Ellie Greenwood

About

Ellie Greenwood is a British ultrarunner born in Dundee, Scotland, who became one of the most decorated ultra-distance athletes of the early 2010s and the holder of the Western States 100 women's course record for over a decade. After graduating from university in 2001 she moved to Canada, settling in Banff, Alberta, where the mountain culture and trail running community of the Canadian Rockies provided the ideal environment for her athletic development. A four-time 100km World Champion — winning both the individual and team titles at the IAU 100km World Championships in 2010 and 2014 — she demonstrated exceptional range across ultra formats. She won the Western States 100 in 2011 in 18:01:12, then returned the following year to produce one of the most extraordinary performances in race history: her 16:47:19 in 2012 obliterated Ann Trason's women's course record of 17:37:51 — a mark that had stood for 18 years — by more than 50 minutes. That record stood for eleven years until Courtney Dauwalter broke it at the 2023 edition. On the road, she won the Comrades Marathon in 2014, becoming the first British woman to win the event. Named North American Female Ultrarunner of the Year in 2011, 2012, and 2014, Greenwood built her competitive career alongside work as a physical therapist and later as a running coach. She became a Canadian citizen in 2015, though she competed throughout her athletic peak under British nationality.

Notable Wins

• — Western States 100 2011 (18:01:12)
• — Western States 100 2012 (women's CR 16:47:19
• — stood 2012–2023)
• — IAU 100km World Champion 2010 and 2014
• — Comrades Marathon 2014
• — 3× North American Female Ultrarunner of the Year (2011
• — 2012
• — 2014)

Race History

Recent Coverage