,000 feet of elevation and a total distance actually at 104 miles. Riders push themselves to their limits to earn one of the coveted 9-hour or 12-hour finish belt buckles. In 2025, Casey Masterson and Chris Mantel, two middle-aged Wisconsin dads with full-time jobs, decided to take on Leadville. I joined their group to be part of the support team. 

Earning an “entry coin” for the Leadville 100 MTB race might feel as daunting as winning a belt buckle. The Lifetime Leadville MTB Series webpage details seven ways to get a race slot or “entry coin.” A rider can win a qualifying Lifetime race or win their age group (not just podium). They can sign up for the training camp or a coaching package (expensive and very limited!). They can race for a Lifetime charity partner (expensive, as donations starting at $4,000). Less straightforward is the random lottery drawing. The difficult entry requirements add to the mystique of one of the most coveted and challenging mountain bike races in the US. 

Casey did well at both the 2024 Chequamegon MTB Festival and the Lutsen 99er, but he actually got into the 2025 Leadville MTB via the random lottery drawing. His sub-6-hour finish time at Lutsen earned him a spot in the red (third) corral at the starting gates. (Details about qualifying and corral placements available on the Lifetime Leadville MTB website). Chris got a spot through the Lifetime charity partner program. After earning their spots, they navigated the logistics involved in training, lodging and race support from teammates who went along for the ride.

Training and Altitude Acclimatization

Training to race 100 miles in the rarified air at 10,000 feet is a challenge that needs to be taken very seriously. Casey trained with a personal coach; Chris planned his own training program. Casey was able to go to Leadville two weeks early and work remotely while training and acclimatizing to progressively higher altitudes. As a dentist, remote work was not an option for Chris. With less opportunity to acclimatize, he had no choice but to follow event creator Ken Choubler’s advice to “just put your head down and #%@#$% pedal!”

Leadville Amenities

Lodging during the race weekend is limited and can be very expensive. Room prices average around $700/night or $10,000/week in a short-term rental. Many people choose the more budget-friendly option of camping. Turquoise Lake, Halfmoon Creek, and nearby National Forest lands are popular areas. There are nearby private and USFS-designated campgrounds. Free camping sites can also be found along the route. 

Leadville caters to visitors with a host of great places to eat and drink, from classic western diner food to fancy foodie fare. Restaurants were easy to walk to and prices were reasonable. Tree Line Kitchen was great for nicer meals and cocktails. High Mountain Pies and Tennessee Pass Cafe were wonderful casual options. 

Two small but well-stocked bike shops are located in the city, LeadVelo Bicicasa and Cycles of Life. Even on a very busy race week, their knowledgeable staff were extremely helpful. When they weren’t able to solve an issue with Casey’s rear derailleur, Vince Hanoski, owner of Ben’s Cycle back in Milwaukee worked with B&B Shipping in Leadville to quickly get him a new part. Sam, the owner of B&B Shipping (also an avid cyclist) was a lifesaver that day.

Learn about Leadville (on your bike)

Leadville has a very interesting history. Visually, Leadville looks like the old historic mining town that it is. Brightly painted Victorian homes dot the side streets. Harrison, the main street downtown, is replete with architecturally significant brick and clapboard buildings. 

The Mineral Belt Trail is a local gem that I rode almost every day. The 12-mile paved loop passes abandoned mines, old flumes, tailing piles, and other mining relics. Dozens of informational kiosks tell the story of Leadville’s exciting past, from the earliest days through the boom and bust of the mining era. 

For those with more time, there are several interesting museums, a cool vintage train to ride and even a ghost tour.

Race Support

The combination of high altitude, extreme terrain, heat, and distance makes racing Leadville difficult without support. Most riders bring a crew to resupply food and water and provide mechanical support. The course has four locations for support crews. Patrick Haley and I were located in the Twin Lakes Dam area, and Aaron Busche was at Outward Bound. We had a plan for providing Casey and Chris specific sports nutrition and hydration they would each need.

