The Leadville Trail 100 MTB is — to use an overused but perfectly apt word — epic. 105 miles of racing that starts above 10,000 feet of elevation and climbs nearly 12,000 feet.

That much elevation affects and informs so many variables for racing: power, breathing, headaches, weather, recovery, eating, sleeping, and more.

Joining Leadville big-buckle owner Ben Delaney on this podcast is double big-buckle owner Coach Isaiah Newkirk to discuss how riders can prepare for the myriad challenges of this special race.

(At Leadville, you get a big belt buckle if you finish under nine hours. A finish time of under 12 hours earns you a small belt buckle.)