The Aussie completes one of ultra running’s most gruelling challenges

Photography by Extreme Photography (extremephotography.com.au)

Mike Le Roux has become the first Australian to complete the “Slam”: four of the oldest, toughest 100-mile events within 11 weeks over the US summer.

Starting with the prestigious Western States 100 in California (where he broke the Australian record), Le Roux then took on the Vermont Endurance 100 (in which he placed third, earning a podium finish), followed by the Leadville 100, struggling with fuelling at altitude during the latter. The sting in the Slam’s tail was the Wasatch 100, which threw out a 3000-metre climb at one o’clock in the morning in freezing temperatures, in the last quarter of the race.

Le Roux placed an outstanding second overall in the 2012 Grand Slam, which had 15 finishers out of 25 starters. Out of the four 160km trail runs he completed in under 11 weeks, Le Roux amazingly sustained zero injuries while running three out of the four races in sub–24 hours.

Le Roux started his endurance career in Ironman and later Ultraman, culminating in a World Championship title at the 2010 Ultraman World Championships in Hawaii. Since then he has quit his day job to train full-time as an ultra trail runner, and has broken several Australian records since.