TALK - Do women hold an advantage in ultra endurance sport?

THIS TALK SOLD OUT QUICKLY FOR THE SATURDAY 13.00 SESSION SO WE HAVE PROGRAMMED IT TO ALSO TAKE PLACE AT 17.00 ON FRIDY 21ST MARCH. 

Women have hit the headlines in recent years for winning ultra races outright and breaking world records in endurance feats.

Fascinated by how female athletes were able to turn the status quo on its head and finish ahead of male competitors, journalists and ultra runners Lily Canter and Emma Wilkinson spent two years investigating endurance. Their book, Ultra Women: The trailblazers defying sexism in sport, will be published by Cadbury Press in May.

In this talk the pair discuss their findings derived from interviews with more than 70 athletes, historians and scientists. They share the largely unknown stories of staggering female achievements in cycling, trail running, swimming, adventure racing and more.

You may have heard of Jasmin Paris but what about Lael Wilcox, Jamie Aarons and Lynne Cox? All these women used their physiology, skills and experience to do the unexpected. Their success begs the question – are women better at endurance?

From fat stores. muscle make up, sleep deprivation, pacing, and mental resilience, what Canter and Wilkinson uncovered may surprise you.

Emma Wilkinson

Lily Canter