Hardrock 100 has begun

Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run (Hardrock 100), known for its high altitude, deep elite field and challenging entry process, begins Friday at 8:00 a.m. ET, and the latest tweets from iRunFar have François d’Haene, Kilian Jornet and Dakota Jones at the front, 11 miles in, with Courtney Dauwalter leading the women. Runners will encounter over 10,000 metres of elevation gain while facing extreme weather conditions, navigating treacherous terrain and attempting to avoid altitude sickness. The Hardrock 100 website touts the race as “graduate-level.” Only 140 participants get to toe the line at Hardrock 100 each year, and this year’s contenders include many well-known elites. Here’s what you need to know to follow along this weekend.

Hardrock 100 both begins and ends in Silverton, Co., and athletes are above 3,300 metres elevation for much of the race. The race was founded in 1992 as a tribute to the miners who used to follow “their mules and instincts, prospecting the San Juans for gold, silver, and other metals,” the race website explains. The miners tolerated extreme conditions while managing to enjoy the vast beauty of the San Juan Mountains. With a finishing cutoff time of 48 hours, athletes know they are in for a long haul. The course switches directions every year, and this year runners are moving clockwise around the looped course.

Some of the other top athletes toeing the line this year include Maggie Guterl, John Kelly, Luke Nelson and Jeff Browning. 

Last year’s female winner, Sabrina Stanley, did not return. D’Haene is the 2021 men’s winner and course-record-holder; Jornet boasts four wins (the most of any athlete), while Dauwalter DNF’d last year. Dauwalter shared her excitement on social media: “We are back this year to try again, to learn from our mistakes, and to (knock on wood!) make the entire 100-mile loop. I am so, so excited to have another shot at this beautifully tough course.”

Canada’s Stephanie Case, who was the first woman (and third overall) at last year’s 450km Tor des Glaciers race in Italy, also started. This is her first time tackling Hardrock, and she is prepared for the experience, as she shared in an Instagram post earlier this week: “I have no illusions about how tough this challenge will be. It’ll be hard, high, and rainy, and it’ll be a privilege to be out there sharing some miles with 26 other incredible women.”

Hardrock 100 is undeniably one of the most challenging endurance events on earth, and the group of humans setting out to tackle the rigorous course on Friday have their work cut out for them.

Other Canadians at Hardrock 100 this year

• Suzanne Johnson, North Vancouver
• Dana Samis, North Vancouver
• Joanna Ford, Calgary
• Larry Kundrik, Lethbridge, Alta.
• Ken Legg, Powell River, B.C.
• Randy Duncan, Victoria, B.C.
• Christopher Aubrey, Sherwood Park, Alta.
• Nathaniel Couture, Fredericton, N.B.
• Matthew Fortuna, Oyama, B.C
• Leo Fung, Calgary

You can read racer bios and keep track of the racers’ progress via iRunFar or live satellite tracking here.