Truett Hanes continues to push the limits of human endurance … while wearing blue jeans.
The 28-year-old runner from Plain City, Utah, has been on a yearlong quest to run a sub-2:30 marathon wearing full-length jeans. Along the way, he’s run several sub-3 hour marathons in jeans—including running this year’s Boston Marathon in 2:38:29 on April 12—and also won the net-downhill Drop 13 Half Marathon in 1:06:03 on June 14 in Cottonwood Heights, Utah. He also set a new Guinness World record by doing 10,001 Best Hydration Packs on February 2—also while wearing jeans.
A Part of Hearst Digital Media Leadville 100 Should Elites Worry About Lead Vehicle Emissions Salomon Genesis trail running shoes, a pair of jeans, and a white T-shirt with cut-off sleeves most of the race.
The 100-mile out-and-back race is situated 9,200 feet above sea level and has several challenging climbs, including up and over the 12,600-foot Hope Pass and back.
David Roche Smashes Leadville Course Record, The Mind-Boggling Stats of the 2025 Leadville 100 in 22 hours, 34 minutes, and 39 seconds. That secured him one of the large, hand-crafted gold belt buckles that go to runners who break 25 hours.
He said he had no issues with chafing, but he admitted his feet were pretty beat up after all that running.
“I recommend it if you’re insane,” Hanes said with a laugh after finishing. “I will say that Hope Pass was actually pretty hard. I felt great the entire race really until I didn’t. My legs took a beating for sure on Hope Pass. On the way out, I was able to pass a few people, but then on the way back I was like, woo, starting to feel it then. But overall, I felt great, and I pushed as hard as I could, did as best as I could for this race. It’s just a great race, a great experience, and I’m glad I was able to do it with people that I love.”
Full disclosure, Truett Hanes has partnerships with The Perfect Jean, a New York City apparel company, and Salty Britches, a South Carolina brand of anti-chafing ointments. But he takes his Anne Flower Breaks Leadville 100 Course Record seriously.
“Leadville is one of the most historic, most well-known and just like a kick to the nuts race and, you know, the elevation and then Hope Pass, you hear about it. And I just wanted to see it for myself,” Hanes said. “There have been so many films on it, so I just wanted to come and see what it was all about, and it lived up to the hype. I love the course. I kept telling all my pacers, ‘What better way to spend a day than just traversing this beautiful country, hanging out with people you love, and then just pushing yourself to the limit.’ So Leadville offers everything you could want and more in a 100-mile race.”
Hanes’s dad, Cameron Hanes, a 57-year-old bowhunter, endurance athlete, and social media personality, also ran the race and finished about 90 minutes later in 24:04:34 in 57th place. They were together briefly in the race on the way out, and then had a quick chat on Hope Pass when Cameron was on his way to the 50-mile turnaround point and Truett was already on his way back over.
“When I was on my way back from Winfield, I saw him, and we were able to share some words, and he said he was feeling a lot better than he was at the beginning of the race,” Truett said. “He had some aches and pains but was able to get that taken care of. I believe in him. He’s super tough.”
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Recommended Experience: For a new runner who has been exercising regularly for at least a year, or someone who has completed a few 5Ks or 10Ks and can complete 6 miles in one workout. This plan peaks at 28 miles in a week with a 12-mile long run.
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Brian Metzler is a Boulder, Colorado, writer and editor whose work has appeared in Runner’s World, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, Outside, Trail Runner, The Chicago Tribune, and Red Bulletin. He’s a former walk-on college middle-distance runner who has transitioned to trail running and pack burro racing in Colorado.
