Life Time Leadville Trail Marathon & Heavy Half
Leadville, United States · Saturday 29 June 2024
Leadville sits at over 10,000 feet in the Colorado Rockies, in the heart of a region built on mining history and mountain toughness. The town itself is surrounded by high alpine terrain, and the landscape around it speaks to a particular kind of American grit. Those who come here to race aren't just dealing with a hard course. They're contending with thin air, extreme elevation, and the unforgiving character of Colorado's backcountry. Running in Leadville means accepting that the mountains don't care how fit you are. The Life Time Leadville Trail Marathon takes full advantage of this environment. Runners climb through the historic mining district on technical trail, and the course doesn't relent. The real test comes at Mosquito Pass, the highest point of any Leadville Race Series event, where you'll be pushing above 13,000 feet while your body struggles to process oxygen at that altitude. The total elevation gain is substantial, and the terrain is rough. This isn't a fast marathon. It's the kind of race where finishing means something because the mountains made you earn it. The race itself runs in late June, which is early in the alpine running season at this elevation. Weather can be unpredictable, and conditions on the exposed high passes can shift quickly. Entry is capped and competitive, with a lottery system in place for the marathon. If you get in, you're getting what Leadville calls "the nation's toughest marathon," and that's not marketing speak. It's a fair description of what happens when you put runners on difficult trails at altitude in one of the most unforgiving mountain ranges in the country.
Difficulty Calculator
h
:m
:s
Adjusted Time
5:44:39
Time difference: +104.6 minutes compared to a flat, road, temperate course.
Course Details
Elevation Gain1757m
Elevation High4007m
Elevation Low3135m
Life Time Leadville Trail Marathon & Heavy Half 2024 Course Analysis
Life Time Leadville Trail Marathon & Heavy Half is a full marathon held in Leadville, United States, scheduled for Saturday 29 June 2024. The course is run on trail surface with 1757m of total elevation gain, reaching a maximum altitude of 4007m above sea level. For registration and full race details, visit the official Life Time Leadville Trail Marathon & Heavy Half website.
Elevation Profile
This is a very challenging course with 1757m of total elevation gain — significantly more than the average trail marathon. The route ranges from 3135m to 4007m above sea level (872m range). Hill training is essential, and runners should expect a significantly slower time compared to a flat course.
Surface Type: Trail
Life Time Leadville Trail Marathon & Heavy Half is a trail race, meaning the course includes unpaved surfaces such as dirt, gravel, or forest paths. Trail surfaces are inherently slower than road courses due to uneven footing, technical sections, and often steeper gradients. Trail-specific shoes with good grip are recommended, and runners should expect a finish time 10-20% slower than their equivalent road marathon time.
How Difficult Is Life Time Leadville Trail Marathon & Heavy Half?
Our difficulty rating for Life Time Leadville Trail Marathon & Heavy Half is calculated using a model that combines elevation gain, temperature impact, and surface type. Use the difficulty calculator above to enter your target finish time and see exactly how many minutes this course would add or subtract compared to a perfectly flat, cool, road-based marathon. Faster runners and slower runners are affected differently by the same course conditions, so the difficulty is personalised to your pace.
Looking for an easier marathon or a tougher challenge? You can also compare Life Time Leadville Trail Marathon & Heavy Half against other marathons to find the right race for your goals.
Other Marathons in United States
Hoover Dam Marathon, 1/2, 10K, 5K
Boulder City, United States
Trail431m gainDec 2022
Buffalo Marathon & Half Marathon
Buffalo, United States
Trail116m gainMay 2023
Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon
San Diego, United States
Trail165m gainJune 2023
AACR Philadelphia Marathon
Philadelphia, United States
Trail184m gainNov 2023
BCS Marathon and Half Marathon
College Station, United States
Trail155m gainDec 2023