Welcome to 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, Cole interviews a para-cyclist and Paralympian with a heart of gold: Meg Fisher! Listen to hear how she's taken life by the horns and how she's going to inspire you along the way!

Meg has always been athletic, and prior to 2002 she was playing NCAA Division 1 tennis. In 2002, the unthinkable happened, and Meg was in a car accident that cost her her left foot. Meg eventually made her way into triathlons, and she explains how the process was shaped by both her own self-consciousness and her opportunity to complete her early training with a service dog. Meg's progress caught the attention of the US National Cycling Team, and she was able to compete and medal on the Paralympic level. Meg's experience with the Paralympic gave her, among other things, a deepened appreciation for the empowering sport of cycling. Today, Meg competes mainly in gravel mountain biking, and she uses her influence to see the cycling community draw more and more people in and recognize them for their efforts. Recently, she has consulted for Leadville race leaders, helping with their language and ultimately leading to a new development: all of the Leadville races now have a para category!

Moving forward, Meg explains why she enjoys gravel racing over road racing, and shares about her experience with Unbound Gravel. This 200-mile race, like many of Meg's other ventures, have given her opportunities to enjoy the journey of a race, show herself what she can do, lean into her own grit and toughness, and experience the empowerment of saying no when necessary. Meg's Leadville experience has afforded particular opportunity in saying no, as Meg's first two efforts to compete were met with obstacles that kept her from the starting line. In 2021, when she was finally able to race in Leadville, Meg treasured the difficulty of the race and the deep sense of camaraderie. As the conversation wraps up, she advises listeners hoping to race at Leadville in 2022 to realize they're more capable than they know, explains the value she finds in her Leadville race buckle, and shares why Leadville makes her think of both flowers and positive community change!

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