Hardrock - forget about it!
Just when you think that you have seen it all, you realize things are only going to get bigger and better. Last weekend (July13 - 15, 2007) I had the privilege of traveling to Silverton Colorado on a photographic assignment for Montrail. Silverton is a very small town nestled in southern Colorado, 9,400 feet above sea level, deep in the San Juan Mountain Range. Silverton also serves as the start / finish line for the Hardrock 100 Mile Endurance Run. They like to say that this run is Tough and Wild. Believe me, it is! Tough - yea - tough. Over 33, 000 feet of rocky vertical gain, most above 10,000 feet. The race directors expect that all of the runners are advanced and have detailed course experience. The trails are loosely marked and sometimes there are no markings and no trail at all. There are eleven passes all well over 12,000 feet! Countless creek and river crossings, hail storms, rain storms and lightning storms. This is truly the ultimate cross country ultra experience. Wild - oh yea - wild! Plenty of porcupine, elk, deer, sheep, goats and even bear roam the course day and night. I have run all across this country, from the Western Sierra to the pit of Death Valley to the deep jungles of Oahu and beyond. I have never seen a race course as gnarly and majestic as Hardrock. The race itself was incredible. Some of this country’s best mountain runners stood side by side at the start in Silverton. Men’s course record holder, current men’s champion, and Montrail team member, Karl Meltzer was on hand to defend his title. However, the day belonged Scott Jurek who completed the course in 26 hours and 8 minutes. Scott's time was good enough to win the race and break the course record by nearly 30 minutes! With two women in the top ten, the women’s race was even more impressive. Local favorite, Emily Baer finished 8th. overall in a very fast time of 31 hours and 41 minutes. But, Montrail team member, Krissy Moehl stole the show. Krissy smoked the course record and finished 3rd. overall! 3rd. overall!! Krissy’s time was 29 hours and 24 minutes. WOW!
Hardrock 100 is exactly what ultra marathon running is supposed to be. Wicked hard race course, beautiful location and rock hard athletes. By far, the best ultra experience that I have ever had.
If somebody should ask me what is the gnarliest race course that I have ever seen, my answer will be - Hardrock, forget about it!
Below you will find a very small samples of the photographs from this trip.
