Camille Herron graduated with a B.S. in Exercise and Sports Science from the University of Tulsa and went on to get her M.S. in Exercise and Sport Science at Oregon State University in 2007. As a young and growing runner, she experienced many injuries and wanted to understand 'why' to keep herself healthy and continue running for a lifetime. As an undergrad, she began doing research studies with a strength training device that could be used by astronauts in space to help maintain bone and muscle mass.
She decided to continue studying bone and exercise in grad school. Her thesis focused on using whole body vibration training to enhance bone and muscle recovery following a period of disuse. Through her studies, she learned that the ideal anabolic stimulus for musculoskeletal health is frequent daily bouts of light mechanical stress (~walking, standing, easy running) and infrequent bouts of higher intensity stress.
Applying her knowledge, Camille has since gone from being an injury-riddled collegiate athlete to becoming an Ultrarunning legend. Camille reached 100,000 lifetime miles on April 7, 2022, making her one of the youngest runners to reach 100,000 lifetime miles. Through the mutual collaboration with her Coach/Husband, Conor Holt, they've taken her from a 19+ min 5K to lifetime career achievements that include:
Ultrarunning Career Highlights:
Comrades Marathon Champion (Uphill course)- one of only 3 Americans to win
Spartathlon Champion and course record (22:35:31), 3rd overall- first woman under 24 hours for the grueling 153 mile/246km race
First athlete to win both the Comrades Marathon and Spartathlon
3-time World Champion (50K, 100k, 24 Hours)-First Athlete to win all 3 World Championships
2-time Team World Champion (100k, 24 Hours)
5-time National Champion (Road- 50k, 50 miles, 100K and 100 miles; Trail- 100K)
Current American Record holder (Track)- 50 miles, 100K, 12Hrs, 100 Miles, 200K, 24Hrs, 48Hrs
Current American Record holder (Road)- 50 Mile Road Best, 100 Miles, 12Hrs, 200K, 24Hrs, 48Hrs, 6 Days
First woman to run 100 miles under 13 hours, which she’s done on road, track, and trail
Current World Best for 50 miles (5:38:41); IAU World records for 100 miles (12:42:40, 7:37 per mile pace), 24 hours (167.842 miles-8.34 per mile), 48 hours (270.5 miles-10:39 per mile), and 6 Days (560.33 miles/901.768 km); Former 12Hr World Record
GOMU multiday World Records for every time/distance between 200 miles-900 kms
100 miles Trail Best for women (12:42:40)
Trail/Road/Track win highlights include: Soochow 24Hr Track Invitational (American Record and event record), Javelina Jundred 100 Mile (course record, 14:03:23), JFK 50, Black Canyon 100k, White River 50, Ultra Race of Champions 100K (course record), Tarawera 102K (course record), Tarawera 100 Mile (course record), Bandera 100K/US Championship, Desert Solstice Track 100 mile (13:02), Desert Solstice 24 hour Track (162.8 miles), Tunnel Hill 100 overall win and Course Record (12:42:40), Jackpot Ultra 100 overall win and course record (12:41:11), Strolling Jim overall win and course record (4:44:01), The Raven 100 mile track World Record, Sri Chinmoy 48 hour track festival overall win and World Record, and Spartathlon win and course record ( 22:35:31)
6-time USATF Ruth Anderson Ultrarunner of the Year
4-time International Association of Ultrarunners Athlete of the Year
Ultrarunning Magazine Ultrarunner of the Year
4-time Ultrarunning Magazine Performance of the Year
2022 & 2023 United States Track & Field Master Runner of the Year
2022 & 2023 Road Runners Club of America Master Runner of the Year
8-time United States Track & Field Athlete of the week
2024 inducted into the Road Runners Club of America Distance Running Hall Fame
Marathon Career Highlights:
3-time Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier (PR of 2:37:14)
21 Marathon wins (member of the Marathon Maniacs and 50-State pursuer)
2011 US Pan American Team in the marathon
3rd American at the 2011 NYC Marathon (2:40:06)
Guinness World Record for racing a marathon in a superhero costume (2:48:51 dressed as Spiderwoman)
Along with having B.S. and M.S. degrees in Exercise and Sport Science, Camille has taken the USATF Level 1 Coaching Course. She has served as the Secretary/Athlete Representative of the USATF Women's LDR Executive Committee since Dec. 2012. She was voted the USATF Women’s LDR Marja Bakker Contributor of the Year in 2021. She also serves on the Pro Trailrunners Women’s Equality and Anti-Doping Working Groups.
She volunteer coached with Conor at Oklahoma City University from 2011-2016. They built the team starting in 2011 to winning three National Cross Country titles and the Men's-Women's Combined Team National title in 2015. In five years at OCU, they coached 69 All-Americans in Cross Country/Track, 4 National Champions, 29 school records, and one Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier (2016).
Outside of running, Camille formerly worked as a Research Assistant and specialist in bone imaging/osteoimmunology at OU Medicine and has co-authored several scientific manuscripts. She and Conor understand the balance between stress and rest and striking a balance with life outside of running. She has shared her unique scientific knowledge and insight with many others over the years to help them strive for good health and reach their running goals. She enjoys sharing her winning training formula with others. As Rob de Castella says, "Train smarter, not harder."