Rachel Entrekin becomes first woman to win Cocodona 250 ultramarathon – and pets dogs along the way

TL;DR

Rachel Entrekin made history by becoming the first woman to win the Cocodona 250 ultramarathon, finishing in 56 hours, 9 minutes, and 48 seconds. She previously won the women's race twice and set a new overall course record.

Key points

Rachel Entrekin won the Cocodona 250 ultramarathon.
She finished in a record time of 56 hours, 9 minutes, and 48 seconds.
The race covers a 253-mile course in Arizona.

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Arizona

Rachel EntrekinCocodona 250

The Cocodona 250 heads through spectacular country in Arizona. Photograph: Ian Dagnall/Alamy (Photograph: Ian Dagnall/Alamy) Rachel Entrekin has made history by beating a field of elite men and women to win the Cocodona 250 ultramarathon. Entrekin had won the women’s race on two occasions but on Wednesday she headed the entire field, winning in a record time of 56 hours 9 minutes and 48 seconds. “I think I basically wept from the second I got off the single track until I crossed the finish line,” she told Run after completing her victory. The 34-year-old’s previous best time, which she set last year, was 63:50:55. The overall record had been 58:47:18. Related: ‘A drug that’s very safe and healthy‘: what ultrarunners can teach us about life | Sean Ingle The American took breaks along the way. According to Canadian Trail Running, she stopped to pet dogs, while she told Run that she had a few naps: “I slept five minutes, then seven minutes, then seven minutes,” Entrekin said. “My goal was to only have dirt naps.” She was helped by a support crew of six, which included her parents. Entrekin did not play team sports in high school as she didn’t think she was good enough, but took up running seriously in 2012 while studying exercise science at college. She went on to earn her doctorate in 2016. “Why put my body and mind through such stressful exercise you may ask, because it’s fun and you get to explore so much stuff while you’re in these races as the biggest hook for me is I see lots of the world in a short time frame,” Entrekin told the Madison Record in 2025. Despite its name, the Cocodona 250 is run over a 253-mile course in Arizona. It is one of the world’s toughest ultramarathons and athletes must deal with 38,791ft of elevation gain, with a high point of 9,241ft and desert conditions. when a runner died on Tuesday after a medical emergency. The race continued in the runner’s honor and organizers asked athletes and their crews “to carry the memory of this runner with you on the trail”.

Q&A

What is the Cocodona 250 ultramarathon?

The Cocodona 250 is a challenging ultramarathon held in Arizona, covering a 253-mile course with significant elevation gain.

How did Rachel Entrekin perform in the Cocodona 250?

Rachel Entrekin won the Cocodona 250 in a record time of 56 hours, 9 minutes, and 48 seconds, becoming the first woman to win the event outright.

What challenges do runners face in the Cocodona 250?

Runners face extreme conditions, including 38,791 feet of elevation gain and desert terrain, making it one of the toughest ultramarathons in the world.

Rachel Entrekin becomes first woman to win Cocodona 250 ultramarathon – and pets dogs along the way

TL;DR

Key points

Q&A

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