Each July, a small area of ultrarunners gathers in Silverton, Colo., for Hardrock 100—a quieter race than UTMB or Western States 100, however one which’s usually thought-about to be more durable, larger and wilder. This yr’s version, which kicks off Friday (July 11) at 8 a.m. ET, is shaping as much as be a banger. There are large names, big ambitions and a few very compelling storylines. The course, which options greater than 10,000 metres of elevation achieve and loss, runs counterclockwise this yr, that means the primary main climb tops out close to Handies Peak at over 4,200m. From there, runners wind their manner by way of Lake Metropolis, Ouray and Telluride earlier than making it again to Silverton to “kiss the rock.”
Males’s race: Mat Blanchard appears to be like to interrupt by way of
You may assume that final yr’s champion, France’s Ludovic Pommeret, is the favorite once more, however Canada’s Mathieu Blanchard can also be toeing the road this yr, and he seems to be match and quicker than ever. Blanchard’s Hardrock debut comes on the heels of a second-place end at UTMB in 2022 (the place he chased Kilian Jornet to a record-breaking time) and a third-place end there in 2023. The French-born Montreal resident has confirmed he can dig deep within the ache cave and nonetheless ship within the closing miles.
Pommeret isn’t possible to present it away, although. He smashed the clockwise course file final yr, turns 50 later this month, and is solely not slowing down. He’ll be joined on the course by two top-tier pacers: UTMB winners Vincent Bouillard and Jim Walmsley. Walmsley, coming off a DNS at Western States, is easing again into racing, and that is a part of his prep earlier than heading to Chamonix for UTMB later this summer season.
Additionally within the combine: American fan fave Zach Miller, who was compelled out final yr with appendicitis, is again and able to see how he stacks up towards the sphere on terrain that fits his all-out, go-hard fashion. Germain Grangier, one other UTMB top-5 athlete (who’s the accomplice of Katie Schide, who’s making her Hardrock debut and who gained each Western States and UTMB in 2024), might additionally consider.
Ladies’s race: Katie Schide makes her debut, Stephanie Case makes a return
With Courtney Dauwalter not returning this yr, the door is large open, and Katie Schide appears able to cost by way of it. After successful Western States 100 and UTMB final yr, the American (who lives and trains in France) is now chasing the elusive profession “Grand Slam” of 100-mile path racing. Schide has by no means raced Hardrock earlier than, however she spent the final month coaching on the right track with Pommeret and Grangier, and has been stateside since mid-Could.
Behind her, there’s a fierce ladies’s area, and maybe essentially the most compelling return is Stephanie Case. The Canadian human rights lawyer and mom of 1 hasn’t been on the Hardrock begin line since her second-place end in 2022. After stepping away from competitors to have her daughter, Pepper, Case returned in Could with a jaw-dropping win at Extremely-Path Snowdonia 100K—beginning exterior the elite area, navigating a wildly rugged course and breastfeeding mid-race. It put Case again on everybody’s radar and demonstrated only a little bit of what she is able to. “100 miles is a good distance, and an enormous problem simply eight months after giving start… however I do know that no matter occurs on the market, I’ve already gained,” Case posted on Instagram.
Additionally in rivalry: Katharina Hartmuth of Germany and France’s Manon Bohard Cailler, each confirmed in high-altitude 100-milers.
Find out how to tune in
Hardrock 100 kicks off at 8 a.m. ET on Friday, July 11. Take a look at the livestream, right here.