Diane Van Deren

Diane Van Deren (born February 20, 1960) is an American ultra-runner who won the Yukon Arctic Ultra 300 in 2009.[1] Van Deren had a lobectomy in 1997. She competed in races of attrition measuring 100 miles or more. She was the first woman to complete the 430-mile Yukon Arctic Ultra 300.

A former professional tennis player, she took up running to help stave off epileptic seizures, for which in 1997 she had a lobectomy. This surgery disrupted her ability to judge the passing of time, something which has helped her ultra-running.[2][3] She was featured in the 2012 CBC documentary The Perfect Runner, directed by documentary filmmaker Niobe Thompson for The Nature of Things.[4][5]

References

1. "Best of Adventure: Adventurers of the Year - Diane Van Deren - National Geographic Adventure Magazine". Adventure.nationalgeographic.com. Archived from the original on November 16, 2009. Retrieved 2016-02-05.
2. "Brain Surgery Frees Runner, but Raises Barriers". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-02-05.
3. "In the Running". Radiolab.org. Retrieved 2016-02-05.
4. "Dr. Niobe Thompson · Kickass Canadians". Kickasscanadians.ca. 2011-11-27. Retrieved 2016-02-05.
5. "Head over heels". Radiolab.org. Retrieved 2016-02-05.