44-Year-Old Smashes Women's 100-Mile World Record

At 44 years old, Ashley Paulson just redefined what's possible in endurance running, crushing the women's 100-mile world record by nearly 17 minutes.

On Friday at the Jackpot 100 Mile Ultra in Henderson, Nevada, Paulson crossed the finish line in 12 hours, 19 minutes, and 34 seconds. She beat the previous record set just months ago by Ireland's Caitriona Jennings and finished more than two hours ahead of the second-place woman.

The achievement is even more remarkable considering the course. Runners completed 84 laps of a 1.19-mile loop, maintaining an average pace of 7:21 per mile for the entire 100 miles.

"Honestly, it doesn't feel real," Paulson said after the race, wearing the pink Nike running shoes that matched her signature pink ponytail. "I worked so hard for it, but it came, it happened."

Paulson's journey to this moment hasn't been straightforward. She competed as a professional triathlete in her 30s and has run more than 130 marathons throughout her career.

In 2020, she qualified for the Olympic Marathon Trials at age 41. Three years later, she won the notoriously brutal Badwater 135 ultramarathon outright, beating the previous women's course record by nearly 2.5 hours.

Why This Inspires

Paulson's record shows that athletic prime isn't confined to your 20s and 30s. While most elite runners peak early, she's achieving career-defining victories in her mid-40s, proving that dedication and persistence can rewrite the rulebook.

Her post-race message resonates beyond the running world. "Dreams come true, you just gotta keep fighting for it and show up, put in the work, then execute," she said.

The race also served as the USATF 100 Mile Championships, adding national recognition to her world record achievement. Despite struggling slightly in the second half of the race, Paulson held her pace and executed her plan perfectly.

For anyone who's ever thought they were too old to chase a big dream, Paulson just ran 100 miles to prove them wrong.