Ultra-trail running: why women excel yet remain under-represented

By Mathilde Plard, Géographe et sociologue, chargée de recherche au CNRS (UMR 6590 ESO), Université d’Angers

KEY TAKEAWAYS

In May 2026, the American ultrarunner Rachel Entrekin became the first woman to win the Cocodona 250-miler in Arizona, a flagship event in the sport.
While women excel at very long distances, they remain under-represented. Why is this?
At the 2026 Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB), France’s Blandine L’Hirondel won the women’s race in 21 hours 54 minutes, the first woman to finish in under 22 hours. Rachel Entrekin came second.

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