ADRIAN
MACDONALD
Two-time Leadville 100 Champion


About Adrian
I have been running competitively since I started indoor track as a sophomore at Westwood High School in Massachusetts during the winter of 2004. Since then, I have enjoyed competing in all types of running events from 4x400 relays on the track to cross country races and road marathons.
2022 Finish Line Scenes
This year my racing was highlighted by two 100 mile wins at Leadville and Kosciuszko but also included a half marathon PB on the roads, getting humbled but learning a lot in the desert, facing new challenges in the @cirqueseries and many training runs into the mountains and canyons all over the country.
While I love the competitions and training for them, my success has given me the opportunity and confidence to meet many other runners, photographers, filmmakers, podcasters, shoe engineers, race directors and more. The passion that all these people share for the sport is infectious.
2022 was also the year that @on_running and @ultimatedirectionusa helped me realize a childhood dream by making me a professional athlete. It has been great to have them provide so much opportunity and join my already supportive team.
I’m taking some much needed rest to start the year but am looking forward to the many races, mountains and people that I will encounter in 2023!
#runonclouds #designedbyathletesforathletes #selfpropelled
📷s:
1️⃣: @sportograf
2️⃣: @petermaksimow
3️⃣: @austcorb
Behind the Scenes: Eating Bread
During all of my previous ultra races I’ve fueled with mostly gels and gummies. At Kosci, I made an effort to try and eat some real food. That was mostly in the form of PB&J tortillas and this piece of bread at the 110k Check Point.
#runonclouds #designedbyathletesforathletes #selfpropelled #ultratrailkosciuszko
Today I race 100 miles in Australia’s Snowy Mountains as part of the inaugural@ultratrailkosciuszko! There are three spots to next summer’s UTMB up for grabs. The race starts at 6 am here in Australia. That’s noon in Colorado. Follow along at the link in my bio!
Thanks to my sponsors @on_running and @ultimatedirectionusa for their continued support and for @utmbworldseries for helping to make this trip possible. And a special thanks to @nickaclarkco who has traveled to support me during the race.
#runonclouds #designedbyathletesforathletes #selfpropelled #ultratrailkosciuszko
📷: @fearnowka
We’re adjusting well here in Australia! Our first stop was in the Blue Mountains. They aren’t really mountains but they sure are scenic!
I’m feeling grateful to have Nick traveling with me (thanks @ultimatedirectionusa) and to have been connected with Aussie running legend, Ben, who was more than willing to share his favorite local running routes with us.
Now we’re off to the Snowy Mountains that will be the venue for @ultratrailkosciuszko on Friday.
#runonclouds #ultratrailkosciuszko
📷: @benny_saintgram
I had a great little training camp in Arizona the past two weeks featuring three trips into the Grand Canyon, lots of exploring in Flagstaff, World Cup Soccer and some quality time with my parents.
I’m back in cold, snowy, Fort Collins for another week before I head off to Australia for the @ultratrailkosciuszko 100 Miler!
Also, cheering for Australia today against Denmark! Hopefully they’re still in it when we get there.
#runonclouds #designedbyathletesforathletes #selfpropelled #ultratrailkosciuszko
I ran 1:11:31 at the Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon on Saturday and finished 71st - humbling! It was rainy and windy like I expected and I let myself get flustered by that and all the craziness at the start line of a big city race. However, few miles into the race I stopped worrying about my lack of a pre-race bathroom stop, refocused and got a good effort, hard out of it.
The highlight of the weekend was spending time with family and friends like these guys from the Greater Boston Track Club who raced the marathon. I ran with GBTC for 5 years before moving to Colorado. Many great runners and people have been a part of the club. They will be celebrating their 50th Anniversary next summer!
#runonclouds
In college, we had to write a race journal after every race. When my college coach called to congratulate me, he asked that I’d write one for him about my Leadville race. You can also read it on my Strava or at the link in my bio!
#runonclouds #designedbyathletesforathletes #selfpropelled
📷: @mathiasgruber_
Behind the scenes with my crew and pacers at the mile 77 Outward Bound Aid Station.
