Dylan Bowman positioned second on the 2021 Hardrock 100. This yr he’s returning for spherical two. On this interview, he talks about what’s totally different in his life and his preparation this time round, how a busy schedule outdoors of working has meant fewer 100 milers for him lately, and what to anticipate from course situations at this yr’s race.
For extra on who’s racing, take a look at our in-depth preview. Observe together with our Hardrock 100 stay race protection from Friday.
Dylan Bowman Pre-2023 Hardrock 100 Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Sarah Brady of iRunFar. I’m right here earlier than the 2023 Hardrock 100 with Dylan Bowman. Dylan, how are you?
Dylan Bowman: Hey, Sarah. Good to fulfill you.
iRunFar: Yeah, you too. So, we normally see you on the opposite facet of the microphone. So, first query, are you doing Hardrock to get a weekend off?
Bowman: [laughs] Yeah, no, it’s turn into uncommon that I truly get to pin bibs on these days, and so I’m taking full benefit of the chance. Clearly Hardrock is likely one of the nice races on this planet, and a race that I’ve a number of affection for, so I’m glad to be again.
iRunFar: Okay. Tremendous. And also you had a very good consequence right here earlier than. You have been second in 2021, the final time the race went on this route. So, what’s it that brings you again?
Bowman: I obtained pulled off the waitlist and into the race. , clearly Hardrock is a sacred alternative for path runners. Whenever you get a possibility to do that race, you type of must take that chance. And I’ve been within the sport for a very long time, grew up in Colorado, began placing in for the lottery I believe in 2010. Lastly obtained pulled in 2019. There have been two cancellations. Lastly obtained to run in 2021, after, you realize, greater than a decade of making an attempt to get in. And now, fortunately after a two-year hiatus, I obtained pulled sixth on the waitlist within the lottery, and on account of some attrition, I’ve the nice fortune to be on the startlist this yr. Yeah.
iRunFar: Okay, improbable. It seems like one thing you possibly can’t actually flip down.
Bowman: No.
iRunFar: So yeah, I imagine you’re residing in California, however you’ve been over right here a very good bit the previous few weeks on the course. So, how’s your buildup been?
Bowman: It’s been abbreviated. I’ve been, as I’ve mentioned to Bryon [Powell] and Meghan [Hicks] type of implementing the François D’Haene strategy, which is arrive two and a half weeks early, and simply type of, do as a lot as you possibly can on the course in a brief time period. Attempting to drive some acclimatization, drive some health adaptation. And so, I’ve been doing a number of huge days. It’s been sluggish. The course is actually snowy. Particularly within the again half of the race. And so, I’ve been right here about two weeks now with you realize, 5 days to go till race day. I’m beginning to really feel fairly strong, however the coaching has undoubtedly been decrease than 2021. And so, type of, not likely positive what to anticipate.
iRunFar: Okay, fascinating. And in addition, you will have some actually, actually good 100-mile leads to your again catalogue on this race, Western States, Istria, however previous couple of years, you’ve been doing much more 50k to 100k races. So, I suppose you partially answered it there that your coaching’s been somewhat bit decrease, however have you ever modified something considerably to return to 100-mile mode?
Bowman: Properly, I imply, a lot in my life has modified, and you realize, that has been mirrored within the quantity at which I’ve been racing the final couple of years. I actually haven’t been match and dedicated as an athlete since Hardrock 2021. Clearly, with, you realize, the start of our son final yr, with COVID-19, with all of the issues that we’re doing within the sport proper now, it simply hasn’t left a number of room for me to focus by myself athletic life. And so, you realize, that’s actually type of like, the reasoning that the final couple years there haven’t been a number of 100-mile race outcomes. It’s been extra only a lack of means to place in that kind of coaching, and to actually put any targets on the calendar. And yeah, like I mentioned, I’ve simply type of tried to open up as a lot house as I may for myself this spring to organize for Hardrock. I did a race to Japan, a 70k [Izu Trail Journey 70k.] I did a neighborhood 50 miler within the Bay Space [Marin Ultra Challenge.] Each that I approached simply nearly as good lengthy coaching efforts and recovered from shortly. And I’ve gotten a number of say five- to six-hour coaching days in within the final eight weeks, however fewer of the nine- to 12-hour days that I obtained in earlier than 2021. So, totally different strategy. Yearly is totally different, and I’m making an attempt to maintain that mindset, or maintain that understanding, that yearly is totally different. You simply must do the most effective you possibly can.
iRunFar: Okay, good. I visited the Bay Space simply currently and ran your native trails, they usually’re superior, however clearly, it’s sea degree. So, is there something, as somebody who lives in trains a number of time at sea degree, that it’s important to notably do for this race, for the elevation?
