In her debut on the occasion, Germany’s Katharina Hartmuth completed third on the 2024 Hardrock 100 regardless of coping with quite a lot of points all through the race. Throughout this interview, she talks in regards to the first half of the race the place she felt good, the bladder and imaginative and prescient points that plagued her in the course of the second 50 miles, and the way she relied on motivation from her pacer to recover from the ultimate climb to the end.
For extra on how the race performed out, take a look at our in-depth 2024 Hardrock 100 outcomes article.
Katharina Hartmuth Submit-2024 Hardrock 100 Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Meghan Hicks of iRunFar I’m with Katharina Hartmuth, it’s the day after the 2024 Hardrock 100 Endurance Run. You’re the ladies’s third-place finisher, how does that sound and really feel?
Hartmuth: It feels nice. Yeah, it’s a bit sudden, however I take it. So I’m actually comfortable.
iRunFar: You had such a blended method to this race. You had some accidents within the winter that we talked about in our pre-race interview, had some good coaching, after which had a reasonably main again damage only a couple weeks earlier than the race. So going into the race, you had been fearful about your again, however because it seems, had been there different issues to fret about on this race?
Hartmuth: Sure. So fortunately, the again appeared to not be an issue in any respect, however as an alternative as traditional, different issues occurred. So, yeah, nicely, no. To start with, I’m tremendous comfortable that the again maintain up so nicely as a result of even on the morning of the race, I assumed, nah, let’s see. Possibly I’ve to drop out on the 10k as a result of it’s simply not doable. However yeah, I’m simply so comfortable that the again is okay.
iRunFar: So we are able to put the again factor to relaxation, at the least for now.
Hartmuth: Sure.
iRunFar: The race begins, I feel you spend a number of the early miles with Courtney Dauwalter, after which the three high ladies within the group, your self, Camille Bruyas, and Courtney kind of strung out somewhat bit within the early miles. Is that the way it kind of went?
Hartmuth: Yeah, so I began with Courtney behind this group of males that had been on the high. And yeah, it was good. We had a pleasant little chat on the Rainbow Path till the river crossing, after which within the ascent and the primary climb, I let her go. I used to be like, “It’s best to go,” as a result of she requested me if I want to work collectively together with her, and I used to be like, “Nah, I don’t suppose so. I shouldn’t push myself too laborious within the first climb.”
So I let her go. After which Camille, she got here in some unspecified time in the future and we run a bit collectively, however then I stated the identical to her. I used to be like, “I at all times begin my races with a straightforward tempo.” Nicely, it’s a excessive tempo, however I’ve to begin sluggish. And I feel right here it was precisely proper as a result of on the second climb, I already realized that I struggled a bit with nausea and had a lightweight headache. So the altitude…I used to be like, I actually should take it straightforward and simply do my factor and don’t attempt to keep on with the others.
iRunFar: A number of runners have stated that the warmth of the primary day ended up being a difficulty. I imply, it wasn’t severely scorching, but it surely was plenty of warmth for this altitude. Did you’re feeling that or what had been the ache factors of the primary day of operating for you?
Hartmuth: So warmth by no means actually bothers me. I don’t prefer it, however I feel I can take care of it fairly nicely.
iRunFar: Okay.
Hartmuth: So it was scorching, particularly within the valleys, however for me, it was not that a lot of a difficulty.
iRunFar: Not too unhealthy.
Hartmuth: No, I used to be really glad that there was no rain or thunderstorms to be afraid.
iRunFar: That was the climate that you simply had been probably the most fearful about.
Hartmuth: Yeah.
iRunFar: I feel because the race went on, you say it was a better tempo for you, however you weren’t that far behind Camille and Courtney in entrance of you. The hole at every support station was only a couple minutes longer, not any massive gaps of time. So to me, it appeared just like the three of you had been actually operating your personal races, however they had been actually not that far other than one another. It was similar to parallel missions.
Hartmuth: Yeah. Yeah. I used to be really excited to see that. I imply, I by no means need to hear any splits from my crew-
iRunFar: Okay, that is the no-split crew.
Hartmuth: Even once I was with my pacer later, he at all times was the primary to inform the help station, we don’t need any splits. However clearly while you’re that in entrance of the race, nearly folks will let you know.
So I had a tough thought of the place I used to be and the place the ladies had been, and I feel for me it was thrilling, particularly to see that we had three ladies within the high six for a very long time. I used to be like, that’s cool.
iRunFar: It’s tremendous cool.
Hartmuth: Yeah. I imply, I knew that I must run my very own race as a result of it’s such a protracted race, and the evening was nonetheless forward, and I didn’t know if my again was holding up for the complete race. So I used to be similar to, okay, do your personal factor.
iRunFar: Yeah.
Hartmuth: However it was good.
iRunFar: It’s stated at Hardrock that for the quick runners who take not all of 48 hours to complete it, that the race is actually damaged into two elements, the daytime after which the nighttime. I feel you had a extremely totally different nighttime than your daytime.
Hartmuth: Sure.
iRunFar: What occurred for you within the nighttime, and what was the timeline of how issues unfolded for you?
