Nate Boyer looked up as he began his ascent of Hope Pass about 40 miles into the Leadville Trail 100-mile race. The four-mile section rose 3,200 feet in elevation, taking runners to 12,600 feet above sea level. He would have to conquer the steep grade, run seven miles down the other side to a turnaround and repeat the process. The sun beat down as he maneuvered the trail, devoid of any shade.
“It’s ironic it’s called Hope Pass, because that’s the most hopeless feeling,” Boyer, 42, said after the race. “Like you are pushing the hardest you can to take the next step — and you’re not gaining ground.