Hardrock 100 thoughts

1/31/19 - Hardrock 100 Thoughts

I have a new motivation that I haven’t had in years. A new fire. I haven’t written a blog post in almost 5 years. I never lost the love of trail running or mountains but I lost some of the passion.  This past month has brought back old memories. Memories of not being able to sleep because of excitement of an upcoming race. Memories of actually looking at a race website over and over and reading every race report i can find.

Rewind to 2008. Discovered Hardrock. Blown away by it but intrigued.
2009 - decided i wanted to get into trail running and ultras.
2010 - did my first 100 and decided i wanted to do more and start qualifying for Hardrock
2011 - got into the HURT 100 and qualified for my first time.
2012 through 2017 - put my name in every year without getting chosen

December 1, 2018
For the past several years the first Saturday of every December consisted of a run with friends and watching the hardrock lottery somewhere. This year I had a feeling. A feeling strong enough that my wife and I talked about Hardrock for months prior as if I had already gotten in. We even booked a room in Silverton for the race before the lottery even happened. That morning we ran 5 miles together then I continued on for about an additional 20 miles to end at a brewery to watch the lottery. The first 20 names (half) were chosen and mine was not one of them. It started to feel like every other year that I would go to plan B. Then number 21 of the lottery read Brian Hopton-Jones. I put my head down on the table and half laughed half cried half breathed a sigh of relief that we had something major to look forward to. I was in dire need in life and running for something like this to happen.

December 2, 2018
I woke up and my eyes opened up wide and I thought holy shit this is real. I’m officially signed up and training for Hardrock. It could not have come at a better time. The past year has been rough. Adjusting to Pennsylvania life, starting a new career, and dealing with PF for the first time.

I have been getting a solid base so far. I live about an hour from about 12 trailheads on the AT so i’ve mapped out some good training spots.  I do not feel like I’m at a disadvantage at all living at sea level. I have always said its the effort and training you do, not what you have available.  I have several different spots that have multiple 800-1000 foot climbs. My long runs will be more repeats and out and back spurs on the these climbs. My game plan is to train the downhill muscles more then anything. I feel like those are very particular muscles that during a mountain race, they are the first things to go. I know it is inevitable at Hardrock but my goal is to delay the shot quads as long as possible.  I also have an incline trainer treadmill. It goes up to 40% which is great hill training. I have been doing solid workouts during the week with good climbing and speed work that I would otherwise not be able to accomplish on the roads.

As of now my training is separated to two blocks. Now to March 23rd and then April til the race. March 23rd is a 40 mile race called the Mount Tammany 10!. It is 10 repeats up and down a mountain at the PA / NJ border with nearly 12,000 ft climb and descent. I will take a short 1-2 week break then my main training block will start. I will focus more on workouts, hill repeats, and quality climbing/descents then total mileage. The plan is to be all around stronger then I ever have been. This is my shot at Hardrock and I don’t want it to go to waste...