In the world of professional running and athletics, Alexi Pappas is a name that resonates with determination, courage, and resilience. Olympian, award-winning writer, and filmmaker, Alexi is no stranger to challenging herself and venturing into uncharted territories. Her recent endeavor, the Leadville 100-mile Trail Run, stands as a testament to her unwavering spirit and her willingness to embrace the unknown, even if it means stumbling and learning along the way.
Embracing Unfamiliar Terrain: Alexi Takes on the Leadville 100
The Leadville 100-mile Trail Run is a grueling race that spans through extreme Rocky Mountain terrain, taking participants on a journey from 10,200 feet to a staggering 12,600 feet in elevation. For Alexi, this race was a significant departure from her previous shorter-distance track and road running experiences. Admittedly underprepared and undertrained for the ultra-distance race, she approached it with a blend of curiosity and determination, eager to explore the depths of her physical and mental capabilities.
Covering 100 Miles: Walking a Humbling Path
One of the most humbling lessons that Alexi learned during the race was about ego and humility. As an elite runner, the idea of walking, especially in a race, was something that Alexi never considered. However, after completing 60 miles and battling pain and fatigue, she had to make the tough decision to walk the remaining 40 miles to the finish line. This experience gave her a newfound appreciation for both the efficiency of running and inefficiency of walking! It required immense humility for someone of her caliber to embrace walking as a means to succeed.
Pacing Lessons: From Marathons to Ultra-Distances
Pacing, a skill that Alexi had mastered over the marathon distance, proved to be a different challenge in the Leadville 100. Fearful of missing cutoff times, she began the race at an intense pace, even finding herself at the forefront of the women’s race. Her competitive spirit pushed her to press on, but her inexperience with ultra-distances eventually caught up with her. While her cutoff anxieties were unfounded, her pacing errors took a toll, causing a significant slow down. Despite this setback, Alexi finished the race in 27 hours and 47 minutes, well within the 30-hour cutoff, but far short of her earlier projected finish time.
Confronting Challenges in Races: Mental and Physical Battlegrounds
Throughout the Leadville 100, Alexi encountered a barrage of mental and physical challenges that she had to navigate. From extreme body pain and fatigue, to pacing errors and ultrarunning inexperience, each hurdle tested her endurance both mentally and physically. On the physical front, she faced severe dehydration, muscle aches, and the unforgiving mountainous terrain. Her mental challenges included: extreme pain, fatigue, pacing errors, ultrarunning inexperience and uncertainty, cutoff anxieties, making the decision to walk, and more. With the support of her pacer and crew team, the incredible volunteers and other athletes involved in the Leadville 100 who were only too happy to help, alongside Alexi’s mental resilience, strong mantras and motivations, she conquered the race and finished!
The Triumph of Mind and Body: Crossing the Finish Line
Alexi’s journey through the Leadville 100 isn’t just a testament to her personal strength; it’s also a testament to the power of growth, learning, and the courage to embrace challenges head-on. Her experience encapsulates the beauty of pushing boundaries and finding strength in vulnerability. It’s a reminder that even the most accomplished individuals have moments of uncertainty, and it’s in those moments that the seeds of growth are sown.
Lessons for Young Minds: Alexi’s New Book “Bravey (Adapted for Young Readers)”
Beyond her athletic feats, Alexi is also a celebrated author, known for her book “Bravey: Chasing Dreams, Befriending Pain, and Other Big Ideas.” Recently, she has adapted this inspiring book for younger readers in “Bravey (Adapted for Young Readers).” The book, filled with wisdom and bravery, offers insights and lessons that can empower young minds to face their own challenges with courage and resilience.
Alexi’s journey through the Leadville 100 isn’t just a testament to her personal strength; it’s also a testament to the power of growth, learning, and the courage to embrace challenges head-on. Her experience encapsulates the beauty of pushing boundaries and finding strength in vulnerability. It’s a reminder that even the most accomplished individuals have moments of uncertainty, and it’s in those moments that the seeds of growth are sown.
Beyond her athletic feats, Alexi is also a celebrated author, known for her book “Bravey: Chasing Dreams, Befriending Pain, and Other Big Ideas.” Recently, she has adapted this inspiring book for younger readers in “Bravey (Adapted for Young Readers).” The book, filled with wisdom and bravery, offers insights and lessons that can empower young minds to face their own challenges with courage and resilience.
Alexi Pappas’ journey through the Leadville 100 Trail Run serves as an inspiration to us all. It reminds us that the path to growth is often paved with challenges, and it’s our response to those challenges that define our journey. As we lace up our shoes and step onto our own trails, may we carry with us the spirit of curiosity, humility, and unwavering determination that Alexi embodies.