For the third year in a row, the now-50-year-old Frenchman Ludovic Pommeret (pre-race interview) defied time to dominate the 2026 Hardrock 100, completing his clockwise loop of Colorado’s San Juan Mountains in a new overall course record of 21:11:36, breaking his own overall course record by nearly 22 minutes. American ultrarunning star Courtney Dauwalter (pre-race interview), meanwhile, continued to assert her position at the top level of the sport by winning the women’s race in 26:03:10 and breaking her own clockwise course record by more than eight minutes.
Ludo Pommeret led almost the whole 2026 Hardrock 100, including here, at the top of the first climb, just seven miles into the race. Photo: iRunFar/Gabe Joyes
Both runners led nearly wire-to-wire and won by wide margins, making it a compelling case for experience over youth at Hardrock. Pommeret has entered his sixth decade, and though Dauwalter is younger at 41, in a sport that continues to get faster, both have not only remained competitive but also dominated one of the most storied 100-mile races on the calendar.
At 6 a.m. local time on Friday, July 10, they were among the 147 runners setting off in the predawn dark from Silverton, Colorado. Famous for its striking beauty, altitude, and rugged terrain, Hardrock has become one of the most breathtaking and selective 100-mile races in the world. It’s a 102-mile (164 kilometers) lap of the San Juans, featuring more than 33,000 feet (10,060 meters) of elevation gain with an average altitude of 11,000 feet (3,350 meters) above sea level, peaking at Handies Peak at 14,048 feet (4,281 meters) mid-race.
Courtney Dauwalter making haste of the first aid station at mile 11 of the 2026 Hardrock 100. Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
The course, which alternates direction each edition, was clockwise this year, so after starting in Silverton, runners passed through or near the historic mining towns of Telluride, Ouray, and Lake City before returning to Silverton, where they got to kiss the iconic rock to stop the clock. The clockwise direction is known for its steeper, shorter climbs but longer, more gradual downhills — earning the playful designation “walls up, ramps down.” There were a couple of minor course changes this year — the race brought back the traditional Grouse Gulch Aid station to replace the Animas Forks station that had been used for the past few editions, which made it a half-mile shorter than in 2025. The course, which is often covered with snow in some areas, was snow-free this year.
The Gold Mountain Fire outside Ouray, along with several other fires across the Intermountain West, burned throughout the week and had the potential to disrupt this year’s race, but a midweek rain helped limit the smoke. The race organization met early Friday morning and announced that the race would go on as planned.
Read on for the full race details.
Thanks to LEKI for supporting iRunFar’s Hardrock 100 coverage! You can still enter our giveaway to win one of three pairs of LEKI Ultratrail FX.One poles.
The start of the 2026 Hardrock 100. Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
2026 Hardrock 100 Men’s Race
Asked during his pre-race interview what drew him back to Hardrock after back-to-back wins, including a course record in the clockwise direction in 2024, France’s Ludovic Pommeret chuckled.
“Why not?” he said, smiling broadly. “Because I have a bib.”
A train of men runs on the Rainbow Trail, near the start of the 2026 Hardrock 100. Photo: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
It was with this seemingly carefree attitude that Pommeret, who turns 51 in less than two weeks, toed the line of the race he’s come to dominate in recent years. But don’t let his lighthearted approach fool you. As he did in previous years, Pommeret spent a month in Colorado preparing specifically for this race and its unique demands, completing two-and-a-half full loops of the course across multi-day trips known as “Softrocks.”
Pommeret was not the only contender training in the San Juans before race day, though. The U.K.’s Tom Evans (pre-race interview), the 2025 UTMB and 2023 Western States 100 winner, and Jimmy Elam (pre-race interview), who had won six ultras in a row entering Hardrock, also came to Colorado several weeks before the race to train and acclimatize. Those three, plus last year’s fourth-place finisher David Ayala (pre-race interview) and race veteran Jason Schlarb, were considered the favorites entering this year’s race — though, of course, anything can happen.
Jimmy Elam arriving at the Chapman aid station, mile 18, in third place during the 2026 Hardrock 100. After halfway, he moved into second position. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Pommeret seemed intent on not letting any such surprise happen, leading the race nearly from the gun. At the Chapman aid station at mile 18, Pommeret had a two-minute lead over Evans, who was ahead of Elam by about five minutes. Ryan Smith, who finished third in 2021, came through Chapman in fourth, while Dylan Bowman, who was second in that 2021 race, rounded out the top five.
