Ben Wells is gearing up for the 2024 Leadville 100! We caught up with him before he lines up this weekend.
“My training has gone exceptionally well! I’ve felt fresh and ready to race even through my biggest training weeks. In the winter I was running a base amount of miles while doing most of my training backcountry skiing at altitude. In the spring, I entered my first training block to prepare myself for my training race – San Juan Solstice 50 Miler. SJS50 miler went great for the first 40 miles. The last ten miles I had plenty of stomach issues. The race told me what I needed to focus on for the next July training block: altitude, heat, & nutrition. Through July, I’ve been practicing my nutrition plan and I’ve found a balance that’s working for me. I also ran many times in the midday heat and had countless hours spent moving above 12,000 ft. I’m currently at the point where my body has gotten used to both heat and altitude. My training is through, & I feel more ready than ever! The next week will be about getting good sleep, eating well, and pre race hydration.
My July training block stats –
433.64 miles. 94,690 ft of elevation gain. 85 hours & 18 minutes. 6 week training block.”
Good luck, Ben!
Post Race Update!
“Leadville 100 has come and gone. Hard to believe I’ve joined the hundred mile club! Not the easiest day, the prettiest run, or the smoothest race. But, it was the greatest experience of my life. So great that I plan to run a hundred every year until I can’t. (Possibly twice one of these years.) Leadville 100 was hard. Harder than expected. I was trying out a nutrition plan I had been practicing for a few months that I’d hoped would prevent stomach issues. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the answer I had been looking for which slowed me down in the middle half of the race. My crew, led by fellow Roost employee Brandon, helped to keep me going no matter how low I felt. After pushing through a rough time from mile 40 – 80. My pacer Camille was able to help revive me and I finished happy & strong from mile 80 – 100! I’m thankful for my friends and family for cheering me on near & far. It’s what kept me going.
People always ask, “what do you think about when you’re running that long?” I finally have an answer for that. In my 27 hours, I thought about those I care about. I thought about the people who have ever made me laugh, made me cry, made me smile, made me feel, allow me to be weird around them, the people who inspire me to be me.. EVERYONE! So thank you for fueling me through such an endeavor. I couldn’t have done it without my people.
I’m also grateful for Runners Roost for helping me get to the start line, for connecting me to the greater Denver run community, and supporting my run lifestyle. Couldn’t have done this without Runners Roost.
Recovery has been suspiciously smooth. Through the race I faced no injuries. After the race I had a mental fog for a week or so, but my body felt almost normal. Insanely, I was only sore for a day. I’ve been cautious though and have been taking my time returning to running while enjoying not having pressure to train. Although on Sept 15th, I was able to give back to the community and pace a friend 40 miles through Run Rabbit Run 100. It was also her first 100 miler and I freshly understood those emotions of pushing through and finding our way to the finish. I loved being on both ends of the pacer/racer dynamic all within a month.
Until next years hundred!”
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