September 4, 2025 |

Start with a Plan: How Running the Leadville Trail 100 Made Me Better at Business

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In 2007, I ran my first 100-mile race, the Leadville Trail 100, without much of a plan.


I started running in the summer of 2006 after having a tough start to my 05/06 ski season due to being pretty out of shape. I didn’t want to repeat that in 06/07, so I started dryland training that summer to prep.


I was enjoying myself and, knowing how my brain works, decided to set a goal to encourage myself to keep running. I picked finishing the LT100 as my goal for 2007.


(The wisdom of that particular goal could certainly be called into question.)


Long story short, I didn’t really have a clue how to train for an ultra. Certainly planned what I could, assembled a great crew of friends to support me, and did what I thought I needed to do to put myself in a position to finish.


Without a coach, going on anecdotal information about how to train and run 100 miles, and with a tendency to overdo things at times, I found myself a bit broken 6 weeks before the race with a knee issue.


I did end up starting, but dropped out at about mile 72. And I was wrecked for weeks afterward.


3 years later, I ran it again.


This time, I took a different approach. I had a coach, a plan, a training schedule, and the right support to get me across the finish line. My last 8 miles (mostly uphill) were faster than my first 8, and I was back to running again the next day and finished the Denver Marathon in 3 hours and 8 minutes just 3 months after finishing the LT100.


Why am I sharing this seemingly non-business-related information on LinkedIn?


Because my experience running Leadville made me a better businessperson.


It taught me that starting with a plan helps you get to where you want to go.


That consistency is an important part of one’s success.


Engaging with a coach can help you avoid injury and stay on track.


And that I can accomplish a lot more than I ever thought possible.


You don’t need to run an ultra to understand the value of a solid plan. If you’ve got a business goal and want a clearer path to get there, start by dropping us a line. We’ll help you map the route.

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Thoughtful strategy. Practical execution.

Clear thinking, honest perspectives, and experience shaped by years of doing the work. No shortcuts, no borrowed opinions, just lessons learned by showing up, solving problems, and following ideas all the way through.

Hands holding a tablet displaying a video player interface. The video is paused.

Two videos…

February 20, 2026
In case you hadn’t seen these (and also for my friends at Adventure Film ), here are a couple of must-see running movies from Joel Wolpert:  Geoff Roes: Slogging to the Top
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Long time running…

October 27, 2015
Guess who’s back. Back again. ~ Eminem  Still working out some kinks in the site but hoping to be more active and on the regular up in this joint. Quick catch up: 2013: NYC was a bust. I experienced a heel problem which led to a hamstring problem and I shut down my quest for an NYC finish. At least for now. The remainder of 2013 was spent trying to get uninjured. 2014: Injuries persisted in 2014. When the heel/hammy started feeling ready to run again, I broke my ankle bouldering. Literally came off the wall a foot and a half off the ground and popped my ankle. Whee. So more recovery and I pretty much switched to riding mountain bikes for the year. 2015: Back at it in 2015. Running pretty well. A bit off my game from day’s past but still having fun. Even entered a few races which didn’t go well. Just trying to figure things out and stay happy/healthy. More to come, I promise. ~stubert.
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Tabatas: Under-appreciated fitness boosters

August 24, 2013
I hurt myself today . ~ N.I.N. Ah the Tabata. Some people hate them, others love them. In the moment, they can be the bane of my existence but after rocking out a few sets, I really tend to notice the benefits. For the uninitiated, a Tabata can be applied to virtually any exercise type (cycling; swimming; push-ups; chess, I assume) but since I am a runner, I tend to knock these out while running. Go figure. Here’s the formula: Go as hard as you can for 20 seconds Rest for 10 seconds Repeat 8 times Feel free to do multiple sets Four minutes (per set) of activity doesn’t sound like much, but if done correctly, these can really help boost your fitness. I tend to replace strides with one Tabata on Fridays and will work in multiple sets as part of my Tuesday interval training. Just keep good form, really work the 20s and you’ll reap the benefits. ~stubert.