Legendary for his frequent ascent and descents of the route in severe, late-19th century weather, pioneering Methodist preacher John L. Dyer probably never envisioned others doing it for fun, much less competition.
Running up to the apex of what's presently the highest road in Colorado open to motorized traffic, Morgan Tilton could have stopped completely, called it a stellar Saturday, and simply stared out over and soaked in one of the state's most picturesque topographical crossroads: Lake County to the west and Park County before her to the east, with the South Platte River-drained area north and Arkansas-drained expanse south.
But once she topped one Thirteener-meaning 13,185-foot Mosquito Pass (with its monument to Dyer)-there was little time to appreciate it. The Bayfield High School alumna still had another sort of Thirteener, a full 13.1 miles back down into the not-as-rare air of 10,152-foot Leadville.
Though word hadn't come from the 25-year-old whether or not she'll be attending this weekend's "Training Camp" in the same former mining boomtown for something far more torturous, Tilton likely returned to her current Denver home with no more delusions of grandeur in mind than those views of the central Rockies she'd committed to memory.
And, to be sure, that of the mirage-like blur of the June 18, 2016, Blueprint for Athletes Leadville Trail Marathon's finish line first materializing on the approaching horizon.
Tilton ran the course in five hours, 49 minutes and six seconds (a 13:20 per-mile pace) after hearing the starting gun, although gunshots certainly were not an unusual sound in town during Dyer's days bringing the Gospel as well as the mail. She also finished the high-altitude endurance test a respectable 158th overall.
As in women AND men-515 in all (with such a large number, it took nearly a minute for Tilton to step across the starting line; her final timing-chip reading was 5:48:13)-seeing the spectacle all the way through. But when one considers gender and age, the former Wolverine soccer player's effort shines even brighter.
One hundred forty-six women covered all 26.2 miles, and Tilton was an impressive 21st amongst them. But against 24 other entrants ages 20-29 she was sixth-fastest, despite the elevation gain/loss exceeding 6,000 feet from beginning to end.
Colorado Springs' Sharley Schreiner won the division, with her 5:07:04 ranking fifth overall-trailing the LTM's leading lady, Maggie Walsh of Littleton, who clocked 4:29:40 in also pacing the 30-39's.
Second overall went to Manitou Springs' Stephanie Wurtz, who was only 12 minutes, 28 seconds behind in the same age group, while third went to Boulder's Kerrie Wlad, first in the 40-49 class in 4:49:38.
Looking at each of her two conventional 'halves,' Tilton clocked 3:15:06 for the LTM's opening 13.1-mile excursion, meaning her return was a much faster 2:34:00 (11:46 per mile).
Quite consistent throughout the grueling race, she was in 25th place amongst women at the first split, 26th after climbing Mosquito, and 17th after coming down and reaching the next checkpoint before pushing to the finish.
STRIDING THROUGH SUMMER: First of the 2016 BFA Leadville Race Series' long-distance runs, the marathon precedes the BFA Silver Rush 50 (miles) on July 10, the Climax Molybdenum Leadville 10K presented by BFA on August 14, and the prestigious BFA Leadville Trail 100 presented by New Balance-held in and ever since 1983, and reputed to be the United States' largest trail ultra-marathon-on the 20th.
A competitor officially finishing the Marathon, LT100, BFA Leadville Trail 100 MTB (mountain biking), Silver Rush (or its MTB alternate), and the 10K within one year receives 'Leadman' or 'Leadwoman' recognition.
