About Katie Spotz
It started with a simple but powerful idea…
"Ordinary people can do extraordinary things."
Katie Spotz is an endurance athlete, author, and humanitarian whose challenges have helped bring clean water to communities around the world. Once a self-described “benchwarmer,” Katie discovered that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things and she’s been proving it ever since.
Her mission: to make sure everyone has access to clean, safe drinking water.
Why She Rows
Katie’s challenges are more than physical tests — they are fundraising missions. Her efforts have already helped provide clean water to more than 50,000 people.
Her boldest mission yet is the Pacific Row, a 10,000-mile world-record attempt to bring clean water to 100,000 people.
Highlights
Youngest person to row an ocean solo (Atlantic)
First person to swim the entire 325-mile Allegheny River
Ran 11 ultramarathons in 11 days across 11 states (world record)
Completed a 3,300-mile human-powered crossing of South America
U.S. Coast Guard Elite Athlete of the Year
Glamour Woman of the Year
Featured in The New York Times, CNN, ABC, NPR, Joe Rogan, and more
“She used her raw courage to row the Atlantic, all alone, for 70 days — to make sure people who will never know her name have clean water to drink.”
Diane Sawyer, ABC News
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![A woman wearing a black athletic top, shorts, and a white helmet stands with a lime green mountain bike on a trail with dry grass, overlooking green mountains under cloudy skies.]()
A Long Way 4 Water
Katie completed a 3,100-mile journey across South America, traveling through Guyana, Brazil, and Peru by bicycle and kayak over the course of nine weeks.
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![A woman in winter clothing standing next to a snowy sign indicating the summit of Uhuru Peak on Mount Kilimanjaro, with icy rocks and a cloudy sky in the background.]()
Hike 4 Water
Katie climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, to raise awareness and support for clean water access through Hike4Water.
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![A woman running outdoors on a paved road with trees in the background. She has blonde hair tied back, wears sunglasses, a black sports bra, blue shorts, white running shoes, a watch, and wireless earbuds.]()
Buckeye 200 Ultra Run
Taking on her first 200-mile ultramarathon, Katie placed 1st female and 3rd overall at the 2025 Buckeye 200 Ultra Run.
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![A smiling woman with wet hair in a yellow watercraft adorned with racing logos and sponsors, on a body of water.]()
Row for Water
Rowing 3,038 miles from West Africa to South America, Spotz became the youngest person ever to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean, spending 70 days alone at sea.
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![A woman riding a white and red Giant road bike outdoors in a grassy area, wearing a helmet, sunglasses, a black and neon yellow sleeveless cycling outfit, and white cycling shoes.]()
140.6 Triathlon
Spotz earned 1st place in her division and 2nd overall among women, completing the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, and 26.2-mile run in 10:48.
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![A woman running outdoors with trees in the background, wearing sunglasses, a sports bra, pink shorts, a smartwatch, and a chest-mounted action camera, with a row of exercise bikes behind her.]()
Run 4 Water
Spotz set a new Guinness World Record in 2021, running the most consecutive ultramarathons (11) ever completed by a woman.
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![Female obstacle course competitor crawling on muddy ground during outdoor competition, surrounded by yellow caution tape and trees in the background.]()
Spartan Ultra Ohio
Katie completed her first Spartan Ultra, a grueling challenge spanning 31 miles and 60 obstacles, earning 3rd place in the women’s open division.
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![A smiling woman holding a rollerblade toy above her head at the beach, standing next to a large painted buoy with the ocean and palm trees in the background.]()
Skate 4 Water
Despite a torn ACL and MCL, Spotz completed a 119-mile skate across the Florida Keys, supporting efforts to bring clean water to communities in Haiti.
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![A woman in athletic wear finishing a race, running across a finish line in an outdoor park setting with trees and other people in the background.]()
Hell On Hogsback
Covering 59.19 miles, Katie captured 1st place overall in the 12-hour division in the 2024 Hell on Hogsback while setting a new course record.
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![Two cyclists, a woman and a man, standing together outdoors near a race finish line, wearing matching red and white jerseys with a slice of citrus fruit design and sponsors' logos. They are smiling after a race.]()
Race Across America
Despite breaking her pelvis the week before, Katie competed on a handcycle as she and Sam Williams helped their team finish the 3,000-mile Race Across America relay in under 8 days.
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![Two people riding bicycles on a rural road with green fields and farm buildings in the background]()
Big Ride Across America
Riding 3,300 miles from Seattle to Washington, D.C., Katie averaged 85 miles a day for 40 days. Together with 40 other cyclists, the team raised more than $250,000 for the American Lung Association.
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![A woman standing outdoors with a green bicycle equipped with blue and yellow bags near a body of water during daytime.]()
Ride 4 Water
Spotz cycled 360 miles along Maine’s coastline, using the endurance challenge to help fund a clean water project in Uganda.
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![A person jogging along a lakeside during sunset, with the sky painted in orange and yellow hues and some silhouetted trees in the foreground.]()
Run 4 Water
Spotz ran 137.8 miles nonstop across the state of Maine in 33 hours, becoming the first person to complete the crossing and helping fund over $75,000 for clean water initiatives.
Media Highlights
