WEEKEND RECAP: Ludovic Pommeret, Courtney Dauwalter, and Careth Arnold Defy the Altitude

The Hardrock 100 is far more than a traditional ultra-trail; it is an immense high-altitude mountain adventure moving through the rugged, wild ridges of the San Juan Mountains. This year's edition delivered everything, showcasing historic feats and relentless battles against thin alpine air, heat, and unpredictable mountain elements.

At the heart of this epic story, Ludovic Pommeret pushed his way further into the race's history books, capturing a historic third consecutive victory while breaking the course records in both directions. Alongside him, Courtney Dauwalter and Careth Arnold displayed incredible grit and determination to tame this brutal, uncompromising course.

The Strategy of Performance: Ludo's Metronome Execution

The Result: 1st Place Overall (Course Record Holder)

To secure this historic hat trick and establish himself firmly among the most decorated runners in the race's history, Ludo executed a highly managed fueling plan aimed at a steady target of roughly 60g of carbohydrates per hour.

• Flawless Execution: Ludo maintained exceptional discipline throughout the entire 100 miles. He adapted dynamically on the trails, scaling up his energy intake on the tough sections between Telluride and Ouray, and reducing his fluid volume slightly toward the end of the race to keep his digestion perfectly in check.

• The Endurance Mix: His strategy relied heavily on a steady rotation of energy purées at the start,BOOST™ gels, andBOOST™drink mixes, supplemented by sparkling water at the aid stations.

• Zero Crashes: While he experienced mild stomach issues, he managed them flawlessly through the miles without ever dropping his caloric energy intake, experiencing zero energy crashes on his way to a record-breaking finish.

The Strategy of Performance: Courtney’s Caloric Target

The Result:Expert Fueling in the Extreme Altitudes - 1st place

For her first Hardrock without pacers, Courtney lined up with a clear goal: execute a strong, consistent race and keep her body topped off with energy despite the challenging altitude parameters. Mission accomplished in brilliant fashion as she secured a stunning victory, smashing the women's course record by 9 minutes.

• A Flawless Start: Up until the 96th kilometer (mile 60), the nutrition plan executed to perfection. Courtney successfully absorbed all of her planned gels while maintaining excellent energy levels and a perfectly stable stomach. Her go-to product throughout this massive section? TheBOOST™ Ice Mint gels.

• The Back-Half Hurdle: After the 96-kilometer mark, her stomach unfortunately shut down, triggering systemic vomiting over the final 50 kilometers of the race.

• Adapting to Chase the Record: Showing extraordinary resilience to protect her lead and chase down the record, Courtney adapted on the fly. She limited herself to tiny sips of water and Coca-Cola to maintain a baseline of hydration and quick energy all the way to the finish line.

The Strategy of Performance: Careth’s Battle with the Elements

The Result: A Warrior's Fight Through the Back Half - 2nd place female for her first Hardrock

Arriving with her eyes set on pushing for the win and a sub-27-hour finish, Careth Arnold delivered an inspiring performance, running into severe challenges caused by altitude and heavy ambient smoke.

• A Strong Start: Through the first half of the race, Careth perfectly hit her plan, absorbing 60 to 70g of carbohydrates per hour paired with 500 to 600mg of sodium.

• Adapting to Nausea: In the back half of the race, the thin air and smoke significantly contributed to waves of nausea and vomiting, making it incredibly difficult to consume calories. Showing elite mental strength, she leaned on her ultimate go-to product, theBOOST™ Gel Peach Tea, and fought through the adversity to safely navigate her way to the finish line.

The Plan of Nutrition: Hardrock 100 in Details