An athlete taking part in an epic ultramarathon in the mountains was excited to get underway after months of training, only to experience a freak accident two miles in that could change her life for years to come. For Elissa Simpson, 28, fitness is not just a hobby, it is an integral part of her life. Over the years, she has competed in numerous HYROX events, triathlons, and even a team Ultrabalaton, but 2026 would mark her biggest challenge yet.
Simpson, from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, spent months training for the Monte Rosa WalserWaeg Ultra that took place in Italy on July 17. As the race rolled round, Simpson told Newsweek that she was in "the best shape" of her life. She felt excited and well prepared for the event, which would see her run 75 miles (122 kilometers) through the Alps and climb 8,000 meters (26,200 feet) of elevation.
"It was a huge challenge, but that was exactly why I wanted to do it," Simpson said. "I knew it was going to be a long 30 hours in the mountains, so I wasn’t racing the beginning aggressively." While the race started well, everything changed at the 2.4-mile (4-kilometer) mark. Simpson tripped over a branch and, as she tried to catch herself with her right leg, she instantly heard "a huge pop" in her hip.
She did not think much of it at first, especially as she barely even had a scratch from the actual fall. Simpson believed she could walk it off, but, as soon as she tried to run again, it was clear that the injury was much worse. She said: "I had so much adrenaline running through me that I didn’t think much of it.
I remember telling my friend to keep running and that I’d catch up with him. But I managed about two steps, and as soon as I lifted my right leg to run, I heard another pop. That’s when the pain really hit.
"I wasn’t far from some race staff directing runners. Getting to them was only a few minutes, but even walking with my poles was incredibly painful. It wasn’t until the race staff convinced me that I needed an ambulance that I finally accepted my race was over." Simpson was transferred to a hospital in Aosta, Italy, for scans and further assessment.
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