Last weekend, Nathan Athlete Hillary Allen proudly represented Team USA at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in the Pyrenees. Competing on one of the sport’s biggest stages, Hillary took on both the uphill-only race and, unexpectedly, the grueling 80K long trail event.
For much of her career, Hillary has built her reputation as an ultrarunner—excelling in races that test endurance over extreme distances. But this year, she was eager to push herself in a new way: shorter, sharper, and faster. Making the U.S. team for the uphill-only race was a milestone achievement. The race, a punishing 6K straight up the mountain, was a dramatic departure from her usual ultra distances. Hillary rose to the challenge, finishing as the second American and 29th in the world—an incredible result in such a specialized discipline.
Just a few days later, Hillary’s World Championships experience took a surprising turn. With only three days’ notice, she was called up to join the start line for the 80K long trail race—50 miles with 18,000 feet of climbing through rugged, technical terrain. The race was daunting, even for an experienced ultrarunner, but Hillary embraced the challenge. Not only did she finish the race, but she also contributed to an unforgettable team performance: Team USA earned the silver medal.
From steep mountain sprints to 50 miles of savage terrain, Hillary displayed grit, versatility, and team spirit on the world stage. We are proud to support her as she continues to redefine what is possible in trail running.
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