2026 marks the 9th annual Women of the Hardrock 100 Panel & Community Social, presented by The North Face. Gina Lucrezi created this panel event in 2017 to increase awareness and celebration of women athletes running the 100 mile distance, specifically the Hardrock 100. Sharing one’s background and experiences has the ability to inspire, educate, and empower others. It has the power to bridge the gap in relatability, showing people what is possible and achievable.
Discussion Panels & Community Social Details
There will be three discussion panels (15-20 mins. each), each focused on a different topic.
Panel Topics include:
- Road to Hardrock: The honest, often unseen paths it takes to reach the Hardrock start line. The non-linear paths, setbacks, and persistence it takes to get here.
- Toeing the Line: A conversation on how women, organizations, and initiatives are actively evolving trail and ultra running, whether through mentorship, media, programs or simply how they show up for one another.
- Mental Preparation for the Long Run: Real talk on the mental side of 100 miles and beyond. Navigating fear, quieting comparison, and staying in it when everything starts to unravel.
Mountain Outpost will be live-streaming the panel discussions. Folks far and wide are able to tune in to listen and learn!
The North Face will provide snacks and drinks for everyone to enjoy at the panel event and social, complete with a raffle for their latest and greatest products!
Hosted by Hardrock 100 Board Chair Meghan Hicks, and by Trail Sisters founder and former Hardrock 100 Board Member Gina Lucrezi.
Here is a list of the committed panelists so far!
- Erin Shaw
- Careth Christine
- Chelsey Topping
- Carolyn Wallace
- Aliza Lapierre
- Kristy Reade
- Jordan Armstrong
- Susan Henry
- Kaci Lickteig
- Monica Ochs
- Lynette McDougal
- Courtney Dauwalter
- Becky Thompson
- Jenny Pierce
- Kat Gdela
- Tara Dower
- Gina Harcrow
Carolyn Wallace is a pediatric respiratory therapist on the bronchoscopy team in Cincinnati Ohio. She fell in love with running in the mountains, and finishing Hardrock in 2023 completely changed the wayCarolyn sees the trails. Her friends call her Carl on the trail, it’s her alter ego. Carolyn loves the adventures, stories, and friends that come out of this sport.
Kirsty Reade is a commissioning editor for running and adventure books based in the Lake District in the north of England. A longtime contributor to running publications and the media officer for the World Mountain Running Association, she combines a passion for endurance sport with a background in publishing. She has run races including Tor des Géants, Dragon’s Back and Ehunmilak and is super motivated by the fact that no British woman has ever completed Hardrock.
Courtney Dauwalter: Courtney is an ultra marathon runner living in Buena Vista, Colorado. In 2023 Courtney became the first person ever to win the Western States 100, Hardrock 100 and the UTMB, three iconic 100-mile races, in the same year. She was the overall winner of the Moab 240 Mile Endurance Run in 2017, she ran 279 miles in the 2018 Big’s Backyard Ultra, 2x 1st place female at Western States Endurance Run, 3x 1st place female at Hardrock, and 3x 1st place female at UTMB. Her curiosity for what the human body and brain are capable of is what keeps her heading out the door every day to train, and she loves candy.
Aliza Lapierre: As an ultra runner from Vermont, Aliza finds peace and a sense of belonging while running in the mountains. Aliza’s passion began by exploring her home state on her own two feet fueled by maple syrup, curiosity and the beauty of nature. Over the years Aliza has continually strived to redefine what she is capable of while trying to inspire others to go beyond their perceived limits.
Jordan Armstrong is happiest spending long days running, bikepacking, backpacking or skiing in the mountains. After nearly a decade in Utah and Idaho, she recently returned to her claimed home state of New Mexico. She balances her outdoor adventures with a career in the aerospace industry. When not in the mountains, Jordan enjoys playing in the kitchen, doing home construction projects, hanging with her dog Beta, and connecting with her family and friends.
Susan Henry is from NE Oregon. She started running ultras at 48 years of age, and is excited to be running the Hardrock 100 for the first time at 64 years of age. Susan’s son is also running Hardrock for his first time.
Erin Shaw: I live in Superior Colorado with my husband and 8 year old son. I have been ultra running since about 2013, and did my first 100 mile race at Bighorn in 2018. We moved to Colorado in 2014, and have been running with he Rocky Mountain Runners ever since. When not running, I work as a Software Engineering Manager.
Kaci Lickteig is a physical therapist in Omaha, Nebraska. She’s been running ultras since 2012-13, but this will be Kaci’s first time running the Hardrock 100!
Kat Gdela: Made in Poland, exported to Canada now trespassing USofA. My spirit animal is Donkey (from Shrek), trail name “Walmart”: I have everything , Trail running engine: diesel , takes a while to warm up. Will run for views and for craft beer. My first hundred miler was a Hardrock 100 qualifier, 3 years ago 🙂
Monica Ohs: Monica has been running ultras for 25+ years, has 2 kids, 31 & 34, and husband Kristjan. She’s a nurse, a Red Cross and Planned Parenthood volunteer, an outdoor wilderness medicine certified provider, 10 year HR lottery entrant and aortic aneurysm survivor.
Becky Thompson: Becky lives in Columbia, Missouri (elevation 760 ft) with her husband, 11 yo old son and off-kilter dog and cat. She works as an attorney, loves to run any chance she can get and is beyond thrilled to be toeing the line of the 2026 Hardrock 100.
Jenny Pierce is from Livingston, MT and works as a geologist at an underground narrow vein palladium and platinum mine. When she’s not working in a mountain, she loves spending time running over mountains with her boyfriend Travis and sharing outdoor adventures with her children Wren and Scout.