If things are going well, I don’t spend much time in an aid station. Here Alistair, who was pacing me at the time, asked what I needed and then sprinted ahead to tell the others so they could prepare.
The other part of story with my crew is that Jeff twisted his ankle halfway between Twin Lakes and Half Pipe and ran with me for 5 miles on what we’ve since found out was a broken ankle! He tapped Alistair in a few miles early at Half Pipe instead of Outward Bound. Alistair, a HS junior, had run a 5k XC race in the morning in Fort Collins and would end up pacing me for 15 miles including the climb up Powerline where he refused to let me hike.
I’m grateful to have such an enthusiastic and and eager team!
#runonclouds #designedbyathletesforathletes #selfpropelled
🎥: @genevieveyeakel
Last year, my last 12 miles from Mayqueen to the finish was a victory lap. This year, I had to decide if I wanted another victory lap or to chase a historically fast time.
In an effort to keep me running hard all day, my crew hadn’t told me how much of a lead I had until I got to Mayqueen. There, they told me I could take my time to get gloves and a rain jacket and refocus on attempting a hard finish.
Then I took off with Nick. The plan was to run around the lake safely over the wet trail and then push for a sub 16 finish up the Boulevard. Nick, would set the pace and I would follow as long as I could.
I didn’t quite finish under 16 hours, but I did get valuable practice running hard at the end of a 100 mile race. Something that might be necessary next time.
#runonclouds #designedbyathletesforathletes #selfpropelled
📷: @ryan_sterner
Back to back Leadville 100 Champion!
16:05:44 for the third fastest time in race history!
My legs and lungs are tired, but my heart is full. I’m so lucky to have so much support near and far.
I’m excited to share stories from the race in the coming weeks and days!
#runonclouds #designedbyathletesforathletes #selfpropelled
📷: @lifetimeae
I’ve had another special summer running in the mountains all across the US. I’ve made new friends and climbed new mountains.
Tomorrow, at 4am, I’ll top it off by attempting to defend my title at the Leadville 100.
Follow along at the link in my bio!
Special thanks to my sponsors @on_running and @ultimatedirectionusa, my crew/pacers Jeff, Ryan, Nick and Alistair and my parents for making the trip out to spectate.
Last year’s race was life changing. I’m hoping for much of the same!
#runonclouds #designedbyathletesforathletes #selfpropelled
Saturday was my last long run before Leadville! My teammate @easy_dog took me on a 23 mile tour of his backyard in the Elk Mountains. It featured a couple mountain passes, a handful of high alpine lakes, wildflowers of every color and a mountain goat watching us from above. We climbed 8,000 feet and spent 6 hours out there!
Now it’s time to start resting up and getting to bed early to prepare for a 4am start.
#runonclouds #designedbyathletesforathletes #selfpropelled
I had my second 7th place finish at @cirqueseries Alyeska on Saturday! I ran the course in 1:15 minutes. It rained the night before making the course slick, muddy, and extra fun!
I was especially grateful to have my dad join me for my week in Alaska and to celebrate his birthday with him.
After two races, I’m leading the Series but will now turn my focus to Leadville in less than three weeks!
#runonclouds #designedbyathletesforathletes #selfpropelled
📷: @fearnowka
Race tomorrow! Back at the @cirqueseries - this time at Alyeska. It’s another 10k race with 3,900 feet of gain/loss.
Check out the @cirqueseries reel of my course preview with @chrisjfish and @lenny_vollet yesterday! Even though I slipped a bunch on the preview, I’m feeling a little more confident heading into this one.
#runonclouds #designedbyathletesforathletes #selfpropelled
📷: @evanjahnphotography
I spent last weekend at my own little training camp in Leadville. Thanks to @coloradomtncollege for hosting me in their dorms.
I ran to the top of Mount Elbert, the high point of Colorado, ran much of the course, and met up with some friends. It capped off a 100 mile training week with 18,000 feet of gain and loss. I left feeling excited for the last month of training and the sport as a whole.
