2025 Hardrock 100 - Ultimate Insider’s Preview

The mountains are calling and they don’t care if you’re ready.

The Hardrock 100 is nearly here, kicking off at 6:00 a.m. Friday, July 11 in Silverton, Colorado. This is no ordinary 100-miler. It’s 102.5 miles of high-altitude punishment, soul, and San Juan grit. Whether you’re a seasoned fan or just discovering the cult of Hardrock, here’s your ultimate preview: who to watch, what to expect, and how to follow every gritty, glorious mile.

Hardrock 100 Race Overview

Race Day: Friday, July 11, 2025 • 6 a.m. MDT, Silverton, CO 

Distance: 102.5 miles

Ascent: ~33,000 ft

Total Elevation Change: 66,394 ft

Average Altitude: 11,186 ft

Highest Point: Handies Peak at 14,058 ft

Cut-off Limit: 48 hours

Field Size: 146 starters

What Makes Hardrock Special

Founded 1992 to honor San Juan miners, the course is a brutal single-loop through the San Juan Mountains. With over 33,000ft of elevation gain and an average altitude of ~11,186ft. Runners scale 13 major passes above 12,000ft, including a summit of 14,058’ Handies Peak early on

This year’s loop runs counter-clockwise, meaning runners will climb up Bear Creek into Ouray (instead of descending it), and hit Handies around mile 33 while their legs are still fresh-ish. It’s one of the gnarliest directions.

But it’s not just the terrain—it’s the traditions. There’s no finish line banner. To stop the clock, you must kiss the Hardrock—a slab of stone painted with a ram’s head.

Weather & Course Conditions

Forecast: Season‑normal highs ~70–75 °F, overnight lows near 40 °F, slight afternoon storm chance. Models currently project dry morning starts and limited thunderstorm activity across Friday–Sunday

Conditions: Average winter snowpack is mostly melted. Only a few small snow patches with plenty of water and mud.

PaceSetR's Take: Nice conditions could foster fast racing, but be prepared for sudden monsoon bursts. Lightning safety gear is mandatory

Women’s Field

With Courtney Dauwalter sitting this one out, the women’s field is wide open—and stacked.

Katie Schide: @katieschide is the clear favorite. She’s won UTMB back-to-back, crushed Madeira this year, and trained on course since June. A minor fall in training meant a few stitches, but she’s back and ready to make a statement. A record could fall if conditions hold.

Manon Bohard Cailler: @bhdmanon is a mountain machine with big wins at Diagonale and Madeira. If she’s on, she’ll push Katie hard.

Katharina Hartmuth: @galileo1307 brings experience, endurance, and a 3rd place finish at Hardrock last year. She’s also a Tor des Géants champ—she knows how to suffer late.

Stephanie Case: @theultrarunnergirl returns after having a baby and winning a 100K just six months later (while breastfeeding mid-race!). She’s back at 100 miles and could surge late.

Aliza Lapierre: @allrunning is a Hardrock rookie but ultra veteran. She’s gone deep at Cocodona and Western States—don’t count her out.

Dark horses:

• Uxue Fraile - @uxuefraile

• Maria Semerjian - @mariasemerjian

• Becky Bates - @beckybates

• Amber Weibel - @amberweibel

Men’s Field

Ludovic Pommeret: @ludovic_pommeret returns to defend his title—and that wicked-fast course record (21:33). At 49, he’s still dominating, and he’s prepped with two full “Softrock” loops this summer. If he’s near the lead after Telluride, good luck catching him.

Zach Miller: @zachmiller38 finally makes his Hardrock debut after last year’s emergency appendectomy. He’s fiery, fearless, and fast. If he can hold that energy late, he could blow this race open.

Mathieu Blanchard: @mathieu__blanchard is a UTMB superstar, a Western States top-10, and a Diagonale winner. He’s been out training on course—if he handles the altitude well, he’s dangerous.

Germain Grangier: @germaingrangier, Katie Schide’s partner, is smart, strong, and sneaky consistent. Expect him to move up as others fall off.

Jeff Rome: Silverton’s hometown hero, grabbed a late waitlist entry. He was 2nd here in 2018 and 4th last year. If you’re watching in person, he’ll have the loudest cheers.

Kyle Curtin: @thekingofthecarbs is a Colorado beast with the Colorado Trail FKT and a Tahoe 200 win. He’s trained here for years and finally gets to race. Don’t be shocked if he finishes top‑5.

How to Follow

We will send out a text that will have the included tracking below and all the streams embedded. Here is a taste of the tracking so you can check out the course:

Video: We will have them embedded and will send out the link in the race reminder text an hour before race start!

Social: Use hashtags #Hardrock100 and #HR100 to follow crew/runners’ stories

Hardrock 100 Records

Clockwise Records:

• Ludovic Pommeret - 2024 - 21:33

• Courtney Dauwalter - 2024 - 26:11

Counter-Clockwise Records:

• François D’Haene - 2021 - 21:45

• Courtney Dauwalter - 2023 - 26:14

Kílian Jornet: 5× winner, former Clockwise record holder (21:36) 

Courtney Dauwalter: 3 straight wins

Final Word

Expect raw humbling mountain moments, and emotional finish‑line stories. Will Ludo stun again? Can Katie rewrite CCW history? We will soon know.

And for the mid‑packers, every finish and kiss at the rock is a memory forged in rugged beauty. Enjoy an epic weekend and good luck to all 146 starters!