Timothy Olson

About

Timothy Olson is an American ultrarunner born in 1983 who won back-to-back Western States 100 titles in 2012 and 2013. Growing up in Wisconsin in the cross-country and track tradition, Olson's path to professional ultrarunning was shaped by significant personal struggle: he has spoken openly about early battles with substance abuse and anxiety, crediting trail running and the mountains with a transformative role in his recovery and personal reinvention. He moved to Ashland, Oregon — a mountain community on the Siskiyou Range — where he built a life centred on minimal-impact living and deliberate movement through natural landscapes. In 2012 he ran 14:46:44 at Western States, shattering Geoff Roes' two-year-old course record by over twenty minutes and setting a mark that would stand as the fastest legitimate time in race history for six years. He backed it up with a second victory in 2013 (15:17:27) and placed fourth at UTMB Mont-Blanc that same year in 21:38:23. His racing was defined by an instinctive style that reflected his personal values: he trained by feel rather than data, fuelled on whole foods, and rarely followed a conventional periodisation schedule. After his competitive peak he continued racing sporadically while becoming known as a guide and mentor to athletes seeking a more intentional relationship with trail running. In 2021 he set the men's supported fastest known time on the Pacific Crest Trail — 2,653 miles — in 51 days, 16 hours, and 55 minutes. His story of addiction, recovery, and extraordinary athletic achievement has made him one of the most relatable and inspiring figures in ultrarunning's history.

Notable Wins

• — Western States 100 2012 (CR 14:46:44)
• — Western States 100 2013 (15:17:27)
• — Waldo 100K 2013
• — PCT Supported FKT 2021 (51d 16h 55m)

Race History