• From Steve Siguaw, Pine, 18-time Leadville Trail 100 finisher: My training starts in earnest as soon as the snow melts off the trails in Leadville, usually the beginning of June.

One day a week, I run the same trails used during the race. The distance varies from 27 miles to 44 miles, depending on my training schedule. My last long run is four weeks before the actual race; afterward, I begin tapering.

During the winter and spring, I keep in marathon shape by running about 70 miles per week. For my build-up before Leadville, I will peak at about 120 miles per week.

I consider this training mileage excessive, but it has worked for me. Remember, as (running author and philosopher) George Sheehan always maintained, "We are all an experiment of one."

• From Matt Watts, Broomfield: As a finisher and a DNFer (did not finish) at Leadville, I am going to give you a bit of unsolicited advice: Learn how to power walk. You, as well as most people, will be walking much of the course. If you can learn to walk strongly, it will help you immensely.

Run some at night to get used to running with a flashlight. Run on some rougher trails to get used to running on rocks.

Running the long back-to-back runs is very important to get used to running on tired legs.

Ken (Chlouber, race president) is right; unless you are trying to win, running 100 miles a week will just get you injured or burned out.

• From Tim Enboden, Highlands Ranch, four-time Leadville Trail 100 finisher: Altitude training is key. Everyone reacts differently in high altitude.

If you're a Leadville Trail 100 finisher or ultrarunner with tips to share, please e-mail them to findlayb@com for publication next month. Please include your hometown and a brief running history.