Anxious runners from around the world gathered around computers Saturday.
The Hardrock Hundered Mile Endurance Run held its lottery Saturday to determine the field for the July 14, 2017 race through the San Juan Mountains that starts and ends in Silverton. The notorious 100-mile run passes through Lake City, Ouray and Telluride and features 66,050 feet of total elevation change, climbs 14,048-foot Handies Peak and crosses 13 passes of more than 12,000 feet.
This year’s field is down to 145 runners after 152 started last year. Race director Dale Garland and the race committee do their best to provide an intimate experience for the participants and their crews, and keeping the field to a small number helps that cause.
The Hardrock 100 saw an increase in applications of more than 400 this year with 1,966 qualified athletes hoping to be selected. Runners are broken down into three categories of veterans who have finished a previous Hardrock five or more times, the groups of “nevers” who have never completed the race and a group for everyone else.
“It’s humbling to see that many people want to be part of it,” Garland said in a phone interview with The Durango Herald. “We’re very honored. We had people from 48 states and 43 foreign countries apply this year. We’re on the international radar, and that’s humbling.”
Garland also made five of his own picks. Those who didn’t get selected were placed onto wait lists. Some years, the wait list moves quite a bit. In other year, such as 2015, the runners selected hold onto their place tightly.
Headlining the race are 2016 co-champions Kilian Jornet of Spain and Jason Schlarb, now of Durango. Jornet will go for a fourth consecutive win if he competes in the race in July. He is also planning a second trip to Mount Everest to attempt to run the world’s tallest mountain without the support of oxygen.
“I haven’t talked to (Jornet) about it. But I sent him a reminder that he needed to sign up, and he signed up within 24 hours,” Garland said.
New Zealand’s Anna Frost, the two-time defending women’s champion, also accepted her automatic entry as the previous year’s champion.
“It’s on again,” Frost posted on her Facebook. “The journey to kiss the rock!”
The focus of the run is on the community atmosphere, but there is a legitimate race at the top of the field with the world’s best runners.
This year’s men’s field is loaded with names such as Adam Campbell, Mike Foote, Iker Karrera and Zach Miller.
“Zach Miller is a young gun who won a really competitive 50-miler (Saturday) in California,” Garland said. “We’re excited he’s gonna be here.”
Veteran and 2009 champion Karl Meltzer, 47, will also return to the Hardrock 100 this year along with names such as Joe Grant, Scott Jaime and Chris Price.
“Karl finished the speed record for the Appalachian Trail this summer, and we’re looking forward to his return,” Garland said. “When I think about people who early in our evolution, Karl was one of those people instrumental in getting us to where we are today. He’s forgotten more about the course than a lot of people ever know.”
Darcy Piceu, who didn’t make it off the wait list a year ago, will return in the women’s field to test Frost. The three-time champion is coming off a Wasatch Front 100 win in 2016. That will provide an epic rematch of 2015’s grueling race in which Frost passed Piceu late in the competition.
2016 Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc winner Caroline Chaverot will also test herself at Hardrock this year. 2015 UTMB champ Nathalie Mauclair also will compete.
“The women’s field is as deep as it’s ever been,” Garland said. “Darcy, Anna, the two French women, Darla Askew and Bethany Lewis, that’s gonna be a ton of fun to watch.”
Durango’s Missy Gosney is on the wait list this year. She’s 19th on the “everyone else” list.
Garland was especially excited to see two other women make the field this year. Amanda Grimes of Steamboat Springs long has supported the race and will get a chance to compete. Katie Grossman, who was first on the waitlist a year ago but didn’t get in, also will get her chance this year.
“Katie was devastated she didn’t get a spot, but she handled it with such dignity,” Garland said. “She was there cheering other people on. Now, she will get her turn. I’m glad to see that.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