Unfortunately, we didn’t plan for a crash. Casey crashed hard on the very loose Columbine Mountain downhill. He was scraped up and his saddle broke, but he seemed to be in pretty good spirits when he got to us at the Twin Lakes stop. He said he was sore and had lost his rear brake but was still in the hunt for a belt buckle. We lubed his chain, gave him his hydration and nutrition and wished him well. We then called Aaron at Outward Bound (30 miles away) and asked him to try to source a replacement saddle. He was able to find one, and when Casey arrived, they swapped saddles in less than two minutes. 

Casey made it to the finish line in 8 hours 19 minutes. He achieved his goal and earned the big belt buckle.

In hindsight, we realized we should have had a plan for a crash that included not only things like replacement parts, but a protocol for assessing a rider after a crash. We trusted Casey’s in-race personal assessment of his fitness to continue. We should have been a bit more cautious in looking him over and checking for signs of a concussion. This was the big lesson we learned.

When Chris got to the Outward Bound aid station, he was suffering from stomach problems and bad cramps. He was having trouble swallowing any nutrition. He sat for a while with Aaron and decided to pull the plug with 30 miles to go. This was another situation we didn’t have a plan for.

Racing Leadville Again?

After Casey got his belt buckle, he said that he had crossed Leadville off of his bucket list. After his expensive DNF, Chris said he was done, too. But time has a way of helping us to forget, and they all signed up for the race again, this time joined by two teammates who crewed, Patrick Haley and Aaron Busche. 

Me? No thanks, no more racing for this 64-year-old, but I’d be happy to tag along again to ride at altitude and support my buddies while they race across the sky.

Q&A with Casey Masterson

Dave: On average, how many hours a week did your structured training program take in 2025?

Casey: During the winter months, I spent about 8 to 10 hours doing bike workouts with some strength training and Nordic skiing added in. Once I was able to get outside, I slowly ramped up to about 15 hours per week on the bike. I was starting at a fitness level suitable for events that ranged from 90 minutes to 3 hours, so I really had to build up my aerobic base to confidently tackle 105 miles at high altitude with close to 13,000 feet of elevation gain.

Dave: Why did you decide to enter again?

Casey: My goal for Leadville 2025 was to just finish the race. I felt like setting a goal specific time goal might lead to disappointment if I didn’t meet my goal. I really wanted to enjoy every part of this journey, regardless of the result. 

Finishing my first attempt quickly enough to earn the coveted big buckle made me feel like I had no unfinished business with this race and would be fine not doing it again. It’s a big commitment in terms of training and time away from my family; any destination event is also expensive. But as I reflected back on the experience, I realized how truly special the Leadville Trail 100 MTB race really is. I decided that I definitely want to be a part of it again. 

If I don’t win entry through the lottery for 2026, I will go to support whichever of my buddies are lucky enough to get an entry. Even though I ripped through the aid stations pretty fast, the Twin Lakes Dam, Lost Canyon Road, and Outward Bound areas were packed with thousands of people there to support their racers. The vibe was just so great leading up to and during the race that I decided I’ll be back in one capacity or another.

Dave: Will your training program set a goal of improving your finish or staying under the 9-hour limit?

Casey: The first step is to get into the race. Hopefully, the lottery gets me my ticket. If not, I will have to hope for a good result at one of the qualifier events. If I get in, I think I will probably approach it with the simple goal of finishing. I’m old enough now that my winning days are over. I want to enjoy the event again, and that can happen if I don’t set a specific time goal and keep the pressure low. 2025 proved to me that if I put the time in and prepare well, a solid result will follow. Considering that I crashed pretty hard and left some time out there, finishing in under 8 hours seems attainable, but it’s not really my driving force.

Dave: Will you enter any other long races to prep for Leadville 2026?

Casey: I picked up a gravel bike in fall of 2025 and plan to take advantage of some of the long gravel races in Wisconsin during spring and summer of 2026. I will also do the Lutsen99er again as well as a handful of the WORS mountain bike races. Beyond that, I’ll stick to fun rides like the Horribly Hilly Hundreds and the Bone Ride.

The 2026 Leadville Trail 100 MTB race takes place August 15, 2026.