#runonclouds #designedbyathletesforathletes #selfpropelled
When I ran the @cirqueseries Brighton course on Thursday, I was worried that I would hate the race and was ready to call up my dad and cancel our trip to Alaska for the next one in two weeks. I spent the next day and a half trying to think positively and mentally prepare for the steep and rocky climbs and descents.
The race ended up being a blast! I enjoyed switching from a long, grinding climb, to crawling over boulders, to a couple miles of rocky ups and downs before finishing with a long, fast downhill. I ended up 7th in 1:15:15.
On our cooldown, my @on_running teammate, @genevieveyeakel, had us look up at the four peaks that we had just run over, standing 2,000 feet above us, and note how amazing it was that we are able to do such a thing.
#runonclouds
#witnessthefitness
📷: @fearnowka
I’m racing the @cirqueseries Brighton tomorrow! The race is 6.7 miles with 3,015 feet of gain and loss!
After running the course yesterday, I know the race will be tough and put me out of my comfort zone. This video is of a training run on Longs Peak on Wednesday. Longs Peak stands tall over the Front Range and I can see it from many spots in Fort Collins. Needless to say, it’s been tempting me for years! The final climb to and from the summit was slow and technical. The slow pace made me grumpy but I think it was good practice for tomorrow!
Also, @dondeaner is finally figuring out how to use my GoPro after a few failures 🫣
#runonclouds #designedbyathletesforathletes #selfpropelled
Some scenes from a cloudy day on Mount Katahdin.
I took some time out from a family vacation on the Coast of Maine to head up into the mountains. It was much more rocky than the Rockies! I had to alter my plans a bit (no Knife Edge) due to the rain, lightning, and how slowly I was moving, but still made it to the summit. As my niece has been saying before jumping around on the furniture, “I love being careful.”
#runonclouds #designedbyathletesforathletes #selfpropelled
I’m feeling reinspired after spending last weekend in Leadville training on the course and collaborating with the @ultimatedirectionusa team.
I also got a taste of the family @ltraceseries builds. Race founders Ken and Merilee were unable to be at the race last summer because Ken was in the hospital. After introducing myself to them, Merilee, who is known to stand at the finish line and give hugs to all the finishers, gave me a big hug and said “I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to hug you at the finish last summer.”
#runonclouds #designedbyathletesforathletes #selfpropelled #leadvillefamily
I finished 8th in the Mount Washington Road Race yesterday. Mount Washington, known for “the world’s worst weather,” was to cold, windy and snowy to allow the race to safely finish on its summit. We found out on Friday that the race would go only halfway up the road. This meant it would be about 3.65 miles and about 2,500 feet of gain - still a tough climb that I ran in 31:11.
It was certainly a bit anticlimactic to finish halfway up a mountain but still a good test if fitness with two months to Leadville. I’ll have to come back!
#runonclouds #designedbyathletesforathletes #selfpropelled
📷: @rythomas22
I’m racing the Mount Washington Road Race tomorrow! As coach @eppersonandrew says, it’s time to bring back the hashtag!
Mountain races always come with spooky weather forecasts and potential for altered courses. When I won on Mount Evans in 2019 we were told a few minutes before the start that we’d only race part way up the mountain. Last year at Mount Evans there was talk of snow on the summit and we saw lightning on the way to the start and it ended up being a perfect day. Hopefully we can race to the top tomorrow! If we do it will be cold, windy and cloudy ☁️ 🌨🌧
#runonclouds
#witnessthefitness
📷: @austcorb
Summer is getting good! After some fast training in town I headed into the mountains with some new friends to run Mount Antero. It tops out at 14,276 feet.
Excited to head east this week to take on the shorter but steeper White Mountains!
#runonclouds #designedbyathletesforathletes #selfpropelled
📷: @bryan_kerl
Windy Wyoming - where your post long run pizza gets blown off the table 😞
I capped off a strong week of training by battling the wind, hills and altitude west of Laramie. 90 miles, 10,500 feet of elevation gain/loss and two speed workouts for the week!
