The athlete who reframed the 'Pain Cave' as a destination

Countries & Cities · Published 16 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Most runners view the 'Pain Cave' as a mental wall to be overcome. Courtney Dauwalter, one of the world's elite ultramarathoners, does the opposite. She treats that grueling mental space as a destination where real growth happens, using it as a roadmap to achieve historic, multi-race victories.

During 2023, Courtney Dauwalter secured a unique sporting milestone by becoming the initial individual to claim victories in the Hardrock 100, Western States 100, and Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc within one calendar year. Her career is defined by extreme endurance, including a 2017 victory at the Moab 240 where she finished first overall, beating the runner-up by more than 10 hours.

She also set a record for the longest run in 24 hours at the Riverbank One Day Classic, covering 155.391 miles. Dauwalter’s success is rooted in a unique psychological and physical approach. While many athletes focus on minimizing discomfort, she embraces the 'Pain Cave'—the intense mental state of extreme exhaustion—as the specific place where the most significant work and personal growth occur.

This mindset helped her secure multiple 'Ultra Runner of the Year' titles (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023) and earn the George Mallory Award in 2020 for pushing the boundaries of human achievement. Beyond her mental framework, her training and style are distinct. She lives and trains at high altitudes above 10,000 feet in Leadville, Colorado. She is also known for a counter-cultural aesthetic, frequently wearing baggy long shorts—dubbed 'Shortney' shorts by her sponsor Salomon—as a rebellious stance against the trend of shrinking women's running gear. From her background as a four-time state champion in Nordic skiing to her professional career, Dauwalter has consistently redefined what is possible in ultra-endurance sports.

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