British ultrarunner Tom Evans, a proven winner in 100-mile races, is set to tackle the Hardrock 100 (HR100) this Friday in Silverton, Colorado. Evans has already demonstrated his ability to win a 100-miler, securing victory at Western States 100 (WSER) in 2023. He followed this notable achievement with a UTMB (170K) win in 2025, accomplishments that firmly place him among the sport’s most accomplished 100-mile athletes.
The Hardrock 100, however, presents a very different beast from either WSER or UTMB, demanding a unique set of skills and preparation. The race starts and finishes in Silverton, Colorado, but runners spend much of their time navigating the high terrain of the San Juan Mountains. The entire race is held at an average elevation of more than 3,350 metres above sea level.
- Course distance: 102 miles
- Total elevation change: More than 10,060 metres
- Average race elevation: Over 3,350 metres
- Start and finish location: Silverton, Colorado
Strategic Altitude Adaptation for Elite Performance
For Evans, who resides in the U.K. at sea level, the profound altitude of the Hardrock 100 has emerged as the biggest challenge in his rigorous training build. His coach, Scott Johnston, confirmed that Evans’s training for Hardrock generally adhered to the same pattern he has successfully used for other mountain ultras, which focused on incorporating significant climbs and long descents into his regimen.
A crucial addition to his preparation, however, involved the integration of simulated-altitude sessions. These specific sessions utilised hypoxic air mixtures, which were incorporated during some of his treadmill workouts. Johnston explicitly highlighted the strategic reasoning behind this innovative approach, stating, “Since he lives at sea level, we felt it was important to include some altitude preparation work.”
Johnston also provided positive feedback regarding the effectiveness of these methods, adding that, “The laboratory tests have shown an impressive adaptation over the past few months of this approach.” With this foundational training complete, the immediate focus now shifts to real-world application. As Johnston noted, “Now we will put it to the test at actual, not simulated, altitude in Colorado.” Currently in Colorado, Evans is dedicating his time to crucial course reconnaissance and direct exposure to the genuine high-altitude environment, ensuring he is as prepared as possible for the demanding conditions.
Meticulous Training Metrics and Aerobic Efficiency
To ensure precise control over Evans’s exertion levels and to optimise his training efficiency, his team employed blood lactate testing during harder sessions. Lactate is widely recognised and frequently used as a reliable marker of how intensely the body is working at any given time. The principle behind its monitoring is that once lactate levels rise too significantly, the sustained effort becomes increasingly difficult to maintain, a point commonly referred to as reaching your lactate threshold.
Johnston clearly articulated the fundamental objective underpinning this meticulous training philosophy. He stated: “The goal here, as it should be for any endurance athlete, is to run, cycle, ski, climb as fast as possible, as aerobically as possible.” This emphasis on aerobic efficiency is central to ultrarunning success. Furthermore, the coach consistently tracked the entire training build-up through the analytical platform TrainingPeaks, using the detailed metrics gathered to compare Evans’s current fitness and fatigue against the established training blocks that successfully led into his previous biggest races. This systematic approach aimed to replicate past successes while adapting to new challenges.
A Competitive Field and the Summer’s Double Challenge
In the men’s race, Tom Evans will face a formidable opponent in Ludovic Pommeret, the French ultrarunning great who is also the two-time defending champion of the Hardrock 100. Their anticipated clash is expected to be a highlight of the event. On the women’s side, the race is also set to deliver significant excitement and a compelling contest.
Courtney Dauwalter is making her return to the Hardrock 100 after her absence from last year’s race. During her period away, fellow American Katie Schide not only secured the victory but also successfully took down Dauwalter’s overall course record. Schide was originally anticipated to make a return to the event, setting the stage for a long-awaited head-to-head battle with Dauwalter. However, she has since withdrawn from the competition while recovering from an injury, altering the dynamics of the women’s field.
The Hardrock 100 marks only one demanding segment of Evans’s busy summer racing schedule, with the prestigious UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc) scheduled just six weeks later. This exceptionally tight turnaround allows very little time for another full training block to be implemented after the rigours of Hardrock. Johnston anticipates that Evans will require a substantial period of two to three weeks of recovery after Hardrock. This leaves only a short window to add any further training load before the essential 10-day taper into UTMB. Evans will therefore be significantly counting on this Hardrock training build to carry over effectively and provide a strong foundation for his subsequent challenge in Chamonix.