Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run
Photo taken during 2006 race. Grant Swamp Pass, 12,900 ft (3,900 m)
Date	July
Location	Silverton, Colorado
Event type	Ultramarathon trail run
Distance	100.5-mile (161.7 km)
Established	1992
Course records	Men: François D'Haene 21:45:50 (2021, counter-clockwise) Kilian Jornet 21:36:24 (2022, clockwise) Women: Courtney Dauwalter 26:14:12 (2023, counter-clockwise) Courtney Dauwalter 26:44:38 (2022, clockwise)
Official site	http://www.hardrock100.com/

The Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run is an amazing and super tough ultramarathon race. It's about 100.5 miles (161.7 km) long, which is like running from one city to another! What makes it extra hard is that runners have to climb and descend a total of 33,000 feet (10,000 m) – that's like climbing Mount Everest more than once! The race takes place high up in the San Juan Mountains in Southern Colorado, USA.

This special race is a tribute to the brave miners who lived in the area long ago. They built many of the trails that runners use today. The Hardrock 100 is known for being one of the most challenging trail races in the world.

The Hardrock 100 Race Course

The Hardrock 100 starts and finishes in a town called Silverton, Colorado. The course is a big loop that goes through other towns like Telluride and Ouray. It even passes through a ghost town called Sherman! Along the way, runners cross thirteen major mountain passes. These passes are super high, between 12,000 and 13,000 feet above sea level.

The very highest point of the race is the top of Handies Peak, which is an incredible 14,048 feet high! Imagine running up a mountain that tall. The race happens every year in early July. However, sometimes it has to be cancelled because of too much snow, forest fires, avalanches, or even a global pandemic.

Race Direction and Finish Line Fun

One cool thing about the Hardrock 100 is that the race direction changes every year. One year, runners go clockwise around the loop, and the next year they go counter-clockwise. This keeps things interesting and makes sure runners know the course well.

To finish this incredible race, runners don't just cross a regular finish line. Instead, they have to "kiss the Hardrock"! This is a picture of a ram's head painted on a big rock. It's a unique and fun way to celebrate finishing such a tough challenge.

Why This Race is Super Tough

Runners have 48 hours to complete the Hardrock 100. This might sound like a long time, but it's a very difficult race. The fastest times ever recorded are by Kilian Jornet, who finished in 21 hours, 36 minutes, and 24 seconds in 2022, and Courtney Dauwalter, who finished in 26 hours, 14 minutes, and 12 seconds in 2023.

Most runners take a lot longer, with the average finish time being over 41 hours. This is much longer than most other 100-mile races. Why is it so hard?

• High Elevations: The race is run at very high altitudes. This can make some runners feel sick or have trouble breathing, a condition called altitude sickness.
• Rugged Trails: The course goes over extremely rough ground. This includes steep, rocky climbs and descents, slippery snow patches, river crossings, and fields of large boulders.
• Night Running: Since the race starts at 6 AM, runners who take more than 40 hours will see two sunrises and two sunsets! They run through the night using flashlights or headlamps. Some parts of the trail are next to steep drop-offs, which can be a bit scary.

Weather and What Runners Carry

The Hardrock 100 takes runners through many different climate zones because of the huge changes in altitude. Much of the course is above the tree line, which means there are no trees, just open mountains. It's common for runners to go two nights without sleep to finish the race.

The weather in the San Juan Mountains can change very quickly. Nighttime temperatures can drop below freezing at high elevations. Also, sudden thunderstorms can bring rain, hail, strong winds, or even lightning with little warning. Because of this, runners must be ready for any type of weather. They often carry extra layers of clothing in their backpacks. They also carry enough food and water to last for up to 8 hours without needing help from aid stations.

Race Headquarters Silverton, Colorado (2011)

The Rocky Mountain Slam

The Hardrock 100 is a key part of something called the "Rocky Mountain Slam." A runner earns this special award if they finish the Hardrock 100 plus three other tough races in the Rocky Mountains. These other races include the Leadville Trail 100, the Bear 100 Mile Endurance Run, the Bighorn 100, or the Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run. It's a huge achievement for any ultrarunner!

How the Race Began

The idea for the Hardrock 100 started in the early 1990s. A few ultrarunners wanted to create a 100-mile race through the San Juan Mountains. They wanted the course to use as many old mining trails as possible. Their goal was to make it a super challenging race that also celebrated the history of the miners in the area. It was meant to be a "Post Graduate" run, meaning it was for very experienced runners.

