Ashley Paulson, pro triathlete and iFit instructor broke the previous record by running 135 miles in 24:09:34.
Many speculate her triumph was a part of cheating. What actually happened? Let’s investigate it.
Who Is Ashley Paulson?
Ashley Paulson, 40, was raised in Utah County and is inspired by her dad, an avid marathon runner. She started to join her father in the run from the early age of 8.
Ashley Paulson of Saint George is a triathlete coached by U.S. marathon and half-marathon record holder Ryan Hall. She is married to Matt Paulson and describes herself as his wife on her Instagram. She has moreover written that she is the mother of her four kids.
As he frequently shows up throughout her race and encourages his wife, her husband Matt is incredibly kind and supportive of her.
She currently holds certifications in cycling, kickboxing, and Zumba in addition to being an AFAA Certified Personal Fitness Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor.
Ashley Paulson: Badwater 2022 Record Holder Accused of Cheating
With a timing of 24:09:34, Ashley Paulson, who finished third overall, beat Patrycja Bereznowska’s previous female record.
Ashley’s score is being contested widely because of suspicions of course-cutting in the past, a drug suspension, an astounding finishing split, and views of the route.
Badwater is the name of The Toughest Footrace in the World. Winners do not receive any compensation. 94 participants started the invitation-only race this year, and 77 of them crossed the finish line.
The athlete ran 135 miles in the desert heat and mountain cold while breaking the record.
People suspected her success and accused her of cheating but this so not what happened. The run table showed that Ashley outperformed many of the top runners’ lifetime best times in these segments.
Compared to Patryjca’s time in 2019 when she set the race record, she completed the 13+ miles from Lone Pine to the finish line 37 minutes faster. She completed the 3.9 miles in less time than Patryjca did when she established the previous record, running it in less than 12 minutes.
What’s more amazing is that she ran the final 13 miles faster than almost any man in history. faster than Pete Kostelnik, Harvey Lewis, Mike Morton, Scott Jurek, and more. Only Jorge Pacheco and Oswaldo Lopez have run this sector faster than the top three finishers overall. Only Oswaldo has ever finished with a faster split over the final 4 miles.
Based on the outstanding performance and Ashley’s prior controversies, the examination is justified. It would be a wonderful tale of redemption if it could be established that her run was legal.
Track And Marathon Ashley Paulson Career
After serving her suspension in 2017 by USADA, Paulson returned to sports and has since finished 97 marathons and one Ultra Ironman triathlon, which is twice as long as a typical triathlon.
Within 17:26:40, she finished the 2021 Pony Express Trail Run. Pony Express was said to travel fairly quickly.
On July 23, 2021, Ashley Paulson crossed the finish line of the Deseret News Marathon at a time of 2:48.20, placing first among female competitors.
She broke the record for Badwater 2022 by running 135 miles in only 24:09:34. According to reports, the mother of four started preparing for marathons and Ironman triathlons 12 years ago.
Ashley Paulson Triathlon
In 2016, Ashley was given a six-month suspension from triathlon competitions by the USADA. The initial suspension, which was for 4 years, was then reduced to 6 months.
Ostarine, a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM), was detected in a urine sample taken outside of competition on September 14, 2015, and Paulson tested positive for it.
The USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing forbids the use of SARMs.