The Hardrock 100 is an ultramarathon of 102.5 miles in length, with the first edition taking place in 1992.
It’s a “salute to the toughness and perseverance of the Hardrock miners who lived and worked in the area”.
It starts and finishes in Silverton, Colorado and features 33,197 feet of climb and exactly the same amount of descent given the looped nature of the course, with the direction switching each year.
In 2024 it will be run will be in a clockwise direction.
There are 146 prized places each year and the respective fields are headed by two ultrarunning superstars. Courtney Dauwalter is the reigning women’s champion while François D’Haene is favourite for the men’s title after his win in 2021 and second place to Kilian Jornet in 2022, meaning he has two of the three fastest-ever times.
It all gets under way at 6am local time on Friday 12 July, which is 8am Eastern Time, 1pm in the UK and 2pm CET.
There are various ways to follow the race unfold including live GPS tracking and live aid station splits.
There will be a live broadcast throughout too which will be streamed on YouTube via the excellent Mountain Outpost team which is embedded below – note the four different sections which should cover all the podium finishers.
Hardrock 100 Endurance Run
start list
The full start lists are here.
And no doubt about the star names, with American superstar Courtney Dauwalter the dominant force not only in women’s ultrarunning but also in this event.
She’s set course records in both directions in the last two years and remember that 12 months ago the victory came in the middle of that unprecedented Western States – Hardrock – UTMB treble.
This year has been less packed but again hugely impressive with two emphatic victories at Transgrancanaria and Mt Fuji 100 (where she was also third overall).
Her chief rivals this year look to come from Europe, including two women who have finished second to her at UTMB.
Germany’s Katharina Hartmuth was runner-up in Chamonix last year but is still not certain to run as she’s been battling an injury, while France’s Camille Bruyas was second at UTMB in 2021.
Another Frenchwoman, the remarkable Claire Bannwarth, returns after her fifth place at Hardrock last year and she’s again racked up an incredible series of races and results in 2024, including defending her Winter Spine title.
For the men, there’s a strong French influence too and all eyes will be on François D’Haene.
He’s won pretty much every race that matters, including Hardrock in 2021 in an anti-clockwise record time of 21:45 and only the great Kilian Jornet could better his clockwise time of 21:51 two years ago.
However his chief rival Zach Miller is unlikely to take part now after having his appendix removed last week, though the final decision will only be made in the 24 hours or so before the start time.
Notable runners
Route
The Hardrock 100 passes through what organisers describe as “some of the most beautiful and rugged mountains in the world”.
Starting from and finishing at Silverton, the 102.5 miles see the altitude range from 7,700 to 14,048 feet which can mean that snow is an issue, but not this year. The last of it melted in the first week in June so watch out instead for a fantastic wildflower display.
Four legs link the Lake City, Ouray, Telluride, and Silverton areas and there are 14 aid stations en route.
Runners are warned to steer clear of elk in the high meadows, especially if they are with their young while black bears and mountain lions may also be encountered!
Course record times
The fastest Hardrock 100 times for the clockwise route were both set in 2022 by GOAT duo Kilian Jornet (21:36:24) and Courtney Dauwalter (26:44:36).
The counter-clockwise records are held by François D’Haene (21:45:50 from 2021) and Dauwalter (26:14:08 from 2023).
Recent winners:
2015: Men: Kilian Jornet (ESP) – 23:28:10, Women: Anna Frost (NZL) – 28:22:56
2016: Men: Kilian Jornet (ESP) and Jason Schlarb (USA) – 22:58:28, Women: Anna Frost (NZL) – 29:02:03
2017- Men: Kilian Jornet (ESP) – 24:32:19, Women: Caroline Chaverot (FRA) – 28:31:50
2018– Men: Kilian Jornet (ESP) – 24:08:04, Women: Sabrina Stanley (USA) – 28:45:51
2019- Race did not occur due to weather
2020- race did not occur due to COVID
2021- Men: Francois D’Haene (FRA) – 21:45:50, Women: Kaytlyn Gerbin (USA) – 28:31:48
2022- Men: Kilian Jornet (ESP) – 21:36:24, Women: Courtney Dauwalter (USA) – 26:44:36
2023- Men: Aurelian Dunand-Pallaz (FRA) 23:00:07, Women: Courtney Dauwalter (USA) – 26:14:08
Past winners
Tab 2 content.
