For many runners, the idea of completing a 100-mile ultramarathon can feel impossible. Team Injinji Athlete Tara Warren wants to change that.
Through her 10 to 100: All Women Can Ultra Project, Tara is helping 10 women train for their first 100-miler while breaking down the barriers that sometimes keep women from stepping up to the start line.
We talked to Tara about her inspiration behind this project, what she’s learned as a coach and why building confidence is just as important as building endurance.
Tell us about the “10 to 100.” What is it? Where did the idea come from?
The 10 to 100: All Women Can Ultra Project is an initiative to help 10 women train for and complete their first 100-mile ultramarathon. It grew out of something I kept seeing over and over—women questioning whether they belonged at the starting line. I wanted to remove as many barriers as I could and prove that with support, education and community, more women can get to the finish line of a 100-mile race.
You have been an ultrarunner for many years. Can you tell us about your background in ultra racing? Do you have experience coaching athletes in the past?
I've been racing ultras for over a decade, from my first 100-mile finish to races like Hardrock, UTMB and completing the Rocky Mountain Slam. I guess I’ve done 20+ 100-mile races in the last 10 years. Racing has taught me resilience, but coaching has shown me that helping someone else reach their goals can be just as rewarding as chasing my own.
I've been coaching trail and ultrarunners with my company On The Mountain Coaching for 8 years and have worked with athletes ranging from first-time trail runners to experienced ultramarathoners. My favorite part isn't just helping people get faster—it's helping them discover what they're capable of.
What do you remember from your first 100-miler?
It was the Bear 100 in 2015. I barely squeaked across the finish line after getting the most heinous heel and Achilles blisters about 20 miles in. I remember realizing that finishing a 100-mile race isn't about feeling good, it’s about continuing forward when you don’t want to. I crossed that finish line with a completely different understanding of what I was capable of, and that's a feeling I've been chasing ever since.
From your perspective, what does the planning process for a program like this look like?
Honestly, it started as an idea and quickly became much bigger than I imagined. It took almost 2 years to get it all going. There was building partnerships, creating an application process, reviewing more than 600 submissions, matching athletes with resources and then the ongoing day-to-day coaching. It's been a lot of work but seeing these women grow has made every hour worth it.
You put a Google form on your Instagram and received over 500 applications. How did you narrow this list down to only 10 women?
It wasn't about choosing the fastest runners. I looked for women who has already selected a 100-mile race and were locked in emotionally to that potential finish. It was importable that they were coachable, committed, excited to support others and women who would benefit from the opportunity. I wanted ten women who would not only finish their races but also inspire others to believe they could do the same.
Was there a common theme among the applications you received?
Absolutely. The biggest theme was self-doubt. So many incredibly capable women questioned whether they were "enough" to run 100 miles. Reading those applications reinforced exactly why this project needed to exist.
What do you hope these women will gain beyond simply crossing a finish line?
I hope they leave believing they're capable of far more than they thought. A 100-mile finish changes how you see yourself, and that confidence doesn't just stay on the trail. It carries into careers, families, relationships and every challenge that comes afterward.
Last year, you competed in a UTMB race in Spain with 736 runners. Only 36 were women. Why is it so important to get more women into this sport?
Because representation matters. When women see other “regular” women doing hard things, they start believing they can too. The goal isn't just to increase participation, it’s to create a sport where women feel welcomed, supported and expected to be there no matter what level of runner you are.
Running 100 miles not only takes a toll on your body physically, but mentally, too. How do you teach someone to believe they can run 100 miles?
Confidence isn't something you talk someone into. It's built one workout, one long run and one small win at a time. My job is to help athletes collect enough evidence that, by race day, belief feels earned instead of borrowed.
When an athlete loses confidence (maybe from a discouraging tune-up race or training run), what's your first response?
I remind them that one day doesn't define months of training. We look at the bigger picture, figure out what we can learn and then move forward. Progress isn't built from perfect days—it's built from consistency.
From coaching these 10 athletes over the past few months, what are you most proud of? What do you hope these women remember most?
I'm most proud of the way they've supported one another. And how genuinely excited they are making the fitness progress they are going through. It’s a fun experiment for me as a coach as well to be able to troubleshoot and teach on a bigger level. We have group meetings, group chats and 1x1 calls. These women started as strangers and have become a team. I hope they remember that they were never doing this alone and that they earned every bit of confidence they've gained along the way.
This project has reminded me how powerful community can be. None of this happens without partners like Injinji who believe in investing in people, not just performances. Together we're helping more women discover that they belong in this sport, and I think that's only the beginning.
Injinji wishes the best of luck to all the women competing in their first 100-mile race!
Cheer for Tara and the Injinji Athlete Team here and explore the Women's toesocks carrying athletes to the finish line.
