While the track-and-field world buzzed with Diamond League showdowns and the looming Tokyo World Championships, history was quietly being rewritten far from the 100m and 200m spotlight. On August 16, 2025, in the grueling world of ultramarathons, an Olympic Trials runner turned ER doctor closed in on a feat once thought untouchable—the legendary 100-mile record set decades ago by Ann Trason. With just a mile left, Anne Flower realized destiny was within reach. But did she actually shatter Trason’s mark? Let’s dive in.
Former Olympic Trials athlete and ER doctor Anner Flower took on her first-ever 100-miler at the Leadville 100, aiming only to stay in peak shape. Little did she know she was on the verge of history. On Saturday night, with 99 grueling miles behind her, the 35-year-old from Colorado Springs surged past Justin Grunewald for second overall—only then realizing she was about to shatter Ann Trason’s legendary 1994 course record.
Running her first 100-miler, Flower focused on both pace and staying on the path. However, upon realizing she was close to breaking the legendary record, she pushed one last time at the infamous 6th Street hill, sprinting home in 17:58:19—shattering Trason’s mark by over eight minutes as a late-night crowd roared her across the line.
Talking to the media, Flower stated, “I feel like I shouldn’t be in the same category as Ann Trason. She’s a goddess of running. I was running my own race, especially at the start, because there were a few ladies who went out faster than me, and I knew I had to keep it controlled. I knew (the record) was low and I honestly thought it was in the 17s, but when we were coming up the boulevard, Justin and his partner told me it was 18:06, so I thought I should probably get it done.”
35-year-old Anne Flower, running her first-ever 100-miler, finished second overall at Leadville 100 and took eight minutes off Ann Trason’s 1994 women’s course record.
: https://t.co/W60y9TDaYm pic.twitter.com/WMCi3Jzy4V
— Runner’s World (@runnersworld) August 17, 2025
Earlier this summer, Flower conquered both the Leadville Trail Marathon and the Silver Rush 50-miler, achievements that secured her a coveted spot in the prestigious Leadville 100. Well, she was not certain whether she would run or not; however, two weeks before the race, Flower made the bold decision to take on the grueling race, and that too without any proper training. So, how did the race go for her? Let’s find out.
How did Leadsville 100 go for Anne Flower?
Running her first-ever 100-miler, Anne Flower knew that without dedicated training, she had to stay sharp against seasoned ultrarunners—but quitting was never an option. She didn’t take command of the women’s race until mile 25, climbing to seventh overall. For 87 miles, she battled alone before meeting pacer Gil Allgood at the May Queen aid station, joining forces for the final grind along Turquoise Lake back to Leadville.
How was the racecourse, you ask? Well, it was nothing but brutal, the course never dips s at or above 9,200 feet above sea level, with its centrepiece being the double ascent of the notorious 12,600-foot Hope Pass between miles 40 and 60. Despite the altitude, Flower averaged a steady 10:47 pace, even clocking sub-8-minute miles on the flatter stretches.
Now that she has completed her 100-mile course and broken Ann Trason’s legendary record, she is likely to gain some fame. It should be noted that only Claire Gallagher (19:00:27 in 2016) and Mary Denholm (18:23:51 in her 100-mile debut last year) had come within striking distance—until Anne Flower shattered expectations this year.
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