Courtesy: HARRA

Congrats to HARRA member Chuck Cofer for not only finishing, but for also winning his age group at this past weekend's "Race Across the Sky", the Leadville Trail 100. Chuck was 32nd overall and the first 50-59 finisher in a time of 24:40:27. Chuck has been living and training in Colorado for most of the summer.

Overall race winner was Steve Peterson from Boulder, CO in a time of 17:40:53. First female was Janet Runyan, also from Boulder, in a time of 21:47:44.

There were 392 starters but only 166 finishers - a 42% finishing rate. HARRA members Roger Boak, Mark Fraser and Evan Groutage also started but were listed among the 226 non-finishers. According to the results, Roger made it to 76.5 miles while Evan and Mark dropped at 50 miles. Roger, Mark and Evan were disadvantaged having to train in the heat, humidity, low altitude and flatlands of Houston.

Leadville has long been considered one of the toughest 100 milers in the country. The course is 50 miles out and back in the Colorado Rockies beginning and ending in the mountain mining town of Leadville. The lowest point in the course is 9,200 feet while the highest point, Hope Pass, is at 12,600'. The majority of the run is on forest trail with some mountain roads. There are 11 aid stations, spaced approximately every 8 to 10 miles.