At 50 years old, Ludo Pommeret finished the Hardrock 100 in a record time of 21 hours, 11 minutes, and 36 seconds. The French ultrarunner, who won the race, admitted in a prerace interview that he’s slower than he used to be. “I think there’s no secret,” Pommeret said. “I’m slower, I’m slower, but I can compensate with other knowledge, about pacing. Just about mental preparation maybe.” His victory came despite a field of younger competitors, including prerace favorite Tom Evans, who dropped out before mile 60.
The Hardrock 100 is considered one of the most grueling 100-mile races in the U.S. The course averages 11,000 feet in elevation and climbs more than 33,000 feet total. Unlike Western States, which is net downhill, Hardrock’s terrain is relentlessly demanding. This year’s top five finishers for men had an average age of 42.6, while women averaged 35.8. In comparison, Western States’ top five men averaged 33.2 years old, and UTMB’s top five men averaged 32.6 last year.
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Pommeret’s strategy hinged on course knowledge and pacing. He spent weeks running sections of the route before the race, scouting terrain. “It seems it is easier when you’re getting old,” he said after the race. “You can see the end [of your career] and these moments are a lot less. So maybe like good wine, when you are older, you are better.” His experience helped him outpace younger competitors who struggled with the course’s demands.
Pommeret’s win highlights a trend in ultrarunning: older athletes often perform better in races that reward experience. A 2015 study of over 29,000 finishes in North American 100-mile races found that while most runners slow with age, those with more experience at the distance tended to finish faster. Hardrock’s technical terrain and high elevation favor runners who know how to conserve energy and adapt to unpredictable conditions.
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“It was my strategy to go out fast,” Pommeret said. He targeted Tom Evans, who had won UTMB last year, and pushed the pace early. By mile 44, Pommeret had built a 30-minute lead. Evans, unable to keep up, dropped out. “I knew that if Tom didn’t get the victory, he would drop out,” Pommeret said.
He finished nearly 2.5 hours ahead of runner-up Jimmy Elam, 39, and nearly 5.5 hours faster than the fifth-place finisher.
