Hal Koerner

About

Hal Koerner is an American ultrarunner, race director, author, and running store owner who became one of the dominant figures in American ultra-distance running across the 2000s and 2010s. Born January 23, 1976, in Morgantown, West Virginia, he owns Rogue Valley Runners in Ashland, Oregon, and authored Hal Koerner's Field Guide to Ultrarunning (2014, foreword by Scott Jurek). A nine-time top-ten finisher in North American ultrarunner rankings who has competed in over 150 ultras with top-three finishes in approximately 75% of them, his signature achievements include back-to-back Western States 100 victories in 2007 and 2009, the Hardrock Hundred in 2012, five consecutive Bear 100 titles (1999–2003), two Angeles Crest 100 wins, two Javelina Jundred titles, and Fastest Known Times on the Colorado Trail (489 miles) and the John Muir Trail (221 miles). He directs the Pine to Palm 100 Mile Endurance Run and the Lithia Loop Trail Marathon in southern Oregon. In 2025 he was inducted into the Trailcon Nike ACG Trail Running Hall of Fame.

Notable Wins

• — Western States 100 2007
• — 2009; Hardrock 100 2012; The Bear 100 1999–2003 (5×); Angeles Crest 100 2006
• — 2008; Javelina Jundred 2011
• — 2013; Canadian Death Race 2010; Colorado Trail FKT; John Muir Trail FKT; Hall of Fame 2025

Race History