From start to finish, both the men’s and women’s 2013 Hardrock 100 races were dynamic and unpredictable. Two things that are always predictable in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, though, are gnarly terrain and the monsoon season, and I don’t think there’s a Hardrocker who escaped a decent dousing of mountain steepness and storms. But, in the end, Sebastien Chaigneau (post-race interview) and Darcy Africa (post-race interview) emerged as victors among the rigors of competition and Mother Nature. Along the way, Seb also reset the counterclockwise direction’s course record, which was previously 24:38 and held by the venerable Karl Meltzer (pre-race interview), who dropped this year due to leg fatigue from racing the Western States 100 two weeks ago.
The start of the 2013 Hardrock 100. Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
In addition to this results article, you can find our full play-by-play of the race as well as a collection of our pre-race interviews and preview on our Hardrock 100 Live Coverage page.
As usual, we’ll be updating this article with additional results as well as links to Hardock 100-related articles, photo galleries, and race reports. Leave a comment to let us know if you come across any!
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2013 Hardrock 100 Men’s Race
Off the start line, France-born, Colorado-dwelling Joe Grant (pre-race interview) and Frenchman Seb ran together in Joe-leading-Seb-tucked-in-behind formation. Each time the pair encountered an aid station or trail observers, they were said to have been chatting deeply in French. And, at times, one would wait for the other so they could continue on together. The dynamic duo stayed paired until somewhere before the Ouray aid station at mile 56.6 where Seb turned up first and assumed the lead for the rest of the race. At Ouray, Joe followed a short distance behind but would ultimately drop from the race by returning to Ouray because of multiple physical ailments.
Seb and Joe chatting their way into Grouse Gulch. Photo: Dom Grossman
In the rest of the field, eventual second-place finisher and Colorado-based Troy Howard played it cool and around the middle of the top-ten men from the get go. As other men came and went, Troy moved up slot-by-slot until he filed himself into his final place at the Ouray aid station. From about Ouray to Telluride at mile 72, Troy ran at just over 20 minutes behind Seb, making us all wonder if it would be a race for the win all the way to the finish. But Seb accelerated after Telluride and created a strong gap over Troy.
The balance of the podium included another Coloradan, Scott Jaime, who ran strong all day and within the top-five for almost the entire race. About a third of the way around the Hardrock course loop, Scott said he’d never felt so good that far along in a 100-mile race. Evidently, he continued to feel well and he shifted into third position as others slipped back. The finishes of Seb, Troy, and Scott made this year’s men’s race an all masters podium.
Scott Jaime coming into Maggie Gulch. Photo: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Lowland Cali talent Chris Price showed high-altitude racing prowess for the first time in the San Juans, finishing a strong fourth place. And the fifth through tenth-place men each showed all-day smarts, most of them running conservatively, place-wise, in the beginning and staying strong when others faltered.
Chris Price after finishing the 2013 Hardrock 100. Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
2013 Hardrock 100 Men’s Results
- Sebastien Chaigneau (The North Face) – 24:25:50 (counterclockwise course record; old record, Karl Meltzer 24:38, 2009) (pre-race and post-race interviews)
- Troy Howard – 25:20:09 (post-race interview)
- Scott Jaime (Pearl Izumi) – 26:38:43
- Chris Price (INKnBURN) – 26:51:13
- Ted Mahon – 28:19:27
- Nick Coury (Aravaipa Running) – 28:50:38
- Jared Campbell (La Sportiva) – 29:32:47
- Jason Poole – 29:41:11
- Adam Hewey (Seven Hills Running Shop) – 29:55:57
- Jonathan Robinson – 30:41:39
All but one of this millennium’s counterclockwise course winners: Scott Jurek (’07), Sebastien Chaigneau (’13), and Karl Meltzer (’03, ’05, ’09). Only missing Julien Chorier (’11). Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
2013 Hardrock 100 Women’s Race
Oh Diana Finkel, how fickle this race is for you. Coloradan Diana shot off the start line, finding herself instantly in the top 10 overall and the top five by Grouse Gulch aid station at mile 42.1. The multiple-time winner even spent some time in third place overall during the race’s second third. But when she arrived to Telluride at mile 72, she was beginning to look wobbly. As compared to her running peers, her pace dropped noticeably until mile 88 at the KT aid station where she was slowed to a DNF halt. Finkel has a serious history with racing-related kidney issues that took her out of the 2012 race and made her very ill after the 2010 race, but we don’t yet know what ultimately led to this year’s drop.
