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Ultra Women

The Trailblazers Defying Sexism in Sport

by Lily Canter & Emma Wilkinson

SHORTLISTED FOR WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025

''A masterful work that will challenge your views on the physical capabilities of all women'' - Sue Anstiss, author
''This is the book we''ve been waiting for'' - Helen Mort, author
Ultra Women tells the hidden and upbeat story of female endurance, from the first hunter-gatherers to the modern athletes who have pushed back the boundaries of sport.

To the surprise of men, women have been finishing first at some of the toughest endurance races in the world, conquering vast distances and overcoming numerous setbacks and hardships. Ultra runners Lily Canter and Emma Wilkinson tell the remarkable stories of these pioneering strong women, including:
  • Stamata Revithi, a poor Greek mother who refused to accept that only men could run the marathon at the 1896 Olympics
  • The 1980s cold water swimmer Lynne Cox, who crossed freezing oceans wearing just a swimsuit
  • Jasmin Paris, a British vet who ran almost non-stop to win a 268-mile race in the depths of winter, while breastfeeding.

With the help of scientists and elite athletes, they unpick the differences between the sexes in physiology and psychology - and ask: could different muscles and fat (not to mention a talent for sleep deprivation...) give women the edge in ultra-endurance running, swimming and cycling?

Brimming with dazzling characters, this fast-paced book will inspire women and girls everywhere who want to excel in the long run, whatever their passion.

This is an ideal book for someone who likes running, swimming or cycling - or who simply wants to search for the true boundaries of personal achievement.

This book has been shortlisted for the world''s most prestigious sports book prize, the William Hill Sports Book of the Year award.

Reviews

For a long time, I''ve wanted to understand why women are having such success in ultra distances and this book did a superb job of explaining it all. It was a joy to read from start to finish, beautifully written and incredibly engaging. A masterful work that will challenge your views on the physical capabilities of all women. The must-read sports book of 2025. - Sue Anstiss, author of Game On
Phenomenal. The first time these iconic stories have been brought together in one book, really helping us to understand the history of women''s endurance sport and what it means about the strength of women and our ability to do incredible things despite the barriers that have been put in our way - Sophie Power, champion ultrarunner
Ultra Women is an important and timely re-examination of the role and performance of women in endurance sport, through history, through science and through some incredible and inspiring stories. I was gripped, amazed - and most importantly - enlightened. - Adharanand Finn, author of Running with the Kenyans


This is the book we''ve been waiting for. A timely acknowledgement of the challenges faced by women in the world of ultra events and a celebration of their trailblazing, record-breaking successes. It will change your perspective on what endurance means. - Helen Mort, runner and author of A Line Above the Sky
A fascinating exploration of female ultra-distance sporting achievement - and a fitting tribute to those pioneers who blazed a trail for us all to follow. Jasmin Paris, champion ultrarunner
A triumph! A page-turning tribute to female ultra-runners everywhere. Move over Born to Run - this insight into the world of the world''s toughest races and the incredible women who run them is spine-tingling stuff. Lisa Jackson, author of Your Pace or Mine?
A fascinating look at the stories and science of female endurance....celebratory and inspirational. I''m signing up for my next ultra right now! - Jackie Kabler, author and book club founder
A nuanced look at a complex topic, showing that there is nothing that can predict what an individual is capable of in ultras. Our potential is not defined by our sex, as many ultra women have shown in recent years. - John Kelly, multiple Barkley Marathons finisher
A captivating insight into a fascinating subject which celebrates the exceptional power of female endurance. - Damian Hall, Spine Race winner, ultra coach and author of We Can''t Run Away From This
Shedding light on why female athletes are outperforming men in endurance events, despite the obstacles put in their way. - William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2025 Reading Panel
Buy the book and start reading
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SPORT

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Pages:

256

Published:

8 May 2025

Format

Paperback

Publisher

Canbury Press Ltd

ISBN:

9781914487101

SHORTLISTED FOR WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025



''A masterful work that will challenge your views on the physical capabilities of all women'' - Sue Anstiss, author



''This is the book we''ve been waiting for'' - Helen Mort, author

Ultra Women tells the hidden and upbeat story of female endurance, from the first hunter-gatherers to the modern athletes who have pushed back the boundaries of sport.

To the surprise of men, women have been finishing first at some of the toughest endurance races in the world, conquering vast distances and overcoming numerous setbacks and hardships. Ultra runners Lily Canter and Emma Wilkinson tell the remarkable stories of these pioneering strong women, including:
  • Stamata Revithi, a poor Greek mother who refused to accept that only men could run the marathon at the 1896 Olympics
  • The 1980s cold water swimmer Lynne Cox, who crossed freezing oceans wearing just a swimsuit
  • Jasmin Paris, a British vet who ran almost non-stop to win a 268-mile race in the depths of winter, while breastfeeding.

With the help of scientists and elite athletes, they unpick the differences between the sexes in physiology and psychology - and ask: could different muscles and fat (not to mention a talent for sleep deprivation...) give women the edge in ultra-endurance running, swimming and cycling?

Brimming with dazzling characters, this fast-paced book will inspire women and girls everywhere who want to excel in the long run, whatever their passion.

This is an ideal book for someone who likes running, swimming or cycling - or who simply wants to search for the true boundaries of personal achievement.

This book has been shortlisted for the world''s most prestigious sports book prize, the William Hill Sports Book of the Year award.

Reviews

For a long time, I''ve wanted to understand why women are having such success in ultra distances and this book did a superb job of explaining it all. It was a joy to read from start to finish, beautifully written and incredibly engaging. A masterful work that will challenge your views on the physical capabilities of all women. The must-read sports book of 2025. - Sue Anstiss, author of Game On

Phenomenal. The first time these iconic stories have been brought together in one book, really helping us to understand the history of women''s endurance sport and what it means about the strength of women and our ability to do incredible things despite the barriers that have been put in our way - Sophie Power, champion ultrarunner

Ultra Women is an important and timely re-examination of the role and performance of women in endurance sport, through history, through science and through some incredible and inspiring stories. I was gripped, amazed - and most importantly - enlightened. - Adharanand Finn, author of Running with the Kenyans

This is the book we''ve been waiting for. A timely acknowledgement of the challenges faced by women in the world of ultra events and a celebration of their trailblazing, record-breaking successes. It will change your perspective on what endurance means. - Helen Mort, runner and author of A Line Above the Sky

A fascinating exploration of female ultra-distance sporting achievement - and a fitting tribute to those pioneers who blazed a trail for us all to follow. Jasmin Paris, champion ultrarunner

A triumph! A page-turning tribute to female ultra-runners everywhere. Move over Born to Run - this insight into the world of the world''s toughest races and the incredible women who run them is spine-tingling stuff. Lisa Jackson, author of Your Pace or Mine?

A fascinating look at the stories and science of female endurance....celebratory and inspirational. I''m signing up for my next ultra right now! - Jackie Kabler, author and book club founder

A nuanced look at a complex topic, showing that there is nothing that can predict what an individual is capable of in ultras. Our potential is not defined by our sex, as many ultra women have shown in recent years. - John Kelly, multiple Barkley Marathons finisher

A captivating insight into a fascinating subject which celebrates the exceptional power of female endurance. - Damian Hall, Spine Race winner, ultra coach and author of We Can''t Run Away From This

Shedding light on why female athletes are outperforming men in endurance events, despite the obstacles put in their way. - William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2025 Reading Panel

Buy the book and start reading
$56.00