Of the various good-natured debates that permeate the game of path working and ultrarunning, few are as full of life and as various because the dialogue over which path — clockwise or counterclockwise — is tougher on the Hardrock 100.
In fact, the easy reply is that they’re each laborious. And that’s fairly true. However, for these of us who’ve run the race in each instructions, and I’m lucky to rely myself as a type of, all of us have our opinions.
The Hardrock 100 course showcases 4 historic mountain cities of the San Juans — Silverton, Lake Metropolis, Ouray, and Telluride — and permits the hardest ultrarunners on the earth to check themselves in these majestic mountains. Over practically 30 years of the enduring race, the course has remained nearly unchanged, save for a number of small re-routes right here and there. Because of this, it offers nice fodder for the talk: which path is tougher? What follows is my opinion on that query.
Claire Bannwarth (left) and Annie Hughes share early miles within the 2023 Hardrock 100 mountain climbing up the “ramp” outdoors of Maggie Gulch. Picture: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Most everybody is aware of that the Hardrock course, over its 100 miles, packs about 33,200 ft of climbing over 9 main climbs, the best one topping out at 14,058 ft. All of these climbs are steep, soul-sucking efforts in each instructions that may take a look at even essentially the most seasoned ultrarunner. However, upon nearer inspection, it turns into clear that one path — the clockwise path that runners are traversing this 12 months — is extra forgiving and, due to this fact, extra more likely to yield quick instances. As my good pal Roch Horton, 10-time Hardrock finisher, usually says, “Going clockwise you run up the ‘partitions’ and down the ‘ramps.’”
Within the clockwise path, the climbs, or the partitions, are invariably steeper, extra technical, and shorter. The descents, or the ramps, are longer, gentler, and extra more likely to permit runners to open issues up a bit and make up time working down the extra gradual grades. There are 4 key locations the place this level is illuminated:
- The descent off of Oscars Cross into Telluride
- The lengthy descent down Camp Chook Highway into Ouray
- The sweeping highway descent from Engineer Cross to Grouse Gulch
- The sleek highway from Burrows Park to Sherman
These 4 sections, totaling over 22 miles in combination — totally on jeep roads and double-track observe — characterize sections the place runners can actually run. They’re fantastically forgiving. I bear in mind first turning into conscious of this in 2008 when Kyle Skaggs turned the primary particular person ever to run Hardock in beneath 24 hours. That 12 months, he advised me he ran the seven-mile Camp Chook part from Governor Basin to Ouray in 48 minutes throughout the race.
This concept was strengthened in 2012 when, in keeping with winner Hal Koerner, he ran down all 4 of the “ramps” at a sub-7:30-minute-per-mile tempo and distanced all of his rivals within the course of.
Kilian Jornet main François D’Haene and Dakota Jones early within the 2022 Hardrock 100, a clockwise 12 months, earlier than occurring to set a course document. Picture: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
In a protracted mountain race of 100 miles, a number of variables are at all times at play, and the brutal fact is that Hardock is tough in both path. However for the sensible and savvy runner who does their homework and analyzes the course, it’s clear that clockwise is the sooner path. It is going to be enjoyable to see the way it all performs out this 12 months.
Bottoms up!
AJW’s Beer of the Week
This week’s Beer of the Week comes from Telluride Brewing Firm in Telluride, Colorado. Suero is a crisp pilsner brewed with contemporary lime juice and a pinch of salt to supply a style of Mexico in a excessive mountain city. Suero is, in some ways, a basic German-style pilsner. However in different methods, it’s a type of beers that retains you coming again for extra.
Name for Feedback
- In the event you’ve run Hardrock in each instructions earlier than, which do you suppose is tougher?
- Given the choice, which path would you select to go?
