The Numbers Behind Ludovic Pommeret's Hardrock 100 Record

Nestled in Colorado's San Juan Mountains is a 100-mile loop where endurance meets elevation. The annual Hardrock 100 Endurance Run along this route is the pinnacle of ultra-trail racing. This year's edition produced the best performance in history as Ludovic Pommeret set the record in commanding fashion.

This iconic American race is renowned for its challenging terrain and prestigious entry process. With a mere 146 coveted spots, some runners wait up to 14 years to secure a place through their lottery system. Ludovic Pommeret earned his entry after just 5 years.

The course spans 102.5 miles (165 km) with a staggering 10,000 meters of elevation gain. The course begins and ends in Silverton, Colorado at an elevation of 2800m (9200ft). It features 13 passes above 3,700 meters. The summit of Handies Peak (4,280 meters) is the highest point of the race at around mile 65.

Pommeret is already an accomplished ultra-trail runner at 49 years old. He has previous victories at the UTMB (2016) and the Grand Raid de la Réunion (2021). Following Hardrock tradition, Ludovic was the first to kiss the rock as he returned to Silverton in record time. With a mark of 21:33:06, Pommeret was 3 minutes faster than Kilian Jornet's clockwise course record from 2022.

Watch: APEX 2 Pro Chamonix Edition

Accessory: COROS Heart Rate Monitor

Data Analysis:COROS Training Hub

Ludo taking on one of the many difficult climbs (Photo by Céline Pommeret)

Making Preparations

Pommeret had set his sights on Hardrock after working as a pacer for Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz in the 2023 edition. Early in his training, Pommeret suffered an injury in a ski mountaineering (Skimo) workout. Skimo activities are suitable for ultra-trail runners because of the lower impact compared to running.

Today, Ludovic doesn't view the injury as a setback. “Maybe it was a good thing in the end, to have a little more rest” he said as he reflected on his spectacular performance.

After returning to form, Pommeret arrived in Colorado weeks ahead of the race. He wanted to acclimate to the high elevation and eliminate any distractions from his training. The early arrival also gave him a chance to scope out the course.

Pommeret completed two "Soft Rocks" during his race preparation. A "Soft Rock" is a multi-day navigation of the Hardrock loop. He completed his first loop on June 16-19 with full gear, and again on June 24-27 with a lighter load.

Ludo's season-long training graph, featuring key moments in his preparation

With just two weeks left until the race, Pommeret had kept a high training volume longer than usual. However, he was in high spirits and felt well-prepared. "This is a very varied course, there are very fast and rolling parts, and others very technical" he remarked. "It's such a nice playground here."

Leading the Pack

On Friday, July 12th, Pommeret and 145 others took on the daunting course. Ludovic led the way at the beginning. "I was surprised to take the lead on the first climb, I'm usually not doing that" he said. "It was a dream to come here, and the day started as a dream, leading the race on the first climb."

Ludovic was clearly a contender, battling for the first 30 miles with former champion François D'Haene. "In the downhills, I started to take the lead, but François came back in the uphills. Then, on the uphill to Krogers Canteen (Mile 32.7), François could not reach me and I didn't see him again".

When he reached the Ouray aid station in mile 44, Ludovic had opened a lead of over 20 minutes. There, he picked up a pacer from his crew, so he didn't have to traverse the final 50+ miles alone.

Ludo's chart from Governor aid station to Sherman aid station. He held a strong average effort-pace while keeping his HR in Zones 2 & 3.

To that point, he was feeling surprisingly good. "I wasn't sure if I had done the right pacing on the downhills because I was pretty fast" he said. "I thought I might pay that back during the second half of the race, but at the end it was good".

He continued to extend his lead, crushing section after section as he got closer to the finish. The early success led to even more benefits as he crossed a summit in mile 74. "It was nice to do the downhill after Handies Peak during the day. It is much easier."

The 36-miles from Governer to Sherman aid stations was the defining stretch for Pommeret. This section features the longest climb and highest peak of the entire race. Ludovic averaged a 7:35/km pace (12:12/mi) as he made it over 3 passes that included 2760m of elevation gain. When he left Sherman aid station, he had a 23-minute lead over the course record.

"I stopped to look at my watch. I saw the sun and it wasn't too low, so I knew I was ahead of planning" he said. Little did he know, he wasn't just dominating the 2024 field, he was also putting the course record on alert.

Chasing History

Ludo's (left) versus Kilian's (right) statistics in the final sprint.

"I asked my crew and my pacer to not give me any race information about other runners. I wanted to stay focused on my race" he said. His first information came at Cunningham, the final aid station, where his crew told him he was 17 minutes ahead of record pace. Kilian Jornet's record had a notably fast finish, though, so Pommeret had a challenge on the final leg. While his pace may have been slower than Kilian's, Ludo's effort-pace was 32 seconds/km faster, showing the monumental effort it took to reach the finish line ahead of the record.

In the homestretch, Pommeret held on to finish 3 minutes faster than Jornet's record from two years before. His dream race ended in victory as he returned to Silverton and kissed the rock, officially securing the record of 21:33:06.

Ludo at the finish in Silverton, happy and exhausted after over 21 hours on the trail.

The COROS team proudly celebrates Ludovic Pommeret for his incredible performance at the 2024 Hardrock 100! His dedication and training led to a record-breaking achievement. We're excited to keep supporting Pommeret as he pushes boundaries and inspires athletes worldwide with his remarkable achievements on the trails.