Hartmuth: Yeah, So I can mainly cut up my race in two halves.
iRunFar: Okay.
Hartmuth: First 15 hours had been nice, and the second 15 hours had been horrible.
iRunFar: Okay.
Hartmuth: Yeah. Nicely, the issues started already when it was nonetheless daylight as a result of I someway developed a bladder an infection, which was painful when operating.
iRunFar: Very painful.
Hartmuth: Yeah. So it bothered me not a lot on the mountaineering on the uphill, however as quickly as I used to be operating, it was simply tremendous uncomfortable.
iRunFar: Like feeling the organ type of jostle.
Hartmuth: Yeah. And it was simply ache. And so particularly do not forget that street coming down from Oh Level to Animas. I imply, often I ought to be capable to run the entire street, however I couldn’t as a result of it was simply insufferable. So each couple of minutes I needed to simply take a brief strolling break and that, nicely, it was a bit annoying. I puzzled how that will play out all through the remainder of the evening. However the principle drawback really actually occurred within the evening as a result of, as I stated earlier, I had already issues with the fueling attributable to me feeling not so nicely on the primary and on the second and third climb. So I already amassed the deficit in energy, and it’s at all times tough for me to gasoline in the course of the evening. It’s approach more durable for me than in the course of the day. And I feel I pushed myself possibly a bit too laborious on Handies, and I actually felt it once I was on high of Handies. I used to be like, oh, I have to get in some energy. However then I forgot about it on the downhill and it simply amassed. And I imply, I made it to Sherman and nonetheless felt not too unhealthy. And I picked up my tempo and we did the climb, and nonetheless it was all high quality. However then on the highest of the climb in the midst of the evening, I used to be simply, okay, now it’s going downhill.
iRunFar: Okay.
Hartmuth: From one second to the subsequent, I felt terrible. I may simply not transfer nicely anymore. And that was actually a tough time up there. I feel I’ve by no means been that low in a race by way of simply how I felt. After which we spent, I feel half-hour within the Pole Creek station simply attempting to get one thing inside me that I wouldn’t throw up once more. In order that was actually tough, and I knew that I needed to eat. There was no hope for ending the race with out consuming, however on the similar time, I simply felt so sick on a regular basis. In order that was actually, actually robust. And I feel we managed someway to get somewhat bit out of it with daylight approaching. However ultimately it was once more an issue for the final climb, I felt actually terrible once more.
iRunFar: Okay, so that you haven’t talked about the eyesight factor.
Hartmuth: Yeah.
iRunFar: So yeah, there’s the bladder, there’s the fueling deficit and never having the power to maneuver the way you needed, after which your eyes went in some unspecified time in the future?
Hartmuth: So clearly there was one thing else.
iRunFar: Clearly, as a result of hassle is available in threes and now we have to have our third.
Hartmuth: Like with my crashes. I’ve three crashes, so I do know three different main points within the race. So yeah, when daylight was approaching, I used to be lastly a bit higher with the energy. Immediately I had the issue that I misplaced my imaginative and prescient to a big half. So it was all blurry and foggy in entrance of my eyes. And I feel the large drawback was that I couldn’t see the markers anymore, and I additionally couldn’t see the map on my watch, so I couldn’t verify on my watch if I’m nonetheless on the appropriate path.
iRunFar: At the least your watch wasn’t beeping at you or one thing, proper?
Hartmuth: No, no, no. However it was very difficult and I used to be fortunate that I used to be with my pacer who may mainly present me the way in which, however in some unspecified time in the future I misplaced my pacer as a result of I needed to drop him. And, yeah, it was actually tough taking place to Cunningham, mainly seeing…
iRunFar: Nothing.
Hartmuth: … just a few blurred colours, and I couldn’t even acknowledge my crew when arriving in Cunningham and it was a bit embarrassing,
iRunFar: In Maggie Gulch support station, which is the second to final main support station, you stayed for possibly 10, 12, 14 minutes to gasoline your self, and then you definately had an extended cease in Cunningham. Possibly you had been even within the medical tent for a bit?
Hartmuth: Yeah, I feel in Cunningham it was even 40 minutes.
iRunFar: Okay.
Hartmuth: As a result of once more, I used to be simply so low with my power and I needed to eat one thing to make it over that climb. After which I had this eye drawback they usually tried to assist me with some eye drops which at the least it obtained somewhat bit higher. However I knew that I needed to take somebody with me over that climb as a result of I knew the street that was arising, and I wouldn’t have been ready to do this street with out assist as a result of I simply couldn’t see the stones within the street. And that street was so painful to run down. I feel that is the race I’ve spent probably the most time in support stations simply sitting there and attempting to get some meals in and simply to …
iRunFar: Recuperate your self somewhat bit.
