© Ryan Photography / Cernohous Shots
Courtney Dauwalter, the Queen of Ultra-Trail, Clocks 2:49 at the Twin Cities Marathon in Minneapolis
She has conquered the world’s toughest mountains, deserts, and trails. And yet, on this crisp autumn morning, it was the asphalt that called her name. On October 5, the undisputed queen of ultra-trail running swapped the rocky paths of Colorado for the smooth roads of the Twin Cities Marathon, between Minneapolis and Saint Paul, in her home state of Minnesota.
It was her first real appearance in the marathon world as a professional athlete. Battling tough conditions, Courtney Dauwalter finished in 2:49:54, taking an impressive 7th place among women.
| From the mountains to the road: curiosity over calculation
No structured training plan, no pace targets, no coach by her side—just pure curiosity. “I had no idea how it was going to go, but that’s exactly what made it exciting,” she admitted before the race.
The result? 2:49:54, 7th woman, 64th overall, under brutal heat and headwinds. For an athlete used to spending 30 hours in the mountains, that’s a seriously respectable time. But more than the performance itself, it was her attitude that inspired everyone—no grand storytelling, no marketing campaign, just a champion wanting to “feel like a rookie” again.
| A staggering résumé and unbreakable resilience
Before diving into her marathon performance, it’s worth remembering who Courtney Dauwalter is. She’s not just an endurance athlete—she’s a legend. The undisputed GOAT of trail running, a three-time Hardrock 100 champion, a two-time Western States winner, and a three-time UTMB champion, including the mythical 2023 Triple Crown: Western States, Hardrock, and UTMB—all in the same year. No one had ever done that before.
Over ultra distances, she has redefined the physical and mental limits of what’s possible. At 40 years old, she still ranks in the top 10 overall, often finishing alongside elite men—all with her trademark grin and those now-iconic long baggy shorts. A superstar with zero ego, fueled by jelly beans, nachos, and light beer, she talks about the “pain cave” as if it were a playground.
And that “pain cave”? She spent plenty of time there during her last UTMB just a few weeks ago. Her body nearly gave out halfway through, but her iron will carried her to the finish line. For Courtney, quitting has never been an option.
| A homecoming on familiar roads
Born in Hopkins, Minnesota, Dauwalter grew up just a few miles from the Twin Cities Marathon course. The race had a distinctly nostalgic flavor for her—it’s where she ran her first marathon back in 2009 (3:18), then a second in 2012 with her brothers “just for fun.”
Thirteen years later, she returned to those same streets with the same spirit: curiosity and joy—but this time with far more experience and an engine built for endurance. “After a summer in the mountains, it was the perfect moment for a change of scenery,” she wrote on Instagram after the race. “Testing my legs on the road was fun. And hard. But mostly fun.”
| Smooth pacing, classic Courtney style
Courtney showed up at the start line true to herself—long shorts, orange T-shirt, and that constant smile. On her feet? A pair of white Salomon prototypes, a mysterious model from the French brand that’s already sparked buzz among shoe geeks online.
Once the race began, there were no surprises—she ran like a metronome: 1:24:09 at the half marathon mark, averaging about 6:25/mile pace. The rolling hills and headwind cost her a few seconds in the second half, but she held strong, crossing the line in 2:49:54—a grimace quickly turning into a beaming smile. “That was so fun,” she said afterward.
The women’s race was won by Jane Bareikis in 2:32:52, ahead of Megan O’Neil (2:36:43) and Allie Kieffer (2:38:44). On the men’s side, victory went to Will Norris in 2:15:39, followed by Tesfu Tewelde (2:16:04) and Benard Kipkemoi Rotich (2:17:35).
| Breaking down barriers between trail and road
Seeing the GOAT of trail running toe the line at a road marathon is, in itself, a powerful statement. Dauwalter’s participation at the Twin Cities Marathon tells a beautifully simple story: the boundaries between trail, ultra, and road running are fading.
She reminds us that an ultrarunner can have fun on the marathon distance—that performance isn’t always about podiums—and that curiosity can be just as powerful a motivator as ambition. In short, she’s showing that sport, and running in particular, remains a space for experimentation and exploration—to see just how far we can go.
Other elite trail runners have made similar crossovers—Mathieu Blanchard (2:22 in Paris 2023), Jim Walmsley (2:15), or Tom Evans, the 2023 UTMB champion, who boasts world-class times on the road (13:41 for 5K, 29:44 for 10K, 1:03:14 for half marathon).
Courtney hasn’t announced another marathon attempt—yet. But with her, one thing’s certain: it’s never really over. Every race is an adventure, every ache a lesson, every finish line a new beginning. Her 2:49 might not be a world record, but it perfectly sums up the spirit of the trail queen: joy before performance, curiosity before victory.
✔ Find the full Twin Cities Marathon results here.
Clément LABORIEUX
Journalist
