Leadville Today

“Race Across The Sky” This Weekend

By Kate Lessman, Leadville Race Series

On Aug. 18-19, competitors from around the world will come to the mountain town of Leadville, Colo., to push themselves at the iconic CenturyLink Leadville Trail 100 Run presented by La Sportiva. Nearly 750 participants will race all day and into the night on the 100-mile course covering grueling Colorado Rockies terrain where elevations range from 9,200 to 12,600 feet.

“We are thrilled to begin our 36th year of our legendary Leadville Trail 100,” said Ken Chlouber, Founder of The Leadville Race Series. “To most people running 100 miles seems impossible, however, each year Leadville participants embody the strength, determination and will to defy the impossible and accomplish the ultimate achievement of running and racing 100 miles – which can inspire us all to live a healthier and active life.”

Top contenders for the pro race include Leadville Trail 100 2014 winner Rob Krar as well as Addie Bracy, 2016 USATF Trail Marathon Champion and Nicole Kalogeropoulos who held the U.S. record (14:22:18) for the fastest woman on a 100-mile trail race until last November.

This year at the Leadville Trail 100 Run, competitors from all 50 states and 41 countries are represented. The first finishers are expected to complete the race in 16 to 17 hours and all participants have 30 hours to finish to earn the coveted Leadville 100 belt buckle.

Leadville’s “Race Across The Sky” saw more than 600 runners on the course last year (2017). Pictured here are racers on Hope Pass. Photo: Glen Delman Photography.

The entire pool of participants will start the race at 4 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 18. Other notable times on the race schedule include:

8 to 9 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 18: Top male anticipated to finish
11:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 18: Top female anticipated to finish
5 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 19: 25-hour cut-off time. These finishers are awarded the large silver and gold buckles.
9:50 a.m., Sunday Aug. 19: The final 10 minutes of the Leadville Trail 100 Run are inspirational moments as spectators watch competitors who have been running for nearly 30 hours attempt to finish before the cut-off time.
10 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 19: 30-hour cutoff time for all runners. These runners are awarded silver finisher buckles.
12 p.m., Sunday, August 19: Awards Ceremony held at the Lake County Middle School Gymnasium, 1000 West 6th St.

For more information and complete results visit www.leadvilleraceseries.com. For race day updates visit the Leadville Race Series Facebook and Instagram pages.

About the Leadville Race Series
Started with only 45 runners as the Leadville Trail 100 in 1983, the Leadville Race Series now consists of seven running events and four mountain biking events, plus six events in the Leadville Qualifying Series. The Race Series stretches across three months, and hosts thousands of racers on foot and on mountain bike in some of the world’s most iconic events. Endurance athletes worldwide now make the pilgrimage to Leadville, Colo., with the single goal of competing in “The Race Across the Sky.” Visit www.leadvilleraceseries.com for more information.

Leadville News – August 16

Oh Baby! It’s That Time of Year in Leadville Today

It’s Back-To-School time! So here’s some school news you can use. Starting with the smallest among those living in Leadville Today, the kids from Bright Star Learning Center seemed to be everywhere this summer. These kiddos were definitely enjoying the Colorado outdoors!

Bright Star Learning Center kids ride the train _Photo Silvia Lopez

The kids from Bright Star Learning Center took a ride on the Leadville train this summer! #AllAboard for learning with good friends! Photo: Leadville Colorado & Southern Railroad/Silvia Lopez.

The Bright Start Learning Center cares for Leadville’s children in a safe and nurturing environment. Their preschool curriculum is teacher directed yet adaptable, incorporating topics that interest and excite young children. Lessons are educational and fun. Your child will establish close friendships in a home-like environment.

The other benefit is that Bright Start Learning Center is Leadville’s only year-round child care facility, which mean schedule don’t get interrupted for parents or the kiddos! Care is available Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Bright Star is a tuition based program, however the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program is also available to help meet those costs.

Bright Start Learning Center is located at 230 East Fifth Street, Leadville, CO 80461. They can be reached by phone: 719-486-1211 or via email at: info@brightstartleadville.org.

The Center to Offer Early Head Start Services

By Kate Bartlett, Lake County School District

Lake County School District and the Center Early Childhood Programs are excited to announce that we will be expanding our early childhood services this fall to include an Early Head Start Home Visiting program. Along with our Head Start program, Colorado Preschool Program, services for children with special needs, and our tuition preschool program, we will be expanding to include comprehensive services to families of infant and toddlers (ages 0-3) and pregnant women who qualify.

The 2015 graduating class from The Center’s PreSchool program is already on their way to the Third Grade! Talk about your shooting stars! Go kids! Photo: Leadville Today/Dawn Todd.

Our Early Head Start program option will be an additional component to our current Head Start Grant under the US Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families. Early Head Start is designed to nurture healthy attachments between parent and child. Services encompass the full range of a family’s needs from pregnancy through a child’s third birthday. Our program model will focus on weekly visits in the home and opportunities for group events and activities with other families.

The Center in the process of finalizing plans to fully implement the Early Head Start program early this fall. This will include both the hiring of highly qualified home visiting staff; acquiring training to support curriculum and implementation; and the recruitment and enrollment of families.