Annie Hughes - Coach

Annie grew up running cross country and track in Wisconsin. She went on to run for Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado for two years before discovering her love for exploring in the Colorado mountains and trail running. Annie decided to leave the team to pursue ultra running in 2019, and hasn’t looked back since. 

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She moved to Leadville, Colorado, a mecca for ultra running as it is home to the iconic Leadville Trail 100 race and provides great altitude training as it sits at 10,152’ above sea level. Although Annie is relatively young, she has already made a name for herself in a very short amount of time, especially with her multiple 200-mile wins. Annie became the youngest woman to ever win the Leadville Trail 100 in 2021. She also won the Moab 240, and earned number three in the Ultrarunner of the Year Awards that year. 

 

In 2022, Annie placed 1st female, 3rd overall, and broke the course record by 14 hours at the Cocodona 250. She then went on to place 1st female, 2nd overall, set a new course record, and became the first woman to finish the High Lonesome 100 in under 24 hours. Then after a year involving surgery she returned strongly to ultrarunning in 2025 with a win at the Tahoe 200 and other strong finishes at major races.

 

Some examples of races that Annie has competed at, and can therefore help you train for with course-specific knowledge, are:

 

- Leadville Trail 100 (1st, 2021) 

- Tahoe 200 (1st, 2025)

- Hardrock 100 miler (3rd, 2023)

- Canyons by UTMB 100 miler (3rd, 2023)

- Run Rabbit Run 100 miler (1st, 2022)

- Coldwater Rumble 100 miler (1st, 2022)

- High Lonesome 100 (1st, 2022) 

- Cocodona 250 (1st, 2022) 

- Moab 240 (1st, 2021) 

- Swiss Peaks Trail 360k 

- Tor des Geants

- Black Canyon 100k

- Canyons 100

- Jemez 50 (1st, 2019) 

- Speedgoat 50K 

- San Juan Solstice 50 

- Bryce Canyon 100 

- Silver Rush 50 

- Moab Red Hot 55K

 

Qualifications/Experience:

 

- UESCA Ultramarathon Coaching certification

- UESCA Endurance Sports Nutrition certification

- Coached the Merton Area Running Club in Wisconsin (2013-2016)

- Guided at the Leadville 100 Run Camp

- Assistant cross country coach and head distance track coach for Buena Vista High School