Ultrarunner Sets 3 Records While Working a Bank Job

Courtney Olsen slept on a friend's couch the night before running a 2:35 marathon, and two months earlier she'd shattered the 100K American record. Most world-class athletes don't prepare this way, but Olsen isn't living the sponsored athlete dream.

Since losing her Hoka sponsorship at the end of 2024, the 38-year-old ultrarunner has accomplished what seemed impossible. She set a 50-mile world record in 5 hours, 31 minutes, and 56 seconds, broke the American 100K record at 6:59:55, and won the U.S. 50K championship in a course record.

Then in January, she qualified for the Olympic Trials with a 2:35:39 marathon in Houston. It's a feat that even ultrarunning superstar Courtney Dauwalter attempted twice and couldn't achieve.

Her daily life looks nothing like a typical professional athlete's schedule. Olsen starts with a morning run, works 8 to 5 at a bank in Bellingham, Washington, and squeezes in training during lunch breaks when possible.

After work comes the real training: high-volume runs and workouts, followed by sauna sessions. Evenings are filled with responsibilities as president of her running club, the Bellingham Distance Project, plus commissioned art projects and vintage reselling to make ends meet.

When sponsors show interest, the conversation follows a predictable script. They acknowledge her achievements, then suggest she'd have better opportunities if she switched to trail running instead of roads.

But Olsen isn't chasing what shoe marketing executives want. She's pursuing what feels fun and challenging, even if it means paying for her own gear, nutrition, and travel to races.

Why This Inspires

Olsen's story flips the script on what elite achievement requires. She's not waiting for permission or corporate backing to chase excellence.

Her teammates call her the "quintessential hometown hero," someone who leads by example while balancing community leadership with world-class performance. She thrifts because vintage quality beats new items, and she's mastered the art of sleeping anywhere, including couches before major races.

The message is clear: you don't need perfect circumstances to do extraordinary things. Olsen works multiple jobs, coordinates race events, manages a running club, and still finds time to break records that athletes with full support can't touch.

Her approach to sponsorship rejection shows remarkable perspective. She acknowledges both her self-worth and moments of self-pity, refusing to pretend the loss doesn't sting while also not letting it define her path forward.

In a sports world obsessed with brand deals and social media followings, Olsen is writing a different story entirely—one where passion and grit matter more than marketing appeal.