In the beginning, knowing the course was super important because there weren't many trail markers. Runners were given detailed maps and instructions. Over time, this led to "Camp Hardrock," where runners spend two weeks before the race hiking the course with the marking crews. This helps them learn the route really well. Now, the trail is more established, so finding the way is a bit easier, but it's still a big adventure!

How Runners Get Into the Race

Each year, only 140 runners are chosen to participate in the Hardrock 100. They are selected in early December through a special lottery system. The winners from the previous year's race get automatic entry.

To even enter the lottery, runners must show that they have a lot of experience in mountain running. They need to have finished the Hardrock race before, or completed one of several other very tough 100-mile mountain races in the last three years. These include races like the Wasatch, the Bear, or the Bighorn. This ensures that only the most prepared and experienced runners take on the challenge of the Hardrock 100.

Past Race Winners

Here are the winners of the Hardrock 100 over the years:

Edition	Date	Male Winner	Female Winner
1	10-12 July 1992	David Horton (USA)	Nancy Hamilton (USA)
2	9-11 July 1993	David Horton (USA) (2nd win)	Margaret Smith (USA)
3	8-10 July 1994	Scott Hirst (USA)	Margaret Smith (USA) (2nd win)
4	7-9 July 1995	-	-
5	12-14 July 1996	Rick Trujillo (USA)	Betsy Kalmeyer (USA)
6	11-13 July 1997	Mark C. McDermott (GBR)  Mark Hartell (GBR)	Laura Vaughan (USA)
7	10-12 July 1998	Ricky Denesik (USA)	Eliza McLean (USA)
8	9-11 July 1999	Blake Wood (USA)	Betsy Kalmeyer (USA) (2nd win)
9	7-9 July 2000	Kirk Apt (USA)	Sue Johnston (USA)
10	13-15 July 2001	Karl Meltzer (USA)	Betsy Kalmeyer (USA) (3rd win)
11	12-14 July 2002	-	-
12	11-13 July 2003	Karl Meltzer (USA) (2nd win)	Betsy Nye (USA)
13	9-11 July 2004	Paul Sweeney (USA)	Betsy Kalmeyer (USA) (4th win)
14	8-10 July 2005	Karl Meltzer (USA) (3rd win)	Sue Johnston (USA) (2nd win)
15	14-16 July 2006	Karl Meltzer (USA) (4th win)	Betsy Kalmeyer (USA) (5th win)
16	13-15 July 2007	Scott Jurek (USA)	Krissy Moehl (USA)
17	12-14 July 2008	Kyle Skaggs (USA)	Diana Finkel (USA)
18	10-12 July 2009	Karl Meltzer (USA) (5th win)	Diana Finkel (USA) (2nd win)
19	9-11 July 2010	Jared Campbell (USA)	Diana Finkel (USA) (3rd win)
20	10-12 July 2011	Julien Chorier (FRA)	Diana Finkel (USA) (4th win)
21	13-15 July 2012	Hal Koerner (USA)	Darcy Piceu Africa (USA)
22	12-14 July 2013	Sébastien Chaigneau (FRA)	Darcy Piceu Africa (USA) (2nd win)
23	11-13 July 2014	Kílian Jornet (ESP)	Darcy Piceu Africa (USA) (3rd win)
24	10-12 July 2015	Kílian Jornet (ESP) (2nd win)	Anna Frost (NZL)
25	15-17 July 2016	Kílian Jornet (ESP) (3rd win)  Jason Schlarb (USA)	Anna Frost (NZL) (2nd win)
26	14-16 July 2017	Kílian Jornet (ESP) (4th win)	Caroline Chaverot (FRA)
27	20-21 July 2018	Jeff Browning (USA)	Sabrina Stanley (USA)
28	2019	Cancelled due to weather
29	2020	Cancelled due to COVID-19
30	16-17 July 2021	François D'Haene (FRA)	Sabrina Stanley (USA)
31	15-16 July 2022	Kilian Jornet (ESP) (5th win)	Courtney Dauwalter (USA)
32	14-15 July 2023	Aurelien Dunand-Pallaz (FRA)	Courtney Dauwalter (USA) (2nd win)