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Courtney Dauwalter

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Courtney Dauwalter
Courtney Dauwalter at Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc 2019
Personal information
NationalityUnited States American
Born (1985-02-13) February 13, 1985 (age 39)
Hopkins, Minnesota
Home townLeadville, Colorado
Alma materUniversity of Denver, University of Mississippi
Years active2017–present
Sport
Event(s)Ultramarathon, trail running
TeamSalomon

Courtney Dauwalter (born February 13, 1985) is an American ultramarathon runner and former teacher.[1] Widely regarded as one of the world's best ultra trail runners,[2] Dauwalter became in 2023 the first person to win Western States 100, Hardrock 100 and the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in the same year.[3]

Early life

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Dauwalter was raised in Hopkins, Minnesota and competed in track, cross-country, and Nordic skiing in high school. She was a four-time Minnesota state champion in Nordic skiing during her high school career.[4] She attended the University of Denver on a cross-country skiing scholarship studying biology,[5] and then earned a master's degree in teaching from the University of Mississippi in 2010 while participating in the Mississippi Teacher Corps.[6]

She taught for several years, following in her mother's footsteps who was also a teacher, teaching biology, chemistry, and physical sciences for middle and high-schoolers in the Denver area, before becoming a full-time professional runner in 2017.[7][5]

Personal life

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Dauwalter lives and trains above 10,000 ft in Leadville, Colorado. She is married to Kevin Schmidt, who supports her in ultrarunning events.[8] She does not have any children or pets.[8]

She is known for her positive attitude and sense of humor during races, following a relaxed approach to nutrition.[8] Dauwalter is well known for wearing baggy long shorts for comfort, including during her racing. She is also known for embracing the "Pain Cave," the mental space she refers to when entering the most challenging parts of a race.[9] She has said she has reframed the "Pain Cave" as a place she wants to reach because it signifies where real work and growth happen.[10][9]

Dauwalter's mother Tracy also has become involved in ultrarunning, the two running Javalina Jundred 100 km race in Fountain Hills, Arizona in 2023.[11]

Trailrunning

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In 2016, Dauwalter set a course record at the Javelina Jundred 100K and won the Run Rabbit Run 100-mile race, finishing 75 minutes ahead of second place. She also won the 2017 Run Rabbit Run while battling temporary blindness when running the final 12 miles.[12] She won the 2017 edition of the Moab 240 race in 2 days, 9 hours, and 59 minutes, finishing first overall and beating the second-place finisher by more than 10 hours.[13] In 2017, she set the then-record for the longest run in 24 hours, at 155.391 miles during the Riverbank One Day Classic.[14]

In 2018, Dauwalter won the Western States 100-mile race, with a finishing time of 17h27m. She competed in the Big's Backyard Ultra in 2018, finishing second overall and completing a total of 67 laps, setting the women's course record at 279.268 miles.[15][16] She also placed second in the Tahoe 200, beating the previous women's course record by over 18 hours.[17]

In 2019, she won the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in a time of 24 h 34 min 26 sec, coming in 21st overall.[18][19] In 2021 she would return to set the women's course record. She competed for the United States at the IAU 24 Hour World Championship in Brive-la-Gaillarde, France in October 2019, finishing 12th. In 2020, she won the American section of Big's Backyard Ultra. She ran 68 laps for 283.3 miles for a finish time of 56 hours, 52 minutes, and 29 seconds, setting the record for the longest distance recorded by a female runner in the race.[20]

In 2021, Dauwalter entered the Hardrock 100 but did not finish. In 2022 and 2023 she entered again and won, beating the previous women's course records for the Hardrock 100 set by Diana Finkel by over an hour, in each direction.[21][22] Her time for the Hardrock 100 in 2023 was 26:14:08, beating the previous counter-clockwise course record (Hardrock changes the direction of its course each year) by an hour and four minutes.[23]

Also in 2023, she won the Western States 100, besting the previous women's course record set by Ellie Greenwood in 2012, finishing in a time of 15:29:34.[24] This set the overall record for the Western States–Hardrock double. With this she became the first athlete to set course records at Western States and Hardrock in the same year.[23] In September 2023, she then won the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc again, making her the first person in history to win the triple of Western States, Hardrock, and UTMB in a single year.[3]

In 2024, Dauwalter continued her winning streak by securing first place at the Mt. Fuji 100 Mile in Fujiyoshida, Japan, completing the 165.4 km race in 19:21:22 and finishing 3rd overall.[25] She also won the Transgrancanaria in the Canary Islands, Spain, finishing the 126 km race in 15:14:54.[26]

As of 2019, she was sponsored by Salomon.[27]

