Camille Herron’s website describes her as the ‘world’s best ultra runner’ and she has been ranked consistently near the top of the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) standings. 

A talented track and field and cross country runner in her school and university days, Camille Herron has also won 21 regular marathon races. 

But the Oklahoma native has emerged as an international running force after graduating to ultra marathons in the last decade. 

By April 2022, Camille Herron had set 11 long-distance world records on road and track and had reportedly become the youngest woman to run 100,000 miles. 

Herron is something of a character, renowned for drinking beer, and eating tacos during ultramarathons. 

She credits her toughness and athletic ability to her grandfather, who won two Purple Hearts in World War II, and her father both of whom played college basketball at Oklahoma State University. 

A 17-year-old Camille Herron and her family lost their home and possessions in the 1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak. Following this, Herron started going for long Sunday runs to celebrate having survived the disaster. 

Camille Herron Record and Results

Camille Herron’s early career saw her represent USA in the marathon at the 2011 Pan American Games, while her 21 marathon wins included three in her home race in Oklahoma City. 

Her ultra running abilities really came to the fore in 2015. That year she won five USA titles – at 50km road, 50-mile road, 100km road, 100km trail and 100-mile road. 

However, her crowning achievement was becoming the first athlete to win two IAU ultra running world titles in the same year, taking the 100km crown in the Netherlands and the 50km honours in Qatar. 

Camille Herron became only the third American to win South Africa’s Comrades Marathon in 2017, having led from start to finish. 

She set her first world record in 2015 with a 5:38:41 clocking over 50 miles at the Fall 50 race. 

In 2019, Camille Herron won the IAU 24-Hour World Championship, setting a record of 270.116km for the period. 

She also currently holds the outright world records for 100 miles (12:41:11) and 50 miles (5:38:41) plus a series of age group records. 

In 2020, Camille Herron won the Black Canyon 100km, USATF 50km Road National Championship, and the JFK 50 mile race. 

In 2021, she triumphed in the Javelina Jundred in 14:03:23 and broke her American and track world records for 100 miles in 13:21:51 at the Desert Solstice Track Invitational. 

In 2022, Camille Herron won the Jackpot 100/US Championship outright by almost 30 minutes.  

Camille Herron is also a four-time IAU International Ultra Runner of the Year. 

Herron is coached by her husband and former elite runner, Conor Holt.