On August 16, I set out on my third attempt to conquer the Leadville Trail 100 Run, a 100-mile trek through extreme terrain and wild heights in the Colorado Rockies.
I had attempted the race twice before and fallen short — making it 44 miles the first year and 62 miles the next.
But this year I had extra inspiration: the stories of 100 kids at Manning Family Children’s, where I serve as president and CEO, who fight battles far tougher than any obstacle I would face on the course.
I decided to dedicate each mile to one of those 100 patients. I carried all of their names and courageous and inspiring stories with me across the rugged terrain of the Rockies, up more than 15,000 feet in elevation for nearly 30 hours of nonstop running.
Or better yet, they carried me.
From the moment I announced I would make another attempt to finish one of the most grueling ultramarathons in the world, I began repeating in my head the mantra that helped me get through it: “100 miles. 100 kids. One mission.”
Finding true resilience
Running 100 miles requires far more than physical strength. Training and discipline prepared me for the first 40 miles. The final 60 demanded something deeper: purpose.
I had very low moments when I thought about giving up. I was freezing, then sweating, and often both. I was exhausted, nauseated, and felt as though I didn’t have an ounce of energy to keep going.
In those moments, I felt the connection between my personal struggle and the hospital’s mission. I could endure 30 hours for these kids. It’s nothing compared to what they go through.
At mile 40, when my body was breaking down, I thought about Walker, who bravely fought brain cancer.
Another was for a young gunshot survivor, Rick. Rick had all of the odds stacked against him and has every reason to feel defeated. But he perseveres, discovering his purpose in the aftermath of a trauma no child should ever face.
Four miles were in memory of four children who didn’t make it, despite their courage and fearlessness.
Each child gave me a reason to keep going. When I was exhausted, I leaned into their courage and resilience.
For the final mile of the Leadville 100, I was joined by a remarkable 15-year-old patient of ours named Brian Marelo. He was born with spina bifida and has endured more than 20 surgeries. Today, Brian competes in wheelchair races and other accessible sports.
Watching him roll beside me during my final mile made all the moments I wanted to give up simply vanish. Brian’s strength helped carry me through to the finish line.
This is the real lesson I’ve learned from our kids at Manning Family Children’s. Setbacks don’t mean you give up. They mean you show up – again and again.
No mountain is insurmountable
When I crossed the finish line, I knew: it wasn’t that I did it. We did it. My family, my coworkers, our patients, their parents, and our community — we crossed as a team. There was no I. At every single mile, it was always we.
It’s this very spirit of teamwork that defines the care provided at Manning Family Children’s. Families don’t face their child’s illness alone. Physicians, nurses, therapists, social workers, and other staff rally around them, each bringing their expertise, but working together toward a shared purpose: providing the very best care and support for every child under our care. Every day, I see our staff lock arms with families and walk with them through the hardest moments.
That’s what I call resilience. That’s what I call endurance inspired by hope and purpose.
At Manning Family Children’s, we have countless kids who are in the race of their lives — right now. And we are here to stand with them, to be a part of their support system — a team each child can rely upon, every day of their journey.
