About Lucas:

I was born with a rare condition called arthrogryposis, causing my left arm to remain underdeveloped and fused at the joints. The cause of this condition is debated and largely unknown. I consider myself very fortunate as it typically affects more than one limb. I was also fortunate to have parents who did not treat me any differently than anyone else and pushed me to not let my arm hold me back.

Growing up I mostly did what people told me I couldn’t or shouldn’t be doing. I played basketball from the time I was young though high school, making the varsity team my junior and senior years. It was my first love and a way I could seek solace, challenge myself, and learn how to be a part of a team.

I found a love for running in middle school and joined the cross country team. In college I ran a 200 mile relay race with some friends and loved it. I have since run the Leadville 100 mile race twice, in 2019 as part of the Leadman series. The most daunting race of the 5 in the Leadman series was the 100 mile mountain bike race because I only use one hand on the handlebars and do not have a prosthetic for my left. I was able to complete the race in time with my hand so numb that I couldn’t shift gears. I was stoked.  I have since completed the Smoke N Fire 400 mile self-supported bikepacking race twice, becoming the first to do so as an individual with a disability. 

Mountainous terrain is where I find the most joy. In my new backyard of the Tetons I’ve completed the ‘Teton Picnic’ a couple of times and spend a lot of time biking around and running up various mountains. I am currently training under coach, Jason Schlarb, to become a better mountain runner and endurance ski mountaineer. With his coaching I completed the Restonica 70K and the OCC 50K this past summer, setting a PR at the 50k distance. During my time in Chamonix I was also able to advocate for adaptive athletes by speaking directly with the Admissions Manager for UTMB. 

I am currently on a team of adaptive athletes with a goal of traveling from the lowest point to the highest point in elevation on every continent completely human powered. We completed South America early 2020. We also started the nonprofit called LowestHighest in which we are raising funds to help serve those with disabilities in the areas we will be traveling through. For example, providing a proper fitting prosthetic to someone who doesn't have access to one. I love to push myself to my perceived limits and push through them while exploring the great outdoor world and advocating for those in the disabled community. This journey is another way to do just that!

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