Veteran U.S. ultratrail runner suffers heart attack during UTMB race
American ultrarunner Jeff Browning, 55, suffered a heart attack during the TDS race at UTMB in Chamonix, France, and was airlifted to a hospital where he remains under medical care.
Jeff Browning, a 55-year-old American ultrarunner, suffered a heart attack during the TDS race at UTMB in Chamonix, France.
The race was 145 km long and Browning was 129 km into it when he needed medical attention and was airlifted to a hospital.
Browning won the Hardrock 100 in 2018 and finished second at Cocodona 250 in 2024.
The Browning family released a statement on Browning’s Instagram account to update friends and fans on the ongoing situation.
“During the TDS race at UTMB in Chamonix, Jeff suffered a heart attack,” the statement said. “He received immediate medical treatment from the race and emergency medical teams before being airlifted to the hospital, where he remains under medical care.”
While much remains unknown, TrailRunner Magazine reported that Vespa Power Products shared a text message from UltraAspire’s CEO, Bryce Thatcher, on Facebook.
According to the report, Browning fell earlier in the race and broke his glasses. In an Instagram story that has since been taken down, he mentioned experiencing blurry vision but appeared to be in good spirits. Later in the race, he received defibrillation at an aid station before being taken to the hospital.
“Jeff is in a coma after having what is believed to be a heart attack around mile 80 of the TDS Race at the UTMB World Series in Chamonix,” Vespa Power Products wrote. “It is highly probable Jeff’s fall could have caused a brain bleed (intracranial hemorrhage or epidural hematoma), creating pressure on the brain and triggering a heart attack. But details are few, and at this point this is speculation and a best guess.”
The Facebook post linked in the account appeared to have been taken down, or its viewership restricted.
Browning, also known as “Bronco Billy,” has been one of the most consistent performers in ultrarunning over the past two decades, finishing nearly 200 ultras and winning more than 40.
In 2018, at age 47, Browning won the Hardrock 100 in 26:20:22. As he moved into his 50s, some may have expected him to step away from the sport; instead, he continued to compete at the highest level. In 2024, at age 52, he finished second at the Cocodona 250. While he has not had as many podium finishes in recent years, Browning has remained an active and influential member of the ultrarunning community through coaching, course marking, pacing and racing.
