Diane Van Deren

Who is Diane Van Deren?

Diane Van Deren is an American ultra-runner who won the Yukon Arctic Ultra 300 in 2008.

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.

Here is an interview with Diane that was aired on Radio Lab. "Diane Van Deren is one of the best ultra-runners in the world, and it all started with a seizure.

For Diane, a charming mother of three, daily life is a struggle. But as soon as she steps outdoors, she's capable of amazing feats. She can run for days on end with no sleep, covering hundreds of miles in extreme conditions. Diane explains how her disability gave rise to such an extraordinary ability, and reporter Mark Phillips heads to Colorado to get to know Diane, and try to figure out what makes her so unstoppable."

She was featured in the 2012 CBC documentary "The Perfect Runner" directed by documentary filmmaker Niobe Thompson for the Canadian television series "The Nature of Things".