Words: Ultra Magazine
Robinson won Colac a total of five times in consecutive races, setting world bests of 838.8km in 1987 and 866.8km in 1989.
Eleanor Robinson started her ultramarathon career in 1983, the year she finished as first female in the 153-mile Spartathlon in Greece finishing in 32:37:52. Since then she has won six world titles and held more than 40 world records across a number of distances.
At the Road Runners Club of America’s 1984 National 50-mile and 100 km championships, Robinson took the 50-mile women’s title in 6:19:25 and went on to win the 100km in 8:11:37.
She then set a world record of 739.36km (459.42 miles) at the 1984 New York 6-Day Race, where she was up against the 100-mile record holder Donna Hudson. Robinson and Hudson would go on to run against each other many more times, each time Robinson prevailing although Donna broke several American records along the way. At Australia’s first international 6-day race, in Colac, Victoria, Robinson took sixth place overall, breaking 11 world records and becoming the first woman to surpass 800km (500 miles) for the event, while Donna ran 770.5km (478.8 miles) to set a new American record. Robinson won Colac a total of five times in consecutive races, setting world bests of 838.8km (521.2 miles) in 1987 and 866.8km (538.6 miles) in 1989.
At the 1985 Westfield Ultra Marathon, a 960km (600 mile) race from Sydney to Melbourne, Robinson once again lined up against Donna along with Margaret Smith of Melbourne, who were both favourites for the win. Although they both started well, Robinson won the race in seven days, 17:58:00.
She broke the women’s record for 24-hour racing at the 24-hour Track Race in Nottingham in 1985, with a distance of 222.8km (138.4 miles). She became the first British woman to compete at the 100km World Championships in 1988, in Spain, taking Bronze in 8:07:38.
In 1987 at the first official Badwater Ultramarathon was organised when British Adventurer and ultrarunner Kenneth Critchlow partnered with Robinson in a challenge to Americans Tom Crawford and Mike Witwer. Reportedly Critchlow found Robinson via an advert in Athletics Weekly and, upon hearing that Robinson was running, Witwer pulled out, concerned that he would be beaten by a woman. Robinson took the lead early on and never relinquished it, finishing in 52:45:00 while Crawford and his new partner Jean Ennis finished in 58:57:00.
Robinson is the only woman to win the World 100km twice, first in 1990 in Duluth, beating Ann Trason on home territory, and the second in 1991 in Faenza.
Also in 1987, Robinson set a world record for 1,000 miles of 16 days, 23:09, at a stage race in England. (in 1998, at the Nanango 1000-mile Track Race, she completed the same distance in another world best of 13 days, 01:54:02).
At the first 24-hour international championship in Milton Keynes in 1990, on an indoor loop of 890m around the shopping centre, Robinson reached 200km (100 miles) in a record 19:00:31. She went on to win, covering a total of 237.9km (147.8 miles).
The 100km National Ultramarathon Championships for Great Britain have been held every year since 1989. Robinson won in two successive years, 1996 and 1997, in Edinburgh. Hilary Walker won in 1995 and 1998, having previously won in 1989 and 1990. The championship record is held by Carolyn Hunter-Rowe with a time of 7:34:54 set in 1993.
Robinson is the only woman to win the World 100km twice, first in 1990 in Duluth, beating Ann Trason on home territory, and the second in 1991 in Faenza.
Robinson’s career came to an end in 2001, when a persistent foot injury failed to respond to treatment. Following retirement Robinson became a critical part of England Athletics supporting runners at the Perth 24 Hour race in 2010, at the 2013 Anglo Celtic Plate 100 km race, and Team GB team at the 2014 IAU 100km World Championships, which Ellie Greenwood won for the second time.
Eleanor Robinson continues to be active in running, as a member of Belper Ten Twenty Triathlon Club and Club Secretary of Ripley Running Club.