Kroger’s Canteen

Perched on a precarious notch in a jagged ridgeline at 13,100 feet in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, Kroger’s Canteen is an aid station along the Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run. Staffed by a crew of seven, all veterans of the 100-mile ultramarathon, the station doles out supplies to hungry and thirsty runners — as well as a traditional shot of tequila for those embarking on the extraordinary race, which loops from Silverton through southwest Colorado’s Ouray, Lake City and Telluride. Aid station captain Roch Horton and his volunteers haul the station’s supplies in on their backs each year, but despite the rigorous work, manning the station is such an honor that there’s a wait list. This short film documents the power of human perseverance and the great rewards that can be reaped from helping others achieve their dreams.