In running her second Hardrock 100, Hannah Green took two hours off her time and placed third. In the following interview, our first with her, Hannah talks about her background in sports, how she’s an adventurer, and how her race went.
To see how the whole race unfolded, check out our 2022 Hardrock 100 results article.
Hannah Green Post-2022 Hardrock 100 Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Bryon Powell of iRunFar, here with Hannah Green after her third-place finish at the 2022 Hardrock 100. How are you, Hannah?
Hannah Green: I’m all right.
iRunFar: Just hanging out in your backyard?
Green: Totally, yeah.
iRunFar: You didn’t have to go far to the start or from the finish home. Two blocks?
Green: Yep. Short commute.
iRunFar: Short commute. The first time we chat with someone we like to know sort of your history with sports, how did you get into sports, and have you been an athlete your whole life?
Green: I feel like I’ve been a runner since I was little. I started running in middle school. But more recently, I’ve gotten into more long-distance thru-hiking-type things.
iRunFar: Yeah, if I were to identify, I wouldn’t call you a runner, not in a bad sense but I think of you as an outdoor adventurer.
Green: Yeah, totally.
iRunFar: You use a lot of modes of transportation to get around the wilderness.
Green: Yeah, yeah, it’s fun. I mean there are so many different ways to move around in the mountains and a different tool for each of them. So yeah.
iRunFar: Yeah. And what, you almost live an adventure lifestyle. Like earlier this year you went the length of the Grand Canyon, on foot. Tell me a little bit about that adventure.
Green: Yeah, it was awesome. I keep saying I’d rather go do that again than run Hardrock.
iRunFar: Is that just the day after Hardrock talking?
Green: Maybe, I don’t know. But yeah, it was probably one of the coolest experiences in my life, honestly. Just being in the canyon for that long was phenomenal, yeah.
iRunFar: Just the goal of getting from one side to the other.
Green: Yeah, I kind of kept thinking about that when I was running, it was like when I was in there I didn’t really have an out. I had to just keep going through. And like I just kept reminding myself, just keep moving. Even if it’s really slow, you’ll get there eventually.
iRunFar: Yeah, you were running Hardrock and there was a set goal. And you had outs too, but you do, it seems, try to push yourself a little bit during these races. How did the first half of that race play out?
Green: I don’t know. It felt like, I was just saying to you I kind of felt like a sack of potatoes from the start. I kind of felt like just, I don’t know, lethargic, didn’t have much pep in my step. But oddly, the only part that I felt really good on was where I fell apart last time I ran Hardrock, going up through Kroger’s, and I could actually run down Camp Bird Road. I listened to some music and it was really enjoyable. So, I don’t know.
iRunFar: Is that, do you think, randomness or could it be that was just earlier in the race?
Green: Yeah, I think it was like kind of that middle spot, where you’re kind of finally settling into what you’re doing. And a little bit before you totally fall apart.
iRunFar: Yeah? It seemed through the race you are gradually working your way up, did that feel like through attrition, or were you feeling good?
Green: No, I keep saying I feel like all of the other ladies, I mean other than Courtney [Dauwalter], who’s in her own category, should be on the podium because we were all ahead of each other and like, I passed Darcy [Piceu] at one point and didn’t even know it. I don’t know, it felt like we were all just out there trying to get through it, you know?
iRunFar: Were you ever going back and forth or was it always just sort of … one-directional?
Green: It was kind of one-directional. I guess Stephanie [Case] and I seem to be pretty close for a while and then she was so fast in the aid station, she just like, out of Ouray it was down pouring there, and everyone hid under the tent, so it was raining super hard and I just kind of waited. And I think she got out ahead of me, and that’s all it took to get ahead because I feel like I had one pace and I couldn’t move any faster at that point.
iRunFar: It’s all right if you’re moving one pace up a 5,000-foot climb.
Green: Yeah, totally. Yeah.
iRunFar: Did you feel reasonably strong through to the finish?
Green: I felt like I could hike pretty well. Downhill running is, I feel like I’ve had some injuries from the Grand Canyon that I’ve been trying to deal with, but the climb up to Little Giant was pretty miserable but I made it. And the Beaver Ponds Trail, that was the longest Beaver Ponds Trail of my life.
iRunFar: Maybe you have to, when your body recovers, just go run out and back on the Beaver Ponds Trail.
Green: Yeah, totally, and be like, this is actually pretty pleasant.
iRunFar: Yeah. So this spring or early summer, you kind of had a choice, you had a permit to go up to Denali, and you decided to go the route of Hardrock instead. Was it a good choice?
Green: Yeah, I think so. I feel like it was a wise decision. I need a little bit more experience before I head up to Denali, and a partner would be good. But yeah, it’s never a bad option to be at home. It’s beautiful here and there is so much to do right here.
iRunFar: Yeah. So you’ve run Hardrock twice and this one was a couple of hours faster. Did it feel like you are, what was different about the two experiences?
Green: I didn’t take a nap. I think that was literally the only difference. Yeah, it wasn’t fast by any means but I just didn’t sleep, I like kind of slept as I was walking down to Sherman.
iRunFar: That doesn’t count.
Green: Yeah, sleepwalking.
iRunFar: Yeah, did you have any great takeaways from the race or a certain experience that stood out?
Green: I think, I really think it’s all about the community. It’s pretty phenomenal because I do tend to enjoy doing a lot of stuff alone and that’s why I went without crew and pacers and stuff. The amount of support, I felt like I had crew at every aid station, whether it’s volunteers or friends that were just hanging out there and, I don’t know, that’s I think what makes Hardrock so awesome is yeah, just everyone helping everyone.
iRunFar: You sort of had two families, you had the Hardrock family and then you come into the finish.
Green: Oh gosh.
iRunFar: Were you embarrassed by that? It’s like a whole bunch of towns came out and kind of gave you …
Green: Yeah I know, that was pretty awesome, and it made me happy I didn’t drop. It was like, okay I did it. But yeah, a huge thank you to everyone who’s been so supportive.
iRunFar: Do you have any adventures planned through the rest of the summer or fall?
Green: I don’t know, I think I’m gonna rest for now. I don’t know. I’ll keep trying the Sangres Traverse but maybe even one of these years I’ll get it in one swoop. I don’t know, just playing around.
iRunFar: That’s your white whale out there?
Green: Yeah, totally. But nothing else, no.
iRunFar: Congratulations on a great Hardrock.
Green: Thank you, Bryon. Good luck at the High Lonesome 100 Mile.
iRunFar: Thanks. And I have to ask you a bonus question.
Green: Oh-oh.
iRunFar: On Wednesday night I see you in your truck kind of late in the evening, heading out of town. And you are like, I’ve just got to go camping, I don’t want to sleep at home.
Green: Totally.
iRunFar: What was that all about?
Green: I don’t know, I feel like I just, was so, there so many people around town and so much energy that I was like, oh no I’m definitely not going to sleep just at home so I was like, I’ve got to get out and get in the cool air.
iRunFar: What was your solitude spot of choice?
Green: I went up by Porphyry Basin, but it was actually kind of funny because there was a car there, that was camping. So I was like not alone but the full moon came up and that was like …
iRunFar: You got your batteries recharged.
Green: Yeah, totally.
iRunFar: Awesome, that’s fun.
