BIOGRAPHY

Mark Hammond's passion for mountain athletics began when he was 14 and his brother introduced him to rock climbing. He learned various climbing disciplines ranging from boulder and sport to ice and big wall. At age 18 he started backcountry skiing and discovered his knack for cardio endurance sports. His passion for exploration has driven him to claim numerous first ski descents around Utah.

Although he did some occasional running throughout his youth, he didn't become serious about it until his late twenties. His running career really began one day in 2013 when he took a walk around his office parking lot during his lunch break. That walk turned into a jog and then into daily lunchtime runs. Before long, he entered his first ultramarathon, the Speedgoat 50k, and was immediately hooked. Since then he has consistently gotten faster and won many races. He is particularly fond of 100 milers.

Mark is always looking for objectives that combine his passions of running, climbing, and skiing. One of his favorite outings was climbing the Lone Peak Wall with ski gear on his back, skiing off the summit, and then switching to running below the snowline.

MOUNTAIN RESUME

First person to ski The Chute Gallery in one season

Winner USATF 100-mile Road National Championship in 2019 and 2020

Winner 2021 USATF 100-mile Trail National Championship 2021

2nd Fastest Unsupported time on the Wonderland Trail in Mt. Rainier

3rd place at Western States 100 (national championship) in 2017 and 2018

First known person to ski off all 29 county highpoints in Utah

First known person to climb and ski Gannett Peak, car to car, in one day

Ranked 5th best North American ultrarunner by Ultrarunning Magazine for 2017 and 8th best for 2018 and 2019