Diana Finkel getting some silent props from Brett Gosney in Cunningham Gulch. Photo: Nick Triolo
Two other D’s instead fill out the front of the women’s field, Darcy Africa of Colorado and Darla Askew of Oregon. Darcy ran as the second-place woman all day, until Diana dropped at mile 88 and she assumed the lead. Even though she won the race, I don’t think Darcy would call this her best day. As early as Grouse Gulch at mile 42.1, she noted troubles with her uphill running and hiking. But Darcy is known as a closer and this race was no different; she turned up her effort in the last 20 miles and all the way through her return to the Silverton start/finish line.
And Darla seemed to be an even steam train chugging down the tracks just behind Darcy all day. It should also be noted that Darla smiled the whole way, I think, a positive presence all over the race course. This is Darla’s second finish and a two hour, 43-minute improvement over her third-place finish last year, on what most Hardrockers call the harder, counterclockwise direction.
Darla Askew on a beeline to kiss The Hardrock. Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
2013 Hardrock 100 Women’s Results
- Darcy Africa (Hoka One One) – 29:54:55 (pre-race and post-race interviews)
- Darla Askew (Drymax) – 31:09:52 (post-race interview)
- Betsy Nye – 36:46:42
- Sarah McCloskey – 36:51:03
- Betsy Kalmeyer – 39:48:40
Darcy Africa under the cover of darkness at Ouray. Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
2013 Hardrock 100 Articles, Race Reports, and More
Articles and Photo Galleries
- iRunFar’s race day Facebook photo albums: Start, Cunningham Gulch (mile 9.2), Maggie Gulch (mile 15.3), Sherman (mile 28.7), Grouse Gulch (mile 41.2), Bear Creek Trail (mile 53-ish), Ouray (mile 56.6), Governor Basin (mile 64.5), KT and Mineral Creek (miles 89 and 98), and Finish, and Awards Ceremony
Matt Trappe’s photo album[broken link removed]- Our video of this year’s Hardrock 100 start
- Drymax’s Facebook photo albums from Cunningham Gulch and Grouse Gulch
- Get Ready For – Hardrock 100 Teaser Video (Seb Chaigneau’s video series)
- No Foolin’: Hallucinations Part of the Hardrock Experience – Durango Herald
- A Long Run to Kiss the Hardrock – Durango Herald
- Durango Herald Photo Album
- Seb Chaigneau Conquista las Américas Llevándose la Hardrock 100 (Spanish)
- Victoire de Sébastien Chaigneau sur la Hardrock 100 (French)
- iRunFar’s pre-race video interviews with Darcy Africa and Seb Chaigneau
- iRunFar’s post-race interviews with Seb Chaigneau and Darcy Africa
- iRunFar’s finishing videos of Seb Chaigneau, Darcy Africa, and the inspiring Adam Hewey
- iRunFar’s post-race interviews with Darla Askew and Troy Howard
- Criss Furman’s Facebook albums: “Hardrock” and “The Trail Runners” (also Hardrock)
Ben Brashear’s photo gallery[broken link removed]- Darcy Africa’s and Scott Jaime’s nutrition report from First Endurance
- AJW’s tribute to Scott Jaime
- Dakota Jones on pacing Troy Howard
Race Reports
- Troy Howard (2nd man)
- Scott Jaime (3rd man)
- Chris Price (4th man)
- Ted Mahon (5th man)
- Adam Hewey (9th man) – Finished doubled over with temporary injury
- Jamil Coury – Report of ridiculous blowup and recovery
[Last Updated: 2/20/18]
Troy Howard in the instant before finishing Hardrock. Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
