Leadville Uncovered: Meet Leadville's New Dream Chaser

What happens when one of Leadville's fastest runners stops racing for himself and starts racing for an entire community?In this episode of Leadville Uncovered, six-time Leadville 100 finisher and longtime Lake County High School teacher and coach Pat Cade joins Corinne and Russell to discuss his new role as the 2026 Leadville Trail 100 Dream Chaser. Instead of starting with the rest of the field, Pat will begin the race two and a half hours later and spend the next 100 miles chasing down runners while raising money for the Legacy Foundation and the local Leadville community. Scholarships, students, the senior center, and other community programs all benefit from every runner he passes. Pat shares how his students were instrumental in encouraging him to pursue the role and how meaningful it was to receive the blessing of outgoing Dream Chaser Rodrigo Jimenez. The conversation dives into race strategy, pacing, training, and the unique challenge of running much of the race completely alone before eventually working his way through the field. More than anything, this episode highlights Pat's identity as a teacher. Whether he's coaching cross-country athletes, developing new training philosophies, or grinding through the final miles of Leadville, his students remain at the center of everything he does. He explains how racing for something bigger than himself gives him another gear and why he feels such a responsibility to embody the lessons he teaches every day. The result is a conversation about legacy, leadership, mentorship, and what it means to use running as a vehicle for creating opportunity in your community. If there was ever a runner perfectly suited for the role of Dream Chaser, it's Pat Cade. And if his prediction comes true, Leadville will have a lot to celebrate this year. His ideal headline?"Dream Chaser crushes it for his community."___________________________________________________________When you're preparing for long days in the mountains, your fueling strategy matters. OpenFuel delivers clean, effective nutrition built around the values we care about most: people over profit, environmental responsibility, and positivity.Russell's current favorite? The Passion Mango Tango Carb + Electrolyte Drink Mix.Fuel your next adventure and save 25% with code UU25.