30 Hours to Run 100 Miles (Leadville 100)

This goes down as the absolute craziest thing we have ever done!!! And this day would not have been possible without SO many incredible people. THANK YOU TO:

- @kevin_wolf - the only reason we have epic videos of this crazy experience! Kevin stayed up all night with us and captured the Leadville 100 beautifully.
- Our incredibly talented editing team: My girl Brooke Zyla and @atbreet for the crazy amount of time and effort that it took to bring this story to life!
- @UltraTrailSteven and @GabeParkerVlogz for the extra footage!
- OUR CREW!! Rick & Bec, Evie & Frankie, Dusty & Sarah, and Christie & James who selflessly spent so many hours/days of their lives to taking care of us, both before and during (&after) the event. Best crew and friends we could ask for!!
- And thank you to everyone who came out for the smiles, cheers, signs, gifts, and love for Nate!

Episode 937 | Filmed August 2024 | Leadville, CO

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Who are Kara and Nate?!

Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, we got married 2013 and were super “normal.” I was a teacher and Nate started a small printing business from the spare bedroom of our apartment.

We discovered the world of “travel hacking” while planning our honeymoon & became addicted ;)

So after 2 years of obsessively saving $35k and over 2 million miles and points, we sold our cars and apartment and left home January 10, 2016 for a “one year” trip around the world.

Our goal was to see as many places as possible before we ran out of money and went back home to “normal life.” We started this channel to share our experiences with friends and family, but quickly fell in love with living on the road and found a new passion for capturing our travels through video. So we did everything we could to keep going.

4 years later, we achieved our new goal of visiting 100 countries and all 7 continents. We had no plans to slow down, until 2020 forced us to ;) Which is when we bought a converted van to start exploring our own country for the first time!

After ~2 years of van life, we are back to full time international traveling! And now we are in our 9TH YEAR of finding the best adventures the world has to offer :)

We are incredibly grateful to be able to continue doing something we love every day. 😊🎥🌎 Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our journey!

00:00:00 the Leadville 100 Run
00:02:54 2 am wake up
00:08:07 4 am starting line
00:10:40 crew’s morning drama
00:19:40 12 miles in - Mayqueen
00:28:18 27 miles in - Pipeline
00:35:18 40 miles in - Twin Lakes
00:44:25 Hardest part of the race - Hope Pass
00:52:16 HALFWAY at Winfield
00:58:03 60 miles in: pacer time!
01:07:04 12:10 a.m. 20 hours in
01:12:29 1:50 a.m. 22 hours in
01:21:53 5:00 a.m. 25 hours in
01:26:56 7:00 a.m. 27 hours in
01:28:18 hour 28 to the 30 hr cut off

[SammahSaysHi]

Not enough people are talking about how great Rick is here. His support is so practical and grounded, but enthusiastic. It’s exactly the kind of thing I’d want to hear when I’m doing something hard

[deedra]

2 weeks of feature-length films. THANK YOU for sharing for FREE on YouTube. You continue to be my all time favorite YouTubers before 1 million and after. Beautiful people.

[sarahtheparalyzer]

Rick is such a dad. I love that he comforts you and tells you it’s going to be a great day after feeling that you were stressed.

[emilykloth]

Oh man, when Nate's Dad ran along with him... I lost it. You are a rich man, Nathan. To have the love and support of so many family members (your uncles are awesome-crazy), friends, so many ride-or-dies in your life. You build into them and they build into you. This is community. This is love.

[wanderingcord]

Can we all just appreciate that at every aid station and every sign Nate seen with his name on it he thanked each and every person for the support! He was definitely raised right! Most people in that situation would be struggling to make it through and just focusing on the task at hand but it isn’t even an extra thought for him to be thankful for everyone around him including strangers!

[lphle]

I’m not a huge commenter even though I’ve watched you for years. I’m sitting here, sobbing healing tears. I just started law school at 30 while taking care of my dad full time and working a full time job. Today, I had two people tell me (gently) that they don’t think I can do it. This video of people who love each other and rally around a goal gave me peace today. Thank you and congratulations!!!!

[kylik]

Not me crying less than 10 minutes into the video 😭 This internet stranger is so proud of you!

[amygartside]

Loved the video! My father ran the Leadville 100 three times, and watching this brought back so many memories. My father passed away in 2017, and we still have his Leadville belt buckles and finisher jackets. Way to go Nate, and great job to Kara for crewing. I was crew to my dad and it is a tough job! You both crushed it!

[michaelleighm]

1. Why am I crying?
2. I am so invested in Nate finishing this race.
3. I am living for Rick being in these videos. I want him to be my friend and life coach.
4. Pop is adorable.

Way to go, Nate!!!

[latesh]

Actually the best Kara and Nate video in my opinion. Deserving to be a Netflix documentary, this is better than most documentaries I have seen on there. Everyone is proud of you Nate and Rick for your accomplishments.❤

[rajtrivedi]

Who else cried when Nate finished the race!? I definitely did. ❤

[bethgable]

Dear Nate and Kara the two of you have inspired me a 60 year old woman with chronic back and foot pain. I have done little to no exercising because of the amount of pain I feel when I even just try to do the dishes. You have inspired me to go back to physical therapy once more and to start doing chair exercises and work my way up to going for walks. I've been wanting to go for a long leisurely for along time just seeing you walk and run in pain has given me inspiration to try myself. So I won't have cheer leaders and a crew team but I may lose some more weight in the process that will be my cherry on top of the pie. Say a prayer for me if you don't mind . Sincerely Beth G. Peace be with you!. As you travel to new and better journeys. ❤🎉😊

[BDaytona]

I have to tell you….I am a 58 yr old combat Infantryman and I am sitting here crying. This video, what you did was amazing and inspirational beyond words. I wish I was as tough as you. Complete respect.

[sjwee]

Pop’s videos were killing me 😂 him just randomly appearing in the grass is so funny LOVE YOU POP

[rosie-yogi]

This morning I screamed at my husband "KARA AND NATE POSTED THEIR LEADVILLE VIDEO!!" and I have cried numerous times throughout watching this. So so proud of you guys!!!

[MitchandSophie]

So Nate, this is the closest I will ever be to the Leadville and I would like to thank you for taking us on this journey with you. Not only did you finish this race but you did it all with a camera, YOU ARE A LEGEND. I would like to thank you both for sharing this and all your other adventures. You inspire so many with your passion. Kara, I wish everyone was able to have such a great cheer leader on their team. Your love and passion for each others dreams is so very beautiful to watch. Well done to you both. Take care and get off those feet. See you next time.

[goretown_]

You beautiful people have absolutely no idea how much you can save people, I know because you saved me, I am a 66 year old uk guy who's wife passed away 5 years ago leaving me high and dry she was my best friend, my lover, and my guiding light i was well and truly screwed .
I came across Kara and Nate by accident on YouTube and I can't thank you enough for living a life so full and adventurous
Thank you thank you thank you to you both and your wonderful family..and remember yo have an enormous affect on people's lives that you could never grasp

[laurastrickland]

I’m not a runner, not competitive, never met Kara & Nate but here I am emotional MULTIPLE times while watching this.
The friendships, encouragement and positivity is so amazing to watch.

[jnbond]

Uncle Alan, "Can't think of anything to say to encourage you...but I can tell you what I do know...I think you're an idiot..." Had me just cracking up laughing!! But Grandpa's limerick was the best!! Bless him!! Aww just amazing Nate!!! and you too Kara and the rest of the team!! Just super!!! Loved being able to be along for the whole race!! You killed it!!

[Kim]

Seeing everyone rally around and take care of Nate makes me kind of emotional. What an amazing support system!