A message from Coach Chad:

As I sit here and type this, it’s December 23, 2024. A few of the major ultra lotteries have come and gone leaving most of us disappointed… or perhaps relieved. The quest to gain entry into a major 100-mile ultra race can take the better part of a decade. With thousands of entrants and low odds of getting pulled this is becoming increasingly commonplace. Considering that most have some sort of qualifying race component to enter the lotteries each year makes the journey that much more daunting.

Gone are the days of non-elite runners with ten plus Western States or Leadville finishes. I started my ultra journey hearing about local Oklahoma runners and legends in my book. To name a few, there’s Harry Deupree, Chisholm Deupree and Jack Christian. These guys have ultra careers spanning 40 years. They were largely mid pack runners on a national level. I won’t dare try to list all of their achievements, but you can do a quick Ultra Signup search for yourself.

The one that stands out most to me is Harry and Chisholm Deupree’s 10+ Leadville finishes. To my knowledge, they are the only father son combo both having 10 or more Leadville finishes. This lottery season is my 4th year entering Western States and will be my 7th year for Leadville. I love this sport. It’s changed and shaped my life for the better. I’m incredibly impressed and excited about the growth of the sport but at the same time slightly sad for what it’s become. I will never be a 10-time Leadville or Western States finisher. I will be lucky to be a 1-time finisher and that is 99% out of my control. I’m competing for one spot against ten thousand people in races that have entrant caps in the hundreds. To be exact, Western States had 9,993 lottery applicants for 257 spots. In my 4th year of entering the lottery, I had 8 tickets with a 3.3% chance of being drawn. However, I have no idea what my odds are for Leadville.

I hold the Western States Board of Directors in high regard for their exceptional transparency and professionalism throughout the lottery process. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for Lifetime Fitness and Leadville. I know I’m venturing into beating a dead horse territory here but, the process for Leadville needs a change. When I first entered the Lottery eight years ago, I was extremely excited and admittedly extremely underprepared if drawn. Probably best that I wasn’t. I’ve entered the lottery six more times since then with the same amount of hope but slowly diminishing excitement. I’d still like to run the race, but Leadville is not the same race it was eight years ago.

As lottery entry is now closed with the January 7th lottery date looming, I wish I could tell you the odds of being drawn. I wish I could tell you how many entrants there are. I wish I could tell you how many Lifetime Fitness Members will be granted an automatic entry. If you don’t know, you can easily buy your way into Leadville by purchasing a Lifetime Fitness membership six months prior to the lottery… which I refuse to do. You can pay $199-399 per month (8 months) for coaching that comes with a guaranteed entry. You can pay $1,800 for the training camp and an entry but supply is limited. You can buy a charity entry for $3,200. You can volunteer and accrue hours to put towards an automatic entry. This is commendable but you must log 15+ hours to be eligible for “preference”. I’m not even sure what that means. For this year’s lottery, I’m lucky enough to have been gifted 18 volunteer hours from a good friend. He was drawn for an automatic entry at the Silver Rush 50 last year so didn’t need them. This means I will receive “preference” in the lottery.

As the lottery date approaches, I can’t help but reflect on what truly makes ultra-running special. It’s not just the bucket-list races or the prestige of finishing a 100-miler. It’s the people; the connections we build on the trails, the shared struggles, and the unwavering support of this incredible community.

While big races like Western States and Leadville have their place in the ultra-world, the heart of our sport lies in the local ultras, organized by runners who understand what it means to give back. These grassroots races remind us that ultra running is about more than entry lists and finish lines—it’s about finding joy in the journey and lifting each other up along the way. So, whether my name is drawn or not, my lodging and flights are booked. I’ll be out there, running and crewing, doing what I love most: being part of this community. Because in the end, it’s not about how many times you cross a particular finish line. It’s about the miles we share, the stories we create, and the bonds we form that last far beyond any race.

Let’s keep showing up for one another—on the trails, at the aid stations, and in our local races.

That’s the real finish line, and it’s one we can all cross together.

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Coach Chad Hetrick

P.S. We'd love to help you on your ultra journey! Click here to find out more about Run the Riot Coaching!​

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