Ultrarunner Sophie Power has set a new Guinness World Record for the furthest distance covered by a female in 48 hours, achieving the feat at the National Running Show in Birmingham, UK.
Power surpassed the previous record of 211.49 miles by completing an astonishing 226 miles.
Sophie Power originally shot to fame when an image taken during the 2018 UTMB event captured her breastfeeding her second child of three, her son, at mile 106 of one of the world’s toughest ultra-marathons while a male competitor napped beside her.
Power has since made it her mission to break down the barriers that women face in the sport – focusing on equal representation, fair opportunities and greater consideration of women’s needs in race planning and participation. Power went on to launch SheRaces a charity that champions equity and inclusion for women in trail and ultrarunning.
“I’m thrilled to have achieved this record and to do it for a cause so close to my heart,” said Sophie Power.
“SheRaces is about changing the narrative for women in endurance sports – breaking down barriers, creating opportunities, and empowering women to achieve their full potential. This record is proof that when given the platform, we can achieve the extraordinary.”
She continued “Running on a treadmill is so much harder than being outdoors. The unchanging environment makes it mentally exhausting, and you don’t have the stimulation of scenery or fresh air to keep you going.
“It was tough not being able to nap or properly eat while trying to keep moving, and the monotony tested my resilience; but ultimately we can do hard things and that’s what I set out to prove. Knowing I was doing it for SheRaces and ensuring my daughter does not experience the barriers I faced, the message we’re trying to spread kept me pushing through every mile.”
Mike Seman, CEO at the National Running Show, said “When Sophie first contacted me about this challenge we were keen to support and enable the running community to witness what we knew was going to be a remarkable example of what a person can achieve.
“Having the support of athletes cheering her on at the show including Sir Mo Farah CBE, Colin Jackson CBE, Russ Cook ‘Hardest Geezer’, Jasmin Paris MBE, Spencer Matthews and Jenni Falconer helped give much-needed morale boosts when Sophie hit tough periods during the challenge.
“Sophie embodies the spirit of resilience, dedication, and passion that inspires runners of all levels, and her achievement is nothing short of extraordinary. It was an honour to host such a groundbreaking moment, and we couldn’t be prouder to celebrate it with our amazing running community. Congratulations to Sophie for showing us all that limits are meant to be broken.”
www.sophiepower.com
www.nationalrunningshow.com
