Two New Champions Crowned at Leadville 100 – runnersworld.com

• The Leadville Trail 100 saw two new champions for its 2019 race in Ryan Smith and Magdalena Boulet on Saturday.
• Smith, of Boulder, Colorado, crossed the line first in the men’s race with a time of 16:33:24.
• Boulet, of Berkeley, California, took the women’s race with a time of 20:18:06.

The 2019 featured all the makings of an exciting race, including lead changes, surprising dropouts, and new champions in Ryan Smith and Magdalena Boulet as the sun went down in Leadville, Colorado, on Saturday, August 17.

For 40-year-old Smith, that meant almost not starting the race. He arrived in Leadville on Friday and was dealing with a persistent headache.

The Boulder, Colorado, ultrarunner who was born in Scotland was a favorite to make the podium heading into the race, and was expected to battle it out with 24-year-old , who most recently took second at the in July.

Despite the headache, Smith decided to race anyway, and he, Hazen, and couple of others tore out of town with a quick pace. For the most part, the pack stayed relatively close until about 40 miles in when Hazen went off near the start of the tallest climb of the race known as Hope Pass.

“This year was a pretty competitive men’s field, so it was great to run it from a competition perspective,” Smith told Runner’s World. “I like to go out hard and fast and hold on for dear life, and that seemed to work today.”

On that outbound Hope Pass climb, Hazen reportedly dealt with some issues with his shins and dropped out. Smith became the new leader, but he wasn’t alone.

At the halfway mark, he was accompanied closely by 35-year-old Chad Trammell, of Anchorage, Alaska. Both crossed it in under 8 hours, but it Smith had an extra gear for the back half: He increased his lead at each aid station until he crossed the line in 16:33:24 alongside pacer reigning .

There, he had an eagerly anticipated beer and a much-needed rest, which he plans to continue for a bit.

“Right now, I just want a bit of a rest,” Smith said. “I don’t have anything on the calendar, and I might stay that way for a while. That sounds luxurious to me.”

Trammell finished strong as well, taking second in 17:56:26, despite a push in the final mile from Devon Olson, 31, of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, who took third less than a minute later with a time of 17:57:17.

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In the women’s race, ultrarunning legend , of Berkeley, California, took the lead right away and never surrendered it. Before Saturday, the only altitude training the 46-year-old had was in the two weeks prior in Leadville.

“Coming from sea level, I had the most respect for the altitude,” Boulet told Runner’s World. “You just never know what 10,000 or 12,000 feet will feel like. So my plan was to work the downhills, and hike as much of the uphills as I could.”

Though alone at the front, Boulet did feel pressure from former Western States champion , 27, who at the halfway point had pulled within 6 minutes of the leader.

Boulet though stuck to her strategy, and though worried about Bradley all the away until the final four miles, she broke the tape in 20:18:06 to add to her long list of accolades, which include a Western States 100 Miles Endurance Run victory and a 2:26 marathon personal best.

“My legs are shot and I’m cold, but I’m happy,” Boulet said at the finish line. “This course is no joke, and I’m happy to be part of the Leadville family now.”

Following Boulet was Bradley, who finished in 20:45:48, and Samatha Wood, 34, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, who finished with a time of 23:52:04.

Gear & News Editor Drew covers a variety of subjects for Runner’s World and Bicycling, and he specializes in writing and editing human interest pieces while also covering health, wellness, gear, and fitness for the brand.