Ending second, Camille Bruyasof France put collectively a stable run on the 2024 Hardrock 100, her first go on the occasion. On this interview, she talks about working with Courtney Dauwalter and Katharina Hartmuth within the early miles of the occasion, her points with getting meals down whereas out on the right track, and the way she needed to take an prolonged break at a few assist stations with a purpose to devour the energy she wanted to complete.
For extra on how the race performed out, try our in-depth 2024 Hardrock 100 outcomes article.
Camille Bruyas Publish-2024 Hardrock 100 Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Meghan Hicks of iRunfar. I’m with Camille Bruyas. It’s the day after the 2024 Hardrock 100 Endurance Run. You’re the second-place ladies’s finisher. How does that really feel, and the way does that sound?
Camille Bruyas: Sure, I noticed simply now as a result of yesterday I used to be so destroyed, and my head was utterly drained. However yeah, immediately I’m okay.
iRunFar: The awards have simply completed, and so you bought to be honored for that second-place place. Perhaps it’s beginning to sink in a bit of bit? Like how regardless of your difficulties, you had such a great race. You have been second place.
Bruyas: Yeah, it was onerous till Maggie to the top, however yeah, the night time was onerous. It was chilly. I used to be not sufficient with some garments to be protected. So yeah, it was tremendous onerous. The toughest race I ever did, for certain. I actually needed to drop at Maggie and say, okay, I need to cease. However my pacer Marianne [Hogan] mentioned, “No, no, no. Preserve going.”
iRunFar: Let’s backtrack for only a second to the elements of the race the place you felt good, the primary half. I feel you felt actually good. You have been working so sturdy, and also you had an enormous smile in your face for therefore many miles. Discuss us via the elements of the race that you simply felt good. Like, how in regards to the first climb, the second climb, the place there have been so many individuals cheering? Inform us about that.
Bruyas: Yeah, the primary climb was, for me, gradual. And simply begin slowly, however the second climb, it was wonderful as a result of many, many individuals are cheering there.
iRunFar: And in addition cheering there after which watching you go off of Grant Swamp, too.
Bruyas: Yeah, yeah. It was scary as a result of this downhill just isn’t tremendous straightforward. And after, I joined Courtney [Dauwalter] on the following downhill, so it was good to share some miles together with her on the following uphill to Kroger’s Canteen, which for me is one of the best place. It’s tremendous good. It’s tremendous stunning, you already know. After Telluride, I like this half. So, yeah, I used to be tremendous, tremendous good till Telluride. And after, to Ouray it was okay, however after Ouray it was sizzling.
iRunFar: So sizzling.
Bruyas: Yeah, you begin to have 70 kilometers on the legs. However with Marianne, we maintain going till into the night time and Handies Peak. Handies Peak is tremendous onerous as a result of with the altitude, it’s onerous to eat, and I feel I begin to eat much less and fewer and fewer till Maggie. So I feel in Maggie I used to be no power, nothing I can eat, nothing. It was chilly. So many issues go improper on these factors, however now I perceive why.
iRunFar: The lengthy part earlier than Maggie you see crew at Sherman, and then you definitely go into the night time for a protracted, very long time by your self. And also you mentioned you weren’t consuming sufficient, and also you have been on the market with not sufficient. It is best to have had extra garments, you suppose?
Bruyas: Yeah.
iRunFar: So that you felt such as you slowed down, you couldn’t generate warmth, and also you couldn’t eat and make power, so was it only a matter of placing your head down and simply going step-by-step?
Bruyas: Yeah, yeah. I simply need to end, so I feel okay. Step-by-step to this climb, this climb, this climb, this downhill. The downhill was tremendous painful for me as a result of I had stretched quadriceps. Nevertheless it was okay.
iRunFar: So, I used to be at Maggie Gulch whenever you got here in, and the very first thing that you simply needed to know was the hole to the individual behind you. The help station gave you an estimate. Two, two and a half miles, one thing like that. After which it was such as you thought you’d sit down, use a while to get heat, to attempt to eat and drink.
Bruyas: Yeah.
iRunFar: After which not use on a regular basis like between you and that girl, however use a number of the time to deal with your self. Is that what occurred?
Bruyas: Yeah. At Maggie I simply need to, as a result of when you’ve gotten the crew in the beginning of the race, should you didn’t eat an excessive amount of throughout your working and racing, it’s okay as a result of you’ve gotten the crew. And you’ll eat extra what you need. However when after Sherman, you’ve gotten a very long time the place you need to eat within the assist station.
iRunFar: By yourself.
Bruyas: Yeah, by yourself. So, you need to handle this factor, and in Pole Creek I didn’t cease rather a lot. Maggie is like, I must cease as a result of it’s lengthy.
iRunFar: Yeah. I used to be impressed as a result of it was clear you felt dangerous bodily and mentally, however I used to be impressed at how a lot you have been capable of eat. You took quite a lot of soup and a few chips.
