INTERVIEW WITH THE MULTIDISCIPLINE SERIES CHAMPION

The Leadville Challenge isn’t just a race — it’s an odyssey. Set against the rugged, high-altitude backdrop of Leadville, Colorado, this multidiscipline, five-race series demands an athlete unlike any other. The racing begins in late June with the grueling Leadville Trail Marathon, followed by the Silver Rush 50 MTB or Run, the legendary Leadville Trail 100 MTB, the Leadville 10K Run, and finally, the crown jewel: the Leadville Trail 100 Run in mid-August. For those already lost in the math, it’s 282.6 miles of lung-burning, quad-crushing, soul-testing competition — all crammed into just over six punishing weeks.

As a cycling brand, our focus naturally leans toward the mountain bike events. But to complete the full Leadville Challenge, athletes must embrace the run as well — and not just any run, but ultra-distance at elevation. It takes someone truly rare to attempt it, let alone win.

Enter Maude Farrell. A former runner turned cyclist turned multidiscipline powerhouse, she embodies the resilience and range this challenge demands. We caught up with her just days after clinching the overall series title to learn what it really takes to conquer Leadville — and what motivates her to take on such daunting events.

Hey Maude! You just won the Leadville Challenge overall a few days ago. Congrats! How the hell are you feeling? 

I actually feel surprisingly good. I'm kind of shocked that my body has responded so well to be honest. I'm walking up and down stairs well, and I'm cleaning the house as we speak. 

That's insane. You just finished 100miles on foot three days ago, and you're already cleaning your house? That is so… normal. 

Haha, it's so normal. I went onto Payson McElveen’s podcast after the 100 mile run, and I disappointed him a bit since I wasn't more haggard. But, yeah, I just definitely needed to clean up around here, so I've been moving around a lot, taking care of house tasks. Kind of surprised by how normal my body feels. I mean, I definitely have some sore tendons, and my feet ache. I guess my butt, and low back, and shoulders, too, but it's pretty remarkable what a body can do and recover from in a short amount of time.

Yeah, I mean, this is gonna be kind of a letdown for readers. We all want to use big events as an excuse to bail on household tasks for at least a month, haha!

Haha, right? I guess I'm a pretty neurotic person — in motion at all times — so for better or for worse, I mean it's actually good. We, as athletes, forget that our bodies feel really comfortable when they're in motion, so moving around is a good recovery for me right now. No real intensity, just movement. I also told Payson that I've never done this kind of effort (riding the Leadville 100 and running the Leadville 100) back to back. So who knows if I might have a fallout from it in a week? It's all part of experimenting and trying new things.  

Have you ever experienced a big fallout? 

No, I've never run 100 miles after riding 100 miles, so you know it's all new territory to me. I'm in my own Frankenstein experiment, but it's fun to be in a place where I really don't know what to expect.

How did the idea of doing the Leadville Challenge come to you?

It was in the making for quite some time. I'd heard about it maybe eight years ago — before I was much of a mountain biker or a cyclist — and it sounded out there and crazy. Then I did the Mid-South Double in 2024, and it hit me that perhaps these multidisciplinary challenges are my thing. Maybe I belong in events that feel different from the norm. And it wasn't that I'm burnt out on normal racing, but I felt the need to mix it up… do something that would stand apart in the broader racing world. It's not something most professional cyclists would try — running 100 miles, or any running, to be honest.

I have a solid background in ultra-running, having done some 50k and 50-mile events. But, right now, I'm definitely more of a cyclist at this point in my career, so stepping into running shoes is out of my comfort zone. It's the curiosity of it all that drives me.

You have an explorer's mentality.

Yeah, that's definitely a deep sense of motivation. Like, let's go, give it a shot, and see what happens.

But running this much must still sound like perhaps not the easiest thing to do for a cyclist?

Yeah, I know this is definitely daunting. I don't want it to sound like I presumed it would be easy. I still took a very methodical approach to preparation to prepare my body to not only get through the Challenge, but also to compete for the win. I used the Sea Otter Classic as a test event, racing the gravel event (which is over 100km) followed by a 100km running event two weeks later. There was a moment when it struck me, during the finish, that I can do this (back-to-back bike run distance events). I walked away hobbled, thrashed, and limping. My quads were gone, and for a moment, I didn't know if I could do the 40 additional miles that Leadville would require. But as an athlete, you go through those "holy shit" moments of recognition and realization about what it takes to do an event. I sat down with my coach and said: “The bike went OK. Here is what didn't go so well on the run.” We hashed out the game plan based on that feedback. We managed to make a training plan that was fun and balanced. I didn't want to jeopardize my cycling career; I wanted to keep performing on the bike, but I also needed to be able to run.

Did you prioritize discipline over the other or just try to go as evenly spread as possible? 

No, I definitely still prioritized the bike, and ran less than a wise person would have to prepare for 100 miles. But my training isn't heavy with volume to begin with. I bike about 12–15 hours a week and run about 5–8, so in total, I do either the same or fewer hours than most people do when focusing on just one professional discipline. Even still, my coach and I found a sweet spot in volume training for Leadville. 

