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John Russell

John Russell's sports column appears Sundays in Steamboat Today. Contact him at 871-4209 or e-mail jrussell@SteamboatToday.com.

Steamboat Springs — There are only a few things that truly amaze me when it comes to sports.

I’m amazed that hundreds of thousands of people watch NASCAR drivers race around in circles for hours. I’m amazed that any athlete can be as dominating as Michael Phelps in swimming or Tiger Woods in golf — at least a few years ago.

Then last week I reported on a handful of Steamboat Springs athletes who left me in awe. Michael Hlavacek, Allen Belshaw and John Williams ran in the Leadville 100 Trail Run, and I’m still blown away.

All three covered the grueling 100-mile course in less than 30 hours, with Hlavacek leading the pack of local racers and finishing in just more than 22 hours. These guys ran around the clock, climbed over mountain passes most of us wouldn’t dare walk over, and did it voluntarily.

For a guy who has to psych himself up for a 20-minute romp around my neighborhood, this is a truly amazing feat on feet.

How can a person run for that long and for that far? How can you prepare for an adventure that is guaranteed to push the body to its limits and is sure to leave you drained and sore?

Throughout the years, I have covered many top endurance athletes. Some ride bikes, some complete inspirational cross-country journeys and a few, like these runners, leave me speechless.

The amazing thing is that for most of these athletes, this is not a one-time thing. Belshaw had planned to run in four 100-mile races this summer. He has completed two of three and is not sure if he wants to attempt the fourth, which will take place in Utah in a few weeks.

I can’t imagine why he would have to think about something like that. You think about making a 400-mile car trip, not running that distance in your running shoes.

But these athletes are different than me, and most of you.

They thrive on the type of challenges that leave the rest of us in awe, and they are pushed by an internal force that propels them to accomplish extraordinary things.

For them, running a marathon is like a warmup. They want to find out what their bodies are capable of doing when the pressure is really on. I admire them and I’m glad that I get to write about guys like Michael, Allen and John. I encourage them to keep pushing the limits, and I encourage them to keep making us all realize what the human body is capable of — even if mine is not.

To reach John F. Russell, call 970-871-4209 or email jrussell@SteamboatToday.com