Carl Solomon at the Leadville 100 (photo provided by Solomon)
Ultramarathoner, Chef Carl Solomon, Finishes Fabled Leadville 100 Race
September 23, 2021 | General
Share:
By: Alisa Meraz-Fishbein, Sports Information Intern
LEADVILLE, Colo. -- The air hummed with nervous excitement as 700 runners, including Carl Solomon, positioned themselves on the starting line of the Leadville 100. It was 4 a.m. on a crisp, moonlit Saturday morning. If all went well, the ultrarunners would cross the finish line by 10 a.m. Sunday, a life-changing 30 hours later.
Solomon is the executive chef for the athletic department at the University of Colorado. When he is not cooking, he focuses his attention and energy on running. At the age of 32, he has already run around 20 marathons and 30 ultra marathons. 100-mile races are a beast of their own, though; the Leadville 100 was only Solomon's third attempt at this grueling distance.
"Going into Leadville, my goal was definitely to make each checkpoint and finish under the 30-hour cutoff mark," Solomon said.
Solomon at the Leadville 100
(Photo provided by Solomon)
There are eleven checkpoints throughout the race. If runners do not reach each checkpoint by a designated cutoff time they are pulled off the course. Runners who finish in the allotted 30 hours receive a silver buckle, and those finishing in under 25 hours are awarded an even more coveted gold one.
Not even half of the Leadville 100 participants usually complete the race. Leadville is one of the hardest ultramarathons in the world; an out-and-back course situated in the thin air of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, runners will ascend a cumulative 14,000 feet of literally breathtaking forest trails and mountain roads.
Although daunting, Solomon was prepared. Leading up to his race, he training intensely while also being on his feet for entire 12-14 hour workdays.
"Being on my feet so much before Leadville was not rejuvenating, but it was good training," Solomon said. "During the ultra, I was going to be on my feet for over a day, so I think all the standing during my job helped my feet get used to stress."
The race started smoothly enough, though around halfway Solomon's stomach began to feel upset.
"I had to puke-and-rally," he said, "which when you puke your brains out but then you feel better. It's amazing how you can go from feeling horrible to getting proper nutrition, hydration, and mental power, and then you make it back."
Solomon at the beginning of the race.
(Photo provided by Solomon)
This mental piece, Solomon believes, is the most crucial component to running a successful ultramarathon.
"After 50 miles it doesn't matter how fit you are; you're going to be hurting," he said. "Then it's the mental piece that comes in."
Solomon faced his share of mental battles during Leadville, though it was in these moments that he found out just how powerful human resilience and companionship were. Solomon was descending a technical mountain in the middle of the night with a headlamp, and a man who forgot his headlamp began to run with Solomon to share his light. This turned out to be beneficial for the two of them.
"There were times when I wanted to walk and he kept me going, and then vice versa," he said. "We were both helping each other beat the cutoff."
And beat the cutoff they did. 700 people started the Leadville race, though Solomon was among only 321 people who finished under the 30-hour cutoff mark, running a time of 29:48.29.
Solomon did not plan to finish right below the cutoff mark. Stomach problems, resulting in an unexpected puke-and-rally, dramatically slowed his completion time. However, Solomon is proud of his accomplishment and cherishes his Leadville experience.
"When else do you get to experience a full range of emotions in one day?" he asked. "That's the amazing part about doing a 100-miler; you're going to cry, barf, and then have incredible joy. It's the whole spectrum of emotions."
