Diego Pazos of Switzerland completed moment on the 2024 Hardrock 100 after a detailed fight with Jason Schlarb that noticed the 2 males inside of two mins of one another with simply 5 miles to the end. On this interview, Zpeedy — Pazos’s modify ego — talks about how the race performed out with Schlarb within the later miles, how he did the whole thing he may to run the overall downhill as speedy as imaginable with out getting harm, and whether or not he hopes to go back to the race at some point.
For extra on how the race performed out, take a look at our in-depth 2024 Hardrock 100 effects article.
Diego Pazos Publish-2024 Hardrock 100 Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Bryon Powell of iRunFar right here with Diego Pazos after his second-place end on the 2024 Hardrock 100. How are you, Diego?
Diego Pazos: Hello, Bryon. I’m high quality. Very high quality.
iRunFar: Yeah? Did you might have an stress-free day in the market? Or two days.
Pazos: Sure, with excessive highs and downs, however I loved at the moment each and every minute.
iRunFar: Sooner than we get into the play-by-play, as it used to be roughly a fascinating race for this kind of small box, what did you revel in at the path, outdoor of the racing?
Pazos: The landscapes. I feel, I didn’t know Kroger’s Canteen, Handies Height, so I found out the whole thing all through the race. And yeah, it used to be fabulous. I had the sundown at Handies Height. That used to be fabulous.
iRunFar: Yeah?
Pazos: It used to be a dream. All crimson at the back of. It used to be like, wow.
iRunFar: Yeah, so you were given to revel in it.
Pazos: Yeah.
iRunFar: And also you have been in a position to take that during all through the race, a little bit bit.
Pazos: Yeah, a little bit bit. It used to be a difficult second for me at that time, however it helped me. Yeah, realizing that it’s distinctive to be right here at that time of the race, so I will not surrender, and I’ve to proceed and provides all of it.
iRunFar: Yeah. So going to how the race form of came about. Early within the race, you’re in the market with Ludovic [Pommeret], François [D’haene]. It’s a francophone begin to the race. Had been you, a minimum of for a while, operating in combination and chatting, or used to be this racing from pass?
Pazos: No, no, no. It used to be a pleasant tempo firstly. We have been 4, with Jason [Schlarb] as neatly. Courtney [Dauwalter] simply at the back of, possibly 50 meters at the back of. After which after the primary downhill, we went, the 3, with François and Ludo. I used to be feeling just right. It used to be just right on the first checkpoint and the whole thing. They usually went away at the second one climb. I didn’t need to observe this rhythm. I need to stay in my bubble. However the first climb, it used to be great. It used to be a pleasant communicate. Jason used to be the botanist. He used to be explaining to us the entire plants of the area. It used to be great.
iRunFar: And also you loved the ones as neatly?
Pazos: Yeah, yeah, positive.
iRunFar: It’s a great time of 12 months for the wildflowers right here within the San Juan Mountains.
Pazos: Columbine and the whole thing, the entire plants. It used to be superb.
iRunFar: So, beginning at about 20 kilometers, you’re by yourself.
Pazos: Yeah.
iRunFar: And for moderately a very long time, sure?
Pazos: Sure. The uphill to Kroger’s Canteen, Jason got here again and he handed me. And I used to be now not in a just right second. I used to be caught. I had no energy climbing. So, it used to be a difficult second. I mentioned, k, it’ll go. It’s a must to be told. Use your revel in in extremely to mention, k, that’s a foul second. I let him pass. And I went, after which we went down. Very technical descent after Kroger’s Canteen. Really nice revel in. After which, yeah, the lengthy descent to Ouray. After which I got here again, and I used to be possibly one or two mins simply at the back of him. And from Ouray till the tip, I’d say the massive struggle with Jason began.
iRunFar: Yeah. For a very long time, you have been possibly 10 mins at the back of him.
Pazos: Yeah.
iRunFar: And in contrast to him, you realize the variation. You’ll pay attention on the assist stations.
Pazos: I will see him.
iRunFar: You’ll see him. What used to be that like? Was once it a constant distinction in time?
Pazos: It used to be all the time converting.
iRunFar: Oh, converting. Ok.
Pazos: Yeah. You need to see best that it used to be 10 mins as a result of he used to be taking me at the uphills.
iRunFar: Yeah.
Pazos: After which within the downhills, I used to be lowering the space. And once in a while I used to be passing him. He used to be passing me once more. Within the night time, it used to be a, how do you are saying, a backward and forward?
iRunFar: Yeah. Backward and forward. A fight.
Pazos: A large fight.
iRunFar: Which doesn’t glance adore it at the splits and within the assist stations. It used to be all the time him forward.