Hartmuth: … get better, yeah. So, really, once we began the final climb, I wasn’t certain if I’d make it. It appeared inconceivable as a result of I used to be so low and I couldn’t see something. So it was similar to, what am I doing right here? However on the similar time I assumed, nicely, I’ve made it up to now now, it will be a pity to not end. So fortunately my crew, she was actually good and she or he was like, “You must rise up there. There’s no approach out of this, and we are going to convey you to the stone.” And yeah, we made it.
iRunFar: I like the ending of the race in whichever path you go, since you get this little run into city, you’re closing the loop. You’ve come from approach out in a number of the most distant locations of the San Juan Mountains again to this tiny civilization. And there’s simply this aesthetic factor about closing the loop and getting to do this method. Did you could have any emotions as you had been coming by means of city of, sure, I’ve lastly finished this by means of all the challenges, or had been you simply numb to it. Let’s simply get there and I’ll take into consideration issues later?
Hartmuth: Yeah, I feel I used to be nonetheless very numb.
iRunFar: Okay.
Hartmuth: Once I got here down the path as a result of I used to be like, “Rattling it, I’m simply finished.” It took lots out of me, particularly the final climb. After which once I got here to the end line, I feel first I used to be really a bit upset as a result of I noticed that I used to be over 30 hours and I knew that with out all these stops and the fueling points, I imply it will’ve been two or three hours sooner.
iRunFar: Yeah.
Hartmuth: And that was a bit disappointing for me as a result of I had the legs for a superb time. However then once I was on the rock, I used to be like, no, it’s good.
iRunFar: A 30-and-a-half-hour Hardrock is an excellent day.
Hartmuth: It’s undoubtedly not a nasty, no, no, no. And particularly once I thought of all the pieces that occurred and once I then realized how a lot time I additionally spent not operating throughout this 30 hours.
iRunFar: That provides up too, proper?
Hartmuth: That provides as much as fairly a while, yeah. So no, then as quickly as I used to be on the end line, really, it was a really optimistic second.
iRunFar: One of many worst inquiries to ask in the present day after 100 miler, but it surely’s the one which most individuals are interested in. You’re from overseas, so coming to race Hardrock is a extremely massive deal within the first place, however now you’re a finisher of Hardrock, which makes it somewhat bit simpler to get in one other time.
Hartmuth: Hopefully, let’s see.
iRunFar: I imply, would a second Hardrock be one thing you want to do sometime?
Hartmuth: Sure. I used to be instructed by sure those that you must do the opposite approach round as nicely, to be an actual Hardocker.
iRunFar: Nicely, I suppose which means you must put in once more.
Hartmuth: Yeah, I assumed a lot doing the race about how it will be operating the opposite approach round. I’m very curious as a result of I feel that the opposite approach round, I feel this, how we did it this yr, the clockwise spherical is possibly my favourite.
iRunFar: Okay.
Hartmuth: However I nonetheless should see how it’s the different approach round.
iRunFar: There’s a sure particular person on the, iRuFar staff who likes to say that their favourite is, “Whichever path the race goes.”
Hartmuth: Yeah, probably. I’ll say this then after I’ve finished the opposite approach.
iRunFar: Or the easiest way is the one that you simply get the entry to do, proper?
Hartmuth: Precisely. No, I imply, I’d be tremendous stoked to return again. Really, this yr, it was a bit robust to get right here within the first place as a result of I used to be by myself and organizing all the pieces. I used to be fairly exhausted.
iRunFar: However now you understand your approach round, you’re going to be a Hardrock professional.
Hartmuth: Yeah, and now I do know so many extra folks right here, which is tremendous useful. And now I’ve been right here, I’ve seen the mountains. I skilled how stunning they’re, and I feel I’ve actually fallen in love a bit with the place right here. So yeah, it’s not that tough when you could have such an amazing, nice mountain.
iRunFar: Yeah.
Hartmuth: No, I undoubtedly need to be again. And I imply if I can’t make it as a runner, then possibly as a pacer or crew, or no matter that’s.
iRunFar: That’s music to my private ears. My final query for you, Hardrock is a reasonably difficult race in and of its personal, however you could have one thing much more difficult in your race calendar for this yr.
Hartmuth: I feel so, sure.
iRunFar: You’re going to race the Tor de Géants within the begin of September or mid-September.
Hartmuth: Sure. Nicely, starting of September.
iRunFar: Yeah.
Hartmuth: Yeah, precisely. So I assumed lots about this additionally in the course of the race as a result of I used to be like, ah, that’s one other Hardrock added.
iRunFar: It’s most likely not one thing you must take into consideration in the midst of that.
Hartmuth: Yeah, particularly not while you’re in a nasty place and hurting. No, I’m actually a lot trying ahead to it. It is going to be the primary time for me racing over 100 miles. And I feel, particularly the sleep deprivation, that’s an enormous subject that doesn’t actually come up in 100 miler, however while you transcend, it can. In order that’s one thing that I actually don’t know the way it’ll work out, and I’m actually excited to search out out.
iRunFar: Yeah.
Hartmuth: And in addition a bit scared, however I’ve seen elements of the course already final yr, and it’s so stunning over there. It’s an enormous problem, however I actually want to full it this yr. And yeah, let’s see how issues will prove.
iRunFar: Nicely, there’s a massive, stunning finisher’s breakfast ready for you simply over there that has your title on it. Katharina Hartmuth, congratulations in your first Hardrock end and your third-place end at 2024 version.
Hartmuth: Thanks very a lot.