David Ayala going easy in the early miles before moving up to take third at the 2026 Hardrock 100. Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Pommeret continued to cruise on the climb up Oscar’s Pass, one of the highest passes on the course at 13,000 feet, before descending into Telluride. Just before Telluride at mile 28, Pommeret had extended his lead to 11 minutes, with Evans and Elam still in second and third, respectively. All three men looked strong. Schlarb, Bowman, and Smith came through together about 18 minutes behind Elam.
Men’s favorite Tom Evans in the early miles of the 2026 Hardrock 100. He would succumb to altitude issues and drop from the race after the halfway point. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Pommeret reached the famed Kroger’s Canteen aid station in 6:51 elapsed, putting him 18 minutes ahead of his own course record pace. In typical good spirits, he made quick work of the aid station, handing a volunteer a sticker that read “You’re awesome” before running out. Evans and Elam arrived at Kroger’s together, meaning Elam had made up about seven minutes since Telluride. Elam convinced Evans to take the aid station’s traditional tequila shot offering with him, and they left together after a two-minute stop.
Tom Evans and Jimmy Elam, who ran close together for almost half the 2026 Hardrock 100, arrive at the famous Kroger’s Canteen aid station. Photo: iRunFar/Mike Kubicek
Next up was the descent into Ouray, where temperatures and Pommeret’s lead on his own course record both heated up. By the time he reached Ouray at mile 44, he was 23 minutes ahead of his record pace and 29 minutes up on Evans, who had opened up a small gap on Elam. Pommeret looked as controlled as ever.
Evans, though, began to struggle. By the Engineer aid station at mile 52, just over halfway through the race, he had been passed by Elam, who was moving well. Elam had an eight-minute lead on Evans, who looked fatigued. Evans, one of the pre-race favorites, would unfortunately drop before Grouse Gulch at mile 58, reportedly struggling with the altitude. Bowman also had to end his race early, dropping out at mile 44.
Evans’ withdrawal opened a potential podium spot, and at first it was Schlarb who seemed intent on claiming it, coming through Grouse Gulch in third, about 25 minutes ahead of Ayala. Elam continued strong in second, but given Pommeret’s form, it was never likely he was going to be caught. Indeed, by Sloan Lake at mile 62.5, Pommeret’s lead was 44 minutes, and he was still nearly 20 minutes up on his course record pace.
Ludo Pommeret and his pacer depart the Grouse Gulch aid station, mile 58 of the 2026 Hardrock 100. Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
From there, it was almost a procession for Pommeret, whose age, easygoing nature, and approach to training have made him a fan favorite. In the dark at Cataract Lake (mile 78), a remote section of the course, Pommeret gave a wave, now up on Elam by 84 minutes. His lead continued to balloon. At Maggie Gulch (mile 87), Pommeret was a bit more contemplative and grabbed some Coke before heading out for the final stretch, nearly two hours ahead of Elam.
At Cunningham Gulch at mile 93, the final aid station, Pommeret was 30 minutes up on his course record pace in 19:03 elapsed and looked like a man who wanted another record, running fast and fearlessly on the dark, technical downhill. Just over two hours later — after the quad-breaking 2,600-foot climb out of Cunningham Gulch and the final descent back into Silverton — he kissed the rock, a champion for the third year running. Ludovic Pommeret won in 21:11:36, the fastest time ever run on the iconic course. His longevity in a sport in which runners often burn out is nothing short of astounding. He ran his first UTMB more than two decades ago, won it in 2016, and is now the back-to-back-to-back Hardrock champion.
France’s Ludo Pommeret wins the 2026 Hardrock 100 in a new course record, his third win in a row. Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Elam continued his strong race in second, never again getting passed once he overtook Evans about halfway through. He ran a professional, well-paced race, taking care of himself at aid stations with hot soup and burritos and moving well throughout the early morning dark. Jimmy Elam finished second in 23:48:56, smiling in exhaustion as he kissed the rock just before 6 a.m. local time on Saturday and joking that it was time to retire.
Jimmy Elam climbing up toward the 2026 Hardrock 100 course high point on Handies Peak, on his way to finishing second. Photo: iRunFar/Gabe Joyes
Ayala had passed Schlarb to overtake third place before the Sherman aid station at mile 73, where Schlarb actually left the aid station before returning to take a long nap to reset. He eventually left in 11th place. Ayala looked poised and determined as he spent less than two minutes at the aid station before setting back off into the dark. Ayala never got close enough to Elam to make it a race for second, but he continued to run strong. David Ayala finished third in 24:28:17, one spot better than last year.
David Ayala taking third at the 2026 Hardrock 100. Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Ryan Smith, meanwhile, ran a well-executed race to maintain his early top-five position for the entire race, finishing fourth in 25:45:37. Arlen Glick, who took fourth in 2023, ran a steady race to finish fifth in 26:41:17.
