Courtney Dauwalter is again to run the 2023 Hardrock 100, three weeks after successful and setting a brand new course document on the Western States 100. On this interview, she talks about how she’s managing this tight turnaround, the superb staff behind her performances, and her sense of unfinished enterprise with the counterclockwise Hardrock route.
For extra on who’s racing, take a look at our in-depth preview. Comply with together with our Hardrock 100 dwell race protection from Friday.
Courtney Dauwalter Pre-2023 Hardrock 100 Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Sarah Brady of iRunFar. I’m right here simply earlier than the 2023 Hardrock 100, and I’m with Courtney Dauwalter. Courtney, how are you doing?
Courtney Dauwalter: I’m nice. How are you?
iRunFar: Good. Yeah, nice to see you once more. So, yeah. Final time we’ve seen you was simply after Western States, like, 10 minutes in the past. [laughs] So, Meghan [Hicks] interviewed you post-race, and I bear in mind you stated on the time when she requested the way it felt to have gained that race, and damaged that iconic course document, you sort of nonetheless hadn’t processed it. So, simply a few weeks on, how do you are feeling about that now?
Dauwalter: Oh, man, I’m nonetheless not fairly certain, as a result of instantly after Western States, it was a few days of, , simply having fun with. And we stayed out in California, however then nearly instantly began serious about Hardrock. And so possibly after Hardrock I can consider the entire summer time. At this level Western States feels prefer it was years in the past, although. Like, time may be very bizarre in these three weeks.
iRunFar: Yeah, for certain. After which extra by way of bodily restoration, I suppose, did you give your self a full week off, or had been you want, straight again in? Or how did you are feeling after it?
Dauwalter: The primary week was just about all completely off. Simply strolling, sitting quite a bit, and consuming quite a bit. The second week I attempted to maneuver a little bit bit extra, so did some jogging. Did a little bit little bit of mountaineering with poles simply to get up these muscular tissues, and a few biking. And the third week, right here we’re, so we’ll see. [laughs]
iRunFar: Okay, I do know you’ve not been right here for very lengthy. So, have you ever had an opportunity in current weeks in any respect to take a look at like, present Hardrock situations?
Dauwalter: No, not personally, simply from movies and images that folks have been posting, or that Hardrock has posted about. I really like surprises, although, so I’m excited to simply get out on the course and uncover the wildflowers, and see the snow fields for myself. And hopefully simply have enjoyable taking part in within the mountains for lots of hours.
iRunFar: Okay, good. After which so final 12 months, you set the course document on the clockwise route. However then the 12 months earlier than you weren’t so fortunate on counterclockwise, with abdomen points taking you out of the race. So, I’m simply questioning, do you take a look at the 2 instructions as two separate races? And is there like, a way of unfinished enterprise coming again to race this route?
Dauwalter: There’s undoubtedly a way of unfinished enterprise. I’m feeling actually excited and motivated to complete this counterclockwise route. As a result of in 2021, my race ended going up Camp Hen Street out of Ouray, round 62 miles. So, I’m hoping to get to that time within the race this weekend, after which preserve going. You understand, recover from to Telluride and end up the remainder of that loop so I can hopefully kiss the rock, is the key aim.
iRunFar: Okay, good. After which, say in the event that they had been on the identical day, equivalent situations, do you’ve gotten a most popular route, and why?
Dauwalter: I don’t know. We are able to discuss afterwards although, and see. Yeah, there’s simply a lot, like, I haven’t seen this different route for these final 40 miles. So, I’m actually trying ahead to getting my toes on that half and seeing it going the opposite manner.
iRunFar: Okay, tremendous. After which simply since that, like 2021, the final couple years, you’ve gone from power to power, and also you appear to be simply sort of nailing it increasingly. So, is there any huge change you’ve made, like, nutritionally that issues appear to be simply working a little bit bit higher now?
Dauwalter: I’m hoping to all the time simply continue to learn prepare higher, race higher, and all the items which might be concerned with that. So, dialing within the vitamin was an enormous half within the final couple of years. And determining our programs higher for that. And like, the plan A, but in addition then the plan B, C, D, E, the entire alphabet exists now, the place we’ve obtained totally different choices prepared for when issues go south, and that may be a huge enchancment and an enormous change since 2021.
iRunFar: Okay, appears to be working. After which in earlier interviews, I believe I’m not the one one who’s observed you all the time appear to actually credit score the staff effort behind your performances. And also you say “we” not “I” by way of the way you get issues performed. So, I used to be simply questioning, do you wish to give a shout out to who’s crewing and who’s pacing this week?
