Ultra-trail: Safran employee Beñat Marmissolle ranks 2nd at the Hardrock 100!

Beñat Marmissolle, a Safran Landing Systems employee who assembles landing gear in Bidos (in the French Pyrenees), recently achieved a magnificent second place in the legendary Hardrock 100 event, with a time of 23 hours, 50 minutes. The Hardrock 100 is regarded as one of the world’s most difficult ultra-trails: 161km with an elevation gain of 10,000m. 150 of the best endurance runners from around the globe come together in the Rocky Mountains (USA) every year for the event.

For his first participation in the famous Hardrock 100, a race created in 1992 along the paths that were once the realm of gold rush pioneers, Beñat Marmissolle made a strong impression, taking second place behind French athlete Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz. This achievement testifies to his iron will.

According to Beñat, this iron will comes from his family, a small circle of friends and his colleagues in the Bidos assembly unit (in the French Pyrenees), his long-standing supporters.

Winner of the Diagonale des Fous in 2022, Beñat Marmissolle has been working for Safran Landing Systems at the Bidos site for over 15 years. When he is not fitting braces to landing gear for the Airbus A320, this 42-year old Pyrenean father can be found running the mountain paths for hours and hours in preparation for major international endurance races. Beñat has special adapted working hours to enable him to combine intensive training with his professional obligations.

For all those tempted to try an ultra-trail, Beñat recommends “working up to it gradually, listening to your body and being coached by the right people. And, most importantly, to have fun!"