Pazos: Yeah. He used to be extra forward than I used to be.
iRunFar: Ok.
Pazos: Extra time. However from Pole Creek, I handed him simply after the checkpoint of Pole Creek. After which we did a mistake. I imply, I went up after which I went down the similar approach. And I used to be two mins forward. So, I noticed him going up once more. So, we went with him. At that time, we have been in combination. After which going to Maggie’s, I had possibly two, 3 mins benefit. I saved the benefit till Cunningham. 3, 4 mins. And I knew within the final uphill that he used to be higher than me, possibly. I used to be feeling higher. So, he used to be now not expanding the distance within the uphill. So I might be at the most sensible of the final uphill with possibly one minute, 1:30. After which I knew that within the downhill, I used to be going to provide all of it. And that I used to be feeling a little bit higher than him going downhill. So, on the finish, that’s what came about.
iRunFar: For me, that appears like a nightmare to be, I imply, it doesn’t topic in case you’re additional again within the pack. However in case you’re seeking to run for first, moment, 3rd, and being 10 kilometers out with one minute.
Pazos: Yeah.
iRunFar: Is that frightening? Thrilling? For you, what’s that emotion like?
Pazos: Each. Scaring and thrilling. However if you wish to carry out, you need to be used to that. I’m moderately used to it for the reason that years. It may be for podium, it may be for most sensible 10 positions. You all the time need to struggle. And it doesn’t provide the time to respire. , you need to test level, you need to pass. It’s a must to put the drive. He’s placing the drive on you. So, it’s a sport. And we all know each and every different really well with Jason. So we loved it so much. It used to be just right.
iRunFar: So that you do finally end up completing moment. An excellent efficiency for you. Are you proud of it?
Pazos: More than happy. Sure. I imply, for me, it’s absolute best. Ludo used to be on every other planet on that day. And I’m more than happy as a result of I had an excessively laborious preparation. I had giant well being issues. I had with the circle of relatives, with paintings, it’s now not simple for me to position quantity, to coach in reality neatly. While you aren’t skilled and you might be busy paintings, it’s laborious. So I’m very, more than happy, very pleased with my efficiency. And mentally, I feel I used to be in reality, in reality sturdy the day gone by. And this helped me so much on the finish of the race.
iRunFar: So, it’s laborious to get into this race. However do you suppose you’ll put your title in ever once more to come back again to Hardrock?
Pazos: I imply, whilst you see the panorama and the whole thing, I will not say no. I’m hoping so. However I will not say now when, and if it’ll be. As a result of, you realize, it’s a large number of group for me. However I imply, it’s considered one of my perfect souvenirs, evidently. I will be able to have in mind all the time. And why now not? I will be able to be at liberty to come back again. Yeah.
iRunFar: What do you might have in your agenda for the remainder of the 12 months? Any giant highlights arising?
Pazos: I give me the following two weeks to get better. As a result of I’m now not an individual that does many hundred miles, many races. I favor to concentrate on some races. I don’t have time to do the remainder of the issues. However possibly I’d find irresistible to do Grand Raid de l. a. Réunion, Diagonale des Fous.
iRunFar: Yeah?
Pazos: We’ll see. I will be able to be at UTMB, however extra for cheering.
iRunFar: Ok. In order that leads me to a query, then. UTWT [Ultra-Trail World Tour], you ran when that used to be the primary years, you’ve been doing that for a very long time. You’ve been doing high-level extremely operating for a very long time. Individuals who you have been racing on the most sensible point within the UTW races, a large number of them aren’t racing anymore, or aren’t racing at a excessive point. Possibly do you might have a bonus in longevity within the recreation? As a result of, now not simply since you’re opting for to not race a ton of races, however having a occupation and now not having the ability to. Is that a bonus? Now not in a person race, however on your profession?
Pazos: Positive. For me, the target is the profession. I would like my children, as neatly, to peer me operating nonetheless, to peer this environment. I feel we have now superb values in path operating, in extremely path operating. So, I need to final. And I feel you probably have one thing subsequent to the operating, as neatly, in case you maintain your self, you’ll last more. And naturally, I feel it helped me, and I’m hoping it’ll lend a hand me as neatly at some point.
iRunFar: Superior.
Pazos: While you see Ludo, for me, it’s an instance. I imply, evidently, he’s 49 quickly, and he’s nonetheless at most sensible point. If now not one of the crucial now two, 3, 4 perfect extremely path runners on this planet. Yeah, he’s going to be at UTMB. It’s going to be fascinating.
iRunFar: Superior. Neatly, congratulations in your nice run right here, and I will’t wait to peer you at a race in a decade.
Pazos: With excitement. See you.