Courtney Dauwalter racked up yet another 2024 win at the weekend – though this one was a little more under the radar.
Fresh from being dressed in a yellow duck outfit and cheering on runners at UTMB – including Katie Schide, who would go on to break Dauwalter’s course record – the GOAT of women’s ultrarunning headed to the SwissPeaks70.
The event features seven races from a half marathon up to an epic 660km, with stunning views of the highest peaks overlooking the canton of Valais and Lake Geneva.
Close to the overall win
Dauwalter opted for the 70k option which features ridges and wild paths between the Dents du Midi and Lake Geneva.
And just as she has at pretty much every race in recent times, she came out comfortably on top in the women’s standings – and very nearly won the overall too.
She clocked eight hours, 24 minutes and 57 seconds for a route which featured 3,900 metres of climbing.
That saw her finish an hour and 11 minutes ahead of her closest female rival, Marine Quintard.
And Dauwalter led the race as a whole until close to the end when Switzerland’s Simon Quartier moved to the front.
There was little between them but Quartier crossed the finish line in 8:20:45, just over four minutes ahead.
The pair were well clear of the rest, with third-placed Arne Detavernier over half an hour off the winning time.
Raising the bar
Dauwalter has consistently raised the bar for women’s ultrarunning – she completed an unprecedented 100-mile treble of Western States, Hardrock and UTMB in 2023.
She started this year by winning the Transgrancanaria Classic and followed it with victory in the Mt Fuji 100, where she also came third overall.
She then returned to Hardrock 100 and produced another record-breaking display for the women’s win in a new course best – and fourth overall.
And she took time out to send Schide a lovely message following her recent UTMB success as they both continue to take the sport to new heights.
