Hillary Allen

Hillary Allen is an American professional ultrarunner, gravel cyclist, author, and endurance athlete widely recognized for her achievements in high-altitude skyrunning and trail racing. Born on August 26, 1988, in Fort Collins, Colorado, she earned the athletic nickname "Hillygoat" due to her speed and technical skill on steep mountain terrain. Beyond her athletic career, Allen holds an advanced academic background in science and works as a running coach, public speaker, and author.

Early Life and Athletic Beginnings

Allen was raised in Colorado and pursued higher education in the sciences, earning a master's degree in neuroscience, physiology, and structural biology. While studying for her graduate degree, she discovered trail running as an outlet and quickly transitioned into competitive racing. In 2014, during her debut ultra-trail running season, she won the U.S. SkyRunner Series, establishing herself as an elite contender on the international mountain running circuit. She went on to rack up victories and course records globally while working as a college science instructor.

Life-Changing Accident and Comeback

In 2017, while ranked among the top ultrarunners in the world, Allen suffered a near-fatal accident during the Tromsø Skyrace in Norway. She fell 150 feet off an exposed mountain ridge, breaking 14 bones, including both wrists, vertebrae in her spine, ribs, and bones in her feet. Medical professionals initially warned that she might never run again. Following multiple surgeries and intensive physical rehabilitation, Allen returned to elite trail running. As part of her recovery, she also integrated gravel cycling into her competitive routine, competing in major events like Unbound Gravel.

Author and Community Work

Allen documented her fall and recovery in her 2021 memoir, Out and Back: A Runner's Story of Survival Against All Odds. She has delivered a TEDx talk titled "You Can Challenge the Impossible" and co-hosted athletic podcasts focused on endurance and sport psychology. Based in Boulder, Colorado, she continues to compete globally while working as a running coach and speaker. Through her social media presence (@hillygoat_climbs), Allen uses her platform to share training insights, advocate for women in endurance sports, and promote physical and mental resilience.