Jason Schlarb was full of emotion when he crossed the Hardrock 100 finish line with co-champion Kilian Jornet. Over the course of 100 miles, the two built a bond that will last forever.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jason Schlarb got his groove back on Bear Creek Trail while others were suffering. His confidence grew, and he was with Kilian Jornet in the lead from Handies Peak until the finish.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Kilian Jornet, left, of Spain, and Jason Schlarb, of Durango, celebrate on Saturday in Silverton after they tied for first place in the Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Dale Garland, co-founder of the Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run on Saturday, has made it a practice to greet every runner who finishes the race in Silverton. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Xavier Thevenard, of France, crosses the the Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run claiming third place on Saturday in Silverton. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jason Schlard, of Durango, with pacer Paul Hamilton make their way up Bear Creek Trail on Friday afternoon while competing in the Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Emma Roca makes her way up to Bear Creek Trail on Friday afternoon while competing in the Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Anna Frost, of Dunedin, NZL, makes her way up to Bear Creek Trail on Friday afternoon while competing in the Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Xavier Thevenard, front, and Kilian Jornet, and a pacer make their way up Bear Creek Trail on Friday afternoon while competing in the Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Xavier Thevenard, of France, feels the effects of the the Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run after claiming third place on Saturday in Silverton. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Emma Roca makes her way up to Bear Creek Trail on Friday afternoon while competing in the Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
The media and crowd gather around to ask questions of Kilian Jornet, of France, and Jason Schlarb, of Durango, and hear them talk about the race on Saturday in Silverton after they tied for first place in the Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jason Schlarb, of Durango, hugs Kilian Jornet, of Spain, on Saturday in Silverton after they tied for first place in the Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jason Schlard, of Durango, makes his way up Bear Creek Trail with his pacer on Friday afternoon while competing in the Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Xavier Thevenard, front, and Kilian Jornet, and a pacer make their way up Bear Creek Trail on Friday afternoon while competing in the Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jason Schlard, of Durango, makes his way up Bear Creek Trail with his pacer on Friday afternoon while competing in the Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jeff Browning makes his way up to Bear Creek Trail on Friday afternoon while competing in the Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
The media and crowd gather around to ask questions of Kilian Jornet, of Spain, and Jason Schlarb, of Durango, and hear them talk about the race on Saturday in Silverton after they tied for first place in the Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Anna Frost, of Dunedin, NZL, makes her way up to Bear Creek Trail on Friday afternoon while competing in the Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jason Schlarb, of Durango, and Kilian Jornet, of Spain, kiss the finishers rock on Saturday in Silverton after they tied for first place in the Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Joe Grant makes his way up to Bear Creek Trail on Friday afternoon while competing in the Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Nick Clark makes his way up to Bear Creek Trail on Friday afternoon while competing in the Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jason Schlarb, left, of Durango, and Kilian Jornet, of France, cross the finish line hand in hand in Silverton on Saturday as they tie for first place in the Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Troy Howard makes his way up to Bear Creek Trail on Friday afternoon while competing in the Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Anna Frost, of Dunedin, NZL, makes her way up to Bear Creek Trail on Friday afternoon while competing in the Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Ryan Kaiser makes his way up to Bear Creek Trail on Friday afternoon while competing in the Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Troy Howard makes his way up to Bear Creek Trail on Friday afternoon while competing in the Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Emma Roca, of Spain, crosses the finish line with her children as she finishes second in the women’s Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run on Saturday in Silverton. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Anna Frost, of NZL, and Durango, is congratulated by a large crowd gathered as she wins the women’s Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run on Saturday in Silverton. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Anna Frost, of NZL, and Durango, is congratulated by a large crowd gathered as she wins the women’s Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run on Saturday in Silverton. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Anna Frost, of NZL, and Durango,kisses the finishers rock as she wins the women’s Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run on Saturday in Silverton. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Anna Frost, of NZL, and Durango, relaxes and answers in front of the finishers rock after winning the women’s Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run on Saturday in Silverton. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
“I have nothing left,” said Emma Roca, of Spain, after crossing the finish line for second place in the women’s Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run on Saturday in Silverton. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
The first time Jason Schlarb tried to get into the Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run, he hadn’t completed any of the qualifying races and decided to send the race organizers a letter asking for a spot in the lottery.
He didn’t get in, and rightfully so.
Five years later, when Schlarb finally toed the starting line of the Hardrock 100 outside of the Silverton School Gymnasium at 6 a.m. Friday, he wasn’t about to let his first shot go to waste.
Schlarb stayed with two-time defending champion and ultra running superstar Kilian Jornet step-for-step for 22 hours, 58 minutes, 28 seconds to finish as co-champion with the Spanish star.
“I got a (Western States 100) spot, and I turned it down so I could come to this because this is my favorite race in the world,” Schlarb said. “I was also planning on going to Europe right now, but I postponed that and canceled Western so I could be here. It’s very special to me.”
Schlarb moved to the Durango area a little less than two years ago after spending time in Missoula, Montana. He completed the first ski traverse ever recorded on the 100-mile Hardrock 100 course in March with fellow Durangoan Scott Simmons, skimo racer Paul Hamilton, who helped pace Schlarb on Friday, and backcountry videographer Noah Howell.
Finishing hand-in-hand with Jornet before 5 a.m. Saturday delivered a similar feeling as the ski trip for the 38-year-old Schlarb.
“I’ve never had an experience like I did with Kilian,” he said. “But the camaraderie with Paul, Scott and Noah was one of those that lasts a lifetime. When you spend four days in the wilderness accomplishing something that’s really out there and something that’s never been done, it’s pretty special.”
Having a Durango man finish as a champion reminded race director Dale Garland of legendary runs by Rick Trujillo and Ricky Denisick, two pioneers of the 25-year-old event.
“It’s really special to have somebody local,” Garland said. “We haven’t had somebody local do this well for a long time, and it gives a little Durango pride.”
Being a professional athlete, Schlarb had the luxury of picking a hometown that best suited his passions. Along with his wife Maggie, who owns her own business, and son Felix, the Schlarbs picked Durango.
“We traveled abroad for a bit before Missoula,” he said. “Being a professional athlete, we could have picked anywhere in the country to live. Durango and the San Juans is the No. 1 place in the country. Luckily, we were able to make it work there, because Durango is our favorite.”
Next up for Schlarb is the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc in France before a stage race in Iceland. He previously has finished in the top five at UTMB, widely regarded as the Super Bowl of ultra running.
Schlarb has built a spiritual connection with the San Juans and the Hardrock course, and he said he will definitely accept his automatic spot into next year’s race.
His days of writing letters to Garland and crew are over.
