Holly Benner may be relatively unknown in the trail running community, but this former professional triathlete is an avid trail runner and just took the women’s win at the 2024 Grindstone by UTMB 100 km in 11:22:44. The performance placed her 6th place overall, and with that win, she grabbed a direct entry into the CCC at the UTMB World Series Finals for 2025. However, unlike many UTMB series podium finishers this fall, the goal wasn’t entry to next year’s finals, it was a tuneup on her way to her fall goal race.
“I decided to run Grindstone simply as a way to fill my time, as I had quite a gap between my last marathon and the JFK 50 miler. Grindstone fit into the calendar and thus I decided to sign up and give it a go! I didn’t have CCC or anything UTMB-related in mind when I entered Grindstone, so I’ll have to see what pulls my interest. However, I love that sport gives me an excuse to travel!”
While Benner is lining up in the elite category, it is not what she does for a living. She works for Merck in Global Learning and Development, where her focus is on developing teams and leaders for performance and impact in business functions. She also co-founded Metta Performance, a leadership and performance coaching firm where the focus is on creating capable, inspired, and passionate people in work, sport, and life.
Initially, Benner had planned to finish her competitive professional triathlon career in 2020 but COVID changed all that. She ended up training through 2020 and had hoped to return to racing in 2021. She soon realized however that her heart was no longer in it and thus decided to find a different outlet for her energy.
Benner’s Ultrasignup page only shows a few events going back the last 14 years, but she has several races lined up in short succession for the end of 2024 into early 2025 including Grindstone, JFK 50, and the Black Canyon 100 km.
“Triathlon was quite the distraction for the past 10 years! I competed as a professional for many years and retired at age 38. I knew I was ready for a new challenge and new opportunities and felt running and trail running calling me back. I still enjoy a fun SwimRun here and there, too! Although I knew I was done with triathlon, I knew I wasn’t done competing. I love sport and enjoy challenging myself mentally and physically. I’m now embracing becoming faster as a master.”
In 2023 she connected with Devon Yanko while looking to partner with a female coach who had experience both on roads and trails. She interviewed several coaches who fit that bill but really matched up well with Yanko and her approach to running and racing.
“Her philosophy and approach to sport is grounded, and her coaching focuses on communication, which I highly value. It’s been a great partnership over the past year and I’m honored to work with a coach who I respect and admire as a person and athlete.”
Benner looked to be in control all day on the Grindstone course and was pleased with her effort. She had set her Garmin watch to chime every 20 minutes and then took 20-30 grams of carbs, 250mg of sodium, and water. She called it “rinse, wash, and repeat” and used products from Precision Hydration and Skratch in a handheld flask plus carried a second flask in her race belt.
“Overall, I’d say it was a great day! I really never hit a low. I mean, sure I had some moments of discomfort but nothing dark. I did take a spill at mile 12, where I tripped and landed on a rock with my right knee. It got immediately swollen. It took me a few miles to shake it loose, but I was fine. Besides if you’re not falling are you even trail running? I also had a few highs, singing in the woods, enjoying my tunes, and just generally happy to be spending time in that way. I’d say I wasn’t very emotional, but rather tactical. Executing my plan and fueling/drinking and mentally preparing for what I needed at the upcoming aid station. Very straightforward! I was aiming for around 11 hours as a finish time and was fairly close for that.”
A typical training week for Benner is in the 70-80 mile range and she likes that consistency but she had a few weeks that had higher volumes with the biggest one topping out at 104 miles. Because of her job and where she resides Benner mostly runs on roads during the week, and only gets to spend time on trails on the weekends.
“In training, my coach, Devon Yanko, kept me in touch with speed and I started my build with 2-3 speed workouts a week. Over time we transitioned my long weekend runs to go by time and I spent those hours getting familiar with hills, gear, fueling, etc. When long runs got to be truly long – about 5-6 hours, we cut the speed back to 1 session a week. I always did my speed work on the roads. I really liked having a harder effort focused on speed as it kept me strong and confident in my fitness”.
In a 2018 interview with the triathlon portal Slowtwitch.com Benner discussed her struggles with depression and general mental health and we inquired how she is feeling currently and where she is now in that regard.
“I’m pleased to share that my depression is nearly eliminated, if not totally absent. In 2018, I invested a full year in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), which taught me skills to re-train my thought patterns. In short, it saved my life. Just like physical training helped me learn how swim, bike, or run, DBT helped me learn how to think. I’m no longer a prisoner in my head. I have so much more energy and vitality in life. I look forward to every day and truly want to help others.”
We had one last logical question for Holly… what about Western States?
“Maybe. One day. Maybe.”
We are looking forward to one day.