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OUR HISTORY

The Vic Falls Marathon in Zimbabwe grew from the success of the Kilimanjaro marathon in Tanzania, and was first proposed by Wild Frontiers in 2005. The buy in of the local Tourism Board, the Athletics Association etc. was quickly forthcoming, and Wild Frontiers drew in local tour operators in Victoria Falls to partner in the event management. This has proved to be a very useful partnership for all.

As with the Kilimanjaro marathon, the idea was to use sport as a means of attracting tourism to the region.

The first event, in 2006 was very small – around 300 in total – and, mainly local runners. Sponsorship was also limited – the harsh economic conditions at the time in Zimbabwe made us make use of the ‘barter ‘system, for a lot of sponsorship deals – beer, water, flights etc. were all supplied rather than cash. At one stage we even considered giving the prizes in livestock – cows and goats etc ...this did not happen.

The first few years started something in the Falls, and more people in the country/region were running socially, so people were coming to join the event but, it was a slow start.

In 2010, the improved economic situation allowed better numbers, and now the event is on the map, with a full, half, and 7.5 km fun run. It’s a unique event, running across a bridge over an international boundary, in the spray of Victoria Falls, through a World Heritage Site, and seeing big game such as elephant along the beautiful route. From a “sports tourist “point of view, in the surrounding area you have all you would ever want, game viewing safaris, boat cruises, walking safaris, canoing, white water rafting, horse riding etc.

We could not have done this without some great sponsorship support over the years, and Zimbabwe’s top companies have all helped us to make this event a success’.

As well as being a great breeding ground for the local talent, the event draws quality runners from neighboring countries, and from around the world – with up to 40 nationalities attending the event. Apart from the ‘sports ‘ element, the event has a big pay off in the region, with sponsors building their CSR around the event, and the economic benefits to the country and the region are huge. There is also a change of lifestyle across the country, with many more people taking up running, to keep healthy and socialize.

Start:in the car park opposite the banks and Post Office – 06:45

Runners will run downhill and across the iconic Vic Falls bridge, to Zambia. Often, in the early moring, there is a chilly spray form the nearby Falls, and always great views – be careful of people stopping for photos!

Turning on the Zambian side, just before the gate, we run back across the bridge, before turning to run along Zambezi Drive, along the Zambezi River, and the Big Tree. Look out for game – elephants, buffalo and lion have been seen, as well as kudu, impala etc. There are National Parks rangers along the route to keep you safe.

You then head back inland, up a low hill by the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge (VFSL) turn off, and then west, down into the Zambezi National Park, before turning at the check. Back through the VFSL gardens, out through the suburbs and back to the main road at Sprayview Hotel and, you’ve done around 20 km.

Repeat the loop, but not the bridge crossing – and then up to the finish at the school on the Kazungula road. Keep your eyes and ears open for route directions, not each loop is exactly the same, but the signs will make sense!

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.