When Red Bull reached out to me about photographing a feature on Ultrarunner Dave Mackey for their magazine, The Red Bulletin, I couldn’t believe the story I was being asked to photograph. The feature would be included in the magazine’s first ‘Heroes Of The Year’ issue and I quickly realized why.

Dave Mackey is no stranger to the sport of Ultrarunning, in fact he was named 2011 North American Ultrarunner Of The Year. This race was different however, as he would be competing in the famed Leadville Trail 100; a 24 hour race beginning at 4 AM with a total length of 100 miles in distance at a starting altitude of about 10,200’ above sea level, eventually topping out around 13,000’. 

Here’s where it gets really interesting; he completed the race only 18 months after having his leg amputated. 

Between photographing Dave training on top of Loveland Pass in Colorado at sunrise, and covering Dave’s full 25 hours of nonstop running through the mountains near Leadville, it was quite the honor being asked to photograph such an impressive athletic feat!

You can see some of my favorites from my time with Dave at chipkalback.com/redbull, and click below to read the full feature, written by Matt Hart.