SoftRock Mountain Simulation

Workout - SoftRock Mountain Simulation

• 15min @ 6'30''/km
• 75min @ 5'30''/km
• 45min @ 7'00''/km
• 12min @ 6'30''/km

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Intro: Vo2maxProductions released a breakdown of Running the Hardrock 100 mile course: “SoftRock” Day 2 – Ouray to Telluride. It’s worth watching in full for complete context, but here’s the essentials so you can attempt something similar yourself. The video digs into route specifics, gear decisions, and stunning Colorado vistas.

Key Points:

• Day 2 is the shorter of the two ultramarathon days at roughly 15 mi (≈ 24 km) with about 5,300 ft (≈ 1,615 m) of climbing, then a long drop into Telluride.
• The terrain alternates between exposed road climbs (Camp Bird Road, Virginia’s Pass, Kroger’s Canteen) and technical single-track passages.
• Route-finding demands attention – Sage navigates using a GPX track loaded on his Chorus watch and monitors aid-station markers (approximately mile 70 on the counter-clockwise loop).
• Smart logistics matter: Sage carries tents, provisions, and layers between sections, and wears traction gear on snow and ice to handle steep, slippery pitches.
• Core strategies: load your GPX file in advance, identify aid-station locations beforehand, apply traction on icy terrain, and keep effort controlled on the climb to save energy for the descent.

Workout Example:

• Total distance: 15 mi (≈ 24 km)
• Elevation gain: 5,300 ft (≈ 1,615 m)
• Structure:
  1. Leave Ouray – flat road warm-up for 0.5 mi.
  2. Climb Camp Bird Road – maintain steady effort at ~70% of max HR or an easy-to-sustain pace (no fixed speed).
  3. Push toward Virginia’s Pass → Kroger’s Canteen – sustain steady effort; if using a Pacing app, dial in a tempo that feels maintainable over 5,000 feet of ascent.
  4. Drop toward Telluride – ease off, watch for loose stone and lingering snow; apply traction if conditions demand it.
  5. Enter town – finish strong, locate the next aid station, refuel and rehydrate.

Closing Note: Grab a GPS watch, sync your route file, and give it a shot – the Pacing app lets you adjust efforts to match your own level. Push yourself, stay alert, and soak in the Colorado high country.

Watch the complete Sage Canaday video on Vo2maxProductions for fuller route descriptions, detailed gear breakdowns, and the incredible landscape that defines this leg.

References

• Running the Hardrock 100 mile course: “SoftRock” Day 2: Ouray to Telluride, Colorado! Sage Canaday - YouTube (YouTube Video)