Waar de zon de sneeuw raakt

Mélissa Da Costa

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SHORTLISTED FOR WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025

GUARDIAN SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR

THE TIMES SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR

'A masterful work that will challenge your views on the physical capabilities of all women' – Sue Anstiss, author

What happens when women run beyond the marathon—and refuse to stop? Ultra Women is a gripping, behind-the-scenes journey into the high-stakes world of female endurance, where athletes race across deserts, over mountains, and through the night for 50, 100, even 200 miles at a time. Blending intimate profiles with cutting-edge science, it reveals how women runners, swimmers and cyclists are smashing records, shattering stereotypes, and redefining what "strong" looks like at every age and stage of life.

Meet the mothers balancing midnight feeds with dawn training runs, the champions who learned to turn pain into data, and the late starters who discovered their prime years—post-40, post-menopause—on the trail. Along the way, you'll learn how mindset, fueling, hormones, and smart recovery converge to create the conditions for extraordinary performance.

Inside you'll discover:

Trailblazing stories from iconic races and previously unsung heroines of the sport Science you can use on nutrition, pacing, heat/cold adaptation, and injury resilience The mental toolkit — from micro-goals to "embracing the suck" — that carries competitors past the breaking point Life-phase insights on training through periods, pregnancy, postpartum, peri- and post-menopause Practical checklists for first ultras, crew strategy, and race-day problem-solving

Whether you're a curious newcomer, a seasoned marathoner eyeing your first 50K, or a reader who loves true stories of grit, Ultra Women will leave you inspired—and equipped—to go further than you ever thought possible.

Perfect for fans of Born to Run, Good for a Girl, and Endure —and for anyone who believes the horizon is just a starting line.

Take the long way. Find your edge. Join the Ultra Women.

Reviews

A meticulous and occasionally startling study of how modern sport is still shaped by a male perspective, from media coverage to bra design to scientific research. A celebration of female bodies, female pioneers and female endurance – Jonathan Liew, Guardian Sports Book of the Year

This absorbing book, shortlisted for the 2025 William Hill sports book of the year, combines history, reportage, science and polemic. Most enjoyable of all are the mini-biographies of endurance athletes, such as the British fell-running champion Jasmin Paris, who can "push on and endure" like few others. – Jason Cowley. Sports Books of the Year, The Times

It was a joy to read from start to finish, beautifully written and incredibly engaging. A masterful work that will challenge your views on the physical capabilities of all women. The must-read sports book of 2025. – Sue Anstiss, author

A fascinating exploration of female ultra-distance sporting achievement – and a fitting tribute to those pioneers who blazed a trail for us all to follow. Jasmin Paris, ultrarunner

Buy the book and start reading

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