Leadville 2026

It’s official!

Running the Leadville 100 is not just a physical challenge; it’s a metaphor for life…and investing. Ultra-distance running teaches you quickly that progress isn’t linear. There are highs, lows, pain, doubt, and moments where quitting feels like the only option.

Long-term investing works the same way. The journey matters more than any single mile or market cycle.

In both endurance running and investing, the biggest mistake is focusing on short-term discomfort instead of long-term purpose. In a 100-mile race, obsessing over how bad mile 30 feels guarantees failure at mile 60. Successful runners focus on process: fueling, pacing, rest, and discipline. Likewise, successful investors are no different, one doesn’t win by reacting emotionally to every downturn. They commit to a plan, focus on what they can control, and understand volatility is part of the journey. They stay disciplined when discomfort shows up—because it always does. There is no return without risk. 

Preparation also matters more than talent in both arenas. The Leadville 100 isn’t won on race day; it’s earned through months of consistent training, boring miles, and patience. Investing is no different. There are no shortcuts, no secret tricks—just sound strategy and fundamentals compounding over time. It’s months of blocking and tackling.  The investors who succeed aren’t the ones chasing the next hot stock; they’re the ones who respect the process and let compounding do the heavy lifting. Ultra is no different. And also like investing, the biggest determinant of our success isn’t the track or trail we face…It’s ourselves. 

Investing, at its core, is an exercise in optimism: a belief that patience, discipline, and consistency will carry you forward—one step, one mile, one decision at a time.

The nice thing about failure is…with the right attitude, it just becomes opportunity and a chance to do again. Thank you Leadville for another opportunity!

Matt