Joelle Vaught

About

Joelle Vaught is an American ultrarunner from Boise, Idaho, who built one of the most impressive regional and national résumés in American mountain ultrarunning during the late 2000s and early 2010s. A neuro-diagnostic technologist at St. Luke's Hospital in Boise by profession, she balanced a demanding medical career with a racing schedule that brought her to the podium of the Pacific Northwest's most competitive trail events. She won the Way Too Cool 50K and the Run Rabbit Run 50, and in 2012 set the course record at the Lake Sonoma 50 Mile in a time of 7:52:44 — one of the fastest 50-mile marks in the country at the time. At the Western States 100 she placed seventh in 2010 with a time of 20:19, establishing herself as a legitimate front-runner at the sport's most iconic race, and returned in 2013 as an early leader before a DNF ended a strong effort. A persistent lumbar stress fracture at L5 led to a difficult stretch during which she chose to manage the injury through strengthening and rehabilitation rather than surgery, showing the same tenacity in recovery that she brought to racing. At her best, Vaught combined sharp natural speed with the durability to compete across a range of Pacific Northwest trail ultras.

Notable Wins

• — Lake Sonoma 50 Mile 2012 CR (7:52:44)
• — Way Too Cool 50K winner
• — Run Rabbit Run 50 winner
• — Western States 100 2010 7th (20:19)

Race History