You still have an incredibly potent high-end. We saw that in your Leadville 100 MTB result, but you also managed to find this unyielding endurance base to complement it. Do you have that complete athletic engine now? 

I leave a lot of my training decisions to my coach, who always monitors my power and endurance bands to make sure I've got what I need to perform in any event. That being said, to get through 100 miles on foot, you do lose a bit on the pointy-end to get that level of base. But I can do intervals forever now. My endurance is so high that the effort required to perform in hard sections on the bike doesn't hurt me like it has in the past. It's a lot of fun to race with this deep endurance capacity. 

Do you feel like you met your expectations for this series? Did you have the overall win in mind, or was it just completely a shot in the dark? 

I mean, I'm a competitor. I do want to win. But I have grown a lot to realize it's not a good approach to start an event thinking that winning is the only option—that it's not worth doing unless I win. I believe every athlete can agree that we all want our best to be the best. And that's huge motivation in itself. 

I've come to terms with what competing for the win requires. But like I said before, with the Leadville Series, I didn't know what the competition would feel like. So with that lens, all my training and preparation were a gamble. There's a non-zero probability I could win, but also a non-zero probability that I don't win. And to me, both of those options were acceptable risks to take. Lining up was worth it. 

You put in the groundwork and reviewed the series, but you still seem to have entered with this tremendous enthusiasm because it was such an unknown to you.

Yeah, I really like different, weird, and strange things. Like the Speed Project I did in the fall of last year. That was a super odd, but really fun, team cycling event. That kind of stuff really excites me and lights my fire. Leadville fits in that realm of super weird challenges to me. So I went, and fucked around, and found out what it was like.

Is the Leadville Challenge the next step in your quest for unusual events, or do you feel you've reached a peak discovery?

I don't know. I mean, weird adventures and athletic pursuits can come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. The Speed Project was an endurance event, but we never rode more than an hour at a time. I liked it because it was unusual. So I don't know if my peak curiosity is satisfied by the distance of an event or more by the uniqueness of it. I think I'll have to look around. But, right now, I'm just taking a minute to recover, because after the 100 miler, I was definitely cursing what felt like poor decision-making to do such a big event.

Do you think, given your current fitness level, you could make multiple runs at events like the Leadville Challenge on an annual basis?

I don't know, I think it's too early for me to have feelings about what comes next. I'm just really proud of what I've done in this moment, and I'm letting myself appreciate what I've accomplished.

What's nutrition like for run vs bike and long vs short events?

It's really different. Being more of a cyclist right now, my nutrition is rather dialed, and I'm so in-tune with what I need to take in a race. Plus, the aid stations are so impressive with bottle and gel hand-ups. On the bike, everything is more efficient, more mechanical, and far less sloshy than on a run. People say that ultra-running is just an eating competition with some running in between. I mean, you're out there three or four times as long as on a bike, so there are only so many fast carbs and gels you can eat. It's also harder to train the gut for long runs, which means I'm less efficient and perhaps eat less on foot than I should for prime competition. The aid stations for running are also different, being stocked with goldfish, and ramen, and Milano cookies — things you really couldn't grab in a bike aid station. So, yeah, the events are so different from a nutritional perspective. 

Sounds like you had more fun eating on the run?

Ironically, eating while running an ultra isn't that fun because everything feels gross and bad. You're excited at the start, thinking you'll be enjoying the quesadillas and Coca-Cola, but then when you're eating them, it's so gross, haha! Your appetite changes. That's where you need a good crew to encourage you through those times to get food into you. 

What did your support team look like? What did they do for you, and what do they mean to you? 

Oh man, I couldn't have done this without my people. These events, both cycling and ultra-running, seem like solo pursuits, and in a way, that's true, you're the athlete. But behind that, there is a massive team effort. There are two, three, four, five more people behind athletes in events like this, from mechanics to food preps and cheer squads, people helping in the aid stations or dealing with the logistics of how to help provide support over a 100-mile course. It's so much work. And I've been lucky to have incredible race support this year, that's made an enormous difference. It's hard to imagine succeeding at this sport without a team of people there to help you—that's true on bike-side and then especially true in running. They make your snack packs, motivate you in the dark times, and help you believe in yourself when you're battling the demons screaming in your head. That's really where the crew for running comes in. Also, I had pacers. My friends Lauren and Kelly, and then my sister Jane paced me from mile 62 until the finish. They put potato chips into my mouth, carried all my stuff, and held me up while I squatted to pee because my legs couldn't lift me back up. That feeling of being cared for is invaluable as an athlete. The love and support…  I absolutely couldn't have finished it without them.

Are these events, in general, capable of supporting athletes who may not have the depth of support as others? 

I feel like it's a big, existential question about the state of our sport and equal opportunity. What does it look like to try to become an athlete in space? I think there are a lot of ways that organizers can create a more equitable environment for people who are just coming into the sport, who don't have the infrastructure, sponsors, or teams that some athletes do. I'm definitely in a place of privilege, having support, community, and people around me. Without that support, it can seem daunting. 

