Leadville Uncovered: Meet the 18-Year-Old Taking on Leadville

At just 18 years old, Kathryn Tubb is already preparing to take on one of the most iconic races in ultrarunning: the Leadville Trail 100. In this episode of Leadville Uncovered, Kathryn shares her unlikely path from high school cross-country runner in San Antonio, Texas, to becoming the youngest athlete in this year's Leadville field. After progressing quickly through the distances and earning a coveted Leadville qualifier at the Silver Rush 50, she decided there was no better time to chase the opportunity.Kathryn opens up about the mentors who helped shape her running journey, especially her ultrarunning coach, whose advice to break overwhelming goals into smaller, manageable pieces has become one of her guiding principles. She also discusses the incredible support of her family, including her brother, who will pace her through the final 40 miles of the race.The conversation explores everything from training on Hope Pass and debating poles versus no poles to balancing the nerves and excitement that come with a first 100-miler. Kathryn also shares how ultrarunning has influenced her academic interests as she prepares to begin her first year at Harvard with plans to study pre-health or medicine.What stands out most is Kathryn's perspective. Rather than focusing on finishing times, she's approaching Leadville with curiosity and gratitude, eager to discover how she'll respond when things become truly difficult. Her maturity, humility, and enthusiasm offer a refreshing reminder of why so many runners fall in love with the sport in the first place.Check out our presenting sponsor Open Fuel and use code UU25 for 25% off your order. This stuff is delicious and both Russell and I are using it in our upcoming races!