"Shortney" Shorts

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Dauwalter is famous for her distinctively long, "baggy" shorts, which she frequently wears during ultrarunning competitions. These shorts were dubbed "Shortney" shorts by Salomon,[28] when it launched a "Shortney" capsule collection in 2023 including oversized technical trail shorts and a T-shirt.[29] Her shorts have been described as making runners feel "rebellious" against the trend of shrinking women's running shorts.[30]

Awards and recognition

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Dauwalter was named Ultra Runner of the Year in 2018 by Ultrarunning Magazine after winning 9 of the 12 races that she entered, including two where she finished first overall.[31]

In 2020, she received the George Mallory Award at the Wasatch Mountain Film Festival for pushing the boundaries of physical human achievement.[32]

Selected race results

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Year Competition Venue Position Event Result Notes
2024 Hardrock 100 Silverton, CO, USA 1st 100 mi 26:11:49 Women's course record[33]
Mt. Fuji 100 Mile Fujiyoshida, Japan 1st 100 mi 19:21:22 3rd overall, Women's course record[34]
Transgrancanaria Canary Islands, Spain 1st 126 km 15:14:54[35]
2023 Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc Chamonix, France 1st 100 mi 23:29:14[36]
Hardrock 100 Silverton, CO, USA 1st 100 mi 26:14:12 Women's course record (ccw)[37]
Western States 100 California 1st 100 mi 15:29:34 Women's course record
Bandera 100k Texas 1st 100 km 8:59:34 WSER Golden Ticket
Transgrancanaria Canary Islands, Spain 1st 128 km 14:40:39 Women's course record[38]
2022 Grand Raid Réunion island 1st 164 km 24:37:47[39]
Hardrock 100 Silverton, CO, USA 1st 100 mi 26:44:36 Women's course record (cw)[40]
Collegiate Loop Trail Twin Lakes, Colorado, CO, USA 1st 160 mi 40:14 Fastest Known Time[41]
2021 Ultra-Trail Cape Town[42] Cape Town, South Africa 1st 100 km 11:20:04
The Barkley Marathons Frozen Head State Park, TN, USA N/A 100 mi DNF
Hardrock 100 Silverton, Colorado, USA N/A 100 mi DNF
Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc Chamonix, France 1st 100 mi 22:30:54 Women's course record[43]
2019 Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc Chamonix, France 1st 100 mi 24:34:26
Tarawera Ultramarathon Rotorua, New Zealand 1st 100 km 9:28:04
2018 Western States 100 Olympic Valley, CA 1st 100 mi 17:27:00
Ultra-Trail Mt. Fuji Shizuoka, Japan 1st 100 mi 23:57:48
Tahoe 200 Homewood, California 1st 200 mi 49:54:36 2nd overall
Squamish 50 Squamish, British Columbia 1st 50 mi 8:22:15 Women's course record[44]
2017 Moab 240 Moab, Utah 1st 240 mi 57:55:13 Overall win and course record[45]
2016 Javelina Jundred Fountain Hills, Arizona 1st 100 km 8:48:25
Run Rabbit Run Steamboat Springs, Colorado 1st 100 mi 21:23:37
2014 Ouray 100 Ouray, Colorado 1st 100 mi 26:46:20

