Races
Never Summer
Rand, Colorado. Never Summer hundred k. Twelve thousand feet above 8,500. Afternoon lightning is real.
- Start2,110 ft
- High2,137 ft
- Low2,110 ft
- Finish2,119 ft
Geometryderived
The cruxBowen Pass above 12,000 feet in July afternoon storms (near mile 40)
Course DNA
The Course
Never Summer runs 100 km through Colorado. +590 ft gain and -580 ft loss. Surfaces skew 80% trail / 20% forest road. Bowen Pass above 12,000 feet in July afternoon storms. High point near 2,137 ft. Low near 2,110 ft. July temps run 30°F to 75°F. The course rewards patience early and punishes rushed descents after mile 31.
The Work
Train for 590 feet of climbing across 100 km. Back-to-back long runs on trail. Practice power-hiking grades above 15 percent. 24 hours total means limited margin: rehearse fueling every 45 to 60 minutes and downhill eccentric work weekly. Technicality 5/10. Build a block that simulates the crux near mile 40.
Kit
July in Colorado: plan for 30°F to 75°F. Mandatory shell if rain is in forecast. Headlamp with spare batteries if 24 hours pushes past dark. Poles help on sustained climbs above mile 16. Vest capacity for 2 liters minimum. Shoes matched to 80% trail: lugs for mud, rock plate if the course turns technical after mile 31.
Race Day
Hold effort through mile 16. The field often splits on the first big climb after mile 31. Bowen Pass above 12,000 feet in July afternoon storms near mile 40 is where time is won or lost. Walk the steep pinches. Run the flats and gentle downhills. Crew at major aids: socks, calories, ice if hot. Transitions under 5 minutes when possible. Final third is 21 miles of fatigue management. Finish with reserve for the last descent.
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