2012 Hardrock 100 Preview
July 11, 2012 by Bryon Powell · 13 Comments
The Hardrock 100 kicks off at 6 am on Friday morning with what are likely the best men’s and women’s field in the race’s history. With no snow and, fortunately, smoke-free air, the course is shaping up to be fast. If the forecast mild weather holds up, that, too, will aid the runners. Regardless, the course through the San Juan Mountains will dish out a worthy test for each runner… as will the other runners. To keep things brief (for once, and for real), here’s a look at this year’s potential Hardrock 100 winners.
Ps. We’ll be covering the race live, as usual, here. (The link will go live on Thursday.)
Potential Women’s Winners – 2012 Hardrock 100
With four straight Hardrock wins and the women’s course record (27:18:24), defending champ Diana Finkel may seem an unbeatable force, but she’s got a stiff competition. Last year, Darcy Africa finished only 19 minutes behind Finkel to finish second among the women and seventh overall. In early June, Africa won the Bighorn 100 miler after a strong return to form at Transvulcania after being hampered by the injury. If there’s another woman perfectly suited to outrace Finkel and Africa around the San Juan Mountains, it’s Krissy Moehl. Back in 2007, she won Hardrock in a time three minutes faster than Finkel’s time from last year. Just three weeks ago, Moehl set a 100-mile PR (18:29:15) in placing fourth at the Western States 100 (video interview).
Potential Men’s Winners – 2012 Hardrock 100
Around Silverton, the town that hosts Hardrock’s start and finish, Dakota Jones is the odds-on favorite. He was second last year behind Julien Chorier. Since then, he’s finished second at last December’s TNF 50 (video interview) as well as winning both the Lake Sonoma 50 (video interview) and Transvulcania 50 (video interview) this spring. The past month, he’s been living in Silverton, putting in many long days on the course (as well as tapering). Hal Koerner is also being talked up around town and with good reason. Aside from his stellar long-term resume, he ran 13:24 at Rocky Raccoon in February and has taken his longest non-winter break from racing – three months – than he has in quite a while. That suggests he’s been focusing his energies on the San Juans. Uh, and Karl Meltzer’s won Hardrock a few times and still holds the course record in the counter-clockwise direction (24:38:02). (Note: Hardrock reverses course every other running and this year it’s being run in the clockwise direction.) This year the old goat’s blazed a 14:17 in placing second to Koerner at Rocky Raccoon and won the Antelope Island 100 in March (video interview). If one thing’s certain, someone will have to run a hell of a race to beat Karl. Joe Grant’s my dark horse for the win. With all the vert he’s been doing, I think he can go sub-26, which could nab a win if misfortune befalls those listed above.
Other Contenders for Top Three: Jared Campbell, Dominic Grossman, Scott Jaime, Nick Pedatella
Other Hardrock 100 Previews
For once, I actually kept a race preview short, so here’s another perspective.
Call for Comments
Who do you think will come out on top in the men’s and women’s races?
Related articles:
- Joe Grant and Dakota Jones Post-2012 Hardrock 100 Interview A video interview (with transcript) with Joe Grant (2nd) and Dakota Jones (3rd) following the 2012 Hardrock 100....
- Nick Clark Post-2011 Hardrock 100 Interview An interview with Nick Clark after the 2011 Hardrock 100, where he finished second....
- Dakota Jones Post-2011 Hardrock 100 Interview An interview with Dakota Jones after his second place finish at the 2011 Hardrock 100....
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Bryon Powell is the Editor-in-Chief of iRunFar.com, which he founded five years ago. Also the author of Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons and a contributing editor at Trail Runner magazine, he's quickly approaching 10 years as an ultrarunner and 20 years as a trail runner. These days he calls Park City, Utah and its trails home.
All posts by Bryon Powell
Loved the hard rock build up this year. I am officially in can’t wait mode. Wish I could be out there to volunteer/witness the event!
I think it might be worth it to mention that Jared Campbell finished The Barkley in March. He’s my dark horse
Agreed. Karl’s 10-1 odds for Jared are way, way low. He could easily come out on top, even without carnage in the front of the field. He’s just that strong.
I think that Nick has the ability to have a great race and be in the running up front if he puts everything together well.
Another who I would pick as a dark horse to do really well is Jon Basham (as long as he hasn’t dropped and I just don’t know about it). I would think the Hardrock course would suit his strengths well.
I’m not sure if this has ever been the case before (doubtful), but it’s worth noting that there are three Barkley finishers in for Hardrock this year – Jared Campbell, Jon Basham, and Blake Wood.
Other men who may not be mixing it up with the front runners by the time they reach Cunningham, but should still keep the race interesting are Ted Mahon, Jason Poole, Jason Koop, Tim Long, Tim Parr, and Brett Gosney.
Saw Basham tonight… he’s still in, for sure.
does anybody have infos about kilian, where he is supposed to run in USA the next weeks, or does he cancel all his plans ?
Thomas
As far as I know, Kilian is still racing the Speedgoat 50k at the end of July.
‘Does he cancel all his plans’? Bit harsh, as I understand it, he only pulled out of Western States because he was mourning the loss of his friend a few days previously.
I think you might be a bit too quick to interpret the meaning in that, I think Thomas is just asking if Kilian has cancelled his plans and not trying to criticise him – forgive me if I’m wrong but looks like a language barrier to me.
Anyway, looking forward to the interviews Bryon – always good!
All great runners but, you list four runners as your “Other Top Three Contenders”
I believe those four are the additional runners that Bryon is thinking could CONTEND for the top three, not his pick for the top three
ah, right you are. I’m used to the Goat’s (go Karl) top 10 format.
1. Dakota
2. Joe Grant
3. Nick P
4. Hal
5. Karl
6. Timmy P
7. Diana Finkel
8. Darcy
9. Scott Jaime
10. Jared C
Others kicking butt include Dave Wilcox and Corey Hanson. Colorado folk will kick butt. Hal used to live here, so other than Karl and Jared, CO runners Will dominate. Is Jon Basham running?
Sorry, Colorado guys/gals will use the home court.