Eight countries, 26 states and at least seven local runners will be represented in the 2015 Hardrock 100, which will be held July 10-12.
The lottery to determine the field of 152 runners – up from 140 the year before – was held last weekend. The seven local runners, with another high on the waiting list, are a strong representation, said race director Dale Garland.
The 1,300 applicants was a record, said Garland, who has directed the 100-mile event since its humble inception in 1992. Early races took anyone who met the qualifying standards.
This year’s applicants hailed from 47 states and 37 foreign countries, also records.
Locals in the 2015 field are Leah Fein, Brett Gosney, Missy Gosney, Scott Kuhn, Steve McClung, Brendan Trimboli and Phil Wiley. Drew Gunn is 10th on the wait list, and typically about 20 on that list get into the starting field, Garland said.
The Hardrock actually has three lotteries, Garland explained.
The veterans lottery, for those who have finished five or more Hardrocks, includes 35 spots.
For those who’ve finished one to four times, a lottery is held for 70 spots.
For those who’ve never run, there are 47 spots. Your chances of getting selected increase each year you don’t get in.
Only two are guaranteed spots in the field each year, and that’s the two winners of the previous race. Last year’s men’s winner, Kilian Jornet of Spain, set a course record in 22 hours, 41 minutes. The women’s winner was Darcy Piceu of Boulder, who finished in 29:49.
It’s possible that future Hardrock fields could include more runners, but don’t expect any major increases soon. Garland said that after a review of the impacts of the race, the Bureau of Land Management has increased the field limit to 250 competitors. However, Garland emphasized that increasing the field over 160 would bring more stipulations. Also, other logistics such as parking along the course and the number of available hotel rooms would have to be considered. The field could stay at 152 for several years.
“We’re going to be very deliberate in our growth,” Garland said Thursday.
The Hardrock begins in Silverton and goes either clockwise or counter-clockwise (it changes each year) through Telluride, Ouray, the ghost town of Sherman near Lake City and back to Silverton. Competitors climb more than 33,000 feet, and the course’s average elevation is 11,186.
For more information visit http://hardrock100.com.
johnp@durangoherald.com
This story was changed from its original publication to correct the number of local runners in the field.
