Adrian Macdonald’s Pursuit of Greatness at Leadville Trail 100
Adrian Macdonald chases history at the Leadville Trail 100.
Two-time Leadville Trail 100 Run champion Adrian Macdonald returned to the iconic race earlier this year, chasing Matt Carpenter’s 15:42:59 course record from 2005. Facing the gruelling challenges of Hope Pass and a strong, competitive field, he pushed through the elevation and mental fatigue. Photographer John Ford recaps the runner’s efforts, and showcases his relentless determination in one of the world’s toughest endurance events.
Through the trees, beside the river, and over the pass is where greatness is formed in a quiet fashion, one stride after the next. No crowds, no external affirmation, just a man showing up every day fighting to make his mark in history.
Thirty-five year old Adrian Macdonald, a two-time champion of Leadville Trail 100 Run from Westwood, Massachusetts, had one thing in the back of his mind this year for the race on 17 August: 15:42:59. The longstanding Leadville 100 record set by Matt Carpenter in 2005.

Every mile run, calorie burned, and foot of elevation gained was measured and accounted for in preparation for one of the most physically and mentally demanding endurance races in the world.
The stage is set every year in the Colorado Rockies (USA) at 10,158ft above sea level with the crux of the race looming near the halfway point, Hope Pass. Runners are faced with climbing the pass twice. Once before the 50 mile turnaround point at Winfield and again on their way back. This section of the race totals to 7k feet of vertical gain over a 24-mile span.
It’s difficult to put into words just how taxing Hope Pass is at that point in the race.
After winning the race in 2021 and 2022, one may begin to question why Adrian would return. Why would he put in so much effort into training for a race he’s already won twice?

In short, there’s a course record that isn’t his and he wants it to be. Catching a glimpse of one of Adrian’s training runs on Hope Pass demonstrated everything that you’d expect to see from a competitor of his calibre. While photographing Adrian up close, it was apparent that his mind was somewhere else completely, perhaps visualizing the scene that would soon unfold on race day. Adrian mentioned that the mind begins to wander when he’s been running alone for extended periods of time. Silence ensues and the only sounds to be heard are his heavy breathing and feet pounding into the dirt underneath him.
To get the most out of oneself during an ultra race, it’s important to put high priority on fuelling. Like any machine, there has to be a fuel source. This race is just as much an eating competition as it is a foot race. Strategy is everything. To keep the body running optimally, it is recommended to consume 90-120 grams of carbohydrates every hour. Adrian consumed around one gel every 30 minutes along with a high-carb drink mix throughout his run.

This year’s Leadville 100 trail run had a highly competitive field, leaving the end result unpredictable prior to the race. The starting rifle was fired at 4am on 17 August with Adrian firing alongside it. He and David Roche were at the front of the pack from the start, slowly pulling away from the rest as each mile passed. Both of them appeared to be the most composed runners coming through the Twin Lakes aid station heading into Hope Pass.
Keeping the mind in check when pushing the body to its limits for 15+ hours is one of the most difficult tasks for any endurance athlete. That’s where most fall apart. Before the race Adrian told his pacers “If I look exhausted, I can still run hard. Don’t be afraid to push me.” Adrian displayed a non-teachable ability to remain mentally disciplined throughout the race despite trailing Roche for an extended period of time. By mile 62, Roche had gained a 14min lead on Adrian and would ultimately extend the lead by 30min to win the race in historical fashion, breaking Matt Carpenter’s course record.
Although Adrian wasn’t able to accomplish his initial goal of taking down the record and winning his third Leadville 100 trail race, he was able to achieve an impressive personal best time of 15:56:34.