Meet Summer Willis
Summer Willis is an endurance athlete, world-record holder, advocate, and founder of Strength Through Strides, a nonprofit supporting survivors of sexual assault. As a mom, survivor, and athlete, Summer is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, using her athletic feats to inspire others, raise awareness, and raise money for a cause close to her heart.
In the past year alone, Summer set out to run 29 marathons before her 30th birthday, including one while carrying a mattress, as a symbol of the weight survivors carry. Her journey has taken her across the world, breaking world records along the way, all while being a mother to two young children. The final marathon in this series will take place at the Chicago Marathon on October 13th.
But Summer’s story is about more than marathons. She is currently preparing to swim across the English Channel, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Gertrude Ederle’s historic swim. This journey, featured in an upcoming documentary, will explore the triumphs and struggles of survivors, motherhood, and the power of love and resilience.
Summer’s work has been featured in People Magazine, Runner’s World, Fox In Depth, ABC, and iHeart Radio, where she was honored as Hero of the Week. As an advocate for survivors and a mother of two, she has raised over $29,000 for her cause. Her determination has inspired thousands to join her mission to prove that trauma doesn’t define us — strength does.
Achievements
First woman to run marathon Carrying Mattress
29 Marathons in 1 Year
2nd Place in 1st 100 Miler
Currently: Training to Swim English Channel
Training to be first human to crawl a marathon
Raised over 29K for survivors
Challenges
The 100 Mile Madness
From September 21st to 23rd, Summer took on the challenge of running 100 miles. After reaching 50 miles, every step…
The Labor Day Triple
The Labor Day Triple in Winter Park, Florida, was Summer’s most challenging race yet—three grueling days of intense heat and…
The Santa Rosa Marathon
On August 24th, Summer and her husband celebrated their 4th wedding anniversary, thanks to the Fairmont Sonoma, by running the…
The South Bay 24 Hour Race
On August 17th, 2024, in South Bay 24, Summer returned to running after a two-month break, taking on her first…
The San Diego Marathon
The day before the San Diego Marathon, Summer found out her grandfather was dying. Knowing she would fly straight to…
The Nashville Marathon
On April 25th in Nashville, Summer faced a wild marathon experience. Missing her family, she brought her 3-year-old son along…
The London Marathon
Three days before the marathon, Summer emailed Paige Geller Adams, asking if Paige would consider sponsoring her for the best…
The Charlottesville Marathon
On April 6th, Summer enjoyed a hometown run at the Charlottesville Marathon, thankful for the short drive and the chance…
The Los Angeles Marathon
On March 17th, 2024, Summer met and ran with her inspiration, Julie Weiss, the Marathon Goddess. Together, they carried a…
The Women’s Day Mattress Marathon
On March 8th, 2024 Summer became a World Record Holder as the first and fastest female to run a marathon…
The Austin Marathon
On February 16th, Summer returned to Austin, the place of her assault, for an emotional full-circle moment, running the Austin…
The Philadelphia Marathon
The Philadelphia Marathon marked Summer’s 7th marathon in 6 weeks, pushing her to the brink of physical and emotional exhaustion,…
