The Leadville 100 — Learning to Endure the Mountains

Leadville, Colorado | 1983, 1984, 1988

In 1983, Ted lined up for one of the toughest endurance races in America — the Leadville 100. One hundred miles through the Colorado Rockies meant relentless climbs, icy stream crossings, thin air, and strict cut-off times. Runners who didn’t reach the halfway point in time were pulled from the course, often in tears after giving everything they had.

Vivian and their daughter Elizabeth waited for Ted at the Mosquito Pass aid station, trapped in a sweltering car with the windows closed to keep out the clouds of mosquitoes. Up on the course, colorful ribbons tied to trees marked the route — until pranksters moved or removed them. Ted and other runners sometimes followed false trails for miles before realizing they were off course.

The early years of the race were raw and underfunded. Race founder Jim Butera and volunteers hauled barrels of water on their backs up steep mountain trails. Later, as the race gained fame, helicopters would drop water at aid stations — but not in Ted’s first year.

That first Leadville 100 did not go as planned. Ted missed the halfway cutoff and was disqualified.

But the mountains had taught him something important.

Ted had a foot condition called Morton’s toe — an unusually long second toe combined with overlapping toes. It didn’t matter much in everyday life, but over long distances it caused brutal blisters. During his first Leadville attempt, blisters formed under every toenail. By mile 40, the pain was unbearable. At an aid station, a volunteer drilled through a toenail to release the pressure. It worked — but it was a harsh lesson in what 100 mountain miles could do to a body.

Two months later, Ted had four toenails permanently removed to prevent future problems. He also learned that his feet could swell dramatically during long events. For multi-day races, he began bringing shoes several sizes larger than normal — sometimes up to size 16.

Leadville’s steep terrain forced Ted to scramble on all fours at times, jamming sensitive toes into the front of his shoes. After that first attempt, he briefly swore off mountain races altogether.

But Ted never stayed away from a challenge for long.

He discovered a company that could build extra-wide, high toe-box shoes, designed specifically for his feet. Armed with better gear and hard-earned wisdom, he returned.

Leadville Redemption — 1984

In August 1984, Ted came back stronger, smarter, and tougher. This time, he crossed the finish line in under 30 hours, earning the iconic Leadville 100 belt buckle — a symbol of grit, resilience, and mountain-earned perseverance.

The mountains had knocked him down.

Ted came back and climbed over them.