#runonclouds #designedbyathletesforathletes #selfpropelled #windywyoming
My On teammate Jeff was in town for the @gnar_runners Quad Rock 25 yesterday. Today we took him out on one of Nick’s favorite Western States training runs up Storm Mountain. The run was 18 miles round trip starting at about 6,000 feet and topping out at about 9,900 feet.
It was a big weekend for Jeff, Clint and Nick who raced or race directed yesterday! My legs were nice and fresh 😎
Also, smiles for mom 😁
#runonclouds #friendsonclouds #designedbyathletesforathletes #selfpropelled
This morning was the coffee and donut party on Horsetooth Rock hosted by Gnar Runners. The run to and from the party marked my last week of running before I start training for Leadville.
What’s the difference between running and training? When I’m just running, all my runs are easy and I don’t worry too much about pace or distance. It serves as active recovery for my body and mind.
Training is running with purpose. There is a plan for every day as I add in more miles, speed workouts and long runs. I also focus on recovery, diet, massage, and PT exercises so that my body can handle the increased stress of training.
Running is fun (donuts in the middle of a run!). Training is hard and fun.
Not pictured is the Ultimate Direction Utility Belt that’s perfect for carrying a can of coffee up the mountain.
#runonclouds #designedbyathletesforathletes #selfpropelled #coffeeanddonuts
Booked some flights today! Here’s my race schedule leading to Leadville on August 20th:
June 18th: Mount Washington Road Race, NH
July 16th: @cirqueseries Brighton, UT
July 30th: @cirqueseries Alyeska, AK
Lots of mountains to look up to!
📷: @rabbitwolfcreative
#runonclouds #designedbyathletesforathletes #selfpropelled #summer
On Saturday, I welcomed spring with a 32 mile running tour of Fort Collins that peaked with a scramble to the South Summit of Horsetooth Rock. I followed that up with a whole large pizza Saturday night and with a hard effort at the Fort Collins Running Club Tortoise & Hare Series 12k on Sunday morning (45:30 - 6:01 min/mile). The burrito is from the post race member breakfast.
I don’t normally do such things in training but I’ve recovered well from Black Canyon, have a little bit of time before starting my build up to Leadville and my coach @eppersonandrew was away at a track meet…
#runonclouds #designedbyathletesforathletes #selfpropelled #rock #bluehat #maroontop #🌯
This is the Indian Summer Trail just south of Fort Collins. We had an Indian summer this fall, but it’s been snowy since the New Year. I found a little window between this past week’s thaw and the next storm to sneak in a couple laps of the trail.
#runonclouds #designedbyathletesforathletes #selfpropelled #fortcollinstrails
After a week of no running post Black Canyon, I got back to some light running this week. We had some bitter cold days during the week and lots of sun on the weekend. I’ve also been planning out my racing calendar for the rest of the year. There’s lots to be excited about and im looking forward to another great summer in the mountains!
#runonclouds #rawhide
I got humbled in the desert yesterday. I didn’t drink enough water early, got dehydrated and struggled in to a 33rd place finish in 10:09. I’m not sure if it was smart, but I’m proud that I finished. It was great to have the support of my family, crew, new On teammates and those of you following along at home. Thanks!
#runonclouds #designedbyathletesforathletes #selfpropelled
Back in Arizona for the Black Canyon 100k tomorrow! Top three get Golden Tickets to the Western States Endurance Run. That’s the goal. Grateful to have two new members of the team thanks to sponsorships with @on_running and @ultimatedirectionusa! You can follow the live broadcast of the race at the link in my bio.
#RunOnClouds #designedbyathletesforathletes #selfpropelled #whitnessthefitness #thumbbutte
📷: @pretak
I spent this past weekend in Phoenix to race the Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Half Marathon* and to preview the course for the Black Canyon 100k next month. On Monday morning, Dylan joined me for a run on the course and to start working on a film project that will, in part, feature my quest for a Golden Ticket into the Western States Endurance Run—the most prestigious 100 mile race in the country. The top two finishers at the Black Canyon 100k earn Golden Tickets.
Dylan’s photos show the building nervous energy, focus and confidence that I have with less than four weeks until the race. I also seem to have a cut on my ear…
*I set a ~20 second PR and finished 7th with a time of 70:06!
