The sky’s the limit; really. Can you imagine a 100-mile mountain-bike race at over a mile up? I feel breathless merely thinking about it.

But a lot of riders head for Leadville, Colorado for just such an event. The course starts at over 10,000 feet altitude; and reaches well over 14,000 feet. The climbs/descents add up to something like 15,000 vertical feet.

As this is a MTB event, I expect the ground to be covered tends to be pretty rough. Rougher ground means greater effort merely to keep moving forward. I notice that whenever I have to ride over a rough patch in the road; never mind climbing over such a surface.

So just think of the calorie requirements of riders in the Leadville 100! That’s a lot of Power Crunch Bars, rice cakes, and Clif Bars. GU-Gels, too.

And the hydration necessary! Leadville’s climate is semi-arid. That seems very dry to me; all the more so as I live where average annual rainfall is 60 inches.

Fill up that Camel-Bak; and refill it at every opportunity! Better to have a bit more of a load on your back, than to “ride light” and get dehydrated.

The Leadville 100 race sounds like a grueling event. To begin with, there’s the altitude. Merely qualifying to participate requires riding events with long, tough courses; lots of climbing is included. Earning a spot in the Leadville 100 is an accomplishment to be proud of.

Finishing in less than 9 hours earns you a large gold and silver belt buckle. Need a little longer? Finish in less than 12 hours and you still win a silver belt buckle.

Those riders have quite a piece of work cut out for them. They’ll really have to, um, get the lead out. They’ll also have to remember that the sky’s the limit.