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Even the harshest hardships can become strengths. As happened in a declining mining town that became a symbol of resilience, and found new life through an extreme race that embodies the ruggedness of the place.
Sometimes embracing one’s weaknesses and turning them into uniqueness can generate great change, both for a community and for each individual.
People often tend to hide their weaknesses. Sometimes, celebrating them might become the best solution. As in the case of Leadville, Colorado. At 3,100 meters above sea level, it is the highest city in the United States. A town that had developed around the 1800s with gold prospectors. Then it had had its heyday with the discovery of silver in the surrounding mountains. Many people moved there to live. It became populous. Then in the winter of 1982 Climax Molybdenum closed the last mine in the area, where 80 percent of the residents worked. The town becomes the poorest and most dangerous in the state within a few years. Alcoholism and family violence become its calling card. What salvation for an area characterized by harshness? Of the climate, the mountains, the people. Ken Chlouber, a former miner, had a crazy idea: turn weakness into strength. By creating a terrible race. As tough as the locals, as those mountains. In 1983, the Leadville 100 was born. Forty-five participants show up at the start, including Ken who ends up in the hospital for risking hypothermia. But those crazy people who run it fall in love with it. Rare air, snow-capped peaks, harsh conditions. Over the years, the media begin to celebrate it as one of the toughest races. Athletes arrive from all over the world.
Leadville changes face: from symbol of decline to icon of endurance sports.
Thousands of tourists arrive, millions of dollars and new job opportunities for the community. Today the city’s ruggedness is no longer its weakness. It has become its trademark. Among the most treasured phrases of the founder, who later also became Colorado’s senator, participants recall this one, recited in 2012 at the starting ribbons :
“This strength of Leadville will become part of you. And you will take it home. And you will be a better person, stronger, faster, tougher, more resilient. You will be able to handle bigger problems, bigger challenges. Because you know that when you find yourself in a difficult situation you can dig deep into that inexhaustible well of grit, courage and determination.”