Jenny Capel

About

Jenny Capel is an American ultrarunner and physical therapist from Reno, Nevada, who grew up in a trail running family — her father Roland Martin was an early pioneer of American ultrarunning who raced alongside founding figures including Gordy Ainsleigh and Bruce LaBelle, and completed the inaugural Hardrock 100 in 1992. Despite this heritage, Capel was initially resistant to competitive running and discovered the sport through community after college, encouraged by adult runners attempting distance for the first time. Over a 22-year career she became one of the most accomplished women on the American hundred-mile circuit: she won the San Diego 100 in both 2014 and 2016, set the women's fastest known time on the 165-mile Tahoe Rim Trail in 53 hours and 39 minutes, and completed the Hardrock 100 — fulfilling the family legacy her father began at the race's inception. She balanced elite competition with a career in physical therapy alongside husband Steve, also a physical therapist, while raising two children, and was an early advocate for fat-adaptation protocols in endurance performance. She retired from competitive racing in 2024 and holds a UTMB Index of 508.

Notable Wins

• — San Diego 100 2014 women's winner
• — San Diego 100 2016 women's winner
• — Tahoe Rim Trail women's FKT (165 miles
• — 53:39)
• — Hardrock 100 finisher
• — Bighorn Trail 100 2023 7th women (30:01:25)
• — Canyons 100K 2023 17th women (13:10:28)

Race History