History was made in the Colorado Rockies on August 22nd, and the running world is still buzzing about it.
Brian Reynolds crossed the finish line of the Leadville Trail 100 in 28 hours, 55 minutes, and 43 seconds — becoming the first double amputee ever to complete one of the most brutal ultramarathons on the planet.
It didn’t happen on his first try, or his second, or even his third.
This was attempt number four — and the story of how he got there is the kind that stops you mid-scroll.
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A Journey That Started Before He Could Remember
Reynolds was just four years old when meningococcemia — a severe bacterial blood infection — claimed both of his legs below the knee.
He has lived, competed, and redefined the possible on prosthetic limbs ever since.
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Taking up running roughly 12 years ago, Reynolds didn’t just participate — he dominated, setting multiple world records on the road in his classification across distances ranging from the 5K to the marathon.
But Leadville? Leadville was the mountain he couldn’t conquer. Until now.
Four Attempts, One Relentless Mission
Reynolds first toed the Leadville start line in 2023, pushing through 50 miles before his race ended there.
He came back the next year. Then the year after that. Each time, falling short of the race’s unforgiving 30-hour cutoff.
For 2026, he arrived differently prepared.
Reynolds brought spare sets of running legs and interchangeable treads he could swap out mid-race — a tactical adjustment born from years of hard-earned experience on that course. He had also been training specifically for Leadville since January, eight full months of preparation leaning heavily on cross training.
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- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
The plan looked flawless through the early miles. He was the fastest para man over the opening third of the race and sat in second through the middle stretch.
Then, around mile 70, his calves seized up.
With 30 miles still to go, Reynolds walked. Most of it. Through altitude. Through darkness. Through whatever the Colorado mountains had left to throw at him.
He crossed the finish line with one hour and four minutes to spare before the cutoff closed forever.
A Course Unlike Any Other This Year
If completing Leadville wasn’t already hard enough, 2026 runners faced an entirely rerouted course — courtesy of the Willow Fire.
The blaze forced organizers to close Hagerman Pass Road, Sugarloaf Mountain, and the iconic Powerline section before race week even began. Rather than cancel, the race sent its 656 starters around Turquoise Lake, dropped the May Queen aid station, and added Carter Summit and the Turquoise Lake dam to the route.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
The adjusted course measured 99.7 miles with approximately 13,357 feet of climbing — significantly less elevation than the 15,492 feet the race plans to list for its 2027 edition. The grueling out-and-back over Hope Pass, cresting at 12,526 feet and crossed twice, remained completely untouched.
Of 656 starters, only 387 made the cutoff. That’s a finish rate of just 59 percent — a sharp reminder that no version of Leadville is a gift.
Where Reynolds Landed in the Field
Reynolds finished third in the para men’s division behind Jared Ewing, who clocked an extraordinary 24:39:52 — fast enough to earn Leadville’s coveted large belt buckle, awarded to any runner breaking 25 hours.
Adam Popp, an above-knee amputee and Air Force explosive ordnance disposal veteran, placed second in 28:31:50. Matt Miller crossed just seven seconds after Reynolds, in 28:55:50, in what amounted to an incredible photo finish in ultramarathon terms.
Meanwhile, Adrian Macdonald claimed the overall race win in 15:47:23 — his third Leadville title — while McKendree Hickory took the women’s crown in her Leadville debut, finishing in 19:39:12.
A Historic Month for Adaptive Ultra Running
Reynolds wasn’t the only one rewriting the record books this August.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Just eight days after his Leadville finish, Julien Veysseyre became the first amputee ever to complete UTMB — the legendary Mont Blanc loop — finishing in 44:16:04 on August 30th. UTMB runs no para classification, so Veysseyre competed directly in the men’s 35-39 age group alongside able-bodied runners.
Two firsts. Two athletes. Eight days apart. The same month.
Amputees have been finishing 100-mile races for over 15 years — Amy Palmiero-Winters, a below-knee amputee, completed Western States all the way back in 2010 — but no bilateral below-knee amputee had ever crossed a Leadville finish line before Reynolds did on August 22nd.
What Comes Next for Reynolds
After four years of attempts, a history-making finish, and 30 miles on cramping legs, Reynolds could be forgiven for saying he’s done with Leadville.
Instead, he’s already planning to go back.
Reynolds told iRunFar that he intends to return to the race — not as a competitor next time, but to crew, pace, and volunteer, giving back to the event that tested him more than any other.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
That says everything you need to know about who Brian Reynolds is.
The mountain didn’t break him. It just took four tries to show it who was in charge.
