Of the three three Leadville Trail 100 mountain bike races that I’ve completed, this year was the most difficult by far. My goal for this race was to complete it in under 9 hours. This would have put me in about the top 120 of the 1300 competitors. Finishing in sub-9 would mean shaving almost 50 minutes off of my time from last year, and it was a real reach. But I knew I would never know if it were possible unless I try. It wasn’t possible this year, and trying for sub-9 took a real toll. Overall, I still feel extremely satisfied to have completed the race, and to complete it in under 10 hours. After spending several nights in Vail, Colorado, I arrived in Leadville on Thursday night to continue my altitude acclimatization at 10,200 feet in the highest incorporated town in the United States. Through the hospitality of my friends (and Leadville natives) the McHargues, the people at the B&B I stayed at, and other friends in town for the race, it was a fabulous experience outs...