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 through 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 glad.
iRunFar: You had such a combined 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 anxious 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 standard, different issues occurred. So, yeah, effectively, no. To begin with, I’m tremendous glad that the again maintain up so effectively as a result of even on the morning of the race, I believed, nah, let’s see. Perhaps I’ve to drop out on the 10k as a result of it’s simply not attainable. However yeah, I’m simply so glad that the again is okay.
iRunFar: So we will put the again factor to relaxation, no less than 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 form of strung out slightly bit within the early miles. Is that the way it form 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, “You need 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 arduous 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 all the time begin my races with a simple tempo.” Effectively, 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 must take it simple and simply do my factor and don’t attempt to follow the others.
iRunFar: Quite a lot of runners have stated that the warmth of the primary day ended up being a problem. I imply, it wasn’t severely scorching, but it surely was numerous warmth for this altitude. Did you’re feeling that or what had been the ache factors of the primary day of working 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 effectively.
iRunFar: Okay.
Hartmuth: So it was scorching, particularly within the valleys, however for me, it was not that a lot of a problem.
iRunFar: Not too dangerous.
Hartmuth: No, I used to be truly glad that there was no rain or thunderstorms to be afraid.
iRunFar: That was the climate that you just had been essentially the most anxious about.
Hartmuth: Yeah.
iRunFar: I feel because the race went on, you say it was a neater tempo for you, however you weren’t that far behind Camille and Courtney in entrance of you. The hole at every help station was only a couple minutes longer, not any huge gaps of time. So to me, it appeared just like the three of you had been actually working your individual races, however they had been actually not that far other than one another. It was identical to parallel missions.
Hartmuth: Yeah. Yeah. I used to be truly 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 all the time was the primary to inform the help station, we don’t need any splits. However clearly whenever you’re that in entrance of the race, virtually individuals will let you know.
So I had a tough thought of the place I used to be and the place the women 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 an extended race, and the night time was nonetheless forward, and I didn’t know if my again was holding up for all the race. So I used to be identical to, okay, do your individual factor.
iRunFar: Yeah.
Hartmuth: Nevertheless 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 admittedly damaged into two elements, the daytime after which the nighttime. I feel you had a very 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 principally break 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. Effectively, the issues started already when it was nonetheless daylight as a result of I by some means developed a bladder an infection, which was painful when working.
iRunFar: Very painful.
Hartmuth: Yeah. So it bothered me not a lot on the climbing on the uphill, however as quickly as I used to be working, it was simply tremendous uncomfortable.
iRunFar: Like feeling the organ sort of jostle.
Hartmuth: Yeah. And it was simply ache. And so particularly keep in mind that highway coming down from Oh Level to Animas. I imply, often I ought to be capable of run the entire highway, 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, effectively, it was a bit annoying. I questioned how that may play out all through the remainder of the night time. However the primary drawback truly actually occurred within the night time as a result of, as I stated earlier, I had already issues with the fueling as a result of me feeling not so effectively on the primary and on the second and third climb. So I already amassed the deficit in energy, and it’s all the time troublesome for me to gasoline through the night time. It’s manner more durable for me than through the day. And I feel I pushed myself possibly a bit too arduous on Handies, and I actually felt it once I was on high of Handies. I used to be like, oh, I must 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 dangerous. And I picked up my tempo and we did the climb, and nonetheless it was all tremendous. However then on the highest of the climb in the midst of the night time, 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 effectively 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 making an attempt to get one thing inside me that I wouldn’t throw up once more. In order that was actually difficult, 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 powerful. And I feel we managed by some means to get slightly 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 wished, 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 we’ve 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. Abruptly 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 examine on my watch if I’m nonetheless on the best path.
iRunFar: No less than your watch wasn’t beeping at you or one thing, proper?
Hartmuth: No, no, no. Nevertheless it was very difficult and I used to be fortunate that I used to be with my pacer who may principally 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 difficult happening to Cunningham, principally seeing…
iRunFar: Nothing.
