[Author’s Note: This is the seventh article in an 11-part series celebrating legendary aid stations. You can read about the series here.]
High up in the Rocky Mountains of Central Colorado, in the shadow of Colorado’s highest peak, Mount Elbert, sits the small village of Twin Lakes. Home to only beneath 200 individuals and a well-liked leaping off level for adventures in the Rockies, Twin Lakes is, unsurprisingly, nestled subsequent to 2 lakes. It’s situated simply 21 miles southwest of Leadville and 36 miles east of Aspen. Each August, Twin Lakes additionally turns into dwelling to considered one of the busiest and most stress-filled assist stations in North American ultrarunning, at the Leadville 100 Mile.
With Leadville being an out-and-back course, runners undergo the Twin Lakes Aid Station twice, first at mile 38, and once more at mile 62. In between these two stops, they summit the iconic Hope Pass, at over 12,000 toes, twice. The cutoff occasions at Twin Lakes are notoriously tight. The race begins at 4 a.m., and runners must be by Twin Lakes “Outbound” by 1:30 p.m., and again by Twin Lakes “Inbound” by 10:15 p.m. Most years, as the cutoff occasions method, the assist station boundary seems to be extra like a end line than an assist station as runners wrestle to make it in beneath the cutoff, many occasions with simply seconds to spare.
The fundamental drag by the Twin Lakes assist station on the Leadville 100 Mile. Photo: Adam Ferdinandsen
The small village of Twin Lakes comes out in drive for the race as the companies on the town — a basic retailer, a espresso store, and some meals vehicles — take pleasure in their most worthwhile weekend of the 12 months, as the lots of of crews and pacers descend upon the village to assist their runners. Essentially, the night time earlier than the race, a veritable tent metropolis is erected alongside the fundamental drag of city as pacers and crews arrange pop-up tents and different constructions with provides, decorations, and all method of issues to get them by the hours they’ll spend at Twin Lakes, awaiting their runners each coming and going. As race day dawns, these crews shortly turn into a neighborhood and tales are shared, provides are exchanged, and the path neighborhood is on show in full drive.
Annie Hughes together with her crew and pacer at Twin Lakes inbound, mile 62.5. She’d proceed on to win the 2021 Leadville 100 Mile. Photo: Meredith Terranova
I’ve been lucky sufficient to be available at Twin Lakes throughout Leadville over the previous two years to assist runners and be a part of the magic there. In these two years, I’ve been reunited with many aged pals and linked with plenty of new ones. What strikes me most about Twin Lakes, is that on this age of overhyped commercialization and company activations nearly anyplace you look, this explicit spot has remained decidedly old-fashioned, in some ways representing, at least to me, a crossroads of the sport which is at as soon as welcoming to the previous and embracing of the new. There is just not numerous fanfare, simply numerous enjoyable.
And so it’s that I will probably be heading again to Twin Lakes subsequent month once more to soak in the vibe, prod just a few runners alongside, have fun that cutoff-induced stress, and possibly, simply possibly, discover that spark of inspiration that such locations maintain.
Bottoms up!
Adrian Macdonald runs by Twin Lakes inbound assist station at about mile 62.5 on his technique to successful the 2021 Leadville 100 Mile. Photo: Meredith Terranova
AJW’s Beer of the Week
This week’s beer of the week comes from Eddyline Brewing in Buena Vista, Colorado, 30 miles down the highway from Twin Lakes. Grapefruit Yanker IPA is a scrumptious fruity IPA that’s surprisingly balanced and tart. Not at all bitter, with only a trace of mango, Grapefruit Yanker is a traditional excessive altitude summer season beer.
Call for Comments
- Have you achieved the Leadville 100 Mile?
- If so, what are your recollections of Twin Lakes?