In 2012, ESPN Sport Science selected Pam to compete in an online competition to determine the best athlete of all time. While she did not win, she was selected to compete in the Endurance category and go head-to-head with athletes such as Mohammed Ali and Michael Jordan.
Her 2002 Badwater victory stunned the running world; she defeated the entire field by nearly five hours, and broke the existing women’s record by 1 hour, 51 minutes. She defended her title in July 2003, becoming the first woman to win two consecutive overall titles in the history of the world’s most difficult running race. Since then, she has broken the American women’s record in the 24-hour run, 48-hour run, and the 6-day race.
Pam was selected to run on the USA National Team for the 24-Hour run and three times for the 48-Hour run and has raced in Taiwan and the Netherlands, Czech Republic, and France.
Pam continues to be an age group finalist in multiple Ironman events each year and a top finisher in ultra marathon events.
Personal Profile
Age: 53 (born Feb. 27, 1961)
Birthplace: Palmer, Michigan
Home: Jackson Hole, WY
Family: Husband (Jim), three children (Timothy, Andrew, Jackson), two stepsons (Jonathon, Greg)
Education: Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, Univ. of Arizona 1984;
Attended Michigan Tech University
Occupation: Race director / owner, Tucson Marathon Events LLC; motivational speaker; role model using running and an active lifestyle to promote healthy living
Hobbies: Running, cycling, swimming, tennis, hiking, traveling
Passions: Helping children and young adults with obesity and eating disorders
Athletic Accomplishments
Qualified for World Ironman Championships 2010 – 2013 and World Ironman 70.3 Championships in 2010 – 2014
Gold Ironman 2013 All World Athlete (top 1% age group in Ironman)
38-time Ironman finisher
2-time champion and only woman to win the 135-mile Badwater Ultramarathon (2002 and 2003)
Badwater Ultramarathon 40 – 49 age group record holder (27:42:52 in 2008)
24-hour American women’s record holder: 138.96 miles (2003)
48-hour Ultramarathon women’s record holder: 212 miles (2004)
The only woman to ever run 300 miles without stopping (2005)
Ran 491 miles at the Self-Transcendence 6-Day Race (2009); unofficial American record
Has run more than 90 ultramarathon events
Marathon PR = 2:59
2003 USA Track & Field Women’s Ultra Runner of the Year
2003 Competitor Magazine Endurance Sports Athlete of the Year
Author of The Extra Mile, Rodale, 2006
Race director, Tucson Marathon (since 1995)
Mother / stepmother of five