📷: @spiritofdylan
Race week! I’m heading to Tallahassee with @fortcollinsracing for the USATF Club Cross Country Championships on Saturday. This will be a bit of a speed test as I build towards the Black Canyon 100k in February. This photo is from a super muddy version of the same race two years ago in Bethlehem, PA. #usatfclubcross #mud
📷: @urimiscott
Just after I took the lead and started back up Hope Pass I ran into my friend Michael who was coming down. He was surprised and excited to see me in the lead. We gave each other a big high five and he told me not to win the race on Hope Pass. It was a nice reminder to stay calm and that I still had a long way to go.
📷: @lifetimeae
#witnessthefitness #mountains #lt100 #runningallday
This is a photo of pacer @nickaclarkco and I as we run up the Boulevard during the last few miles back towards the finish in Leadville. A year ago I had never raced an ultra but told Nick that I wanted to run the Leadville 100. He, who has run at least a dozen 100s, responded “why would you want to do that?” I told him that I thought I might be good at it. On Saturday, that notion was confirmed when I took the lead in Winfield and carried it all the way back to Leadville.
The journey would not have been possible without coach/friend @eppersonandrew who had no previous experience in coaching ultra-marathoners but was willing to try, and my crew/pacers Tait, Jeff and Nick who, among other duties, gave me something to look forward to at each aid station. Also, thanks to my parents who flew out to watch and even volunteered as course marshals!
Thank you to all my friends, family and strangers who have reached out to me the past few days. It has been great to hear from you!
📷: Jeremy Pate
#LT100 #runningallday #witnessthefitness #winningisgood
On my way to a first place finish at the Antelope Island Buffalo Run 50 Mile yesterday! 6 hours and 22 minutes. Thankful for @eppersonandrew, @alignsportsmassagelafayette and @proactiveptcenter for getting me ready and my Dad for traveling out to support and take pictures #islandlife #bisonofinstagram #🦬 #winningisgood
This is a preview of a neat race I helped put together with @focorunclub and @greeneventscolorado. It has some of my super fast friends from Fort Collins competing against an Olympian and others from around Colorado. You can watch the full races “live” today on the Fort Collins Running Club Facebook page at 1pm Eastern, 11am Mountain. #fcrcfirekracker5k #🇺🇸
This is me giving @nikki_noodles10 a thumbs up about halfway through @grandmasmarathon on Saturday. She pulled an all-nighter to be there cheering on the course. I ran a 2 minute PB with a finishing time of 2:25:59! I had a great spring of training and racing thanks to @codemoore and @joshua.mirth waking up early to run with me and @eppersonandrew guiding us along the way. 📷: @clint_anders #grandmasmarathon #thumbsup #smile
I won the Mount Evans Ascent on Saturday! We found out shortly before the start that the race would end at Summit Lake instead of on the summit due to black ice on the road. The ~50 mph winds made a formidable challenge despite the lower finish. I now turn towards @grandmasmarathon in less than two weeks! #mountevansascent #winningisgood
No Boston Marathon for me this year. I ran the Horsetooth Half Marathon here in Fort Collins in preparation for @grandmasmarathon in June. It was great to share the course with some of my @altituderunning teammates and to have my dad in town to cheer me on. Ran 1:15 for 12th. 📷: @clint_anders #centennialdrive #horsetoothhalfmarathon #resevoir
I'm running the Boston Marathon tomorrow! I will be dressed like this chair. Hope to see you out there! You can also follow me by texting RUNNER to 234567 and entering my bib number, 240, when prompted. Thanks for the support and encouragement I've already received and to @altituderunning for the kicks and new blue singlet #bostonmarathon #🇺🇸
#Repost @altituderunning with @repostapp
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The Altitude Team had a great showing at last weekend's Sharin' o' the Green 5k, benefitting @pmynortherncolo. The guys went 1-2-3-6, and we had the first female finisher! Great job to all the racers! .
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@pho_co #sotg17 #run #runner #race #5k #stpattysday #partnersmentoringyouth #altituderunning #altitude
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