There are five ways into the Leadville Trail 100 Run: win an entry coin at a qualifier race, Life Time member priority registration, a charity entry, the lottery (Dec 1–15, 2026), or the Run Camp + Entry package. With only about 800 spots, my pick is a charity entry: you raise money for a good cause, and your spot is guaranteed. The 2027 race is August 21, 2027.
Why everyone wants to run Leadville
The Leadville Trail 100 is one of the most iconic 100-mile races in the United States. They call it the Race Across the Sky. It's been running since 1983, it starts at over 10,000 feet in Leadville, Colorado, and it goes out and back over Hope Pass at about 12,500 feet, twice. You get 30 hours to finish, and if you do it in under 25, you earn the big buckle.
And it's brutal. In most years, about half the people who start don't finish.
| Year | Starters | Finishers | Didn't finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 703 | 381 | 46% |
| 2024 | 774 | 404 | 48% |
| 2023 | 822 | 362 | 56% |
It's only gotten more popular, with more media coverage every year. That's exactly why so many people ask me how I got in, and how my athletes got in. So here's everything I know.
My Leadville story
Once I got into ultrarunning, Leadville was one of the races I always wanted to do. It's extremely difficult, and honestly, that's what drew me to it. Between the altitude and the climbing, there's nothing easy about it. I've run seven 100-mile races, and Leadville is the hardest one I've done.
My first time, in 2022, I finished in 25:24:32, just 24 minutes over the big-buckle cutoff. It was a grind, especially through the night.
I came back in 2025 and ran 23:35:20, finishing 39th overall and earning the big buckle.
I'm super grateful I've been able to finish it twice, and to have coached two athletes to the finish line as well.
Why getting into Leadville is so hard
There are only about 800 spots in the Leadville 100, and those spots are split across five different ways in. Here they are, in the order I'd think about them.
1. Win an entry at a qualifier race
The Leadville Race Series has three running qualifiers: the Leadville Trail Marathon, the Silver Rush 50 Run and the Austin Rattler Run. Each gives out a minimum of 35 entry coins. That sounds like a lot until you see how they're handed out: the top three men and women overall each get one, and then only the winner of each age group gets one. You have to finish the longest distance, and you have to be at the awards ceremony to claim your coin on the spot. A few are also given out by drawing at the awards, but realistically, this is a path for people who can stand on a podium.
2. Life Time member priority
If you're a Life Time member, this is a great option. Members get priority registration, opening November 24, 2026 at 10am MST, with limited spots on a first-come, first-served basis. Members who miss out get entered into the lottery twice.
The catch: you need to have had a Life Time Club-Access membership for at least six months before registration opens. If you're not a member now, it's too late for 2027.
3. Charity entry (my preferred way in)
This is how I got in both times. In 2022, I ran for the Chris Klug Foundation, and in 2025, for the Life Time Foundation. Both years, I had to raise $3,500.
A charity entry skips the lottery and guarantees your spot. Each charity partner sets its own fundraising minimum. Current partners include the Leadville Trail 100 Legacy Foundation, the Life Time Foundation, the Challenged Athletes Foundation, the Livestrong Foundation, Colorado Outward Bound School and First Descents.
It's my favorite way in because you get to raise money for a good cause, and you know you're on the start line. You can plan your whole year around it instead of waiting on a lottery email.
4. The lottery
The lottery for 2027 is open December 1–15, 2026. It's free to enter, and your card is only charged if you're selected. Results come out in early January 2027.
It's the way a lot of people try to get in, but I've always decided not to rely on it. Think about it: there are only about 800 spots. Life Time members get priority. Charity entries are guaranteed. Qualifier coins and Run Camp packages take more. What's left gets split among everyone who enters the lottery, and with all the media attention Leadville gets now, that's a lot of people. Leadville doesn't publish its lottery numbers, so you don't even know your odds.
5. Run Camp + Entry package
The Leadville Trail 100 Run Camp is three days of group runs on the hardest sections of the course, plus sessions with race veterans, meals and gear. The Camp + Entry package includes your race entry and goes on sale December 1, 2026, first-come, first-served until it sells out. In 2026 it cost $2,000 (2027 pricing hasn't been announced yet). The 2027 camp is June 17–19.
I haven't done this one myself, but if you have the means, it's a great option. You get guaranteed entry and a head start on learning the course.
What I'd do for 2027
If I wanted to be on the start line on August 21, 2027, I'd lock in a charity entry. Guaranteed spot, good cause, and the whole year to train with a clear goal.
DM me on Instagram and I'll connect you with a way to get in. I've done it twice and helped two of my athletes get to the finish line.
DM me on InstagramGetting in is step one. Stay tuned for my next article on how to train for Leadville, including altitude, Hope Pass and the cutoffs.
Common questions
How do you get into the Leadville 100?
Five ways: a qualifier race coin, Life Time member priority, a charity entry, the lottery, or the Run Camp + Entry package. A charity entry is the most reliable way to guarantee a spot.
When is the Leadville 100 lottery for 2027?
December 1–15, 2026. It's free to enter, and results come out in early January 2027.
How much is a Leadville charity entry?
Each charity sets its own fundraising minimum. Both years I ran, I had to raise $3,500.
What is the Leadville 100 DNF rate?
About half the field doesn't finish. It was 46% in 2025, 48% in 2024 and 56% in 2023.
When is the 2027 Leadville 100?
August 21, 2027, starting at 4am in Leadville, Colorado. You have 30 hours to finish, and sub-25 earns the big buckle.
Still deciding on your first 100? Read the best 100-mile races to get your first buckle, or learn how to find an ultramarathon near you.