A breathtaking scene unfolded on Saturday, 19 October 2025, local time in Albi, France, at the 2025 International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) 24-Hour World Championships.
British runner Sarah Webster achieved an astonishing feat by running 278.622 kilometres (approximately 173.127 miles) continuously in 24 hours, smashing the women’s 24-hour ultramarathon world record and making history.
A Dialogue with Time and Limits
The 24-hour ultramarathon is one of the ultimate tests of human endurance and willpower. Competitors must run continuously over a fixed loop course for 24 hours, with the total distance covered determining the winner. This race took place on a 1.5-kilometre loop track in Albi.
Webster completed 185 full laps within 24 hours and had already started her 186th lap before the clock stopped. Although she did not complete this final lap, the distance she covered was accurately recorded, resulting in a new world record of 278.622 kilometres.
Even more remarkable was her average pace. Including all necessary refuelling, brief rests, and adjustments, her overall pace remained around 5 minutes 11 seconds per kilometre. In other words, she ran nearly 5-minute kilometres non-stop for an entire day.
A Monumental Record Break and a Rising Star
Webster’s achievement is notable not just for breaking the record but for the immense margin by which she surpassed it. She improved the previous world record by an astonishing 8.259 kilometres (approximately 5.131 miles). The former record was set by Japanese athlete Miho Nakata in 2023.
In elite ultramarathon running, world records are usually broken by mere metres, each tiny improvement representing countless hours of effort. Webster, however, raised the bar by over 8 kilometres in a single attempt, an achievement widely regarded as phenomenal and dominating within the sport.
Even more astonishing is that this was only Webster’s second 24-hour ultramarathon in her career. With such limited experience, she reached the pinnacle of the sport, demonstrating extraordinary talent and potential.
From Veterinarian to World Record Holder
Now 46 years old, Sarah Webster is already a legend. She is a professional veterinarian from the Isle of Man, currently residing in East Sussex, England. Remarkably, she is still considered a novice in the ultra-distance running world.
Although she has only recently taken up ultramarathon running, Webster has shone on the circuit since 2023. She has successfully balanced a full-time career with high-intensity training and, on the world championship stage, reached the very limits of her potential in only her second 24-hour race, claiming the world’s top spot.
Fuelled by Passion
Webster’s extraordinary feat not only places her name on the annals of ultramarathon history, but it also inspires runners of all ages and backgrounds. She proves that dreams are not limited by age or profession, but by determination and passion.
Her story stands as one of the most moving chapters in the global sporting world this year, showing how commitment and love for the sport can turn the seemingly impossible into reality.