Good morning trail friends! We've arrived at that exciting time of summer when every edition brings another much anticipated race. Rushing towards us this week, likely out of breath due to extreme altitude, is the venerable Hardrock 100 Endurance Run in Colorado.
Brian Metzler sat down with last year's champion and course record holder Francois D'Haene for an exclusive — what he found might surprise you.
College Student Wins National Vertical Championship
Over 3,000 vertical feet in 6.1-miles with a final section of 40% grade. That's how competitors in the first-ever USATF Vertical Uphill Championship at Loon Mountain in New Hampshire spent their weekend. Congratulations to NCAA All-American Lauren Gregory who won the women's title (📸:1) and Joe Gray who secured his 21st National Championship with the men's win (📸:3). Both athletes are now qualified for the inaugural World Mountain & Trail Running Championship in Chiang Mai, Thailand this November.
What does Francois D'Haene, defending Hardrock 100 champ and arguably the best 100-mile mountain runner in the world, think about competing against Kilian Jornet and going for a second win?
If he can win, I’d be so happy for him, and I think if I win, he would be so happy for me too. It’s not about mashing each other and racing each other, we’re just happy if we can have a good day together in the mountains. - Francois D'Haene
Francois’ surprising answers offer insight into the mind of a relaxed, family-focused athlete who loves playing in the mountains, sharing community, and remembering not to take competition too seriously.
It’s likely no one has taken as many photos on the Hardrock course as professional photographer Howie Stern. He first finished the event in 2005 and has been crewing, pacing, running, and photographing the race ever since. Here, he offers a collection of his favorite photos representing the enduring tradition of Hardrock.
Do you remember when you started using poles? 2021 Hardrock champion Sabrina Stanley reminisces on when and why she started using poles to up her game. Read the quick Q&A on how LEKI poles improved her competitive edge and then enter to win.
😭 It’s Gonna Suck To Be You: This week’s long-read is a seminal piece on Hardrock by Steve Friedman from the July 2001 issue of Outside magazine. 11-time finisher Billy Simpson says this is the article that started it all for him, changed the direction of his life, and sent him on a quest to become a Hardrocker. “I read that article and knew for certain where I needed to be,” he told us.
⚡Wild, Tough, and Fast: The matchup between Francois and KJ is not the only action at the 2022 Hardrock. With two-time champion Sabrina Stanley out, is it Courtney Dauwalter’s race to lose? Not if Darcy Piceu, Meghan Hicks, or Maggie Guterl have anything to say about it! iRunFar provides an in-depth preview of the fast field.
If he can win, I’d be so happy for him, and I think if I win, he would be so happy for me too. It’s not about mashing each other and racing each other, we’re just happy if we can have a good day together in the mountains.
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