More of a gladiator game than a foot race, the Hard Rock 100 kicked off last weekend giving some of the world’s best ultra runners a taste of the rugged San Juan Mountains. With 67,984 feet of elevation change, including a stroll up 14,000-foot Handies Peak, this is the quintessential century race of the Rocky Mountain circuit. Taking the win by a mere 16 minutes Hal Koerner, of Oregon, cruised through the finish gates with a time of 24:50, followed up by Joseph Grant and Durango’s 22-year old Dakota Jones, finishing in 25:45. Here’s a look:

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  Day in the Life

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  Chossy and steep would adequately describe many climbs throughout the Hard Rock course.

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  Onward and upward.

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  A case of the old trench foot.

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  Crossing Mineral Creek.

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  Day in the Life

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  Day in the Life