Hartmuth: … only some blurred colours, and I couldn’t even acknowledge my crew when arriving in Cunningham and it was a bit embarrassing,
iRunFar: In Maggie Gulch help station, which is the second to final main help station, you stayed for possibly 10, 12, 14 minutes to gasoline your self, and then you definately had an extended cease in Cunningham. Perhaps 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 and so they tried to assist me with some eye drops which no less than it acquired slightly bit higher. However I knew that I needed to take somebody with me over that climb as a result of I knew the highway that was developing, and I wouldn’t have been ready to do this highway with out assist as a result of I simply couldn’t see the stones within the highway. And that highway was so painful to run down. I feel that is the race I’ve spent essentially the most time in help stations simply sitting there and making an attempt to get some meals in and simply to …
iRunFar: Get better your self slightly bit.
Hartmuth: … get better, yeah. So, truly, after we began the final climb, I wasn’t certain if I might make it. It appeared unattainable as a result of I used to be so low and I couldn’t see something. So it was identical to, what am I doing right here? However on the similar time I believed, effectively, I’ve made it to date now, it will be a pity to not end. So fortunately my crew, she was actually good and he or she was like, “It’s a must to rise up there. There’s no manner out of this, and we’ll deliver you to the stone.” And yeah, we made it.
iRunFar: I really 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 manner 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 will have any emotions as you had been coming by city of, sure, I’ve lastly executed this by 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: After I got here down the path as a result of I used to be like, “Rattling it, I’m simply executed.” 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 truly a bit dissatisfied 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 great 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 a superb day.
Hartmuth: It’s undoubtedly not a foul, no, no, no. And particularly once I thought of every part that occurred and once I then realized how a lot time I additionally spent not working 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, truly, it was a really constructive 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 very huge deal within the first place, however now you’re a finisher of Hardrock, which makes it slightly 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 folks that it’s important to do the opposite manner round as effectively, to be an actual Hardocker.
iRunFar: Effectively, I assume meaning it’s important to put in once more.
Hartmuth: Yeah, I believed a lot doing the race about how it will be working the opposite manner round. I’m very curious as a result of I feel that the opposite manner round, I feel this, how we did it this yr, the clockwise spherical is possibly my favourite.
iRunFar: Okay.
Hartmuth: However I nonetheless must see how it’s the different manner round.
iRunFar: There’s a sure particular person on the, iRuFar crew who likes to say that their favourite is, “Whichever path the race goes.”
Hartmuth: Yeah, presumably. I’ll say this then after I’ve executed the opposite manner.
iRunFar: Or one of the simplest ways is the one that you just get the entry to do, proper?
Hartmuth: Precisely. No, I imply, I might be tremendous stoked to come back again. Truly, this yr, it was a bit powerful to get right here within the first place as a result of I used to be by myself and organizing every part. I used to be fairly exhausted.
iRunFar: However now your manner round, you’re going to be a Hardrock professional.
Hartmuth: Yeah, and now I do know so many extra individuals right here, which is tremendous useful. And now I’ve been right here, I’ve seen the mountains. I skilled how lovely they’re, and I feel I’ve actually fallen in love a bit with the place right here. So yeah, it’s not that troublesome when you will have such an awesome, 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 might 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. Effectively, starting of September.
iRunFar: Yeah.
Hartmuth: Yeah, precisely. So I believed lots about this additionally through the race as a result of I used to be like, ah, that’s one other Hardrock added.
iRunFar: It’s in all probability not one thing you must take into consideration in the midst of that.
Hartmuth: Yeah, particularly not whenever you’re in a foul place and hurting. No, I’m actually a lot trying ahead to it. It will likely 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 whenever you transcend, it would. In order that’s one thing that I actually don’t know the way it’ll work out, and I’m actually excited to seek out out.
iRunFar: Yeah.
Hartmuth: And likewise a bit scared, however I’ve seen elements of the course already final yr, and it’s so lovely 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: Effectively, there’s a huge, lovely finisher’s breakfast ready for you simply over there that has your identify on it. Katharina Hartmuth, congratulations in your first Hardrock end and your third-place end at 2024 version.
Hartmuth: Thanks very a lot.