Photo: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Behind him, Nick Coury, a seven-time Hardrock finisher with two top 10 finishes, had moved up well during the second half of the race, coming through Grouse Gulch in eighth and on the hunt. By Sherman aid station at mile 73, he was in seventh, and by Maggie Gulch (mile 87), he had run into sixth position, where he’d finish.
2026 Hardrock 100 Men’s Results
- Ludovic Pommeret – 21:11:36 (pre-race interview)
- Jimmy Elam – 23:48:56 (pre-race interview)
- David Ayala – 24:28:17 (pre-race interview)
- Ryan Smith – 25:45:37
- Arlen Glick – 26:41:17
- Nick Coury – 29:53:39
- Paul Terranova – 30:48:30
- Dustin Simoens – 31:37:57
[Editor’s Note: At the time of this article’s publication, not all the top 10 men have finished. We’ll be updating this article as they do.]
2026 Hardrock 100 Women’s Race
Courtney Dauwalter (pre-race interview) was back at Hardrock, and that’s perhaps the best place to begin the story of the women’s race. After a 2025 season that was short of her otherworldly standards, Dauwalter seemed to be rounding into form during the first half of this year, winning the Chianti 120k and taking second to Rachel Entrekin’s historic performance at the Cocodona 250 Mile. Even with only a two-month respite between the end of Cocodona and the start of Hardrock this year, it seemed that she was the favorite.
Courtney Dauwalter jogs it out at the top of the first climb, seven miles into the 2026 Hardrock 100. Photo: iRunFar/Gabe Joyes
After all, this is a race that Dauwalter has historically dominated. She has three of the top five fastest finishes ever at Hardrock (second, third, and fourth), and she progressed the race’s overall course record for a staggering three consecutive years from 2022 to 2024. She didn’t run it last year, and Katie Schide broke her course record, so she was back to reaffirm her stronghold on the race.
Her competition, though, was stout. Careth Arnold (pre-race interview) was coming off a second-place finish at the Canyons 100k, which earned her a golden ticket to the Western States 100 that she ultimately turned down.
Careth Arnold in Telluride (mile 28) during the 2026 Hardrock 100, in second place, a position she’d hold most of the race. Photo: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Tara Dower (pre-race interview), though, did not turn down her Western States 100 golden ticket from her win and course record at last year’s Javelina 100 Mile and finished sixth in Auburn, California, only 13 days before the start of Hardrock. Even by Dauwalter’s standards — she completed the historic Western States-Hardrock double (and added UTMB for good measure) in 2023, when the races were 20 days apart — Dower’s double attempt was something close to heroic. To be fair, there are usually a couple of lucky folks who enjoy this double each year.
Tara Dower running through mile 28 in Telluride, during the 2026 Hardrock 100. Photo: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Like Pommeret, Dauwalter commanded the race from the start. Wearing her trademark long shorts and contagious smile, she came through the Chapman aid station at mile 18 in just under four hours, looking better and stronger than any runner yet. Arnold came bounding through about 16 minutes later, with Dower, who had taken a fall and had a bloody leg, two minutes behind her. Erin Shaw was in a surprise fourth place, 71 minutes back, and Jenny Pierce was just behind her in fifth. Both women looked smooth.
Jenny Pierce in the early miles of the 2026 Hardrock 100. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
By Kroger’s Canteen at mile 33, Dauwalter had increased her lead to 43 minutes and was 30 minutes ahead of course record pace in 7:43 elapsed. She was characteristically chatty, checking in with the aid station volunteers before they glitter bombed her on the way out. Arnold stayed steady in second, commenting on the length of the climb and not stopping for aid. Dower was about another 45 minutes back. There was a large gap between Dower and the fourth-place Pierce, so through a third of the race, the women’s podium seemed relatively set, though, of course, a lot can happen over nearly 70 miles of racing in the mountains.
Courtney Dauwalter arrives at Kroger’s Canteen, an aid station located at 13,000 feet above seal level, during the 2026 Hardrock 100. Photo: iRunFar/Mike Kubicek
Dauwalter continued to run strong, forever smiling, intent on asserting her dominance of this iconic race. At the Engineer aid station at mile 52, her lead over Arnold was 83 minutes. By Grouse Gulch at mile 58, Dauwalter had moved into fourth overall, leading the women’s race by 95 minutes and more than 30 minutes ahead of course record pace.
At Sherman aid station (mile 73), Dauwalter remained all business, getting eye drops, doing her characteristic teeth brushing, and taking in fluid. She was then 47 minutes up on course record pace, so it seemed a matter of by how much, not if, she’d break it.