Bruyas: Yeah.
iRunFar: Like, you continue to had a abdomen. Lots of people at Maggie didn’t have a abdomen anymore.
Bruyas: Yeah, certain. That’s why I’m saying, okay, you’ll be able to’t eat, you’ll be able to eat. So give attention to this, and maintain going.
iRunFar: Yeah. And so in Maggie, you have been in a chair with a blanket and I don’t know, type of determined trying? After which hastily you shed the blanket and also you marched out of the help station identical to instantly. It wasn’t like, now I’m going to get able to go. It was, you have been gone. You have been nonetheless like, dedicated to the mission.
Bruyas: Yeah. Yeah, as a result of I used to be tremendous chilly. If I keep right here, I’ll keep right here for a very long time.
iRunFar: I can’t go away right here.
Bruyas: Yeah, certain. So, yeah, once I determined to maintain going, it’s like, okay, let’s go.
iRunFar: There’s nonetheless 18 miles or 30 kilometers from Maggie to the end.
Bruyas: Yeah.
iRunFar: It turned more durable for you. It received even more durable.
Bruyas: Yeah, it’s onerous, the top, as a result of the final climb tremendous steep, tremendous lengthy. And yeah, the solar come so it was sizzling.
iRunFar: Yeah.
Bruyas: So yeah, this race by no means ending.
iRunFar: You stayed for a break in Cunningham Gulch along with your crew to, type of like Maggie, to relaxation and eat some meals, I feel.
Bruyas: Yeah. Yeah, as a result of I couldn’t eat whereas I’m working.
iRunFar: Yeah.
Bruyas: And the whole lot typically go outdoors. So yeah, I mentioned in Cunningham I must eat. I can’t go this uphill if I didn’t eat, as a result of it may very well be tremendous, tremendous onerous. And you may make many, many instances on this uphill. In order that’s work. I ate rather a lot in Cunningham so I can end.
iRunFar: Okay. Was there ever a degree earlier than the end line the place you have been capable of, I don’t know, breathe a sigh of reduction and say, okay, I’m going to make it. I can take pleasure in a number of miles. Or was all enjoyment finished at that time?
Bruyas: Yeah, I used to be tremendous gradual. I used to be strolling with my pals, so I mentioned simply earlier than the end, okay, it’s okay. You’ll be able to take pleasure in. You’ll be able to take pleasure in folks, and we will converse. In order that was enjoyable, and it was okay.
iRunFar: Okay.
Bruyas: However in my thoughts, I used to be utterly destroyed and extra unfavourable, I feel. However immediately I perceive extra what I did. However yesterday I used to be simply, I’m tremendous, tremendous shit. I’m tremendous dangerous. I’m tremendous gradual. However, you already know, if you find yourself on this temper, it’s onerous to disconnect whenever you’re tremendous drained, and also you didn’t sleep.
iRunFar: I feel it’s like our nature to acknowledge the issues that we do poorly, earlier than we acknowledge the issues that we do effectively, however to run 29.5 hours at Hardrock with so many difficulties, that’s an excellent time and that’s an excellent efficiency. So, I hope with a while you’ll be able to acknowledge that.
Bruyas: Thanks.
iRunFar: You’ve got been right here. You got here right here, you probably did Softrock. You adjusted to the altitude. You probably did Hardrock one time. Do you are feeling like now that you simply’ve discovered it, do you are feeling such as you may need to come again and check out once more and attempt to determine it out?
Bruyas: Yeah, perhaps, and it’s fascinating right here as a result of one yr is in a single facet and the opposite loop. So yeah, perhaps, why not?
iRunFar: Final query for you. Do you’ve gotten different races or plans or adventures for this yr, or are you simply going into relaxation mode now?
Bruyas: Perhaps journey, however no races.
iRunFar: Something enjoyable to speak about?
Bruyas: Yeah. No, not enjoyable, however round home.
iRunFar: Okay.
Bruyas: Yeah, some trails I need to go, some problem and journey with pals. So yeah, first in the course of the summer season shall be that. Perhaps one race, however a shorter one for certain, on the finish of the yr. As a result of 100 miles for me, it’s onerous.
iRunFar: It’s rather a lot.
Bruyas: Yeah, you need to get better mentally. And bodily, it’s okay, however mentally it is advisable to be again with a powerful power.
iRunFar: So perhaps we see you at one thing within the fall.
Bruyas: Yeah.
iRunFar: Relying on the restoration.
Bruyas: Yeah.
iRunFar: Congratulations to you in your first Hardrock end.
Bruyas: Thanks.
iRunFar: And congratulations in your second place.
Bruyas: Thanks, Meghan.