Bowman: Yeah, I imply, it’s so onerous as a result of I believe even for the runners who stay on the Entrance Vary in Boulder and Denver, they arrive up right here they usually actually battle with the altitude. And I, like I mentioned, I grew up in Colorado. I lived for a very long time in Aspen. I really feel like I alter fairly shortly. I like the sensation of being at altitude, however there’s simply no getting round that it’s painful at first once you get right here. And so yeah, that’s simply type of like, what I’ve been making an attempt to do is simply stand up and tag 13,000 ft principally each single day. I simply went and did Little Large a short time in the past, simply completed about an hour in the past. Yeah. Beginning to really feel stronger at altitude, however you realize, you actually need to get right here early with a view to mitigate that somewhat bit. Two and a half weeks is type of the naked minimal that I used to be keen to do. In 2021 I did six weeks in Mammoth. So, once more, shorter acclimatization interval this yr, but it surely’s actually higher than nothing. I’m beginning to really feel fairly sturdy up excessive, and with the Colorado roots and DNA, hopefully that’ll play to my benefit.
iRunFar: Okay, nice. And we all know with the large winter that’s been right here, the course situations are going to be actually totally different to final time you ran the race. So, only for all individuals who might need seen the course in several situations, is there something specifically you possibly can say as a heads up like — that is totally different this yr?
Bowman: Yeah. So, I believe it’s going to be a uniquely troublesome yr. I truly simply noticed Bryon Powell out in Cunningham Gulch, proper earlier than I did my run this afternoon. And he made the analog, or the comparability, to the fireplace and ice yr at Western States. For many who don’t know, it was a yr the place there was a number of snow within the excessive nation at Western States, but it surely was additionally a uniquely actually scorching version of Western States. That’s type of how that is organising. It’s imagined to be very heat on race day, and there’s nonetheless a number of snow on the course. So, I believe it’s setting as much as be uniquely troublesome. I do need to give a giant shout out to Brett [Sublett] — he type of runs the path crew that places the course collectively. And I simply met him additionally a short while in the past, they usually have executed a number of work to mitigate a few of the harmful sections on the course. As a result of there have been a number of snow fields that you would need to traverse. And particularly these ones within the early morning, or in the course of the night time, might be actually harmful. And so, shout-out to the race for making that effort to place the course in the kind of situation to make it as protected as doable — although it’s a “post-graduate race,” as they are saying.
iRunFar: Yeah, it does appear to be a large effort, and it’s nice to see so many runners on the market simply pitching in as properly. After which — perhaps it’s too quickly to ask this — however have you ever considered what’s subsequent? Have you ever anything in thoughts for this season?
Bowman: No. Actually, you realize, my objective is actually simply to get pleasure from Hardrock. To love not… you realize, to carry on to the reminiscence of 2021, the place all the pieces was similar to, excellent. It was one of many nice days of my life, and I’m so completely satisfied to have the chance to do it once more. But additionally, I do know it’s going to be totally different. I believe it’s going to be rather a lot more durable. I believe I’m approach much less ready than I used to be. So, it’s type of like, simply go and revel in what you do, and admire the chance. After which after that, we’ll see what the remainder of the yr holds. I’ll undoubtedly be over at UTMB, however seemingly received’t be racing. I’ll simply most likely be having fun with and dealing over there. So competitively, it’s onerous for me to set a number of targets proper now. However it’s been a very good part of my life and profession, and I’m simply fortunate to have the possibility to run this weekend.
iRunFar: Okay, improbable. Properly, it seems like even when much less ready, you’re moving into fairly relaxed. In order that must be a very good factor.
Bowman: Yeah, feeling good. And yeah, I’m simply appreciative.
iRunFar: Nice. Okay, good. Properly, I hope you will have a improbable run. We’ll see you on the market. Thanks very a lot.
Bowman: Thanks for doing this interview. Enjoyable to do, first iRunFar interview with you.
iRunFar: Yeah, for positive. It’s been nice. Thanks.
