Ioana

Barbu

Where endurance meets heart.

First person ever to complete the Beyond the Ultimate Global Race Series in one calendar year setting the current record for fastest time

✳︎

First person ever to complete the Beyond the Ultimate Global Race Series in one calendar year setting the current record for fastest time ✳︎

Featured In

  • Two hikers crossing a shallow stream in a dense forest, using trekking poles and wearing backpacks.

    CNN: This runner covered 800 miles across the Arctic, mountains, desert and jungle in a single year

    Read it
  • Person hiking across snow-covered landscape with snowshoes and winter gear, early morning or late afternoon sky.

    Women's Running: ULTRA WOMAN

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  • Three women standing in a forest, dressed in outdoor hiking gear, smiling and looking at the camera.

    BBC Travel: Beyond the boy's club: The women at the frontier of adventure

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  • Woman hiking in a dense forest, climbing uphill, holding onto a rope tied to a tree for support.

    Daily Telegraph: I was bit­ten by a wild dog at the end of my ultra run

    Read it
  • A group of runners participating in a race in a desert landscape with mountains in the background, marked by flags with the 'Big Global Race Series' logo, and a white vehicle with an open door nearby.

    Secret London: Two British Runners Have Recently Broken Ultra Running Records In The Desert – Including A Londoner Who Is The First Person Ever To Achieve A Special Accomplishment

    Read it
  • A woman smiling, wearing a red jacket, blue beanie, and spy goggles, sitting inside a tent during winter

    ITV News: Ioana Barbu Global Race Series

    Watch it

Ioana Barbu is an endurance athlete and ultra-runner driven by curiosity, challenge, and the beauty of long distances.

On the trail, Ioana is known for her resilience and determination. Off the trail, she is known for her warmth, humor, and the deep connections she builds with the people around her.

Running for Ioana is more than competition.
It is freedom, exploration, and a constant reminder that limits are often only temporary.
A woman wearing sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat gets water poured on her head from a camouflage-patterned water bottle while sitting outdoors at a table under a canopy.
A woman running in a desert landscape, dressed in athletic attire with a white long-sleeve shirt, black shorts, sunglasses, a cap, and a hydration backpack.
A person in athletic clothing and a hat walking in a dry desert landscape with mountains in the background.
A woman wearing a teal cap, black athletic clothing, and a backpack, climbing a steep, muddy trail in a dense forest.
A woman with sunglasses around her neck sits in a chair with her eyes closed, surrounded by other people at an ultra marathon event, with a young girl and others in the background.
A person wearing a backpack and shorts crossing a shallow river with trekking poles in a lush, green jungle.
A group of people walking across a frozen lake with snow-covered mountains in the background during dusk.
A woman with sunglasses and a blue cap hugging a man with a baseball cap and sunglasses at an outdoor event with flags and tents in the background.
A woman hiking in the snow wearing a red jacket, black pants, blue goggles, and a backpack in a forest.

Values

Heart & humanity

Beyond performance, she runs with kindness, generosity, and genuine connection to the community around her. Through her runs she supports charities like Global's Make Some Noise.

Friendship & community

She believes endurance sports bring people together, creating bonds that last far beyond the race.

Relentless determination

Ioana pushes through fatigue, injuries, weather, terrain, and doubt. The finish line is never just a distance, it’s a commitment.

Environmental responsibility

Ioana aims to make conscious choices that reduce her impact on the environment, both in training and travel. Sustainability is part of how she approaches sport and long-term performance.

Resilience

Progress in sport is never linear. Ioana learned to face setbacks, adjust, and return stronger each time. This ability to stay steady through challenges defines how she trains, competes, and grows.

Cultural curiosity

Competing internationally allows her to learn from different cultures and communities. These experiences shape her mindset, discipline, and appreciation for diversity within and beyond sport.

Race Highlights

Work with Ioana

Ioana is currently open to partnerships with brands and organizations that align with her values of endurance, authenticity, and adventure.

Opportunities include:

Brand partnerships and sponsorships

Ambassador collaborations

Public speaking and events

Race activations and campaigns

Media and storytelling projects

If you are interested in working together, get in touch.