Hardrock 100 puts just 146 runners into one of the most remote and demanding mountain races in ultrarunning. Supporting them requires approximately 650 volunteers, specialized safety sweepers, hike-in aid stations, four-wheel-drive transportation and nearly a full year of planning.
Bill Schum, Hardrock's volunteer coordinator and an aid-station captain, takes Scott behind the scenes of the legendary 100-mile race through Colorado's San Juan Mountains.
Bill explains how volunteers support runners across a 48-hour event with roughly 33,000 feet of climbing. Some carry supplies into remote aid stations. Others spend two nights in the mountains, clear the course, manage traffic, provide medical support, or follow the final runners across passes above 13,000 feet.
He also shares some unforgettable moments from the course: volunteers searching for a missing pacer, a runner receiving the shoelace directly from a volunteer's shoe, a surprise bear at an aid station, and the wildfire smoke that kept Bill awake for 64 consecutive hours.
Along the way, Bill reveals what the back of the pack experiences at Hardrock, how technology has changed remote aid-station operations, and why every runner should expect the race to be harder and much slower than imagined.
Chapters
- 00:00 Introduction to Bill Schum and the Hard Rock 100
- 01:05 Bill's background and how he got involved in ultramarathons
- 02:13 Overview of the Hard Rock 100 race
- 03:43 Starting race planning and volunteer recruitment
- 05:14 Details of aid station setup and logistics
- 07:59 Managing remote aid stations and safety sweepers
- 14:07 Memorable wildlife encounters during the race
- 19:17 The most rewarding parts of the race experience
- 21:49 Impact of technology on race management
- 24:26 Race week sleep schedule and challenges
- 27:10 Advice for future Hard Rock runners
- 28:46 Closing thoughts and encouragement to spectate or volunteer
Learn more about Hardrock 100
Official Hardrock 100 website:
https://hardrock100.com/
Hardrock volunteer information:
https://hardrock100.com/hardrock-volunteers.php
Course description and safety information:
https://hardrock100.com/hardrock-course.php
