Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 03:57am on 14 Aug 2026,Friday International
New Zealand ultrarunner Sophie Woods has set a new record for completing the 2,000km Via Alpina trail across eight European countries. The 42-year-old finished the demanding route from Italy to Monaco in 28 days, 17 hours and 59 minutes, beating the previous record of 35 days and 21 hours. Woods endured thunderstorms, heatwaves, injuries and exhausting days of running for up to 20 hours. Supported by her husband and photographer, she completed the journey on August 1. The achievement also transformed her outlook after personal struggles, giving her renewed confidence and inspiring thousands of women and girls to pursue endurance running. (PC: X)
