Life Time launches marathon MTB race in Anniston, Alabama
Coldwater Trail is the first and only Leadville 100 qualifier east of the Mississippi
Mountain bikers on the East Coast can now more easily qualify for the Leadville Trail 100. This week, Life Time launched Coldwater Trail, a mountain bike and trail running race that serves as the only Life Time off-road event east of the Mississippi.
Alabama isn’t typically on the radar of mountain bikers; Southeast locations such as Asheville, North Carolina, are certainly more well known for their trails. But in Anniston, Life Time has found a location with 40 miles of “red dirt singletrack, pine needle covered trails, and supplementary technical lines.”
That terrain is located on Coldwater Mountain, close to the town 21,000 people in Northeast, Alabama. Anniston is just 1.5 hours from Birmingham and Atlanta, making it easily accessible for those coming from out of town.
Starting and ending in downtown Anniston, the marquee 100K course takes in more than 7,000 feet of climbing. At least 35 racers will have the chance to receive a Leadville 100 qualification coin based on either race performance or a lottery during the race weekend. Coldwater Trail also features a 50K course as well as 15K and 50K run courses.
Coldwater Trail takes place October 24-25, 2025, and registration is now open.
