Ultra Women: The Trailblazers Defying Sexism in Sport - Paperback

by Lily Canter (Author), Emma Wilkinson (Author)

SHORTLISTED FOR WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025

GUARDIAN SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025

THE TIMES SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025

'A masterful work that will challenge your views on the physical capabilities of all women' - Sue Anstiss, author

What happens when women run beyond the marathon-and refuse to stop? Ultra Women is a gripping, behind-the-scenes journey into the high-stakes world of female endurance, where athletes race across deserts, over mountains, and through the night for 50, 100, even 200 miles at a time. Blending intimate profiles with cutting-edge science, it reveals how women runners, swimmers and cyclists are smashing records, shattering stereotypes, and redefining what "strong" looks like at every age and stage of life.

Meet the mothers balancing midnight feeds with dawn training runs, the champions who learned to turn pain into data, and the late starters who discovered their prime years-post-40, post-menopause-on the trail. Along the way, you'll learn how mindset, fueling, hormones, and smart recovery converge to create the conditions for extraordinary performance.

Inside you'll discover:

• Trailblazing stories from iconic races and previously unsung heroines of the sport
• Science you can use on nutrition, pacing, heat/cold adaptation, and injury resilience
• The mental toolkit - from micro-goals to "embracing the suck" - that carries competitors past the breaking point
• Life-phase insights on training through periods, pregnancy, postpartum, peri- and post-menopause
• Practical checklists for first ultras, crew strategy, and race-day problem-solving

Whether you're a curious newcomer, a seasoned marathoner eyeing your first 50K, or a reader who loves true stories of grit, Ultra Women will leave you inspired-and equipped-to go further than you ever thought possible.

Take the long way. Find your edge. Join the Ultra Women.