For Ailsa MacDonald, simply arriving at the Leadville 100 starting line healthy feels like a victory.
After battling injuries throughout 2025, including hip issues, a bike crash, and persistent Achilles tendinitis, Ailsa was forced to withdraw from last year's race just one week before the start. At one point, she wasn't even sure she'd be healthy enough to use her deferred entry in 2026.
Instead, this year has been the exact opposite.
The injuries have faded, training has gone exceptionally well, and for the first time in a long time, she's completed an entire training cycle without significant setbacks. That alone has her feeling optimistic as she prepares for her third attempt at Leadville.
In this episode of Leadville Uncovered, Ailsa discusses balancing ultrarunning with an incredibly demanding work schedule that includes two weeks of night shifts followed by two weeks off. Rather than fighting against that schedule, she's learned to use it to her advantage, scheduling her biggest training weeks during her time off and using her work rotations as built-in recovery weeks.
The conversation also explores why iconic races like UTMB, Western States, and Leadville continue to pull her in. A former top-10 finisher at UTMB and Golden Ticket winner, Ailsa is drawn to the sport's biggest challenges and isn't afraid to seek out the races that test every aspect of an athlete.
She shares the lessons she's learned from previous Leadville attempts, including the importance of staying on top of nutrition at altitude, managing the heat on Hope Pass, and adopting a more disciplined fueling strategy that relies on eating by the clock rather than by hunger.
Perhaps the most surprising revelation?
Ailsa has never used a pacer. Not at Leadville. Not at Western States. Not ever. Instead, she prefers to tackle the challenge alone.
And despite all of her accomplishments, her goal for this year's race couldn't be simpler.
Finish.
Because after everything she's been through over the last two years, crossing that finish line would mean far more than any placing or podium result.
This episode of Leadville Uncovered is brought to you by OpenFuel Nutrition. Whether you're preparing for your first ultra or chasing a buckle at Leadville, OpenFuel delivers personalized sports nutrition designed specifically for endurance athletes. Corinne and Russell both rely on OpenFuel in training and racing. Use code UU25 to save 25% and support the show.
