Recording the show from the laundromat wifi…
Hardrock announced big changes with its qualification standards yesterday. On today’s show we chat with long time Hardrock board member, Andrea Feucht about the changes, which also include a slap on the wrist and omission of the Leadville 100… Hope you enjoy today’s show.
Local Mind Media 
Great podcast. Loved Gary’s questions…fair, respectful, but challenging.
I still agree with their decision irrespective of and including LT100. I mean, they crapped on the event again and still won’t even return messages about it. Meanwhile taking several hundred dollars per person from everybody they can get.
And yea, females are much tougher than males. Was glad I stayed on for the last 30 seconds. 🙂
Sorry, but Garry made Andrea look like a fool… Hardrock can do what they want…. but the San Juan Mountains are open for the common folks the whole year. unless you have a chance to win Hardrock why run it at all? as Leor pantilat pointed out on IRUNFAR comments (gag) do it unsupported. Leadville sucks because they don’t give a shit. Hardrock sucks because they think there shit don’t stink
I should note that of course it was not my intent to do anything but inquire about some issues that were already being discussed. Andrea is gracious enough to have a conversation about their decision, and from what have seen the HR BoD has been very responsive to addressing and explaining their position. They definitely deserve credit for doing that whether or not anyone agrees or disagrees with their positions.
Well put, Gary. I’d also like to point out that on all of our shows we try to present various angles and points of view and we discussed pre-show that Gary would play “devils advocate” and ask questions that are likely simmering on other people’s minds. I personally am incredibly grateful to have Gary be a big part of the show and truly appreciate Andrea taking the time to talk with us regularly to give us insight into an amazing event that is going through growing pains just like the rest of the sport.
Gary – loved the questions and I was thinking some of the same things. The measuring sticks they are holding up to LT100 can to some extent be applied to other runs, I understand why they are doing this and basing their comments more because of the experience and the general comments surrounding LT100. It would be interesting if something that came of these discussions, were some guidelines (percent of race fees back to the community or trails, etc…), because there aren’t any, when / if LT100 ever gets back in it will just be because of “feelings” vs. the measuring stick.
They may not want to be in, I doubt their race will suffer from what some / most people described as a failure. But it would be interesting to see how and if they ever do react. Knowing that it is run by a company vs an individual(s), I doubt they ever will except in a short note (small paragraph) when they open up applications for next year, they will need to acknowledge and promise it will be better. (you heard it here first 🙂 )
Anyway, I couldn’t agree more with both positions and it is interesting seeing inside the process that Andrea described and then some of the questions I was curious about Gary articulated very well. Thank you again Andrea for being on the show and giving that insight.
Thanks again and I consider myself one of your eight or nine loyal listeners (by your count 🙂 )
Jeff
Yah, Gary, I think you did did some great work in this one.
While I appreciate that the Hardrock BOD wanted to change their standards for entry, and they also have standards for hundred mile races in the mountains and their communities that they wish other races to also hold up to, and hence that they can pick which races are qualifiers or not (completely agree, it is their race and hence their rules), the statement about Leadville “race management” in the announcement is an interesting decision by the board.
I guess I am don’t feel I completely understand why the HR board wanted to specifically call out Leadville (LF) in a public website in that manner. Sure, they can do that (they did), but they could have dropped the race (like they did others) without making that statement in that format. They could have delivered the same message to LF/Pb100 via different means, but they concluded to “tweet” this out there.
Again, I think HR can change their entry standards to whatever they want them to be, including mandatory volunteerism. If folks don’t dig that, they can take their business elsewhere. I have no issue with them making those changes. My questions are really why they decided to chide Leadville in the way they did.
But again, good timely cast and great questions Gary.
GZ
So does that mean Laz actually petitioned Hardrock for Barkley’s to be a qualifier? I don’t believe it…
Perhaps they petitioned Laz…….
Enjoyed as always. FYI- Bear sold out this year, so being on HR and WS list doesnt help it, imo it only makes registration something to watch more carefully so you dont get cut out. To that extent, the HR attitude of its not their problem is disappointing. 100’s are already growing and tougher to get into- read a Bear sellout- and HR and WS changes may put more pressure on ones that already sell out.
Personally- watching VT very carefully. WS qualifier, sells out in a day, only WS qualifier in New England. Where are the spots going to come from? Sell out in 5 minutes?
Not their problem?
Thats interesting coming from a group that called out Leadville specifically as if it were their problem and they are an ambassador for the sport.
On the flip side. I may be totally wrong so in that case please ignore everything after “always.”
Eric- who cant finish a race with triple distance digits. Miles that is.
How many of us have had this experience: in casual conversation,a friend mentions that you run ultras, and the first question to arise is “Have you run that crazy race across Death Valley?” Regardless of the number of other endurance events completed, there is enormous pressure to complete the big-name events: Boston, Kona, Badwater, and – in the ultra world – Western States and Hardrock. A short list garners most of the attention, and trivializes other events. A fix for overburdened races is for each of us (and perhaps as a running community) to devalue the big-name events in our echelon of worthiness, and elevate the lesser-known races.
If an event is eliminated as a qualifier and it prevents me from entering, I shouldn’t direct my anger at the Board of Directors. I should confront myself: Why do I need their validation? I could go run the Hardrock course on my own, but I can’t say to that inquisitive stranger, “I’ve run Hardrock.” I shouldn’t have to say that, though. If you’re tough, you’re tough. The buckle doesn’t make it so. The sheer number of entrants create a barrier to entry to an elite club that, ideally, is based on toughness, but is now largely based on luck. There are many more runners who could complete Hardrock than are allowed to race. As this sport grows and we have to share, I feel it’s our obligation not to forget that.
AGP, another great podcast from the gang at Elevation Trail. When Gary was getting tough on Andrea I was starting to wince but she parried his jousts with aplomb. I was wondering if this was a bit of a setup with Gary playing the devil’s advocate like Tim says above. My opinion? Make the big races harder to get into…. seems to be a no brainer since we have the problem of too many entrants and too many dnfs. I feel that the folks at Hardrock are welcome to include/exclude any qualifier they want. I also think that trail maintenance is an excellent prerequisite for entry into any 100 miler. Seems like the big races get plenty of volunteers ( WS has to turn them away ) but I am sure the smaller races could use lots of help! Interesting comments from Gary about the value of a few experienced volunteers over the masses who just show up and stand around. ( Hab 4 Humanity was a great example ). Looking forward to the “all chick” podcast.
I can sort of understand why HR wanted to call out Leadville, but in this case doesn’t it punish/inconvenience runners more than the race organizers?
Looking forward to the all-chick show. 🙂 Safety on the trails is an interesting issue. On the trails I usually run, there aren’t many people, which makes me feel safe. If someone is going to hide out there waiting to harm someone, they are going to have to wait a loooong time for someone to happen by. I’m also not afraid of encountering a bear or moose (they are around, I just so rarely see them). By far the biggest danger is breaking an ankle/leg and getting hypothermia. HOWEVER, I have been on trails that are closer to civilization, where I’ve definitely gotten heebed out. Saw a naked dude walking around once, and a couple of other times guys that gave me a bad feeling. In cases like that I typically turn around and head back before they see me. On trails like that I also carry my keys as a bit of a weapon. I definitely give of a ‘don’t f-ing mess with me vibe’ too, which I’ve heard is helpful. On the whole though, I feel safer on remote trails than say running in the city at night, but certain trails are definitely sketchy even in daylight and just not smart at all in the dark.