44-Year-Old Grandma Breaks Women's 100-Mile World Record

A 44-year-old grandmother from St. George just proved that age and life circumstances don't limit what you can achieve.

Ashley Paulson recently broke the women's world record for the fastest 100-mile run. But when she first laced up her running shoes for a marathon at age 19, she never imagined becoming a professional athlete.

"I was just somebody who loved to run," Paulson told KSL. "If someone told me I would be breaking records, I would have laughed in their face."

Paulson grew up watching her dad run marathons and caught the running bug after her first race with her sister. She remembers singing "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall" to count down the miles, bouncing with energy, and finishing just over four hours.

Since then, she's built an impressive career through consistency and dedication. She earned her pro card as a triathlete, qualified for the 2020 Olympic Trials in the marathon, and has won multiple ultramarathons outright against both men and women.

In 2023, she won the prestigious Badwater 135 in California's Death Valley, setting a women's record that still stands. She crossed the finish line ahead of every single racer that day.

Despite her achievements, Paulson says the hardest part hasn't been the grueling miles or balancing training with family life. It's been blocking out online critics.

"The hardest part has been silencing those keyboard warriors," she explained. "They can get in your head if you let them."

She focuses instead on the people who support her: her husband of 25 years, her four children, her new grandbaby, and the people she trains as an iFit instructor. That's what matters most to her.

Why This Inspires

Paulson's journey shows what's possible when you keep showing up. She didn't start with world records in mind. She simply loved running and stayed consistent, and her body evolved over time.

Now she wants others to feel that same fire. "I hope people look at it and be like, 'Maybe this thing I've been putting off and doubting? Maybe I can go after something bigger,'" she said.

On April 18, Paulson will attempt another world record at the Boston Marathon Expo: the fastest 100 miles on a treadmill. She's not slowing down, and she doesn't want you to either.

"It doesn't have to be 100 miles, but find what's going to open up your heart and set your soul on fire and go after it," she said. "What do you have to lose?"