Welcome to this episode of Grits, Guts, and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority for all things Leadville! The show is hosted by Cole Chlouber, son of race founder Ken Chlouber, and it takes us on a story-telling journey of the rich, nearly forty-year history of this race. In each episode, we hear eccentric stories from Leadville community members, and along the way learn the tips and tricks to get to the line this summer! Today the host is joined by Marshall Ulrich as they both discuss Marshall’s journey of cycling and his experience with Leadville.

Marshall begins by sharing about his journey to Leadville and how it became an extension of his family. He found running when his wife was diagnosed with cancer. It helped him deal with the stress of it all. Since then, he’s run in many different races, terrains, and countries. He has recently run 158 miles of Route 66 and plans to do it again and make it accessible for older runners and new runners alike.

Marshall has participated and finished the Leadville race thirteen times. He says there are races that are magnetic and bring you back time and time again and Leadville is one of them. He created the Leadville Triple Crown, where he did the bike, the run, and then did 10 laps around the lake on three consecutive weekends and currently he is the only one to have completed the challenge. He’s also run the Pike's Peak Marathon on the same day as Leadville Trail 100 Run. Cole says Marshall is a legend always trying to challenge himself.

In all his challenges, Marshall says if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well. He’s handled multiple different superhuman feats and has even been featured on Stan Lee’s superhuman show about folks who have accomplished extra extraordinary challenges. He simulated one of his extreme heat running conditions. Marshall explains that your body will adapt to most conditions and you have to discipline your mind. Learning to do that was how he climbed the seven peaks, including Everest. So much of completing these extreme challenges is about having the will to finish, something Marshall says he is grateful to have. Many of the challenges he’s tackled have been for charity or otherwise to shed light on a good cause. His book, Both Feet on The Ground details many of his challenges, and what he’s learned from them. More than anything, he says it’s about connecting with nature and figuring things out about yourself. His book Running on Empty details his run across America and also tells his love story.

For other runners, he recommends to view your current race as training for your next challenge. That’s kept him from experiencing a runner’s low after a big race.

Thanks for tuning in! Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe, and we hope to see you on the line in August!