Sophie Power The Ultra Runner Who’s Changing Women’s Endurance Sports
When most people think of breaking world records, they imagine athletes who’ve trained since childhood. But Sophie Power’s journey tells a different story—one that begins with coming second to last in a school mile run and transforms into setting multiple world records as an ultra runner woman who’s redefining what’s possible for mothers in competitive sports.
From Banking to Breaking Barriers
Born in 1982 in Britain, Sophie Power spent her early career in the fast-paced world of investment banking, far removed from the endurance running scene. She wasn’t a natural athlete growing up, and running certainly wasn’t on her radar as a career path. But when she was laid off from her banking job, something unexpected happened—she discovered ultrarunning.
In a move that would define her fearless approach to challenges, Sophie Power signed up for the Marathon des Sables before she had ever run more than a single mile. It was an audacious decision that would set the tone for her entire athletic career.
Today, as a mother of three children—two boys and a daughter named Saoirse—Sophie Power runner identity has become inseparable from her advocacy work. Her husband is from Cork, Ireland, making their children half-Irish, a heritage that would later inspire one of her most significant achievements.
Building an Ultramarathon Legacy
Over the past decade, Sophie Power has completed more than 50 ultramarathons, establishing herself as one of Britain’s most accomplished endurance athletes. Her resume reads like a bucket list of the world’s most grueling races:
- Marathon des Sables: 103 miles through the Sahara Desert
- UTMB: 106 miles of mountain trails around Mont Blanc
- Spartathlon: 153 miles from Athens to Sparta
- Spine Fusion: 268 miles along England’s Pennine Way
She’s also represented Great Britain at the 24-Hour World Championships, competing against the world’s best ultra-endurance athletes. But it’s her world record achievements that have truly captured global attention.
Sophie Power World Record Achievements
In 2023, Sophie Power set a 24-hour personal best of 235.739 km, showcasing her incredible endurance capabilities. But she was just getting started.
In 2024, she became the fastest female to run across Ireland, covering 347 miles in just 3 days, 12 hours, and 8 minutes. The run held deep personal significance, connecting her to her husband’s homeland and following in the footsteps of Mimi Anderson’s previous record.
Then, in January 2025, Sophie Power world record achievements continued when she covered more distance than any woman ever had on a treadmill in 48 hours—running over 365 kilometers (226.8 miles) at the National Running Show in Birmingham. These accomplishments have solidified her status as one of the world’s elite ultra-endurance athletes.
The Viral Photo That Sparked a Movement
In 2018, Sophie Power was competing in the 106-mile UTMB race when something remarkable happened. A photograph of her breastfeeding her three-month-old baby during the race went viral worldwide. The image wasn’t planned as activism—it was necessity. At the time, UTMB had no pregnancy deferral policy, so Sophie Power felt she had no choice but to compete.
That single photograph became a watershed moment, not just for Sophie Power but for women in endurance sports everywhere. It sparked conversations about the barriers mothers face in competitive athletics and catalyzed Sophie’s transformation from accomplished athlete to pioneering advocate.
Creating Change Through SheRACES
Following the viral moment, Sophie Power founded the SheRACES Foundation, an organization dedicated to increasing access to sport for women. The foundation has created comprehensive guidelines for race directors on inclusivity, focusing on critical issues including:
- Pregnancy deferrals
- Breastfeeding accommodations on course
- Providing period products
- Equal podium places for women
One of the foundation’s most significant victories came when they successfully convinced the London Marathon to allow pregnancy deferrals, setting a precedent for major races worldwide. In August 2025, SheRACES launched its own women-only race series, providing spaces specifically designed with female athletes’ needs in mind.
Advocacy Beyond the Race Course
Sophie Power’s influence extends far beyond her personal running achievements. She serves as a trustee of the Women in Sport charity and has become a prominent voice in sports media, writing regularly for Runner’s World and other publications.
She’s partnered with Hoka on a documentary about postpartum running, helping to normalize conversations about the realities mothers face when returning to competitive sports. Her speaking engagements and brand partnerships consistently emphasize realistic portrayals of achievement and sacrifice—she’s transparent about what she doesn’t do to make time for training, offering an honest perspective that resonates with women juggling multiple responsibilities.
Sophie has also conducted research into women’s experiences in triathlon events, working to understand and address the unique challenges female athletes encounter.
The “Challenge You” Philosophy
One of Sophie Power’s recent initiatives is the “Challenge You” campaign, which encourages women to set personal challenges with family support. The philosophy is simple but powerful: women shouldn’t fear failure, and they should feel empowered to attempt bigger challenges regardless of cut-off times or conventional expectations.
This approach reflects Sophie’s own journey—from someone who came second to last in a school mile run to an athlete setting world records. Her message is clear: your starting point doesn’t determine your potential.
Training With Transparency
What sets Sophie Power apart from many elite athletes is her commitment to transparency. She doesn’t present an impossible standard of “having it all.” Instead, she’s open about the trade-offs and sacrifices required to train at an elite level while raising three children.
This honesty has made her not just an inspiration but a relatable figure for thousands of women who see their own struggles reflected in her story. She advocates for women attempting challenges that push their boundaries, even when success isn’t guaranteed.
A Legacy Still Being Written
With over a decade in ultrarunning and multiple world records to her name, Sophie Power continues to push boundaries—both on the race course and in the advocacy space. Whether she’s running across Ireland, setting treadmill records, or fighting for policy changes that make sports more accessible to mothers, she’s proving that elite athletic achievement and meaningful activism can go hand in hand.
Her story reminds us that it’s never too late to discover your passion, that motherhood doesn’t mean the end of athletic ambitions, and that one person’s courage to challenge the status quo can create ripples of change that benefit countless others.
As Sophie Powers continues to inspire the next generation of female ultra runners, one thing is certain: she’s not just breaking records—she’s breaking down barriers that have held women back for far too long.
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