Hardrock Uncovered is Ultra Uncovered's exclusive interview series leading into the 2026 Hardrock Endurance Run, bringing you inside the stories, preparation, and mindset of the athletes taking on one of ultrarunning's most iconic races.

In Episode 8, we catch up with Tara Dower just days after an impressive sixth-place finish at the 2026 Western States Endurance Run as she prepares for the second half of the Western States-Hardrock double.

After finishing fourth in her Hardrock debut in 2024, Tara returns with a new level of confidence born from experience. She reflects on the nutrition mistakes that nearly unraveled her first Hardrock, the lessons she learned about pacing and consistency, and why she believes this year's race is about racing smarter, not simply racing harder.

The conversation also explores why Hardrock feels more like an adventure than a competition, the incredible community that makes the event so special, her strategy of attacking the descents, and how she's approaching the challenging two-week turnaround from Western States by focusing on recovery, trust, and showing up mentally fresh.

It's a conversation about growth, resilience, and returning to one of ultrarunning's most iconic races with both confidence and humility.

Stay tuned as Hardrock Uncovered continues with more athlete conversations leading up to race weekend.