LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Running 100 miles through the thin air of the Rocky Mountains in the late August heat may sound like an impossible task, but for one Laughlin leader, it was the perfect test of grit, endurance and commitment.
Lt. Col. Richard Kabanuck, 47th Operations Group deputy commander, recently completed his third Leadville Trail 100 Run, one of the world’s most challenging ultra-marathons, totaling 28 100+ mile race across his career.
“My first two Leadville experiences were early in my Ultra racing career, and I had always had the desire to return when I could be better prepared and with more experience,” said Kabanuck. “I felt like there was something deeper about the entire event that I hadn’t yet experienced. I suppose I spent the past decade chasing a feeling or void that I hadn’t filled in 2013 or 2015. Coming back was something that was always in the back of my mind.”
Known as the "Race Across the Sky," the course winds through rugged terrain in Leadville, Colorado, with elevations climbing above 12,000 feet. Runners start at 4:00 a.m. and must meet 12 cutoff times spread throughout the course to have their time counted. Kabanuck finished the 100-mile course with an average mile time of 17:26.
“Completing the race became a huge challenge after the 24-mile aid station,” said Kabanuck, recalling the race. “Of all my Ultra events, this race was the most challenging for multiple reasons: lack of vertical training, the strict checkpoint time cutoffs, low confidence in my training, a small knee injury, and the 10,000ft course elevation are things that just made this race tough.”
The Leadville 100 is notorious for its difficulty. Runners must navigate a brutal out-and back ultra-marathon, taking on steep climbs, unpredictable weather and the strain of running continuously for up to 30 hours.
“I’ve always wanted to be like the great athletes and warfighters I’ve looked up to,” said Kabanuck. “I’ve gotten to train with some incredible people who have raised the bar of what human capacity is – watching these athletes and warfighters makes you realize that excellence simply boils down to an unshakable confidence in your own steadfast mentality.”
Even the toughest of runners are tested on the course, pushing through pain and high altitude to complete the race. For Kabanuck, part of his drive comes from his roots in the Air Force core values and the warrior mindset.
“Warrior mindset and core values – both are omni-present, because I was introduced to a competitive military environment at such an early and influential age in Basic Training, I think “excellence in everything” and “it pays to be a winner” have stuck like super glue.”
Embodying the core values and cultivating the warrior mindset were key to Kabanuck’s successful completion of the race. Although every athlete is built and trains differently, they maintain the mental toughness to continue to get out of each week what they put in.
Every week of training looked a little different for Kabanuck, due to the demands of his schedule as an instructor pilot and operations group leader. To better prepare for the race, he adjusted to 200-to-350-mile weeks, utilizing hour long training blocks during workdays and long runs on the weekend.
“Getting quality training was very challenging and finding a way to mentally transition from work and family obligations to workouts was not easy,” said Kabanuck. “Getting 20 mile runs on the weekend was always a challenge and honestly, I wanted to relax and do nothing on my weekends – but I put my shoes on and ran.”
Beyond the factors Kabanuck learned from his time in service, he credits his motivation and support to his wife and his leadership team at Laughlin.
“My wife is my biggest fan and the most motivating person in my life. When I’m not racing well, I remind myself that I owe it to Christi to be the best human and athlete possible today because she believes unconditionally in me and my wild ideas,” said Kabanuck. “My boss, Col McCane, was extremely supportive and enthusiastic about this event and there was no way I was voluntarily letting him or the 47th Operations Group down – just keep running.”
For Kabanuck, the race wasn’t just about pushing personal limits but also about showing the Airmen he leads that perseverance matters both on the course and in the cockpit.
“You only need a 51% chance of success to bet the farm on your dream. It’s the small things that make the big things possible, so if you want to race 100 – milers in life, you’ve got to race the 1.5-mile PT test like a champion.”