Camille Herron - The Joker
ULTRARUNNING - TEAM USA
ARCHETYPE: THE JOKER
Day 50/135
Athletic Accomplishments
As an ultrarunner myself, I’m often happy to cross the finish line in what I would describe as a “respectable time.” That’s my threshold. But then, there’s Camille Herron, who can not only run unreasonably long distances, but does them faster than seems possible. She’s a total monster.
Herron started young and hungry, as a three-time All-State selection in cross country and a three-time Oklahoma State Champion in track. After college, she scaled up to marathons—having qualified for the U.S. Olympic Marathon trials three times—and then to ultramarathons, where it seems as though she is unstoppable.
Herron has won over 20 marathons and so many ultras I think they’ve stopped counting. She is the first (and only) athlete to win the International Association of Ultrarunners' World Championships in all three distances: 50K, 100K, and 24 Hour, and has amassed 5 World Championship gold medals.
She also holds the World Best performances at the following distances:
50 miles - Road - 5h 38min 41s (6:46 per mile)
100 miles - Road/Trail - 12h 42min 40s (7:37 per mile)
100 miles - Track - 13h 25min 00s (8:03 per mile)
And the World Best performances, covering the farthest distance at the following time demarcations:
12 Hours - Road - 90.857 miles (7:55 per mile)
12 Hours - Track - 92.66 miles (7:46 per mile)
24 Hours - Road - 167.842 miles (8:35 per mile)
24 Hours - Track - 162.919 miles (8:50 per mile)
It’s no wonder she is a three-time IAU International Athlete of the Year, 2017 Ultrarunning Magazine Female Ultrarunner of the Year, and four-time winner of Ultra Performance of the Year.
Character Archetype: The Joker
Herron is stupid fast. While she has three times qualified for the U.S. Olympic marathon trials, she has completely dominated at ultramarathon distances. She owns 7 world records, including a road 100 miler, which she completed in 12 hours, 42 minutes, 40 seconds. That’s an average of 7:37 per mile… for a hundred friggin miles!
Running ultras is extremely difficult, and it is tempting to look at every race with gravity.
But the best part about Herron is that despite the her massive achievements, she doesn’t take herself too seriously. She likes to have fun, and is known for wearing her hair down, drinking beer, and smiling through the suffering.
If that’s not convincing enough, how about the fact that Herron holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon in a Superhero costume. There’s no doubt Herron loves what she does. But then again, everybody loves a winner.