Dauwalter: Completely. That is for certain a staff sport to me. It makes it so enjoyable to share with folks, together with your crew, together with your pacers you probably have them. And it’s, to me, all of our end traces that we get to, and that’s fairly particular. So, I’ve obtained Kevin [Schmidt] right here. He’s at nearly all of my races, and I really feel actually fortunate for that. After which our buddies Stan and Melody, who had been additionally out at Western States. And I’ve my buddy Mike coming into tempo me for part of it.
iRunFar: Okay, nice. And I suppose that’s one factor that’s fairly totally different about these U.S. races in comparison with the large Euro races you’ve performed like UTMB. Like, it’s a smaller area, however then there’s a little bit bit extra involvement from pacers and crew. So, once you evaluate the 2, do you sort of want a smaller intimate race like this versus an enormous European zoo like UTMB?
Dauwalter: I like them each equally for various causes. I believe being at one thing like this this weekend simply seems like an enormous household reunion. You understand, you stroll down the road and get to cease and chat with all people as a result of one another, and also you’re sharing this weekend collectively. But additionally one thing like UTMB is enjoyable the place it’s simply electrical, and the love for path working and ultras and simply making an attempt laborious issues is large. And that feels cool otherwise.
iRunFar: Okay. After which simply by way of your race day technique, I used to be simply questioning like, will you make extra of an effort to type of hearken to your physique and be conservative contemplating what you simply did a few weeks in the past? Or are you simply going to go all in and hope for one of the best, or sort of someplace in between?
Dauwalter: My plan, as a lot as I make a plan. My concept for this race is to place Western States in a drawer in my mind the place it’s not even on my thoughts that we simply did that, and race this prefer it’s my solely race of the summer time. So, going at it like I might any 100-mile race.
iRunFar: Yeah. Okay, that sounds good. After which like all explicit level on the route that you simply’re fairly enthusiastic about? Apart from the end line — that doesn’t rely.
Dauwalter: Yeah, I’m fairly excited for all of it, actually. I haven’t been out right here within the San Juans since final summer time. So, there’ll be a ton of sections the place I do know I’ll be hooping and hollering by wildflowers. And be so excited to run by them. I’m actually trying ahead to Camp Hen Street and making an attempt to get to the highest of that, to Kroger’s Canteen. And tip over, in order that I can really feel like, , we’re transferring previous the purpose the place I finished two years in the past.
iRunFar: Okay, nice. I’m certain that may really feel like a win to get to there. After which, yeah, too quickly, however I ask almost everybody anyway, have you ever obtained any plans for after this? Are you going to sort of sit back for some time, or is there anything this season?
Dauwalter: I’ve lots of concepts for the remainder of the summer time and the 12 months. However for certain after this one, I’ll do a full reset, and ensure every little thing feels good to maintain going after a few of these concepts.
iRunFar: Okay, yeah. After which simply lastly, I suppose extra usually, I can see it right here, like, on the elite stage. I can see it at residence in Eire, that ladies’s ultrarunning is simply rising so quickly. And I believe lots of people knew for some time that ladies are higher at longer distances, however it’s like extra ladies are figuring that out now. So, would you’ve gotten any recommendation for anybody this — considering of like, stepping as much as like, laborious 100 milers like this?
Dauwalter: Go for it. 100% attempt it. Why not? It’s a very cool time to be in ultrarunning, and girls’s ultrarunning specifically is blowing up like loopy. And I believe we’re all making an attempt to determine like, what’s potential, and I simply really feel actually lucky to be within the sport proper now. And hope that increasingly ladies will preserve making an attempt one thing laborious. One thing that sounds loopy. I believe we must always go after that factor.
iRunFar: Yeah. Okay. That’s nice. Nice recommendation. Nicely, thanks a lot for taking the time to speak to me anyway, and might’t wait to comply with you on the weekend.
Dauwalter: Thanks.
