Women & Ultra Endurance Sport: Do they have an advantage over men?

Women have always been part of endurance sports, but their achievements have often been overlooked, dismissed or excluded from the record. As access and visibility improve, a clearer picture is emerging: not of sudden breakthroughs, but of longstanding strength, resilience and capability. 

In this talk, journalists and ultra runners Dr Lily Canter and Emma Wilkinson blend science, history and storytelling to explore what endurance really demands – and how women’s experiences in sport challenge traditional ideas of strength and limitation. Drawing on two years of research for their acclaimed book Ultra Women: The Trailblazers Defying Sexism in Sport, alongside interviews with more than 70 athletes, historians and scientists, they offer a deeper look at performance, perception and progress.

From trail running and cycling to swimming and adventure racing, Lily and Emma share the stories of athletes whose success has challenged assumptions about human limits and where those limits really lie. 

Doors open at 7pm, talk starts at 7:30pm - come down early to grab a good seat!

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Speaker Bios:

Dr Lily Canter is a journalist, author, speaker and senior lecturer in sports journalism. She specialises in running and fitness and regularly contributes to Runner’s World, The Guardian, Women’s Health and TechRadar. Alongside her journalism and academic work, she is also an accomplished ultra runner who has podiumed at several ultramarathons.

She is the co-author of Ultra Women: The Trailblazers Defying Sexism in Sport, shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year and named sports book of the year by The Guardian and The Sunday Times. Dr Canter has spoken at events including Fort William Mountain Festival, Love Trails and ShAFF, bringing together her expertise in journalism, teaching and endurance sport to explore women, resilience and equality in sport.

Emma Wilkinson is an award-winning freelance journalist and co-author of Ultra Women: The Trailblazers Defying Sexism in Sport, with 25 years of experience specialising in medicine, science and health. She has written for publications including The Sunday Times, BBC, Pulse, The BMJ and The Lancet, among others. Alongside her journalism, she is a keen ultra-runner who lives in Sheffield. Emma is also a regular guest on podcasts and radio programmes for the BBC, Runner's World and The Guardian. Her work focuses on health inequality and inequity in sport, bringing together her expertise in medicine and science with her passion for running and women’s endurance sport.

This talk is 16+

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