Utah Mom Crushes 100-Mile Treadmill Record by 90 Minutes

A 44-year-old grandmother just proved that age and motherhood are no barriers to shattering world records.

Ashley Paulson from St. George, Utah, ran 100 miles on a treadmill in 12 hours and 47 minutes at the Boston Marathon Expo on Saturday. She crushed the previous women's record of 14 hours and 15 minutes by nearly an hour and a half.

Paulson started running at 3:46 a.m. and didn't stop until 4:33 p.m., maintaining a blistering 7:40 pace throughout. Her husband Matt served as her support crew, handing her bottles while she consumed about 300 calories per hour to fuel the incredible feat.

The mother of four took only five quick bathroom breaks during the entire run. Her son Max held an iPad to livestream the final miles back to her other children in Utah.

"The crowd of people and all of their support really helped me a lot today," Paulson said after finishing. "I don't know if you've ever tried to run while you're crying, but it's really hard."

This treadmill record comes just two months after Paulson set the women's 100-mile road world record at the Jackpot 100 Mile in Nevada. She finished that race in 12 hours and 19 minutes, beating the previous record by more than 17 minutes.

Paulson is a two-time champion of the Badwater 135, known as the world's toughest footrace through Death Valley. She also holds the record for running seven marathons in seven days across seven continents.

Why This Inspires

Hundreds of Boston Marathon runners stopped to cheer Paulson during her final miles, creating an electric atmosphere at the expo. Many told her how she'd inspired them to push their own limits.

Her husband Matt says she feeds off crowds and uses their energy to power through pain. What makes Paulson's achievements even more remarkable is that she actually loves treadmill running, something most runners dread.

"So many people say they don't like running on a treadmill but I actually love it," she said. "It is actually one of my very favorite things to do."

Paulson plans to run the Boston Marathon on Monday if her body recovers in time. She's already looking ahead to defending her Badwater title in July and attempting the Triple Crown of 200-mile races.

She proves that with the right mindset and support, the impossible becomes possible at any age.