References

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  1. ^ Byerly, Rebecca (December 8, 2018). "The gruelling sport in which women appear to hold a psychological edge". The Irish Times. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  2. ^ Fader, Mirin (2022-08-30). "Inside the Pain Cave With Courtney Dauwalter, the GOAT of Ultrarunning". The Ringer. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  3. ^ a b "Jim Walmsley and Courtney Dauwalter win the UTMB in a historic American double". Runner's World. 2023-08-31. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  4. ^ "Courting Success: An Interview with Courtney Dauwalter". 17 January 2019.
  5. ^ a b "The Woman Who Outruns the Men, 200 Miles at a Time". The New York Times. 2018-12-05. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  6. ^ "Education Edge Magazine features MTC Alumnus, Courtney Dauwalter '08". Mississippi Teacher Corps. September 1, 2017.
  7. ^ "Courtney Dauwalter, queen of Ultra Running". The Pill Outdoor Journal. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  8. ^ a b c "Who Is Courtney Dauwalter? Meet The Woman Who Crushes Ultras". 2022-03-14. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  9. ^ a b Debutify (2022-10-14). "Inside the Mindset - 4 Things we can Learn from Courtney Dauwalter". Mindsetverse. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  10. ^ Fader, Mirin (2022-08-30). "Inside the Pain Cave With Courtney Dauwalter, the GOAT of Ultrarunning". The Ringer. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  11. ^ Tilton, Morgan (2023-11-21). "Courtney Dauwalter and Her Mom Are Tackling Ultras Together Now". Trail Runner Magazine. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  12. ^ Schranz, Eric (2017-09-15). "Courtney Dauwalter | Blind Perseverance at RRR100". Ultrarunnerpodcast.
  13. ^ Rojek, Taylor (2018-08-03). "There's No Stopping Ultrarunner Courtney Dauwalter". Runners World.
  14. ^ Mitka, Nate (2017-10-16). "238 Miles On Foot: Courtney Dauwalter Wins Moab Ultra". Gearjunkie.
  15. ^ "Golden woman ran 4-mile loop for 67 hours aiming to be the last person standing in a crazy ultra-race". The Know. 2018-10-22. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  16. ^ "Big's Dog's Backyard Ultra: The Last Man Standing". YouTube. 2018-11-13.
  17. ^ Scacco, Justin (14 September 2018). "Colorado ultrarunners shatter Tahoe 200 course records". www.sierrasun.com. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  18. ^ "'Sluggish' Courtney Dauwalter looks back on UTMB win". Trail Running. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  19. ^ Strout, Erin (2019-09-18). "Ultrarunning Star Courtney Dauwalter's Superpower? Don't Overthink It". Women's Running. Archived from the original on 2019-12-14. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  20. ^ "Courtney Dauwalter Wins U.S. Big's Backyard Ultra with a Record-Tying Effort". 20 October 2020.
  21. ^ "Pacing Diana". Trail Runner Magazine. 2017-04-26. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  22. ^ "OpenSplitTime: Full results - Hardrock 100 2023". www.opensplittime.org. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  23. ^ a b "Courtney Dauwalter Obliterates Another 100-Mile Course Record". Runner's World. July 16, 2023.
  24. ^ "Ultra runner Courtney Dauwalter breaks record of world's oldest 100-mile race by almost 80 minutes". CNN. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  25. ^ Turner, Jonathan (2024-04-26). "Mt. Fuji 100 2024 results: Courtney Dauwalter crushes women's race and is third overall". RUN247. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  26. ^ "Courtney Dauwalter and Raul Butaci win The North Face Transgrancanaria Classic | TRANSGRANCANARIA - WEB OFICIAL". Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  27. ^ Michelson, Megan (2019-10-08). "Inside the Mind of Ultrarunner Courtney Dauwalter". REI Co-op Journal. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
  28. ^ Pineda, Leonard (2023-06-06). "'Shortney' Running Shorts Worn By Courtney Dauwalter Now Available At Salomon". Backpackers.com. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  29. ^ "You Can Now Buy Courtney Dauwalter's Signature Long Shorts: "The Shortney"". Runner's World. 2023-05-10. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  30. ^ "Why Are Women's Running Shorts So Short?". LYFTLYFE APPAREL. 2023-09-14. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
  31. ^ "Dauwalter and Walmsley 2018 UltraRunners of the Year". 16 January 2019.
  32. ^ "George Mallory Award". Wasatch Mountain Film Festival. Retrieved 2020-12-16.
  33. ^ "2024 Hardrock 100 Results: Pommeret and Dauwalter Break Course Records and Claim Commanding Wins", irunfar.com, July 13, 2024
  34. ^ "Courtney Dauwalter makes history again in Fuji!". worldtrailmajors.com. April 30, 2024.
  35. ^ "Courtney Dauwalter and Raul Butaci win The North Face Transgrancanaria Classic". transgrancanaria.net/. Feb 24, 2024.
  36. ^ "Courtney Dauwalter secures historic treble with UTMB 2023 victory". run247.com. 2 September 2023.
  37. ^ "2023 Full Results: Hardrock 100 2023", OpenSplitTime, July 15, 2023
  38. ^ "Courtney Dauwalter dominates Transgrancanaria in record-setting fashion". Canadian Running. February 26, 2023.
  39. ^ https://grandraid-reunion-oxybol.livetrail.run/coureur.php?rech=1950 [bare URL]
  40. ^ "2022 Hardrock 100 Results: Dauwalter and Jornet Smash Course Records", IRunFar, July 16, 2022
  41. ^ "Courtney Dauwalter sets a remarkable FKT in Colorado". Canadian Running. September 1, 2022.
  42. ^ https://sportraxs.com/races/661/leaderboard [bare URL]
  43. ^ "Courtney Dauwalter Breaks UTMB Record To Win", Trail Runner Mag, Outside, August 30, 2021
  44. ^ "Squamish Results", Squamish Website, 18 November 2014
  45. ^ "How Courtney Dauwalter Won the Moab 240 Outright", Trail Runner Magazine, Outside, October 19, 2017
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