LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – A former Texas Tech football player will take part in an ultramarathon in Colorado and is raising funds for young people along the way.<\/p>\n
Caleb Schneider will compete in the Leadville Trail 100 on Aug. 22. The race is often described as one of the hardest marathons in the United States to complete due to the high elevation.<\/p>\n
Schneider graduated from O\u2019Donnell High School in 2008 and spent the next two years as a linebacker for the Texas Tech Red Raiders.<\/p>\n
\u201cBrotherhoods were born on that field because you\u2019re sweating, you\u2019re bleeding, you\u2019re just dying some days, but you\u2019re also sharing each other\u2019s victories, which was great too,\u201d Schneider said.<\/p>\n
From football to business to ultramarathons<\/p>\n
After Texas Tech, Schneider started his business journey, which includes owning and operating a chiropractic office in Lubbock. He began long-distance running in 2023 after finding his rhythm through the 75-hard challenge.<\/p>\n
After competing in marathons in Lubbock, New Mexico and Colorado the past few years, Schneider is now getting ready to take part in the Race Across the Sky.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s at Leadville, Colorado is the town where it starts and you run 100 miles up and over Hope Pass and back,\u201d Schneider said. \u201cStarting at 10,500 feet elevation and going up to 12,500 and back. You gain a total of 15,000 feet of elevation through the course of the race and you have 30 hour time cap to complete it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Running for a cause<\/p>\n
In order to participate, runners must be sponsored by a charity they support. Schneider is fundraising for the Life Time Foundation, which helps children have better access to healthier meals and physical activities.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not just running for myself,\u201d Schneider said. \u201cI mean yeah, it\u2019s cool to push myself and see what I can do and push my limits, but what can I do to help the community at the same time and help you know spread this joy that is being outside and moving and running and so forth with our next generation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Schneider said the run allows him to challenge himself and show how hard work pays off.<\/p>\n
\u201cI also want to be that example to my children to prove to them that yes, things will get hard, life is not easy, we\u2019re never promised a cakewalk by any means, but if you do the hard things, good things come out of it on the other side,\u201d Schneider said.<\/p>\n