By Maggie Gulch at mile 87, her gap on the record pace had shrunk to 25 minutes, as she was having some stomach issues. She took some Coke and didn’t stay long, and by Cunningham Gulch (mile 93), she was running quietly, perhaps encountering one of her “pain caves,” as her margin on the record continued to dwindle.
But Dauwalter is known as one of the greatest ultrarunners in history for a reason and dug deep over the final nine miles to again etch her name in Hardrock lore. Courtney Dauwalter won in 26:03:10, her fourth win in four finishes. This reset the prior clockwise direction course record of 26:11:49, which she set two years ago. Outside of Arlen Glick in the men’s race, no other runners came in for several hours after Dauwalter finished, a testament to her dominance.
Courtney Dauwalter with Handies Peak in the background during the 2026 Hardrock 100. Runners summited this mountain after halfway this year, when the course loops in the clockwise direction. Photo: iRunFar/Gabe Joyes
After Arnold, a longtime race volunteer running her first Hardrock, came through Chapman just ahead of Dower, she began to pull away from her. By Telluride, about 10 miles later, the gap between Arnold and Dower had grown to more than 30 minutes, and in Ouray at mile 44, Arnold was firmly entrenched in the second position, almost an hour ahead of Dower. She looked smooth as she approached the halfway point of the race.
Arnold continued her strong race as night fell, digging deep and taking some caffeine before she arrived at Sherman aid station (mile 73), where she spent some time refueling with real food before she went back out. By then, she was more than two hours ahead of the third-place Dower. When Arnold arrived at Cunningham Gulch (mile 93), she was visibly tired, walking with her family into the aid station. She was nearly four hours behind Dauwalter but almost 2.5 hours up on Dower, so the runner-up finish was hers if she could make it back to Silverton.
Ultimately, she did: Careth Arnold finished second in 30:32:31 in her Hardrock debut, a strong performance from a prolific racer at the highest level of the sport.
Careth Arnold among the wildflowers at the Maggie Gulch aid station, mile 87 of the 2026 Hardrock 100. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
That left Dower, less than two weeks removed from running a fast 100 miles at Western States, to hold on to the final podium spot. At Telluride (mile 28), she looked like she was going through a rough spell, but by Ouray at mile 44, she was moving better and worked with men’s seventh-place finisher Paul Terranova through the Bear Creek switchbacks and Engineer aid station about halfway through the race.
By Grouse Gulch (mile 58), though, her leg was bleeding again, and she wasn’t moving as well. In typical Dower fashion, she ground through the next chunk of miles with her pacers. At Sherman aid station (mile 73), her crew cleaned her up, fed her rice, and sent her back out into the mountains, where she continued to dig. She looked rough at Maggie Gulch aid station at mile 87, where she iced her knees and asked how far back the fourth-place woman was. And it was much the same in the final aid station at mile 93.
Tara Dower taking a much needed break at mile 87 during the 2026 Hardrock 100, most of the way through her Western States 100-Hardrock 100 double. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Behind her, Bailey Eppard, a 31-year-old from Colorado Springs, had hung around in the top 10 for most of the race before moving into fourth by Engineer aid station at mile 52, looking smooth and strong. At Grouse Gulch (mile 58), Eppard was at the front of a small pack that included Shaw, just two minutes behind her, and Darla Askew, a seven-time Hardrock finisher, who was 19 minutes behind Eppard at that point.
Askew began to close the gap on Shaw, who had some stomach issues, and by the time they reached Cataract Lake (mile 78), the two runners were together in the sunny Colorado morning.
2026 Hardrock 100 Women’s Results
- Courtney Dauwalter – 26:03:10 (pre-race interview)
- Careth Arnold – 30:32:31 (pre-race interview)
[Editor’s Note: At the time of this article’s publication, not all the top 10 women have finished. We’ll be updating this article as they do.]
Erin Shaw looking calm at mile 18 of the 2026 Hardrock 100, ahead of her top-five finish. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Coverage Thanks
Thanks so much to the following individuals who helped iRunFar cover this race: Olivia Rissland, Ashley Saloga, Ellie Greenwood, Marissa Harris, Gabe Joyes, Eric Blood, Micaela Theisen, Conor Felletter, Max Robinson, Autumn Isleib, Angie Funtanilla, Laura Nevens, Deb Maberlin, Pam Reed, Mike Kubicek, Barb Carst, and Niko Carst.
Courtney Dauwalter jogs out of the Grouse Gulch aid station at mile 58 of the 2026 Hardrock 100, as part of her runaway victory. Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
