Helen Mino Faukner

About

Helen Mino Faukner is an American professional trail runner and HOKA athlete from Truckee, California whose transition from collegiate cross-country — where she ran at the University of Nevada — to the elite ultra circuit has been one of the more compelling in the American women's field. Her journey into trail began during high school in the Sierra Nevada, sparked by informal outings with friends on local terrain. After leaving college running a year early — feeling the environment was driven by ego rather than values — she ran a 50K before stepping away from organised racing for nearly two years, returning in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her breakthrough came at the 2023 CCC by UTMB from Courmayeur to Chamonix, where she finished third in 12:38:05, one of the strongest results by an American woman at that race. Named #7 in the women's UltraRunner of the Year rankings, she also holds the fastest known time on California's Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous United States. Trained by Rick Floyd with an emphasis on enjoyment and low-intensity volume, Mino Faukner also teaches yoga and competes in race walking.

Notable Wins

• — CCC by UTMB 2023 3rd (12:38:05)
• — Mount Whitney FKT
• — #7 Women's UltraRunner of the Year

Race History