Tune in here to this episode of Grits, Guts, and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority for all things Leadville! Host Cole Chlouber, son of race founder Ken Chlouber, takes us on a story-telling journey of the 38-year rich history of this race. We learn all the tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville community members! Joining us today is Simon Guérard who, in just one and a half years, has tackled over 10 hundred mile races with practically no experience.

To begin, Simon shares how Leadville found him. He came to Leadville as part of the Grand Slam Ultrarunning Challenge and fell in love with the race. Simon does not consider himself to be an athlete, but just enjoys running for the experience of taking it slow and being in nature. He recently discovered a passion for filmmaking while compiling clips he had recorded on his GoPro during races to show his wife. The video, he realized, was able to show other people that they can accomplish similar things. To complete the Grand Slam, he explains, a person has to run 4 out of 5 of the oldest and toughest 100-miles in the U.S., with Leadville being one of the options. Simon details the differences between the trails and which were his favorites.

This past summer, Simon decided to take on the challenge and complete the run and bike race at Leadville. He reveals that the 10K and the marathon were the two events he struggled the most with this summer. One of the biggest lessons that Leadville strives to teach its athletes is how to be tough and to always move forward. Without having the Leadville background, Simon shares how he persevered through his hardships. Often, he has found, it can feel like the right decision in the moment to just give up. However, we should recognize that pain is temporary and we will most likely never regret the moments that we decided not to give up on a goal we had. Then, Simon gives listeners a look into his nutrition intake during races. He typically doesn’t eat while training. During races, he usually starts with gels and Gatorade. When he feels it’s becoming difficult to digest these, he will slowly switch over to solid, salty foods. Later in the race, he usually eats ramen and tried this year to eat mashed potatoes at mile 40. When it comes to training, he doesn’t stick to a structured plan, but listens to his body and accomplishes daily goals. As the episode draws to a close, hear what is on Simon’s radar for 2023. Finally, he offers his best piece of advice for his new Leadville family members. Don’t give up, face adversity head on and realize that you can do more than you think you can do.

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