In a feat that stunned the ultrarunning community, Rachel Entrekin, 34, became the first woman to win the Cocodona 250, setting a record of 56-hours, 9-minutes and 48-seconds. This achievement surpassed her previous best by over seven hours and beat the men’s record, solidifying her legacy as one of the sport’s most prominent athletes.
Note: Entrekin was not just the women’s winner — she won the entire race!
“Men and women obviously have very different skillsets, but in an event like this it comes down to so much more than just fitness,” said Entrekin in an interview with BBC Sport. “Your attitude and your ability to combat stress is so important, they are at least as important as how physically fit you are, so I think the field is just so much more leveled at something like this.”
The Cocodona 250 is a 250-mile ultramarathon through Arizona’s rugged terrain. It challenges runners with over 38,000 feet of elevation gain and high-altitude conditions across Black Canyon, Prescott, Jerome, Sedona and Flagstaff.
This year’s victory marks Entrekin’s third consecutive title at the event. However, this performance, with an average pace of 13:20 per mile, particularly showcased her endurance and mental fortitude, which was fueled by the mantra “Why not you?”
This mindset helped her overcome moments of doubt and physical exhaustion. “Maybe even especially women, we tend to talk ourselves out of even trying to do things because we think that we’re not qualified or we don’t have the experience or whatever,” Entrekin shared in a post-race interview. “But why not? Why not try?”
Following this accomplishment, Entrekin also extended her existing partnership with norda, a brand known for its high-performance trail running shoes, through 2029. This is especially noteworthy as Entrekin wore the unreleased norda 055 while crossing the finish line.
The brand celebrated her achievement on social media, emphasizing the synergy between Entrekin’s determination and its footwear. “We’re committed to enabling Rachel to reach her full potential in our sport,” said norda co-founder and CEO Nick Martire.
Entrekin’s record-breaking performance at the Cocodona 250 is more than a personal triumph. It’s a testament to the limitless potential of human endurance and a powerful reminder that barriers can always be broken. n
Sources:
1. Outdoors.com: Rachel Entrekin Dominates 250-Mile Desert Race
2. Yahoo Sports: Rachel Entrekin Makes History in Ultramarathon
3. Norda Instagram: Norda Celebrates Rachel Entrekin
4. run single track Instagram: Instagram
5. BBC Sport: https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/articles/ceqpjdgge2zo
