Courtney Dauwalter : « the ultra-trail world is a fun big puzzle to solve »

Courtney Dauwalter during the Western States, last 24th of June ©Salomon

Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, Western States, Diagonale des Fous, Hardrock… nothing stands in her way. On the 24th of June, 2023, Courtney Dauwalter finished the Western States 6th overall, breaking the women’s record time of 1 hour 18 minutes. The American is THE utra-trail phenomenon. She tells us more about her unplanned training sessions, her favorite foods during races, her approach to the discipline and presents her welknown long shorts, the ‘Shortney’.

She is the only woman athlete to have won all four of the major trail running events (like Kilian Jornet): Western States, Hardrock, UTMB and Diagonale des Fous. A phenomenon, Colorado-based American Courtney Dauwalter is regarded as the best female ultra-trailer in history, with record-breaking times in almost every race.

Always in the top 10 (or even 6) overall in the ultra-trails she takes part in, she has no sports coach, no planned training or controlled food list.