A terrific new film marking Courtney Dauwalter‘s magical summer of 2023 has just been released and it showcases many fascinating insights into the ultrarunning GOAT.
The American superstar achieved the unprecedented treble of 100-mile wins at Western States, Hardrock and then UTMB.
And the film from her sponsors Salomon, directed by Alexis Berg and Julien Raison, follows that journey and is embedded below.
‘A Team Sport’
It’s an inspiring watch and is titled ‘A Team Sport’, with Dauwalter saying early on: “I don’t have a coach. I don’t have a training plan. It’s an entire team’s effort that gets that finish line.
“This is 100% a team sport. Kevin [her husband] and I are a team. Our crew that comes out to these races to help us. Even the people out cheering on a course. The volunteers. The other runners who you maybe share miles with. It all feels like a team thing. Because everyone just wants the best for the people getting to the finish line.”
All of which is beautifully illustrated in the film and there are also lots of nice insights about what makes Dauwalter tick.
Much is written and spoken about her record-breaking achievements but for her it’s much, much more than that.
She says: “Winning for me is not on the list of importants. Connecting with people. Making shared memories, that’s what it’s all about.”
And one such memory were the incredible crowd scenes at UTMB last year when it looked more like an iconic mountain stage of the Tour de France.
Recalling that moment, she says: “I came around this corner and my brain nearly exploded. A memory I will never forget.”
Time in the ‘pain cave’
But it also reminds us that while Dauwalter often makes incredible things look easy, the reality is often very different.
Mike Ambrose, who paced her to another record-breaking victory at Hardrock just last weekend, explains: “She can go some place mentally that no one else can go. I think that’s her superpower.”
All the while though it’s being able to achieve things that many thought impossible – and inspire others while doing it – which really shines through.
She herself says: “If we can stay positive and if we can just keep believing [then] we can do more than what our body might give us the signs it wants to do.”
Lasting legacy
And two-time Western States winner Rob Krar adds: “She’s breaking barriers that nobody thought could be broken.
“She’s taken the bar and she’s raised it. And she’s laying down the foundation for really amazing things to come in trail running.”
And that’s echoed by Courtney herself as she rounds out the film by saying: “My hope is that this summer is just a step ladder for the next group of women to come along and elevate all of our games. I hope that I can just be one rung in that ladder.”
She’s much more than that and already this year we’ve seen countless examples of others picking up the baton and pushing the boundaries themselves – a genuine virtuous circle.
