The Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run is an ultramarathon

Ultramarathon

An ultramarathon is any sporting event involving running longer than the traditional marathon length of .There are two types of ultramarathon events: those that cover a specified distance, and events that take place during specified time...

 100.5 miles (161.7 km) in length, with 33000 feet (10,058.4 m) of climb at an average elevation of over 11000 feet (3,352.8 m). The race is held on a loop course on 4WD roads, dirt trails, and cross country in Southern Colorado

Colorado

Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...

's San Juan Range

San Juan Mountains

The San Juan Mountains are a high and rugged mountain range in the Rocky Mountains in southwestern Colorado. The area is highly mineralized and figured in the gold and silver mining industry of early Colorado. Major towns, all old mining camps, include Creede, Lake City, Silverton, Ouray, and...

, USA. The race is dedicated to the memory of the miners who settled in the area and who built the mining trails on which much of the race is run.

Event description

The run starts and ends in Silverton, Colorado

Silverton, Colorado

The town of Silverton is a Statutory Town that is the county seat of, and the only incorporated municipality in, San Juan County, Colorado, United States. Silverton is a former silver mining camp, most or all of which is now included in a federally designated National Historic Landmark District,...

 and travels through the towns of Telluride

Telluride, Colorado

The town of Telluride is the county seat and most populous town of San Miguel County in the southwestern portion of the U.S. state of Colorado. The town is a former silver mining camp on the San Miguel River in the western San Juan Mountains...

, Ouray

Ouray, Colorado

The historic City of Ouray is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Ouray County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 813 at the U.S. Census 2000 and 1,000 as of the U.S. Census 2010...

, and the ghost town of Sherman, crossing thirteen major passes in the 12,000' to 13,000' range. Entrants must travel above 12000 feet (3,657.6 m) of elevation a total of 13 times, with the highest point on the course being the 14,048' summit of Handies Peak

Handies Peak

Handies Peak is a fourteen thousand foot mountain peak in the U.S. state of Colorado. It is located in the San Juan Mountains in Hinsdale County approximately south west of Lake City.-See also:* List of Colorado fourteeners* Mountain peaks of Colorado...

. The race has been held in early July of each year beginning in 1992, except for 1995 (too much snow) and 2002 (nearby forest fires). Each year's race is run in the opposite direction of the previous year's event (2008 was run in the clockwise direction, 2009 will be counter-clockwise). In order to complete the event, instead of crossing a finish line, runners are required to "kiss the Hardrock", a picture of a ram's head painted on a large block of stone mining debris.

The cut-off time for finishing the race is 48 hours. Current fast performances are held by Kyle Skaggs (23:23), set in 2008 and Krissy Moehl (29:24), set in 2007.
The average time required to finish this race is 41:10:15, which is longer than the cutoff times of most 100 miles (160.9 km) races. This is due largely to the high elevations, which can cause altitude sickness

Altitude sickness

Altitude sickness—also known as acute mountain sickness , altitude illness, hypobaropathy, or soroche—is a pathological effect of high altitude on humans, caused by acute exposure to low partial pressure of oxygen at high altitude...

 or edema

High Altitude Pulmonary Edema

High altitude pulmonary edema is a life-threatening form of non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema that occurs in otherwise healthy mountaineers at altitudes typically above ....

 in some runners. In addition, the course covers extremely rugged terrain including steep scree

Scree

Scree, also called talus, is a term given to an accumulation of broken rock fragments at the base of crags, mountain cliffs, or valley shoulders. Landforms associated with these materials are sometimes called scree slopes or talus piles...

 climbs and descents, snow packs, river crossings, and boulder fields. The race starts at 6am, so runners who finish in over 40 hours see the sun set twice before finishing. Runners continue at night using flashlights or headlamps. Portions of the trail are adjacent to steep dropoffs and are described in the course description with the word "exposure

Glossary of climbing terms

This page describes terms and jargon related to climbing and mountaineering.-A:American death triangle : An anchor which is created by connecting a closed loop of cord or webbing between two points of protection, and then suspending the rope from a carabiner clipped to only one strand of said anchor...

