Race City Location Map - zoom in · zoom out · big map
displays approximate race location ·

My Best Runs Comments

Make A Comment

About the course.

The course consists of three mountain ranges, a total of 13,000 feet of cumulative vertical ascent and 4,700 feet of cumulative descent. Temperatures are typically in the 115 degree to 120 degree range, but can go up to 130 degrees, with 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. temperatures in the 90s. The heat, the dry and mountainous terrain, the roller coaster climbs and dips, not to mention the surreal nature of being so removed from the world makes this race a unique challenge.

Hardrock 100 runners endure heat, high wind on one of world’s toughest courses

The runners began rolling in early Saturday, shortly before 5 a.m., when Durango’s Jason Schlarb and two-time champion and world-class runner Kilian Jornet finished hand in hand after simultaneously racing and supporting one another for some 60 miles of the course.

“What it signified was exactly why this weekend was so special,” Garland said.“It was camaraderie, it was cooperation, it was, ‘I respect you as a runner, you respect me as a runner, let’s just finish this off together.’ I think that really embodies how we try to conduct this whole event. If somebody’s hurting, you help them. If they’re lost, you find them.”

Nearly 24 hours after that moment is what run organizers call “The Golden Hour,” the final 60 minutes before the cutoff. This year, the finishers included the only husband and wife team. Scott and Barbara Olmer, both of Denver, ran the entire course together and were quickly embraced by their children, Benedict, 17 months, and 3-year-old Amelia, after finishing.

“With these two, we have very little time together. We figured we’d just enjoy the day — like a 48-hour date,” said Barbara Olmer, an insurance benefits consultant who was starting and finishing her second Hardrock.

Scott Olmerwas starting his 12th Hardrock and finished his 11th. Like many runners, he acknowledged that heat and high winds made this year particularly difficult.

“She (Barbara) came down to pace me when we first started dating and kind of fell in love with it,” said Scott, a mechanical engineer. “She’s my partner out there. Sometimes we don’t talk at all, just keep chugging. Needle each other to make sure we’re keeping the pace and taking care of ourselves.”

Friday morning, 152 left Silverton to head through the San Juan Mountains, moving through trails between Telluride, Ouray, Lake City and back into town.Roughly 73 percent of them finished. In the lead-up, 1,600 people applied for those coveted spots — an acceptance rate of just under 10 percent. Sixteen of the entrants were women and the rest men. Before this year, the 100.5mile course had been completed 1,589 times.

“The mountains are the great equalizer, and just because you’re up here on one day doesn’t mean you’re going to stay there,” Garland said. “You need friendship and community to support you on those days.”

The HARDROCK 100 is a mountain run that passes through some of the most beautiful and rugged mountains in the world.

Four legs, linking the Lake City, Ouray, Telluride, and Silverton areas. The finish is in Silverton, the same location as the start. The course is 100 miles long, has a cumulative vertical gain of 33,050 feet of climb and 33,050 feet of descent for a total elevation change of 66,100 feet, and takes place at an average elevation of about 11,000 feet. The high point is 14,048 feet.

This is a test of runners against the mountains. The course is on trails as much as possible. There are 14 aid stations; major aid stations will be located in the towns with less well-equipped aid stations in between. Runners are expected to be largely self-supporting between the towns.

This is not an orienteering event. We intend that you be able to concentrate primarily on running. However, remoteness, weather, animals, and people problems on the course make this problematic at best. We will mark the entire course before the run. However, long road sections and maintained trails may not be marked at all. Cross-country sections will be marked more intensely. We shall continue our trend over the past few years of less intense course marking with fewer flags along all course sections. The flags should be readily visible, even to those with red/green color blindness. The markers have reflective tags for night visibility. On some portions of the route we may place colored engineer tape. Chalk may be used to mark other sections, particularly roads in towns. Runners are responsible for knowing the prescribed course and following it whether or not markers are present.

The altitude range of this run (7,700 to 14,000+ feet) takes the runner through several climate zones. At the lower altitude, forests of aspen, pine, and spruce are common. Timberline is locally at about 11,800 feet, though this can vary greatly. Above timberline is alpine tundra and low vegetation interspersed with krummholz (low, stunted spruce, fir, and willow).

In the summer, animal life is abundant. You will almost certainly see elk in the high meadows, possibly with their young. Stay clear of elk: they can be ornery at times. Bears (black, not grizzlies) are present, though seldom seen. Mountain lions may also be encountered.

The run is a salute to the toughness and perseverance of the hardrock miners who lived and worked in the area.

The 50-mile out-and-back course takes racers through the historic mining district on the east side of Leadville. Primarily on dirt roads, first set by miners and their burros, it will begin at the Cloud City Ski Hut (located just below Colorado Mountain College on Hwy 24 on the South end of Leadville). None of the roads used will be closed to vehicle traffic, so please use caution. The route will take runners by and between many grand and historic gold and silver mines.

Take on 50 miles of extreme territory that starts at 10,200 feet and reaches 12,000 feet on four separate occasions at the Silver Rush 50 Run. It will leave your lungs burning, heart pounding and eyes completely amazed — while also preparing you for the pinnacle CenturyLink Leadville Trail 100 Run presented by La Sportiva.

The course is 50 miles out and back within the high altitude environment of Leadville’s historic east-side mining district. The route is entirely on dirt, rocks, and mud and will offer the runner amazing climbs and exhilarating downhills all with incredible Leadville vistas.

Once again African runners dominated the high-caliber Boilermaker 15K, Sun., July 10 in Utica, N.Y., as Teshome Asfaha of Ethiopia was a decisive men’s winner and Cynthia Limo, from Kenya, was the women’s champion.

The Boilermaker 15K presented by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is the premier event of Boilermaker Weekend. This world-renowned race is often referred to as the country's best 15K. The Boilermaker 15K is recognized for its entertaining yet challenging course and racing's best post-race party, hosted by the F.X. Matt Brewing Company, featuring Saranac beer and a live concert!

With 3 ice and water stops every mile, strong attention to medical detail, and crowd support like no other race, the Boilermaker 15K is an event worth training and traveling for and should be on every runner's "must-do" list.