The HURT 100 elevation profile. Yikes.
The runners saw a lot of this.
First off huge/mad/crazy respect to all the HURT 100 finishers and to those that dared to conquer all 5 x 20 mile loops. Let me tell you something, this course is no effing joke. Huge/steep seemingly unending climbs, nasty roots + mud littering the trails, high heat/humidity during the day and obstacles along the course that sometime force you to circumvent them on all fours. Needless to say, the attrition rate was high.
Last minute instructions by the RD.
The start of the race.
Ryan and Laura taking off into the night.
I flew to Hawaii to pace my buddy Ryan and his friend Laura (Frayed Laces to most of y'all) for the last two loops. I saw them start off on Saturday 6am and then helped out with some crewing duties while intermittently napping during Saturday. My crewing duties ended up starting at 2:40am early Sunday morning at the mile 60 mark for them. The 1st 20-mile loop was the first opportunity to really "see" the course for the first time (as much as you could at night). It was as advertised and more: tough, muddy, steep and treacherous.
One of our many climbs.
While I was tempted to stop after the initial 20, I looked over at my trail weary compadres who have been at it for a day and a half + 80 miles under them and I just couldn't live with myself if I bailed on them early. So we kept at it and after nearly 36 hours on her feet (Ryan ran ahead about halfway through our last loop), Laura finished her very 1st 100 mile race - and an extremely tough one at that - after nearly 36 hours (for her full account of the race, you can find it here on her blog...definitely worth a read).
Laura's big finish!
Following the race, the organizers threw a banquet to "honor" the runners (roast is probably more appropriate) in a light-hearted affair which was the perfect bookend to a phenomenal event. All in all, I had a great time in Hawaii.
So you might be wondering...will I ever throw my name into the lottery for a chance to run the event myself in the future? I can tell you with 99.9% certainty that I will most certainly NOT. This race is a beast and I would've tapped out a long time ago. All the more reason I admire those that completed the event.
And now I'll leave you with a few more pictures. Thanks for reading.
Last minute prep before the start.
With my bud Evan before the race. Tough day for him but he left it all out there (literally).
My runners looking fierce.
Hone, Tanaka, Garneau and other frontrunners before the ceremonial blowing of the conch
Not possible without these guys: the volunteers.
The team heading out for loop #2
Paradise Park aid station
Catra Corbett briefly taking a load off.
Looking over the city high atop the mountains.
..and some more of this.
The guys taking a break
Ryan negotiating through some gnarly terrain.
Manoa Falls
My muddy shoes/legs after one 20 mile loop.
Last year's winner (and CR holder) Gary Robbins temporarily shelved but in great spirits.
Pacing Laura through the final stretch.
At the finish w/ Ryan!
A trio of legs after 100 miles.
The few, the proud, the HURT 100 finishers.
The top 3 men/women finishers.
Finally a chance to relax...mahalo!