".

The extreme altitude changes bring runners through several climate zones. Much of the course is above the tree line, which in Colorado is around 11000 feet (3,352.8 m), and it is not uncommon for participants to go two nights in a row without sleep to finish the course.

While Hardrock is nominally a running event, many entrants use equipment typically used for hiking

Hiking

Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...

 or mountain climbing, such as trekking poles or crampons

Crampons

Crampons are traction devices used to improve mobility on snow and ice. There are three main attachment systems for footwear: step-in, hybrid, and strap bindings. The first two require boots with welts, the last adapt to any type....

. Weather can be very extreme in the San Juan mountains, where nighttime temperatures can drop to subzero Fahrenheit in the high elevations. Severe thunder storms can also roll in quickly, bringing rain, hail, high winds, or lightning

Lightning

Lightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...

 with little warning. Thus most runners must be prepared for any type of weather. Most carry additional layers clothing in backpacks, as well as enough food and fluids to go up to 8 hours without aid.

The Hardrock 100 is the centerpiece of the "Rocky Mountain Slam," which a runner completes if s/he finishes Hardrock plus three of four other races in the Rocky Mountains: Leadville Trail 100

Leadville Trail 100

Leadville Trail 100 Ultramarathon is an ultramarathon held annually on trails and dirt roads near Leadville, Colorado, through the heart of the Rocky Mountains. First run in 1983, runners in the race climb and descend , with elevations ranging between 9,200-12,620 feet...

, the Bear 100 Mile Endurance Run

Bear 100 Mile Endurance Run

The Bear 100 Mile Endurance Run is an ultramarathon that traverses the Wasatch and Bear River Ranges west of Bear Lake, from Logan, Utah to Fish Haven, Idaho. With of climb and an average elevation of , it is one of the more difficult ultramarathons...

, the Bighorn 100, or the Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run

Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run

The Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run is a 100 mile ultra marathon held annually on the first Friday after Labor Day in the U.S. state of Utah...

. The award is presented at and hosted by the Bear 100 Mile Endurance Run

Bear 100 Mile Endurance Run

The Bear 100 Mile Endurance Run is an ultramarathon that traverses the Wasatch and Bear River Ranges west of Bear Lake, from Logan, Utah to Fish Haven, Idaho. With of climb and an average elevation of , it is one of the more difficult ultramarathons...

, as this is the final run in the series.

Entrants

Each year the running field is limited to 140 qualifying candidates selected in early February by the race's Run Committee. Prospective entrants are required to demonstrate adequate mountaineering experience either by having competed in the race previously, or running one of the following mountainous 100 miles (160.9 km) ultramarathons in the previous 3 years: Wasatch

Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run

The Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run is a 100 mile ultra marathon held annually on the first Friday after Labor Day in the U.S. state of Utah...

, Eagle, the Bear

Bear 100 Mile Endurance Run

The Bear 100 Mile Endurance Run is an ultramarathon that traverses the Wasatch and Bear River Ranges west of Bear Lake, from Logan, Utah to Fish Haven, Idaho. With of climb and an average elevation of , it is one of the more difficult ultramarathons...

, Angeles Crest

Angeles Crest 100 Mile Endurance Run

The Angeles Crest 100 Mile Endurance Run, or AC 100, is a 100 mile long ultramarathon that takes place annually along trails through California's Angeles National Forest.- The Course :...

, Massanutten Mountain Trails, Western States

Western States Endurance Run

The Western States Endurance Run, known commonly as the Western States 100, is a 100-mile ultramarathon that takes place on trails in California's Sierra Nevada Mountains annually on the last full weekend of June. The race starts at the base of the Squaw Valley ski resort and finishes at the...

, Cascade Crest Classic, Plain, HURT, Bighorn or Leadville

Leadville Trail 100

Leadville Trail 100 Ultramarathon is an ultramarathon held annually on trails and dirt roads near Leadville, Colorado, through the heart of the Rocky Mountains. First run in 1983, runners in the race climb and descend , with elevations ranging between 9,200-12,620 feet...

; or else have demonstrated equivalent mountaineering experience.