World champion triathlete faces ultramarathon challenge that breaks most runners

Tim DeBoom is a two-time Ironman triathlon world champion and America’s top-ranked long-distance triathlete.

But after slipping on the ice during a training run last winter and breaking his hand, DeBoom had to abandon swimming and cycling to focus solely on running. That’s when he rediscovered his love of running and made an important decision to take on a personal challenge that most people—even seasoned triathletes—would never consider: competing in the 2008 Leadville 100 trail race Aug. 16-17.

The Leadville 100 is a grueling mountain trail run that starts before dawn at 9,200 feet and peaks at the top of Hope Pass at 12,600 feet on both the outbound and return 50-mile legs of the race. The fastest runner won the race in 2005 in just under 16 hours, but it’s not unusual for it to take 20 to 30 hours or longer to complete, if you finish at all. About 500 runners will start the race; more than half won’t cross the finish line.

“I know it’s going to be a terribly hard event. That’s probably why I’m doing it,” DeBoom says, noting that he wanted a new challenge. It will be his first ultramarathon and his first running race over 26.2 miles. A normal triathlon takes top competitors about 8 to 9 hours to finish.

To prepare, DeBoom has upped his running regimen to 120 miles a week from 50 to 70 miles. He’s cut back on swimming, but still cycles because it helps maintain strength and aerobic conditioning and “it doesn’t beat me up like running,” he says. He’ll also compete in some short marathons and high-altitude mountain events, including the Leadville Marathon in early July, to help get ready.

Eating to maintain energy will be a major challenge, DeBoom says. Food and drink will be available at pre-determined stops along the route, and he’ll carry his own supplies of peanut butter sandwiches, as well as PowerBars and Red Bull energy drinks (two of his major sponsors).

During the second leg of the race, DeBoom and the other runners are allowed to have friends run with them. That will help, he says, but it doesn’t guarantee victory.

"I would never go into it thinking I could win. It will be a challenge just to finish," he says.