From a bike perspective, so much work goes into maintaining a bicycle: having a mechanic available, having people at the station hand you bottles so you don't have to carry a vest. To have those opportunities as a new athlete, you need infrastructure provided by the event. I don't have the answers, but I have some ideas, such as having a mechanic available for all athletes to have bikes cleaned and tuned, or more established neutral zones. The essentials to function competitively in some races are lacking for newer athletes. It's hard to go at it alone.

What hurts during a 100-mile run?

Everything! I was having some serious issues with my TFL (tensor fascia latae) in my hip on my right side. Gave me some weird knee things as well. At the end of the day, the worst thing was my feet. I didn't have any blisters, thanks to some incredible shoes,  but when you're on your feet for that long, pounding and shifting over rocks, the nerves get really sensitive and inflamed. So the night after finishing, I was trying to sleep, but my feet and my legs were throbbing so much that I couldn't. They felt itchy and hot. But during the run, there's just more emotional pain, which can make it feel like you're just running through sand.

That being said, did you have a favorite moment out of the five races? 

Oh man, all the events have some highlights. During the Leadville 100 MTB, I got to ride with some of my training buddies, Ellen and Ruby from Durango, and it meant a lot to be with them. Ellen has been an incredible training partner and friend, really supporting me. I'd have some rough times on the descents and she'd encourage me. Having that shared power and strength was great. And then on the run, it was the crew at the aid stations, my family. My parents and sisters came out to watch, and every time I saw them, it was like a party. 

That's illuminating because, like you said, these are solo pursuits, but your favorite moments are the times you connected with the other competitors and your family.

I am such an extrovert. I'm such a people person. I remember my dad said he remembered seeing me in a race once when I was alone, off the back of the group, and he got worried because he felt I was meant to be in the tribe… like pack animals, needing to be around people. I think that is so true. So shared moments mean the most to me.

If you had to do the Leadville Series all over again, you'd…?

NOT! Haha! No, it feels very visceral right now. I want to feel more positive about future challenges, but it's too soon. There's so much I am still processing, and I think it takes some time to go through those.

What's the primary difference-maker that you would give as advice to the first-time Leadville Series competitor?

I don't feel like an expert in it, but my advice is to do it because you want to. Do it because the training is really fun. You have to stay motivated and committed. For me, it has to come from a place of love, enjoyment, and excitement. Make sure that you always keep the training aspect alive.

 I ask myself in training if I was making a choice. Sometimes I would skip an interval, or sometimes I would need to do something tough, but I didn't want to. I would choose to do something fun that might compromise my training. For example, I would go and do this huge ride the week before the Leadville 100 MTB, which was not in the training plan, but it was something I wanted to do. It was an adventure, and it was with friends whom I cared about. I don't want to say no because I have a race coming up. I had this kind of philosophy: "Will I regret this choice even if I lose?" It allowed me to realize that I'm choosing something that feels good in my heart, even if it impacts my performance. I'm happier staying true to myself, and that helps me get the most out of my training, overall.

From an outside perspective, doing a marathon, or 100 miles of anything, can seem insurmountable both physically and mentally. But through smaller events and training, you've somehow normalized the distance.

This is what endurance sports is really about. It is remarkable what you're capable of, and it's remarkable to discover that. I feel very much that I have a new calibration and an idea of what is possible. I was talking to a woman who attempted and finished the Cocodona 250 earlier this year, and she was running the Leadville as well. Her context for running 100 miles was so different. She thought it was a breeze, like, no worries at all. It's just 24 hours instead of five days. So much is relative. So it's not productive to compare yourself to those who are more conditioned for it. Everything is relative to where you're at right now, and if you can be graceful and understanding with yourself, you can see what you're capable of and progress through the journey, too. Human bodies are wild. 

It seems like we have an unlimited ability to adapt to exercise torture.

Everything is so comfortable in modern sport, from the food to the gear. Sometimes niche endurance sport is the way of reconnecting with the struggle and strife of what it feels like to be uncomfortable and the reward of adapting to it — the human experience.

Do you have any bucket-list events coming up? 

No, just giving myself some time to enjoy it and take a break. I'll do Little and Big Sugar and connect with friends in Bentonville — more of a regular program for the next bit. Right now, I'm just trying to be really proud of myself and my body… happy with what she's achieved.

MAUDE’S LEADVILLE CHALLENGE RESULTS

Leadville Race Series

1st - Overall Female

Leadville Trail Marathon

3rd 

Silver Rush 50

1st

Leadville 100 MTB

1st

Leadville 10K

3rd

Leadville 100 Run

2nd

Total Time: 43 hours, 44 minutes, 40 seconds

RIDE LIKE MAUDE

Maude piloted our BC40 cross-country mountain bike on her way to win the Leadville Challenge. Fast, nimble, and efficient, it’s the perfect bike to keep quick and fresh when the challenge gets real. For shoes… that’s not our thing, but Maude may have some tips. Shop the bike that dominated in Leadville.